[Physical therapy of patients in general practice. Role of the main groups of physical therapy methods in acute and chronic problems of the locomotor system].

The choice of a treatment concept in physical therapy largely depends on whether the presenting functional disorder is of an acute or of a chronic nature. The classification acute or chronic has to be made according to two criteria: acute or chronic course in time/acute or chronic type of disorder. The main concern of physical therapy is prophylaxis of chronic disorders. Chronification of symptoms quite often leads to human tragedy and, moreover, to higher costs, since the total medical and social costs for the chronic cases are higher than those for acute cases. The general practitioner has an important function in the prophylaxis of chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Three to four weeks after the onset of the symptoms he should perform a special evaluation of every patient, thereby assessing the risk of chronification. When a chronic course is considered to be probable, an activating treatment concept should be initiated which in general comprises the following components: comprehensive information and instruction, active exercising (especially training therapy), self mobilization and soonest possible return to work within the limits of stress the condition can be exposed to.