Physical Therapists Are Routinely Performing the Requisite Skills to Directly Refer for Musculoskeletal Imaging: An Observational Study

ORCiD

Todd E. Davenport: 0000-0001-5772-7727

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy

ISSN

1066-9817

Volume

30

Issue

5

DOI

10.1080/10669817.2022.2106729

First Page

261

Last Page

272

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Abstract

Objectives: To explore if physical therapists are practicing skills necessary to refer patients for musculoskeletal imaging. Methods: An expert panel established a list of nine requisite skills to refer for musculoskeletal imaging. A blinded expert panel validated the list using a 5-point Likert scale. The skills list was examined via an electronic survey distributed to United States physical therapists. Results: 4,796 respondents were included. Each of the nine skills were routinely performed by a majority of the respondents (range: 54.52–94.72%). Respondents routinely performed 6.95 (± 0.06) skills, with 67.41% routinely performing seven or more skills. Doctors of physical therapy routinely performed more imaging skills (7.15 ± 0.06) compared to their masters- (6.44 ± 0.19) and bachelors-trained (5.95 ± 0.21) counterparts (p < 0.001). Residency/fellowship-trained physical therapists were more likely to routinely perform more imaging skills (7.60 ± 0.11 vs. 6.79 ± 0.07, p < 0.001). Imaging skill performance was greater among board-certified physical therapists (7.39 ± 0.09 vs. 6.71 ± 0.08, p < 0.001) and APTA members (7.06 ± 0.07 vs. 6.65 ± 0.12, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Physical therapists are routinely practicing the requisite imaging skills to directly refer to a radiologist for musculoskeletal imaging.

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