Table 2

Percentage distribution of episode duration of health problem for patients treated by a physical therapist in 2005, for the United States (FOTO), Israel (Maccabi) and the Netherlands (LiPZ), for the total patient population, patients treated for their lumbar spine and patients with ankle sprain

Total population1
FOTO
Maccabi
LiPZ
P

Acute (0 – 21 days/1 month)2
18.4
14.3
38.0
<0.001
Sub acute (21 days/1 month – 3 months)3
28.4
31.2
26.7

Chronic (>3 months)
53.2
54.5
35.2






Number of patients (abs.)
62,713
84,523
10,793


Lumbar spine treated4





Acute (0 – 21 days/1 month)
20.4
11.2
49.9
<0.001
Sub acute (21 days/1 month – 3 months)3
24.4
25.5
23.9

Chronic (>3 months)
55.2
63.3
26.1






Number of patients (abs.)
18,873
19,809
1,950


Treated for ankle sprain5





Acute (0 – 21 days/1 month)
33.9
31.2
74.5
<0.001
Sub acute (21 days/1 month – 3 months)3
41.3
41.6
16.1

Chronic (>3 months)
24.8
27.2
9.4






Number of patients (abs.)
472
1,361
149


1 Missing values FOTO: 85; Maccabi: 15,016, LiPZ: 1,400

2 Within FOTO and Maccabi: 0 to 21 days; within LiPZ 0 days to 1 month

3 Within FOTO and Maccabi 21 days to 3 months; within LiPZ 1 to 3 months

4 Missing values FOTO: 5; Maccabi: 2,357, LiPZ: 107

5 Missing values FOTO: 0; Maccabi: 102, LiPZ: 6

Swinkels et al. BMC Health Services Research 2008 8:163   doi:10.1186/1472-6963-8-163