The guidelines developed by the New York State Workers Compensation Board aim to assist physicians, and other healthcare professionals in providing appropriate treatment for Knee Injury.
Crafted for healthcare professionals, these Workers Compensation Board guidelines provide support in determining the appropriate level of care for individuals with Knee Injury.
It is essential to emphasize that these guidelines do not serve as a replacement for clinical judgement or professional experience. The final decision regarding care should be a collaborative one, involving the patient in consultation with their healthcare provider.
These guidelines are not a substitute for clinical judgement or professional experience. The ultimate decision regarding care must be made by the patient in consultation with his or her healthcare provider.
Therapeutic Procedures: Non-Operative
Before the initiation of any therapeutic procedure, the authorized treating provider, employer, and insurer must consider these critical factors in the care of the injured worker. Firstly, patients undergoing therapeutic procedure(s) should be released or returned to modified, restricted, or full duty during their rehabilitation at the earliest appropriate time.
Secondly, 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. Thirdly, 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. In unusual cases where a patient is unable to attend an outpatient center, home therapy may be necessary.
Home therapy may include active and passive therapeutic procedures as well as other modalities to assist in alleviating pain, swelling, and abnormal muscle tone. Home therapy is usually of short duration.
