Riassunto dello studio

Two hundred twenty adults with acute sciatica of less than 90 days’ duration were randomized to receive either usual care (UC) (n=110) or early physical therapy (EPT) (n=110). The primary outcome was disability improvement measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity, patient-reported treatment success, healthcare utilization, and missed workdays, assessed at 4 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. Overall, the study found that EPT led to greater improvement in disability compared to UC at 6 months and at 1 year . Patients in the EPT group were also more likely to report treatment success at 1 year. No significant differences were found in healthcare utilization or missed workdays. These findings suggest that early physical therapy referral improves disability and self-reported success in managing acute sciatica.