The Economics of Physical Therapy .

Physical therapy—despite being clinically effective and often as good as or better than surgery for many orthopaedic conditions—remains undervalued and inconsistently funded. Costs, limited public coverage, and reliance on private insurance restrict access, even though research shows physical therapy can reduce healthcare use and improve outcomes. Across meniscal tears, joint replacement, low back pain, and ACL injury, economic evaluations consistently show strong cost-effectiveness, sometimes with substantial system-wide savings. There are strategies to expand access, including direct referral, telerehabilitation, enhanced funding, broader PT roles, and continued research. The message is clear: better integration of physical therapy can improve recovery, reduce costs, and strengthen health systems.