The Association of Physiotherapy and Opioid Use With Duration of Compensated Time Loss for Workers With Low Back Pain

Abstract

Objective To determine patterns of physiotherapy and opioid use among compensated workers with low back pain (LBP), factors associated with these, and their association with time loss. Methods Accepted Victorian and South Australian workers’ compensation claims, services, medicines data for LBP claims lodged 30th June 2010-1st July 2015. Descriptive statistics, multinomial logistic and Cox regression was used to determine usage groups, their predictors, and effect of these on time loss. Results Of 15,728 claims, 24.4% received no services, 3.6% opioids only, 43.3% physiotherapy only and 28.8% both opioids and physiotherapy. Sex, age, occupation, remoteness, jurisdiction and socioeconomic status were significantly associated with usage groups. Using opioids and physiotherapy had the longest time loss. Conclusions Any services/medicine usage was associated with increased time loss; longest for combined physiotherapy and opioids.