Physical function in patients attending physiotherapists in the primary health care, a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose: To describe and compare physical function in patients receiving treatment from employed or private practicing physiotherapist, and to describe characteristics of the treatment. Design: Cross-sectional study. Material: 250 patients receiving physiotherapy in Kongsberg, Norway. 179 patients from private practice and 71 from employed physiotherapists were included.c Method: Questionnaires and physical tests (Short Physical Performance Battery and gait speed). Results: Patients seeing employed physiotherapists had a lower level of physical function than patients attending private practice. They were also older, had more diseases and received more services from the community. The physiotherapy treatment had a predominantly active approach. Conclusion: The patients who receive physiotherapy from therapists in private practice and employed therapists differs regarding characteristics and physical function, there is however a large proportion of frail elderly in both groups.

Keywords

• physiotherapy
• physical function
• elderly
• physical tests