Table 1.
Percent with Early Receipt and Any Receipt of Nonpharmacologic Treatments, and Mean Encounters (n = 30,612)
| Mean NPT encounters during total episode | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modality received | Percent with early receipt (first 30 days of the LBP episode) | Percent with receipt any time during episode | Meana | ± SD |
| Total | 44.0 | 84.4 | 14.4 | 15.1 |
| Exercise therapy | 26.0 | 63.0 | 7.4 | 8.0 |
| Superficial heat | 14.1 | 42.3 | 6.3 | 6.5 |
| Other physical therapy | 13.9 | 44.5 | 7.4 | 7.2 |
| TENS | 13.6 | 41.9 | 5.7 | 6.4 |
| Chiropractic | 11.6 | 29.3 | 7.3 | 7.2 |
| Massage | 11.0 | 33.2 | 5.6 | 7.0 |
| Spinal Manipulation | 8.1 | 20.4 | 2.4 | 2.9 |
| Traction | 5.8 | 21.3 | 6.2 | 6.0 |
| Self-Care | 4.7 | 17.6 | 2.2 | 2.8 |
| Acupuncture | 2.4 | 11.9 | 3.4 | 4.2 |
| Ultrasonography | 1.1 | 3.8 | 5.3 | 7.1 |
| Lumbar supports | 0.5 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| Biofeedback | 0.4 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
| Cold laser | 0.0 | 0.1 | 3.9 | 3.5 |
Multiple procedures could be contained on one encounter; mean of all NPT procedures represent unduplicated number of encounters
Definition of procedures and procedure codes:
Exercise therapy (pilates, yoga, and therapeutic exercise; neuromuscular re-education; therapeutic activities): ICD9 Diagnosis Codes V65.41, CPT Procedure Codes 97110, 97112, 97113, 97116, 97150, and 97530, HCPCS Codes 4242F and S9451
Superficial heat (infrared and shortwave diathermy): CPT Procedure Codes 97010, 97018, 97024, and 97026
Other physical therapy (hot or cold packs, whirlpool bath, and contrast baths): ICD9 Diagnosis Codes V57.1, CPT Procedure Codes 97016, 97022, and 97036
TENS and Other Electrical Modulation: CPT Procedure Codes 97014 and 97032, HCPCS Codes 0278T, A4595, E0720, E0730, E0770, and G0281 - G0283
Chiropractic: CPT Procedure Codes 98940–98943
Massage hot and cold packs, manual therapy techniques (e.g., mobilization/manipulation, manual lymphatic drainage, and manual traction): CPT Procedure Codes 97010, 97124, and 97140
Spinal Manipulation (physical or manipulative therapy): CPT Procedure Codes 98925-98929 and S9090
Traction: CPT Procedure Codes 97012, HCPCS Codes E0941 and E0944
Self-Care/management: CPT Procedure Codes 96152-96155, 97535, 98960-98962, 99071, 99078, and 99605-99607, HCPCS Codes 4450F, G8780, S9445, and S9446
Acupuncture/dry needling: CPT Procedure Codes 97810-97814, HCPCS Codes S8930 and S8990
Ultrasonography (Ultrasound therapy): CPT Procedure Codes 97033 and 97035
Lumbar supports (back braces): HCPCS Codes L0621, L0623, L0625-L0628, L0630, L0631, L0633, L0634, L0637, L0638, L0972, L0976, and L1005
Biofeedback: CPT Procedure Codes 90875-90876 and 90901-90910
Cold laser (low level laser): CPT Procedure Codes 97039, HCPCS Codes S8948
CPT, current procedure terminology; HCPCS, healthcare common procedure coding system; ICD9, international classification of diseases, ninth revision; LBP, low back-pain; NPT, nonpharmacologic treatment; TENS, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.