Diagnosis and treatment in physical therapy: an investigation of their relationship.
OBJECTIVE
The diagnosis made by a physical therapist gives direction to the selection of therapeutic interventions. Therefore, in an investigation, specific relationships between diagnoses and therapeutic interventions are expected. This study was designed to test whether such relationships exist.


METHODS
Data on diagnosis, treatment goals, and interventions were gathered on 8,714 patients by 74 physical therapists. The diagnosis and treatment goals were defined in terms of impairments and disabilities.


RESULTS
Specific relationships were found to exist between those impairments and disabilities that were chosen as a basis for forming treatment goals and the application of interventions. These relationships are particularly marked at the impairment level.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that the diagnostic categories validly predict which interventions are applied and that the selection of interventions depends on which treatment goals are pursued.
Dekker
J
J
Netherlands Institute of Primary Health Care, Utrecht.
van Baar
M E
ME
Curfs
E C
EC
Kerssens
J J
JJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009426:Netherlands; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires