title: Timing of Physical Therapy Referral in Adolescent Athletes With Acute Spondylolysis: A Retrospective Chart Review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were (1) to determine whether the duration of rest before referral to physical therapy (PT) affects the time to make a full return to activity for patients with an acute spondylolysis, (2) to assess the safety of an early referral to PT in patients with an acute spondylolysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital-based sports medicine clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical charts of 196 adolescent athletes (mean age = 14.3 ± 1.8 years) with an acute spondylolytic injury met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were subgrouped based on physician referral to PT.
  An aggressive referral group (<10 weeks) and a conservative referral group (>10 weeks).
  
  
  METHODS
  Duration of rest before clearance to a full return to activity and the frequency of adverse reactions during the course of treatment. Safety was assessed by calculating the risk of experiencing an adverse reaction in each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median days to a full return to activity for aggressive referral group (115.5 days, interquartile range 98-150 days) and conservative referral group (140.0 days, interquartile range 114.5-168 days) were significantly different (P = 0.002). Eleven patients had adverse reactions during the course of treatment. The risk of adverse reaction was not statistically significant between groups (P = 0.509).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with acute spondylolysis in the aggressive referral group were able to make a full return activity almost 25 days sooner. No differences in the risk of adverse reactions were noted between aggressive and conservative referral groups.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Sports and Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; and †Division of Sports Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Selhorst
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Graft
authors.forename: Reno
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ravindran
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodenberg
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Welder
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000068958:Return to Sport; D013169:Spondylolysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D061665:Time-to-Treatment