La. Admin. Code tit. 40 § I-2009

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024

Section I-2009 - Therapeutic Procedures-Non-Operative

A. Before initiation of any therapeutic procedure, the authorized treating provider, employer, and insurer must consider these important issues in the care of the injured worker.

B. First, patients undergoing therapeutic procedure(s) should be released or returned to modified or restricted duty during their rehabilitation at the earliest appropriate time. Refer to "Return-to-Work" in this section for detailed information.

C. Second, cessation and/or review of treatment modalities should be undertaken when no further significant subjective or objective improvement in the patient's condition is noted. If patients are not responding within the recommended duration periods, alternative treatment interventions, further diagnostic studies or consultations should be pursued.

1. Reassessment of the patient's status in terms of functional improvement should be documented after each treatment. If patients are not responding within the recommended time periods, alternative treatment interventions, further diagnostic studies or consultations should be pursued. Continued treatment should be monitored using objective measures such as:

a. return-to-work or maintaining work status;

b. fewer restrictions at work or performing activities of daily living;

c. decrease in usage of medications;

d. measurable functional gains, such as increased range of motion or documented increase in strength;

D. Third, providers should provide and document education to the patient. No treatment plan is complete without addressing issues of individual and/or group patient education as a means of facilitating self-management of symptoms

E. Lastly, formal psychological or psychosocial evaluation should be performed on patients not making expected progress within 6 to 12 weeks following injury and whose subjective symptoms do not correlate with objective signs and tests.

F. Home therapy is an important component of therapy and may include active and passive therapeutic procedures as well as other modalities to assist in alleviating pain, swelling, and abnormal muscle tone.

G. The following procedures are listed in alphabetical order.

1. Acupuncture is an accepted and widely used procedure for the relief of pain and inflammation, and there is some scientific evidence to support its use. The exact mode of action is only partially understood. Western medicine studies suggest that acupuncture stimulates the nervous system at the level of the brain, promotes deep relaxation, and affects the release of neurotransmitters. Acupuncture is commonly used as an alternative or in addition to traditional Western pharmaceuticals. While it is commonly used when pain medication is reduced or not tolerated, it may be used as an adjunct to physical rehabilitation and/or surgical intervention to hasten the return of functional activity. Acupuncture should be performed by licensed practitioners.

a. Acupuncture is the insertion and removal of filiform needles to stimulate acupoints (acupuncture points). Needles may be inserted, manipulated, and retained for a period of time. Acupuncture can be used to reduce pain, reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, increase range-of-motion, decrease the side effect of medication-induced nausea, promote relaxation in an anxious patient, and reduce muscle spasm. Indications include joint pain, joint stiffness, soft tissue pain and inflammation, paresthesia, post-surgical pain relief, muscle spasm, and scar tissue pain.

b. Acupuncture with Electrical Stimulation: is the use of electrical current (micro-amperage or milli-amperage) on the needles at the acupuncture site. It is used to increase effectiveness of the needles by continuous stimulation of the acupoint. Physiological effects (depending on location and settings) can include endorphin release for pain relief, reduction of inflammation, increased blood circulation, analgesia through interruption of pain stimulus, and muscle relaxation.

i. It is indicated to treat chronic pain conditions, radiating pain along a nerve pathway, muscle spasm, inflammation, scar tissue pain, and pain located in multiple sites.

c. Total Time Frames for Acupuncture and Acupuncture with Electrical Stimulation: Time frames are not meant to be applied to each of the above sections separately. The time frames are to be applied to all acupuncture treatments regardless of the type or combination of therapies being provided.

i. Time to Produce Effect: three to six treatments

ii. Frequency: one to three times per week.

iii. Optimum Duration: one to two months.

iv. Maximum Duration: 14 treatments.

v. Any of the above acupuncture treatments may extend longer if objective functional gains can be documented or when symptomatic benefits facilitate progression in the patient's treatment program. Treatment beyond 14 treatments must be documented with respect to need and ability to facilitate positive symptomatic or functional gains. Such care should be re-evaluated and documented with each series of treatments.

d. Other Acupuncture Modalities. Acupuncture treatment is based on individual patient needs and therefore treatment may include a combination of procedures to enhance treatment effect. Other procedures may include the use of heat, soft tissue manipulation/massage, and exercise. Refer to active therapy (therapeutic exercise) and passive therapy sections (massage and superficial heat and cold therapy) for a description of these adjunctive acupuncture modalities and time frames.

2. Biofeedback is a form of behavioral medicine that helps patients learn self-awareness and self-regulation skills for the purpose of gaining greater control of their physiology, such as muscle activity, brain waves, and measures of autonomic nervous system activity. Electronic instrumentation is used to monitor the targeted physiology and then displayed or fed back to the patient visually, auditorially, or tactilely, with coaching by a biofeedback specialist. Biofeedback is provided by clinicians certified in biofeedback and/or who have documented specialized education, advanced training, or direct or supervised experience qualifying them to provide the specialized treatment needed (e.g., surface EMG, EEG, or other).

a. Treatment is individualized to the patient's work-related diagnosis and needs. Home practice of skills is required for mastery and may be facilitated by the use of home training tapes. The ultimate goal of biofeedback treatment is to normalize the physiology to the pre-injury status to the extent possible, and involves transfer of learned skills to the workplace and daily life. Candidates for biofeedback therapy or training must be motivated to learn and practice biofeedback and self-regulation techniques.

b. Indications for biofeedback include individuals who are suffering from musculoskeletal injury in which muscle dysfunction or other physiological indicators of excessive or prolonged stress response affects and/or delays recovery. Other applications include training to improve self-management of emotional stress/pain responses such as anxiety, depression, anger, sleep disturbance, and other central and autonomic nervous system imbalances. Biofeedback is often used in conjunction with other treatment modalities:

i. time to produce effect: three to four sessions;

ii. frequency: one to two times per week;

iii. optimum duration: five to six sessions;

iv. maximum duration: 10 to 12 sessions. Treatment beyond 12 sessions must be documented with respect to need, expectation, and ability to facilitate positive functional gains.

3. Injections - Therapeutic

a. Therapeutic Spinal Injections. Therapeutic spinal injections may be used after initial conservative treatments, such as physical and occupational therapy, medication, manual therapy, exercise, acupuncture, have been undertaken. Therapeutic injections should be used only after imaging studies and diagnostic injections have established pathology. Injections are invasive procedures that can cause catastrophic complications; thus clinical indications and contraindications should be closely adhered to. The purpose of spinal injections is to facilitate active therapy by providing short-term relief through reduction of pain and inflammation. All patients should continue appropriate exercise with functionally directed rehabilitation. Active treatment, which patients should have had prior to injections, will frequently require a repeat of the sessions previously ordered (Refer to Active Therapy). Injections, by themselves, are not likely to provide long-term relief. Rather, active rehabilitation with modified work achieves long-term relief by increasing active ROM, strength, and stability. Subjective reports of pain response (via a recognized pain scale) and function should be considered and given relative weight when the pain has anatomic and physiologic correlation. Anatomic correlation must be based on objective findings.

i. Special Considerations - for all injections (excluding trigger point and occipital nerve blocks) multi-planar fluoroscopy, during procedures is required to document technique and needle placement, and should be performed by a physician experienced in the procedure. Permanent images are required to verify needle placement. The subspecialty disciplines of the physicians performing injections may be varied, including, but not limited to: anesthesiology, radiology, surgery, neurology or physiatry. The practitioner should have completed fellowship training in pain medicine with interventional training, or its equivalent. They must also be knowledgeable in radiation safety.

ii. Complications. Appropriate medical disclosures with regard to potential complications should be provided to the patient as deemed appropriate by the treating physician.

iii. Contraindications. Absolute contraindications to therapeutic injections include: bacterial infection systemic or localized to region of injection, bleeding diatheses, hematological conditions, and possible pregnancy.

(a). Relative contraindications to diagnostic injections may include: allergy to contrast, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Drugs affecting coagulation may require restriction from use. Anti-platelet therapy and anti-coagulations should be addressed individually by a knowledgeable specialist. It is recommended to refer to American Society of Regional Anesthesia for anticoagulation guidelines.

b. Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI)

i. Description. Cervical ESIs are injections of corticosteroid into the epidural space. The purpose of ESI is to reduce pain and inflammation in the acute or subacute phases of injury, restoring range-of-motion, and thereby, facilitating progress in more active treatment programs.

ii. Needle Placement. Multi-planar fluoroscopic imaging is required for all epidural steroid injections. Contrast epidurograms allow one to verify the flow of medication into the epidural space. Permanent images are required to verify needle placement.

iii. Indications

(a). Cervical ESIs are useful in patients with symptoms of cervical radicular pain syndromes. They have less defined usefulness in non-radicular pain. There is some evidence that epidural steroid injections are effective for patients with radicular pain or radiculopathy (sensory or motor loss in a specific dermatome or myotome). In one study, 53 percent of patients had 50 percent or greater relief of pain at 6 months with only 20 percent having similar relief at 12 months.

(b). There is some evidence to suggest that epidural injections are not effective for cervical axial pain; however, it is an accepted intervention. Only patients who have pain affected by activity and annular tears verified by appropriate imaging may have injections for axial pain.

(c). There is some evidence in studies of the lumbar spine that patients who smoke or who have pain unaffected by rest or activity are less likely to have a successful outcome from ESIs. This may also apply to the cervical spine although there are currently no studies to verify this finding. MRI or CT scans are required prior to thoracic and cervical ESIs, to assure that adequate epidural space is present.

iv. Time/Frequency/Duration

(a). Time to Produce Effect. Local anesthetic, less than 30 minutes; corticosteroid, 48 to 72 hours for 80 percent of patients and 72 hours to 2 weeks for 20 percent of patients.

(b). Frequency. One or more divided levels can be injected in one session. Whether injections are repeated depends upon the patient's response to the previous injection. Subsequent injections may occur after one to two weeks if there is a positive patient response. Positive patient response results are defined primarily as functional gains that can be objectively measured. Objective functional gains include, but are not limited to, positional tolerances, range of motion (ROM), strength, endurance, activities of daily living, cognition, psychological behavior, and efficiency/velocity measures that can be quantified. Subjective reports of pain response (via a recognized pain scale) and function should be considered and given relative weight when the pain has anatomic and physiologic correlation. Anatomic correlation must be based on objective findings.

(c). Injections can be repeated after a hiatus of six months if the patient has demonstrated functional gain and pain returns or worsens. If the first injection does not provide a diagnostic response with temporary and sustained pain relief (at least two to six weeks) substantiated by accepted pain scales (i.e., 50 percent pain reduction as measured by tools such as VAS), and improvement in function, similar injections should not be repeated.

(d). Optimal Duration. Usually one to three injection(s), over a period of six months depending upon each patient's response and functional gain.

(e).Maximum Duration: Two sessions consisting of up to three injections each may be done in one year, as per the patient's response to pain and function. Patients should be reassessed after each injection for a 50 percent improvement in pain (as measured by accepted pain scales) and evidence of functional improvement.

c. Zygapophyseal (Facet) Injection

i. Description. A generally accepted intra-articular or pericapsular injection of local anesthetic and corticosteroid. There is conflicting evidence to support long-term therapeutic effect using facet injections. There is no justification for a combined facet and medial branch block.

ii. Indications. Patients with pain suspected to be facet in origin based on exam findings and affecting activity; or patients who have refused a rhizotomy; or patients who have facet findings with a thoracic component. In these patients, facet injections may be occasionally useful in facilitating a functionally-directed rehabilitation program and to aid in identifying pain generators. Patients with recurrent pain should be evaluated with more definitive diagnostic injections, such as medial nerve branch injections, to determine the need for a rhizotomy. Because facet injections are not likely to produce long-term benefit by themselves and are not the most accurate diagnostic tool, they should not be performed at more than two levels.

iii. Timing/Frequency/Duration

(a). Time to Produce Effect: Up to 30 minutes for local anesthetic; corticosteroid up to 72 hours.

(b). Frequency: 1 injection per level with a diagnostic response. If the first injection does not provide a diagnostic response of temporary and sustained pain relief substantiated by accepted pain scales, (i.e., 50 percent pain reduction substantiated by tools such as VAS), and improvement in function, similar injections should not be repeated. At least four to six weeks of functional benefit should be obtained with each therapeutic injection.

(c). Optimum Duration: two to three injections for each applicable joint per year. Not to exceed two joint levels.

(d). Maximum Duration: four per level per year. Prior authorization must be obtained for injections beyond two levels.

(e). Facet injections may be repeated if they result in increased documented functional benefit for at least 4 to 6 weeks and at least a 50 percent initial improvement in pain scales as measured by accepted pain scales (such as VAS).

d. Intradiscal Steroid Therapy. Intradiscal steroid therapy consists of injection of a steroid preparation into the intervertebral disc under fluoroscopic guidance at the time of discography. There is good evidence that it is not effective in the treatment of suspected discogenic low back pain. There is no support for its use in the cervical spine and its use is not recommended.

e. Radio Frequency (RF) Medial Branch Neurotomy/ Facet Rhizotomy

i. Description. A procedure designed to denervate the facet joint by ablating the corresponding sensory medial branches. Continuous percutaneous radio-frequency is the method generally used.

ii. There is good evidence to support this procedure in the cervical spine but benefits beyond one year are not yet established. Radio-frequency medial branch neurotomy is the procedure of choice over alcohol, phenol, or cryoablation. Precise positioning of the probe under fluoroscopic guidance is required since the maximum effective diameter of the device is a 5 x 8 millimeter oval. Permanent images should be recorded to verify placement of the device.

iii. Indications. Those patients with proven, significant, facetogenic pain. This procedure is not recommended for patients with multiple pain generators or involvement of more than three medial branch nerves.

iv. Individuals should have met the following indications: pain of well-documented facet origin, unresponsive to active and/or passive therapy. It is generally recommended that this procedure not be performed until three months of active therapy and manual therapy have been completed unless severe pain or limitation of ROM preclude patient participation. All patients should continue appropriate exercise with functionally directed rehabilitation. Active treatment, which patients will have had prior to the procedure, will frequently require a repeat of the sessions previously ordered (Refer to Active Therapy).

v. Complications. Appropriate medical disclosures should be provided to the patient as deemed necessary by the treating physician.

vi. Post-Procedure Therapy. Active therapy. Implementation of a gentle reconditioning program within the first post-procedure week is recommended, barring complications. Instruction and participation in a long-term home-based program of ROM, cervical, scapular, and thoracic strengthening, postural or neuromuscular reeducation, endurance, and stability exercises should be accomplished over a period of four to ten visits postprocedure.

vii. Requirements for repeat RF neurotomy (or additional level RF neurotomies). In some cases pain may recur [ISIS]. Successful rhizotomy usually provides from six to eighteen months of relief.

(a). Before a repeat RF neurotomy is done, a confirmatory medial branch injection should be performed if the patient's pain pattern presents differently than in the initial evaluation. In occasional patients, additional levels of RF neurotomy may be necessary. The same indications and limitations apply.

f. Occipital Nerve Block

i. Description. Occipital nerve blocks are generally accepted injections used both diagnostically and therapeutically in the treatment of occipital neuralgia. The greater occipital nerve is the target.

ii. Indications. Diagnosis and treatment of occipital neuralgia/cephalgia. Peripheral block of the greater occipital nerve may be appropriate as initial treatment. It may be indicated in patients unresponsive to peripheral nerve block or those patients in need of additional diagnostic information.

iii. Complications. Bleeding, infection, neural injury. Post procedural ataxia is common and usually lasts 30 minutes post procedure. Because the occipital artery runs with the occipital nerve, inadvertent intravascular injection is a risk of this procedure and may lead to systemic toxicity and/or seizures.

(a). Time to Produce Effect: Approximately 30 minutes for local anesthetic; 48 to 72 hours for corticosteroid.

(b). Optimal Duration: one to three sessions for each nerve

(c). Maximum Duration: Continue up to three injections if progressive symptomatic and functional improvement can be documented.

g. Trigger Point Injections

i. Description. Trigger point injections are a generally accepted treatment. Trigger point treatment can consist of injection of local anesthetic with or without, corticosteroid into highly localized, extremely sensitive bands of skeletal muscle fibers that produce local and referred pain when activated. Medication is injected in a four-quadrant manner in the area of maximum tenderness. Injection efficacy can be enhanced if injections are immediately followed by myofascial therapeutic interventions, such as vapo-coolant spray and stretch, ischemic pressure massage (myotherapy), specific soft tissue mobilization and physical modalities. There is conflicting evidence regarding the benefit of trigger point injections. A truly blinded study comparing dry needle treatment of trigger points is not feasible. There is no evidence that injection of medications improves the results of trigger-point injections. Needling alone may account for some of the therapeutic response.

ii. There is no indication for conscious sedation for patients receiving trigger point injections. The patient must be alert to help identify the site of the injection.

iii. Indications. Trigger point injections may be used to relieve myofascial pain and facilitate active therapy and stretching of the affected areas. They are to be used as an adjunctive treatment in combination with other treatment modalities such as functional restoration programs. Trigger point injections should be utilized primarily for the purpose of facilitating functional progress. Patients should continue in an aggressive aerobic and stretching therapeutic exercise program as tolerated throughout the time period they are undergoing intensive myofascial interventions. Myofascial pain is often associated with other underlying structural problems and any abnormalities need to be ruled out prior to injection.

iv. Trigger point injections are indicated in those patients where well circumscribed trigger points have been consistently observed, demonstrating a local twitch response, characteristic radiation of pain pattern and local autonomic reaction, such as persistent hyperemia following palpation. Generally, these injections are not necessary unless consistently observed trigger points are not responding to specific, noninvasive, myofascial interventions within approximately a six-week time frame.

v. Complications. Potential but rare complications of trigger point injections include infection, pneumothorax, anaphylaxis, neurapraxia, and neuropathy. If corticosteroids are injected in addition to local anesthetic, there is a risk of local myopathy developing. Severe pain on injection suggests the possibility of an intraneural injection, and the needle should be immediately repositioned.

vi. Timing/Frequency/Duration

(a). Time to Produce Effect: Local anesthetic 30 minutes; no anesthesia 24 to 48 hours

(b). Frequency: Weekly, suggest no more than four injection sites per session per week to avoid significant post-injection soreness

(c). Optimal Duration: four Weeks

(d). Maximum Duration: eight weeks. Occasional patients may require two to four repetitions of trigger point injection series over a one to two year period.

h. Prolotherapy: also known as sclerotherapy consists of a series of injections of hypertonic dextrose, with or without glycerine and phenol, into the ligamentous structures of the neck. There is no evidence that Prolotherapy is effective in cervical pain. The injections are invasive, may be painful to the patient, and are not generally accepted or widely used. Therefore, the use of Prolotherapy for cervical pain is not recommended.

4. Epiduroscopy and Epidural Lysis of Adhesions: is not recommended in the cervical spine secondary to the potential for dural puncture, hematoma, and spinal cord injury.

5. Medications/Pharmacy. Medication used in the treatment of cervical injuries is appropriate for controlling acute and chronic pain and inflammation. Use of medications will vary widely due to the spectrum of injuries from simple strains to post-surgical healing. All drugs should be used according to patient needs. A thorough medication history, including use of alternative and over the counter medications, should be performed at the time of the initial visit and updated periodically. Treatment for pain control is initially accomplished with acetaminophen and/or NSAIDs. The patient should be educated regarding the interaction with prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as the contents of over-the-counter herbal products. The following are listed in alphabetical order:

a. Acetaminophen: is an effective analgesic with antipyretic but not anti-inflammatory activity. Acetaminophen is generally well tolerated, causes little or no gastrointestinal irritation, and is not associated with ulcer formation. Acetaminophen has been associated with liver toxicity in overdose situations or in chronic alcohol use. Patients may not realize that many over-the-counter preparations may contain acetaminophen. The total daily dose of acetaminophen is recommended not to exceed 2250 mg per 24-hour period from all sources, including narcotic-acetaminophen combination preparations. Higher doses may result in liver toxicity.

i. Optimum Duration: 7 to 10 days.

ii. Maximum Duration: Chronic use as indicated on a case-by-case basis. Use of this substance long-term for three days per week or greater may be associated with rebound pain upon cessation.

b. Muscle Relaxants: are appropriate for muscle spasm with pain. There is strong evidence that muscle relaxants are more effective than placebo for providing short-term pain relief in acute low back pain. Similar effects can be expected for cervical pain. When prescribing these agents, physicians must seriously consider side effects of drowsiness or dizziness, and the fact that benzodiazepines may be habit-forming.

i. Optimum Duration: one week.

ii. Maximum Duration: two weeks (or longer if used only at night)

c. Narcotics should be primarily reserved for the treatment of severe cervical pain. In mild-to-moderate cases of cervical pain, narcotic medication should be used cautiously on a case-by-case basis. Adverse effects include respiratory depression, the development of physical and psychological dependence, and impaired alertness.

d. Narcotic medications should be prescribed with strict time, quantity, and duration guidelines, and with definitive cessation parameters. Pain is subjective in nature and should be evaluated using a scale to rate effectiveness of the narcotic prescribed. Any use beyond the maximum should be documented and justified based on the diagnosis and/or invasive procedures.

i. Optimum Duration: three to seven days.

ii. Maximum Duration: two weeks. Use beyond two weeks is acceptable in appropriate cases. Refer to Chronic Pain Guidelines which gives a detailed discussion regarding medication use in chronic pain management.

e. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): are useful for pain and inflammation. In mild cases, they may be the only drugs required for analgesia. There are several classes of NSAIDs, and the response of the individual injured worker to a specific medication is unpredictable. For this reason, a range of NSAIDs may be tried in each case with the most effective preparation being continued. Patients should be closely monitored for adverse reactions. The US Food and Drug Administration advise that many NSAIDs may cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, myocardial infarction, and stroke, which can be fatal. Naproxen sodium does not appear to be associated with increased risk of vascular events. Administration of proton pump inhibitors, histamine 2 blockers, or prostaglandin analog misoprostol along with these NSAIDs may reduce the risk of duodenal and gastric ulceration but do not impact possible cardiovascular complications. Due to the cross-reactivity between aspirin and NSAIDs, NSAIDs should not be used in aspirin-sensitive patients, and should be used with caution in all asthma patients. NSAIDs are associated with abnormal renal function, including renal failure, as well as abnormal liver function. Certain NSAIDs may have interactions with various other medications. Individuals may have adverse events not listed above. Intervals for metabolic screening are dependent upon the patient's age, general health status and should be within parameters listed for each specific medication. Complete blood count (CBC), and liver and renal function should be monitored at least every six months in patients on chronic NSAIDs and initially when indicated.

i. Non-selective Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

(a). Includes NSAIDs and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). Serious GI toxicity, such as bleeding, perforation, and ulceration can occur at any time, with or without warning symptoms in patients treated with traditional NSAIDs. Physicians should inform patients about the signs and/or symptoms of serious gastrointestinal toxicity and what steps to take if they occur. Anaphylactoid reactions may occur in patients taking NSAIDs. NSAIDs may interfere with platelet function. Fluid retention and edema have been observed in some patients taking NSAIDs.

(i). Optimal Duration: one week.

(ii). Maximum Duration: one year Use of these substances long-term for (three days per week or greater) is associated with rebound pain upon cessation.

ii. Selective Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) Inhibitors

(a). Selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors are more recent NSAIDs and differ in adverse side effect profiles from the traditional NSAIDs. The major advantages of selective COX-2 inhibitors over traditional NSAIDs are that they have less gastrointestinal toxicity and no platelet effects. COX-2 inhibitors can worsen renal function in patients with renal insufficiency, thus renal function may need monitoring.

(b). COX-2 inhibitors should not be first-line for low risk patients who will be using an NSAID short term but are indicated in select patients for whom traditional NSAIDs are not tolerated. Serious upper GI adverse events can occur even in asymptomatic patients. Patients at high risk for GI bleed include those who use alcohol, smoke, are older than 65, take corticosteroids or anti-coagulants, or have a longer duration of therapy. Celecoxib is contraindicated in sulfonamide allergic patients.

(i). Optimal Duration: 7 to 10 days.

(ii). Maximum Duration: Chronic use is appropriate in individual cases. Use of these substances long-term (for three days per week or greater) is associated with rebound pain upon cessation.

f. Oral Steroids: have limited use but are accepted in cases requiring potent anti-inflammatory drug effect and should not be routinely recommended.

g. Intravenous Steroids: The risks of permanent neurological damage from acute spinal cord compression generally outweigh the risks of pharmacologic side effects of steroids in an emergent situation.

h. Psychotropic/Anti-anxiety/Hypnotic Agents: may be useful for treatment of mild and chronic pain, dysesthesias, sleep disorders, and depression. Antidepressant medications, such as tricyclics and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), are useful for affective disorder and chronic pain management. Tricyclic antidepressant agents, in low dose, are useful for chronic pain but have more frequent side effects.

i. Anti-anxiety medications should generally be limited to short-term use. Combinations of the above agents may be useful.

ii. As a general rule, providers (physicians or medical psychologist) should access the patient's prior history of substance abuse or depression prior to prescribing any of these agents. Due to the habit-forming potential of the benzodiazepines and other drugs found in this class, they are not routinely recommended. Refer to the Chronic Pain Guidelines which give a detailed discussion regarding medication use in chronic pain management.

(a). Optimum Duration: one to six months.

(b). Maximum Duration: 6 to 12 months, with monitoring.

i. Tramadol: is useful in relief of pain and has been shown to provide pain relief equivalent to that of commonly prescribed NSAIDs. Although Tramadol may cause impaired alertness, it is generally well tolerated, does not cause gastrointestinal ulceration, or exacerbate hypertension or congestive heart failure. Tramadol should be used cautiously in patients who have a history of seizures or who are taking medication that may lower the seizure threshold, such as monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, SSRIs, and tricyclic antidepressants. This medication has physically addictive properties and withdrawal may follow abrupt discontinuation and is not recommended for those with prior opioid addiction.

i. Optimal Duration: three to seven days

ii. Maximum Duration: two weeks. Use beyond two weeks is acceptable in appropriate cases.

6. Occupational Rehabilitation Programs

a. Non-Interdisciplinary. These generally accepted programs are work-related, outcome-focused, individualized treatment programs. Objectives of the program include, but are not limited to, improvement of cardiopulmonary and neuro-musculoskeletal functions (strength, endurance, movement, flexibility, stability, and motor control functions), patient education, and symptom relief. The goal is for patients to gain full or optimal function and return to work. The service may include the time-limited use of passive modalities with progression to active treatment and/or simulated/real work.

i. Work Conditioning

(a). These programs are usually initiated once reconditioning has been completed but may be offered at any time throughout the recovery phase. It should be initiated when imminent return of a patient to modified or full duty is not an option, but the prognosis for returning the patient to work at completion of the program is at least fair to good.

(i). Length of Visit: one to two hours per day.

(ii). Frequency: two to five visits per week.

(iii). Optimum Duration: two to four weeks.

(iv). Maximum Duration: six weeks. Participation in a program beyond six weeks must be documented with respect to need and the ability to facilitate positive symptomatic or functional gains.

ii. Work Simulation

(a). Work simulation is a program where an individual completes specific work-related tasks for a particular job and return to work. Use of this program is appropriate when modified duty can only be partially accommodated in the work place, when modified duty in the work place is unavailable, or when the patient requires more structured supervision. The need for work place simulation should be based upon the results of a Functional Capacity Evaluation and/or Jobsite Analysis.

(i). Length of Visit: two to six hours per day.

(ii). Frequency: two to five visits per week.

(iii). Optimum Duration: two to four weeks.

(iv). Maximum Duration: six weeks. Participation in a program beyond six weeks must be documented with respect to need and the ability to facilitate positive symptomatic or functional gains.

b. Interdisciplinary - programs are well-established treatment for patients with sub-acute and functionally impairing cervical spine pain. They are characterized by a variety of disciplines that participate in the assessment, planning, and/or implementation of an injured workers program with the goal for patients to gain full or optimal function and return to work. There should be close interaction and integration among the disciplines to ensure that all members of the team interact to achieve team goals. Programs should include cognitive-behavioral therapy as there is good evidence for its effectiveness in patients with chronic low back pain and it is probably effective in cervical spine pain. These programs are for patients with greater levels of disability, dysfunction, deconditioning and psychological involvement. For patients with chronic pain, refer to the Chronic Pain Disorder Medical Treatment Guidelines.

i. Work Hardening

(a). Work Hardening is an interdisciplinary program addressing a patient's employability and return to work. It includes a progressive increase in the number of hours per day that a patient completes work simulation tasks until the patient can tolerate a full workday. This is accomplished by addressing the medical, psychological, behavioral, physical, functional, and vocational components of employability and return-to-work.

(b). This can include a highly structured program involving a team approach or can involve any of the components thereof. The interdisciplinary team should, at a minimum, be comprised of a qualified medical director who is board certified with documented training in occupational rehabilitation; team physicians having experience in occupational rehabilitation; occupational therapy; physical therapy; case manager; and psychologist. As appropriate, the team may also include: chiropractor, RN, vocational specialist or Certified Biofeedback Therapist.

(i). Length of Visit: up to eight hours/day.

(ii). Frequency: two to five visits per week.

(iii). Optimal Duration: two to four weeks.

(iv). Maximum Duration: six weeks. Participation in a program beyond six weeks must be documented with respect to need and the ability to facilitate positive symptomatic or functional gains.

ii. Spinal Cord Programs

(a). Spinal Cord Systems of Care provide coordinated, case-managed, and integrated service for people with spinal cord dysfunction, whether due to trauma or disease. The system includes an inpatient component in an organization licensed as a hospital and an outpatient component. Each component endorses the active participation and choice of the persons served throughout the entire program. The Spinal Cord System of Care also provides or formally links with key components of care that address the lifelong needs of the persons served.

(b). This can include a highly structured program involving a team approach or can involve any of the components thereof. The interdisciplinary team should, at a minimum, be comprised of a qualified medical director who is board certified and trained in rehabilitation, a case manager, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychologist, rehabilitation RN and MD, and therapeutic recreation specialist. As appropriate, the team may also include: rehabilitation counselor, respiratory therapist, social worker, or speech-language pathologist.

(c). Timeframe durations for any spinal cord program should be determined based upon the extent of the patient's injury and at the discretion of the rehabilitation physician in charge.

7. Orthotics. Primary principles and objectives of the application of cervical orthosis include, control of the position through the use of control forces; application of corrective forces to abnormal curvatures; aid in spinal stability when soft tissues or osteoligamentous structures cannot sufficiently perform their role as spinal stabilizers; and restrict spinal segment movement after acute trauma or surgical procedure. In cases of traumatic cervical injury, the most important objective is the protection of the spinal cord and nerve root.

a. Cervical Collars

i. Soft Collars are well-tolerated by most patients but may not significantly restrict motion in any plane and are associated with delayed recovery. There is no evidence that their use promotes recovery from cervical sprain. In acute strain/sprain type injuries, use of cervical collars may prolong disability, limit early mobilization, promote psychological dependence, and limit self-activity. There is some evidence that patients encouraged to continue usual activity have less neck stiffness and headache than patients placed in cervical collars following motor vehicle crashes.

ii. Rigid Collars, such as a Philadelphia Orthosis, are useful post-operative or in emergency situations. These collars restrict flexion and extension motion, and to a lesser degree, lateral bending and rotation. Duration of wear post-surgery is dependent upon the surgeon and degree of cervical healing but is generally not used beyond eight weeks.

b. Poster Appliances: such as the Miami brace, restrict flexion and extension motion to about the same degree as a Philadelphia collar, and to a greater degree, lateral bending and rotation. Not recommended in sprain or strain injuries.

c. Cervicothoracic Orthosis: such as Yale and sternal occipital mandibular immobilization (SOMI) type braces, restrict flexion and extension motion to a fuller degree than the Philadelphia collar and to a better degree lateral bending and rotation. Not recommended in sprain or strain type injuries.

d. Halo Devices: are used in the treatment of cervical fracture, dislocation, and instability at the discretion of the treating surgeon. Refer to Halo Devices in the Operative Treatment section.

e. Other Orthosis Devices and Equipment: Special orthosis or equipment may have a role in the rehabilitation of a cervical injury such as those injuries to a cervical nerve root resulting in upper extremity weakness or a spinal cord injury with some degree of paraparesis or tetraparesis. Use of such devices would be in a structured rehabilitation setting as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program.

8. Patient education. No treatment plan is complete without addressing issues of individual and/or group patient education as a means of prolonging the beneficial effects of treatment, as well as, facilitating self-management of symptoms and injury prevention. The patient should be encouraged to take an active role in the establishment of functional outcome goals. They should be educated on their specific injury, assessment findings, and plan of treatment. Instruction on proper body mechanics and posture, positions to avoid, self-care for exacerbation of symptoms, and home exercise should also be addressed.

a. Time to Produce Effect: Varies with individual patient.

b. Frequency: Should occur at each visit.

9. Personality/psychological/psychiatric/ psychosocial intervention is a generally accepted, widely used, and well-established intervention. This group of therapeutic and diagnostic modalities includes, but is not limited to; individual counseling, group therapy, stress management, psychosocial crises intervention, hypnosis and meditation. Any evaluation or diagnostic workup should clarify and distinguish between pre-existing versus aggravated versus purely causative psychological conditions. Psychosocial intervention is recommended as an important component in the total management program that should be implemented as soon as the problem is identified. This can be used alone or in conjunction with other treatment modalities. Providers treating patients with chronic pain should refer to the Chronic Pain Disorder Medical Treatment Guidelines.

a. Time to Produce Effect: two to four weeks.

b. Frequency: one to three times weekly for the first four weeks (excluding hospitalization, if required), decreasing to one to two times per week for the second month. Thereafter, two to four times monthly.

c. Optimum Duration: six weeks to three months.

d. Maximum Duration: 3 to 12 months. Counseling is not intended to delay but to enhance functional recovery. For select patients, longer supervised treatment may be required, and if further counseling beyond three months is indicated, extensive documentation addressing which pertinent issues are preexisting versus aggravated versus causative, as well as projecting a realistic functional prognosis, should be provided by the authorized treating practitioner every four to six weeks during treatment.

10. Restriction of activities. There is some evidence to support the continuation of normal daily activities as the recommended treatment for acute and chronic cervical injuries without neurologic symptoms. Complete work cessation should be avoided, if possible, since it often further aggravates the pain presentation. Modified return-to-work is almost always more efficacious and rarely contraindicated in the vast majority of injured workers with cervical spine injuries.

11. Return-to-work: Early return-to-work should be a prime goal in treating occupational injuries given the poor return-to-work prognosis for an injured worker who has been out of work for more than six months. It is imperative that the patient be educated regarding the benefits of return-to-work, restrictions, and follow-up if problems arise. When attempting to return a patient to work after a specific injury, clear objective restrictions of activity level should be made. An accurate job description with detailed physical duty descriptions is often necessary to assist the physician in making return-to-work recommendations. This may require a jobsite evaluation.

a. Employers should be prepared to offer transitional work. This may consist of temporary work in a less demanding position, return to the regular job with restrictions, or gradual return to the regular job. Company policies which encourage return-to-work with positive communication are most likely to have decreased worker disability.

b. Return-to-work is defined as any work or duty that the patient is able to perform safely. It may not be the patient's regular work. Due to the large spectrum of injuries of varying severity and varying physical demands in the work place, it is not possible to make specific return-to-work guidelines for each injury. Therefore, the OWCA recommends the following.

i. Establishment of a Return-To-Work Status: Ascertaining a return-to-work status is part of medical care, should be included in the treatment and rehabilitation plan, and addressed at every visit. A description of daily activity limitations is part of any treatment plan and should be the basis for restriction of work activities. In most non-surgical cases, the patient should be able to return to work in some capacity or in an alternate position consistent with medical treatment within several days unless there are extenuating circumstances. Injuries requiring more than two weeks off work should be thoroughly documented.

ii. Establishment of Activity Level Restrictions: Communication is essential between the patient, employer, and provider to determine appropriate restrictions and return-to-work dates. It is the responsibility of the physician to provide clear concise restrictions, and it is the employer's responsibility to determine if temporary duties can be provided within the restrictions. For cervical spine injuries, the following should be addressed when describing the patient's activity level:

(a). Total body position including upper trunk, especially rotation and flexion. To include duration and frequency.

(b). Upper extremity requirements including reaching above the shoulder, repetitive motions, pushing, pulling, and lifting or carrying requirements. Duration and frequency should be included.

(c). Sitting duration and frequency with regard to posture, work height(s), and movements of the head and neck.

(d). Visual field requirements in respect to limitations in head and neck movements and tolerance to looking upward and downward.

(e). Use of adaptive devices or equipment for proper office ergonomics or to enhance capacities can be included.

(f). The effect of any medications that may pose a safety risk to the patient, co-workers or the general public should be considered with regard to the workplace and home.

iii. Compliance with Activity Restrictions: In some cases, compliance with restriction of activity levels may require a complete jobsite evaluation, a functional capacity evaluation (FCE), or other special testing. Refer to the "Special Tests" section of this guideline.

12. Therapy - Active . The following active therapies are widely used and accepted methods of care for a variety of work-related injuries. They are based on the philosophy that therapeutic exercise and/or activity are beneficial for restoring flexibility, strength, endurance, function, range-of-motion, and can alleviate discomfort. Active therapy requires an internal effort by the individual to complete a specific exercise or task. This form of therapy requires supervision from a therapist or medical provider such as verbal, visual, and/or tactile instruction(s). At times, the provider may help stabilize the patient or guide the movement pattern but the energy required to complete the task is predominately executed by the patient.

a. On occasion, specific diagnoses and post-surgical conditions may warrant durations of treatment beyond those listed as "maximum". Factors such as exacerbation of symptoms, re-injury, interrupted continuity of care and co-morbidities may also extend durations of care. Specific goals with objectively measured functional improvement during treatment must be cited to justify extended durations of care. It is recommended that, if no functional gain is observed after the number of treatments under "time to produce effect" has been completed alternative treatment interventions, further diagnostic studies or further consultations should be pursued.

b. Patients should be instructed to continue active therapies at home as an extension of the treatment process in order to maintain improvement levels. Follow-up visits to reinforce and monitor progress and proper technique are recommended. Home exercise can include exercise with or without mechanical assistance or resistance and functional activities with assistive devices.

c. The following active therapies are listed in alphabetical order.

i. Activities of Daily Living (ADL) are well-established interventions which involve instruction, active-assisted training, and/or adaptation of activities or equipment to improve a person's capacity in normal daily activities such as self-care, work re-integration training, homemaking, and driving.

(a). Time to Produce Effect: four to five treatments.

(b). Frequency: three to five times per week.

(c). Optimum Duration: four to six weeks.

(d). Maximum Duration: six weeks.

ii. Aquatic Therapy is a well-accepted treatment which consists of the therapeutic use of aquatic immersion for therapeutic exercise to promote strengthening, core stabilization, endurance, range-of-motion, flexibility, body mechanics, and pain management. Aquatic therapy includes the implementation of active therapeutic procedures in a swimming or therapeutic pool. The water provides a buoyancy force that lessens the amount of force gravity applies to the body. The decreased gravity effect allows the patient to have a mechanical advantage and more likely have a successful trial of therapeutic exercise. The therapy may be indicated for individuals who:

(a). cannot tolerate active land-based or full-weight bearing therapeutic procedures;

(b). require increased support in the presence of proprioceptive deficit;

(c). are at risk of compression fracture due to decreased bone density;

(d). have symptoms that are exacerbated in a dry environment;

(e). would have a higher probability of meeting active therapeutic goals than in a dry environment;

(f). the pool should be large enough to allow full extremity range-of-motion and fully erect posture. Aquatic vests, belts, and other devices may be used to provide stability, balance, buoyancy, and resistance.

(i). Time to Produce Effect: four to five treatments

(ii). Frequency: three to five times per week.

(iii). Optimum Duration: four to six weeks.

(iv). Maximum Duration: eight weeks.

(v.). A self-directed program is recommended after the supervised aquatics program has been established, or, alternatively a transition to a self-directed dry environment exercise program.

iii. Functional activities are well-established interventions which involve the use of therapeutic activities to enhance mobility, body mechanics, employability, coordination, balance, and sensory motor integration.

(a). Time to Produce Effect: four to five treatments

(b). Frequency: three to five times per week

(c). Optimum Duration: four to six weeks

(d). Maximum Duration: six weeks

iv. Functional electrical stimulation is an accepted treatment in which the application of electrical current to elicit involuntary or assisted contractions of atrophied and/or impaired muscles. It may be indicated for muscle atrophy due to radiculopathy.

(a). Time to Produce Effect: two to six treatments.

(b). Frequency: three times per week.

(c). Optimum Duration: eight weeks.

(d). Maximum Duration: eight weeks. If beneficial, provide with home unit.

v. Neuromuscular re-education is a generally accepted treatment. It is the skilled application of exercise with manual, mechanical, or electrical facilitation to enhance strength, movement patterns, neuromuscular response, proprioception, kinesthetic sense, and coordination, education of movement, balance, and posture. Indications include the need to promote neuromuscular responses through carefully timed proprioceptive stimuli, to elicit and improve motor activity in patterns similar to normal neurologically developed sequences, and improve neuromotor response with independent control.

(a). Time to Produce Effect: two to six treatments.

(b). Frequency: three times per week.

(c). Optimum Duration: four to eight weeks.

(d). Maximum Duration: eight weeks.

vi. Spinal stabilization is a generally accepted treatment. The goal of this therapeutic program is to strengthen the spine in its neural and anatomic position. The stabilization is dynamic which allows whole body movements while maintaining a stabilized spine. It is the ability to move and function normally through postures and activities without creating undue vertebral stress.

(a). Time to Produce Effect: four to eight treatments.

(b). Frequency: three to five times per week.

(c). Optimum Duration: four to eight weeks.

(d). Maximum Duration: eight weeks.

vii. Therapeutic exercise is a generally well-accepted treatment. Therapeutic exercise with or without mechanical assistance or resistance, may include isoinertial, isotonic, isometric and isokinetic types of exercises. Indications include the need for cardiovascular fitness, reduced edema, improved muscle strength, improved connective tissue strength and integrity, increased bone density, promotion of circulation to enhance soft tissue healing, improvement of muscle recruitment, improved proprioception and coordination, increased range-of-motion and are used to promote normal movement patterns. Therapeutic exercise can also include complementary/alternative exercise movement therapy (with oversight of a physician or appropriate healthcare professional).

(a). Time to Produce Effect: two to six treatments.

(b). Frequency: three to five times per week.

(c). Optimum Duration: four to eight weeks.

(d). Maximum Duration: eight weeks.

13. Therapy - Passive . Most of the following passive therapies and modalities are generally accepted methods of care for a variety of work-related injuries. Passive therapy includes those treatment modalities that do not require energy expenditure on the part of the patient. They are principally effective during the early phases of treatment and are directed at controlling symptoms such as pain, inflammation and swelling and to improve the rate of healing soft tissue injuries. They should be used adjunctively with active therapies such as postural stabilization and exercise programs to help control swelling, pain, and inflammation during the active rehabilitation process. Please refer to General Guideline Principles, Active Interventions. Passive therapies may be used intermittently as a therapist deems appropriate or regularly if there are specific goals with objectively measured functional improvements during treatment.

i. The following passive therapies are listed in alphabetical order:

(a). Electrical Stimulation (Unattended): is an accepted treatment. Once applied, unattended electrical stimulation requires minimal on-site supervision by the physical therapist, occupational therapist, or other provider. Indications include pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, atrophy, decreased circulation, and the need for osteogenic stimulation. A home unit should be purchased if treatment is effective and frequent use is recommended.

(i). Time to Produce Effect: two to four treatments.

(ii). Frequency: Varies, depending upon indication, between two to three times/day to 1 time/week. A home unit should be purchased if treatment is effective and frequent use is recommended.

(iii). Optimum Duration: four treatments for clinic use.

(iv). Maximum Duration: eight treatments for clinic use.

(b). Iontophoresis: is an accepted treatment which consists of the transfer of medication, including, but not limited to, steroidal anti-inflammatories and anesthetics, through the use of electrical stimulation. Indications include pain (Lidocaine), inflammation (hydrocortisone, salicylate), edema (mecholyl, hyaluronidase, salicylate), ischemia (magnesium, mecholyl, iodine), muscle spasm (magnesium, calcium), calcific deposits (acetate), scars, and keloids (sodium chloride, iodine, acetate). There is no proven benefit for this therapy in the cervical spine.

(i). Time to Produce Effect: one to four treatments.

(ii). Frequency: 3 times per week with at least 48 hours between treatments.

(iii). Optimum Duration: four to six weeks.

(iv). Maximum Duration: six weeks.

(c). Manipulation: is a generally accepted, well-established, and widely used therapeutic intervention for cervical pain. Manipulative treatment (not therapy) is defined as the therapeutic application of manually guided forces by an operator to improve physiologic function and/or support homeostasis that has been altered by the injury or occupational disease, and has associated clinical significance.

(i). High velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) technique, chiropractic manipulation, osteopathic manipulation, muscle energy techniques, counter strain, and non-force techniques are all types of manipulative treatment. This may be applied by osteopathic physicians (D.O.), chiropractors (D.C.), physical therapists (P.T.), occupational therapists (O.T.), or physicians. Under these different types of manipulation exist many subsets of different techniques that can be described as a) direct- a forceful engagement of a restrictive/pathologic barrier, b) indirect- a gentle/non-forceful dis-engagement of a restrictive/pathologic barrier, c) the patient actively assisting in the treatment and d) the patient relaxing, allowing the practitioner to move the body tissues. When the proper diagnosis is made and coupled with the appropriate technique, manipulation has no contraindications and can be applied to all tissues of the body. Pre-treatment assessment should be performed as part of each manipulative treatment visit to ensure that the correct diagnosis and correct treatment is employed.

(ii). High velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) manipulation is performed by taking a joint to its end range of motion and moving the articulation into the zone of accessory joint movement, well within the limits of anatomical integrity. There is good scientific evidence to suggest that HVLA manipulation can be effective for relieving pain and decreasing muscle spasm to improve function for patients with cervical pain. There is some evidence to show that manipulation of the cervical spine with exercise may be effective prophylactic treatment for cervicogenic headaches. Contraindications to HVLA manipulation include joint instability, fractures, severe osteoporosis, infection, metastatic cancer, active inflammatory arthritides, and signs of progressive neurologic deficits, myelopathy, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, or carotid artery disease. Relative contraindications include stenosis, spondylosis, and disc herniation.

b. Manipulation / Grade I - V

i. Time to produce effect for all types of manipulative treatment: one to six treatments.

ii. Frequency: Up to three times per week for the first four weeks as indicated by the severity of involvement and the desired effect, then up to two treatments per week for the next four weeks. For further treatments, twice per week or less to maintain function.

iii. Optimum Duration: 8 to 12 weeks.

iv. Maximum Duration: three months. Extended durations of care beyond what is considered "maximum" may be necessary in cases of re-injury, interrupted continuity of care, exacerbation of symptoms, and in those patients with comorbidities. Refer to the Chronic Pain Guidelines for care beyond three months.

c. Manipulation under General Anesthesia (MUA) refers to manual manipulation of the cervical spine in combination with the use of a general anesthetic or conscious sedation. It is intended to improve the success of manipulation when pain, muscle spasm, guarding, and fibrosis appear to be limiting its application in patients otherwise suitable for its use. There have been no high quality studies to justify MUAs benefits. Given the risks of general anesthetic and conscious sedation, it is not recommended.

d. Manipulation under Joint Anesthesia (MUJA) refers to manipulation of the cervical spine in combination with a fluoroscopically guided injection of anesthetic with or without corticosteroid agents into the facet joint at the level being manipulated. There are no controlled clinical trials to support its use. It is not recommended.

e. Massage. Manual or Mechanical. Massage is a generally well-accepted treatment consisting of manipulation of soft tissue with broad ranging relaxation and circulatory benefits. This may include stimulation of acupuncture points and acupuncture channels (acupressure), application of suction cups and techniques that include pressing, lifting, rubbing, pinching of soft tissues by or with the practitioner's hands. Indications include edema (peripheral or hard and non-pliable edema), muscle spasm, adhesions, the need to improve peripheral circulation and range-of-motion, or to increase muscle relaxation and flexibility prior to exercise.

i. As with all passive therapies, massage must be accompanied by exercise and patient education.

ii. Mobilization - Grade I - V

(a). Time to Produce Effect: Immediate

(b). Frequency: one to two times per week

(c). Optimum Duration: six weeks

(d). Maximum Duration: two months

f. Mobilization (Joint) is a generally well-accepted treatment consisting of passive movement involving oscillatory motions to the vertebral segment(s). The passive mobility is performed in a graded manner (I, II, III, IV, or V), which depicts the speed and depth of joint motion during the maneuver. For further discussion on Level V joint mobilization please see section on HVLA manipulation [Section 12. c.]. It may include skilled manual joint tissue stretching. Indications include the need to improve joint play, segmental alignment, improve intracapsular arthrokinematics, or reduce pain associated with tissue impingement. Mobilization should be accompanied by active therapy. For Level V mobilization, contraindications include joint instability, fractures, severe osteoporosis, infection, metastatic cancer, active inflammatory arthritis, and signs of progressive neurologic deficits, myelopathy, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, or carotid artery disease. Relative contraindications include stenosis, spondylosis, and disc herniation.

i. Time to Produce Effect: six to nine treatments.

ii. Frequency: Up to three times per week.

iii. Optimum Duration: four to six weeks.

iv. Maximum Duration: six weeks.

g. Intramuscular Manual Therapy: Dry Needling. IMT involves using filament needles to treat "Trigger Points" within muscle. It may require multiple advances of a filament needle to achieve a local twitch response to release muscle tension and pain. Dry needling is an effective treatment for acute and chronic pain of neuropathic origin with very few side effects. Dry needling is a technique to treat the neuro-musculoskeletal system based on pain patterns, muscular dysfunction and other orthopedic signs and symptoms.

i. Time to produce effect: immediate

ii. Frequency: one to two times a week

iii. Optimum duration: 6 weeks

iv. Maximum duration: 2 months

h. Mobilization (Soft Tissue): is a generally well-accepted treatment. Mobilization of soft tissue is the skilled application of muscle energy, strain/counter strain, myofascial release, manual trigger point release, and other manual therapy techniques designed to improve or normalize movement patterns through the reduction of soft tissue pain and restrictions. These can be interactive with the patient participating or can be with the patient relaxing and letting the practitioner move the body tissues. Indications include muscle spasm around a joint, trigger points, adhesions, and neural compression. Mobilization should be accompanied by active therapy.

i. Time to Produce Effect: four to nine treatments.

ii. Frequency: Up to three times per week.

iii. Optimum Duration: four to six weeks.

iv. Maximum Duration: six weeks.

i Short-Wave Diathermy is an accepted treatment which involves the use of equipment that exposes soft tissue to a magnetic or electrical field. Indications include enhanced collagen extensibility before stretching, reduced muscle guarding, reduced inflammatory response, and enhanced reabsorption of hemorrhage/hematoma or edema.

i. Time to Produce Effect: two to four treatments

ii. Frequency: two to three times per week up to three weeks

iii. Optimum Duration: three to five weeks

iv. Maximum Duration: five weeks

j. Superficial Heat and Cold Therapy (excluding Infrared Therapy) is a generally accepted treatment. Superficial heat and cold are thermal agents applied in various manners that lower or raise the body tissue temperature for the reduction of pain, inflammation, and/or effusion resulting from injury or induced by exercise. It includes application of heat just above the surface of the skin at acupuncture points. Indications include acute pain, edema and hemorrhage, need to increase pain threshold, reduce muscle spasm, and promote stretching/flexibility. Cold and heat packs can be used at home as an extension of therapy in the clinic setting. Continuous cryotherapy units with compression are allowable in post-surgical orthopedic patients.

i. Time to Produce Effect: Immediate

ii. Frequency: two to five times per week

iii. Maximum Duration: 30 days

k. Traction-Manual - is an accepted treatment and an integral part of manual manipulation or joint mobilization. Indications include decreased joint space, muscle spasm around joints, and the need for increased synovial nutrition and response. Manual traction is contraindicated in patients with tumor, infection, fracture, or fracture dislocation.

i. Time to Produce Effect: one to three sessions

ii. Frequency: two to three times per week

iii. Optimum Duration: 30 days

iv. Maximum Duration: one month

l. Traction. Mechanical is a generally accepted treatment and most commonly used for patients with radicular findings. It is sometimes used to treat symptoms from decreased joint space and muscle spasm around the joints. If successful it should be shifted to home traction. Traction modalities are contraindicated in patients with tumor, infections, fracture, or fracture dislocation. Non-oscillating inversion traction methods are contraindicated in patients with glaucoma or hypertension. A home cervical traction unit may be purchased if therapy proves effective.

i. Time to Produce Effect: 1 to 3 sessions up to 30 minutes. If response is negative after 3 treatments, discontinue this modality

ii. Frequency: two to three times per week. A home cervical traction unit may be purchased if therapy proves effective.

iii. Optimum Duration: four weeks.

iv. Maximum Duration: four weeks.

m. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a generally accepted treatment which should include at least one instructional session for proper application and use. Indications include muscle spasm, atrophy, and decreased circulation and pain control. Minimal TENS unit parameters should include pulse rate, pulse width and amplitude modulation. Consistent, measurable, functional improvement must be documented prior to the purchase of a home unit.

i. Time to Produce Effect: Immediate

ii. Frequency: Variable

iii. Optimum Duration: three sessions

iv. Maximum Duration: three sessions. Purchase or provide with home unit if effective.

n. Ultrasound (including phonophoresis) is an accepted treatment which uses sonic generators to deliver acoustic energy for therapeutic thermal and/or non-thermal soft tissue effects. Indications include scar tissue, adhesions, collagen fiber and muscle spasm, and the need to extend muscle tissue or accelerate the soft tissue healing. Ultrasound with electrical stimulation is concurrent delivery of electrical energy that involves dispersive electrode placement. Indications include muscle spasm, scar tissue, pain modulation, and muscle facilitation.

i. Phonophoresis is the transfer of medication through the use of sonic generators to the target tissue to control inflammation and pain. These topical medications include, but are not limited to, steroidal anti-inflammatory and anesthetics.

(a). Time to Produce Effect: 6 to 15 treatments

(b). Frequency: three times per week

(c). Optimum Duration: four to eight weeks

(d). Maximum Duration: eight weeks

14. Vocational Rehabilitation is a generally accepted intervention. Initiation of vocational rehabilitation requires adequate evaluation of patients for quantification highest functional level, motivation, and achievement of maximum medical improvement. Vocational rehabilitation may be as simple as returning to the original job or as complicated as being retrained for a new occupation.

a. It may also be beneficial for full vocational rehabilitation to be started before MMI if it is evident that the injured worker will be unable to return to his/her previous occupation. A positive goal and direction may aid the patient in decreasing stress and depression and promote optimum rehabilitation.

La. Admin. Code tit. 40, § I-2009

Promulgated by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Office of Workers Compensation Administration, LR 37:1640 (June 2011), amended by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Office of Workers Compensation, LR 40:1126 (June 2014), Amended LR 49518 (3/1/2023).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 23:1203.1.