Early Physical Therapy and EMS Interventions in Emergency Departments for Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries: Impact on Recovery Time and Hospital Throughput
Alwadani, S., Al-Mutairi, A., Alotaibi, A., Albloushi, S., Alrajeh, A., Albalawi, M., Albalawi, A. (2025). Early Physical Therapy and EMS Interventions in Emergency Departments for Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries: Impact on Recovery Time and Hospital Throughput. EKB Journal Management System, 7(3), 436-446. doi: 10.21608/jmals.2025.445207
Sadiq Jayban Hassan Alwadani; Abdulaziz Shabib Al-Mutairi; Ahlam Nasser Abdullah Alotaibi; Shrouq Hamad Albloushi; Abdulazeez Mansour Alrajeh; Mohammed Faleh Albalawi; Amid Muteb Obaid Albalawi. "Early Physical Therapy and EMS Interventions in Emergency Departments for Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries: Impact on Recovery Time and Hospital Throughput". EKB Journal Management System, 7, 3, 2025, 436-446. doi: 10.21608/jmals.2025.445207
Alwadani, S., Al-Mutairi, A., Alotaibi, A., Albloushi, S., Alrajeh, A., Albalawi, M., Albalawi, A. (2025). 'Early Physical Therapy and EMS Interventions in Emergency Departments for Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries: Impact on Recovery Time and Hospital Throughput', EKB Journal Management System, 7(3), pp. 436-446. doi: 10.21608/jmals.2025.445207
Alwadani, S., Al-Mutairi, A., Alotaibi, A., Albloushi, S., Alrajeh, A., Albalawi, M., Albalawi, A. Early Physical Therapy and EMS Interventions in Emergency Departments for Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries: Impact on Recovery Time and Hospital Throughput. EKB Journal Management System, 2025; 7(3): 436-446. doi: 10.21608/jmals.2025.445207

Early Physical Therapy and EMS Interventions in Emergency Departments for Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries: Impact on Recovery Time and Hospital Throughput

Journal of Medical and Life Science
Volume 7, Issue 3, September 2025, Page 436-446  XML PDF (1.03 MB)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/jmals.2025.445207
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Authors
Sadiq Jayban Hassan Alwadani* 1; Abdulaziz Shabib Al-Mutairi2; Ahlam Nasser Abdullah Alotaibi3; Shrouq Hamad Albloushi3; Abdulazeez Mansour Alrajeh3; Mohammed Faleh Albalawi4; Amid Muteb Obaid Albalawi4
1Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Khamis Mushait, Aseer, KSA
2Northern Armed Forces Hospital, KSA
3Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA
4King Salman Hospital in the Northwest, KSA
Abstract
Background: Acute musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries, including strains, sprains, and fractures, account for 20–30% of emergency department (ED) visits, contributing to overcrowding and prolonged hospital stays. Traditional management relies on delayed outpatient physical therapy (PT) and pharmacologic interventions, which may lead to chronic pain and increased healthcare costs. Emerging evidence suggests that early PT and optimized emergency medical services (EMS) protocols can enhance recovery and reduce ED congestion.
Aim: This study evaluates the impact of early PT and EMS interventions on recovery time, hospital throughput, and patient outcomes in acute MSK injuries.
Methods: A review of clinical studies, retrospective analyses, and prospective trials was conducted, focusing on early PT in EDs and pre-hospital EMS interventions. Key outcomes included pain reduction, functional recovery, ED length of stay (LOS), and healthcare costs.
Results: Early PT significantly reduced pain (median score: 1 vs. 4 in delayed PT) and disability (9% vs. 33.4%). It also decreased ED revisits, opioid use, and costs ($3,806 vs. $8,689 per patient). EMS interventions, including early immobilization and triage, improved hospital throughput but lacked robust standalone evidence.
Conclusion: Integrating early PT and EMS protocols in EDs enhances recovery, reduces costs, and optimizes resource use. Barriers include staffing shortages and inconsistent implementation. Future research should focus on randomized trials and cost-effectiveness analyses.
Keywords
Early physical therapy; EMS; musculoskeletal injuries; emergency department; recovery time; hospital throughput
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