Conclusions
Physical therapists currently use some CBT interventions in the care of older patients with chronic pain, especially those interventions associated with increasing patients’ activity levels through activity pacing and counseling on scheduling pleasurable activities. Physical therapists indicate interest in incorporating CBT techniques into practice, with strongest interest in cognitive restructuring. Barriers that limit the current use of CBT include lack of knowledge in the use of the techniques, concerns with reimbursement, and treatment time constraints. Examining a wider array of physical therapy treatments, the most frequently used interventions involve active exercise, with fewer therapists reporting use of more-passive techniques such as physical agents and manual therapy. Future research into the use of CBT by physical therapists should address methods to reduce the barriers to incorporating CBT into practice and examine the effectiveness of a combined physical therapy-CBT approach to the management of chronic pain.