\Ahrrk-Related Orthopaedic It jury and f'eelings of Depression

Tlze Potent'ictl Role qf Physicul.

eelings or thoughts of depression may be associated rvith a muscle or joint injury'. When pain and depressive symptoms occur together, they can produce longlasLing problems. Il can be diificult to iinor,v if these Ll-rougi-rts and feelings ale caused by the pain or some other issue. Physical tirelapists fbcus orr treating musculoskeletal problens; howeveq fbr some patients, deplessed 1'eelings may ease lvith treatnlent designed tn decrease pain and irnprove

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J 0rihop Sports Phvs Ther 2412;42(11):968. dci:10.25191ios012412.4507

function. Other patients may require specialized treatment ibr symptoms of depression in addition to physical therapy.
This is especially true rvhen depressecl thoughts and feelings pelsisL, pain has not resolr.,ed, and return to u,orl< has noL been achieved. A study published in the November 2ol2 issue of
J05lP7'evaluated the change in I'eelings or thoughts of depression during physical therapy and hor.l. it relates to a person'.s u,ork statr-rs 1 vear later.

ln this report, i06 patients with work-related inluires involving the back or neck were studied during physical therapy, a{ter physical therapy, end 1 year later, Interestingly, feelings and thoughts of depression eased in approximaiely 400/o oi the patrents {ollowing physical therapy treatment to address pain and functional Iimitations {rom back or neck pain. Patients whose depressed feelings improved were more likely to have returned to work and to report less pain intensity 1 year after trealment. Patients whose depressed feelings did not improve were less Iikely to have returned to work. These results indicate that feelings and thoughts of depression may subside for certain people when they receive physical therapy to treat their back or neck pain

Less pain and

increased function
FEELII'|G DEPRESSED. Feelings or thoughts of depression can be associated with a lvork-related muscle or loint injury Following physical therapy treatment to address their back or neck injunes, patients who experience improvemenis in

DepresseC thoughts and feel ngs may be present rr

people with rnuscle and loint pain, particularly those wrth vrork-related injuries. lt is important for your physical therapist to know about your elepressive symptoms and how they change during physical therapy treatment. This study suggests that depressed feelings and thoughts may subside with physical therapy for back and neck pain, and if they do, the patient is less likely to continue to have problems 1 year later. lf depressed thoughts and feelings persist with treaiment designed to decrease back and neck parn, your physical

pain and work-related disability may also experience rmprovements in depressive symptoms.0thers may require the care of healthcare providers who specialize in diagnosing and providing specialized treatment for depressed thoughts and feelings. I{ you have such feelings, please share them with your healthcare providers.
For this and more topics, visit JOSPf Perspectives for Pattents online at wwwjospt.org.

This J0SPI Perspectives for Patients is based on an article by Wicieman T et al, titled "Recovery From Depressive Symptoms Over the Course of Physical Therapy: A Prospectrve Cohort Study o{ lndividuals With Work-Related

0rthopaedic lnjuries and Sympioms of Depression," J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(11):957-967, Epub 18 June
2012.
d ai

therapist may re{er you to a healthcare provider trained to diagnose and treat patrents specilically for symptoms
of depression.

10.2519/)0spt.2012. 4182.

This Perspectives article was wrtten by a team ofJOSPf's editorial board and staff, with consultation from Jason Beneciuk and Steven George. Deydre S. Teyhen, PI PhD. Editor; and Jeanne Robertson, lllustrator.

J0SPT PERSPECTIVIS F0R PATIENTS is a publ ic servic e of Ihe Journal of 0rthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. The informatron a nd recommendations contained here are a summaryof the relerenced research article and are nota substitute loiseekingproper healthcareto diagnose and treat this condition. Fot more tnformation on thd management o{ this condition, contact your physical theraplst o"r'heblthcare provider sp"ecializing in musculoskeletal disorders. J0SPI Perspectives for Patients may be photocopied noncoir':meicially by physical therapists and bther healthcare prdviders to share with patients. The official journal o{ the 0rthopaedic Section and the Sports Physical Therapy Section ol the American Physical Ther;ipy Association (APTA), J0SPI strives to offer high-quality research, immediately applicable clinlcal nraterial,'and useful supplemental iniormation on"musculoskeletal and sports-related reha bilitation, hea lth, and wellness. Copy rrgh I a 2012 Jaurnal of }rthopaedic & Sparts Physical Therapy

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Journal Articles
"Work-Related Orthopedic Iniury and Feelings of Depression"

If you have a job where you may get injured where it makes
you go into a big depression because you cannot work due to your injury and you become depressed then it can lead to
muscle or joint injury. Physical therapist treat patients with

musculoskeletal problems. You need to let a physical therapist

know that you have been depressed so they can help you

build your stamina and strength back up.