Physiotherapy Programs Could Potentially Save Billions in Knee Treatment Expenses

November 22, 2024 TruthUSA

New Australian research reveals the potential of physiotherapy programs to revolutionize knee osteoarthritis treatment.

Nine out of 10 Australians with knee osteoarthritis may be able to avoid surgery by participating in targeted exercise programs, potentially saving taxpayers billions of dollars as knee replacement costs continue to rise towards $5.32 billion by the end of the decade.

In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers examined the cost benefits of physiotherapy management for patients with knee osteoarthritis compared to knee replacement surgery.

The study showed that physiotherapy programs could save the Australian healthcare system $100 million annually.

On the other hand, knee replacement surgery costs for the federal government are projected to reach $5.32 billion by 2030, according to economic forecasts.

Researchers also noted that physiotherapist-led exercise programs are typically not subsidized by the government, potentially leading people towards surgical options before exploring other conservative management approaches.

Scott Willis, the national president of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), expressed concern about this trend during an interview with The Epoch Times.

Related Stories

Knee Osteoarthritis Can Be ‘Successfully Managed’ Without Surgery: Australian Orthopedic Surgeon

Knee Injuries in Early Adulthood Are Linked With Osteoarthritis

“If we continue on the same pathway, it’s going to be very, very hard to fund all the amount of osteoarthritis conditions that we’re starting to see,” Willis said.

“At the moment, the total knee and total hip joint replacements are on a trajectory to get out of hand.

“I think there is an appetite for funders and governments to look at alternative models and different pathways that patients might actually go through; one, to give them better health outcomes, but also make it more efficient, more cost-effective, and provide a better pathway for patients.”

Scott Willis, national president of the Australian Physiotherapy Association. (Courtesy of the Australian Physiotherapy Association) — Scott Willis, national president of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
Courtesy of the Australian Physiotherapy Association

Statistically, around 53,500 knee replacements were performed from 2021 to 2023, with knee osteoarthritis being the main reason for knee replacement surgery. This figure is expected to increase by 276 percent by 2030.

A Way Forward

The JAMA study evaluated an education and exercise program known as GLA:D (Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark), a structured physiotherapy program developed by Danish researchers for individuals experiencing hip or knee osteoarthritis symptoms.

In the program, patients receive education on osteoarthritis, available treatment options, and self-management strategies, while group exercise sessions focus on enhancing knee and hip strength, endurance, and joint control through neuromuscular exercises.

The GLA:D program has demonstrated improvements in pain, disability, and quality of life in knee osteoarthritis patients and can be feasibly implemented in Australian public hospitals.

The study found that the program was cost-effective for individuals with mild or no knee pain but was not cost-effective for those with moderate, severe, or extreme pain over their lifetime.

Using a hypothetical cohort of adults aged 45 to 84 who would otherwise undergo total knee replacement in Australia, researchers concluded that structured education and exercise therapy was cost-effective for the first 9 years and over a lifetime for individuals with low pain levels at baseline.

Source link