What Virtual Physical Therapy Can (and Can’t) Do: A Clinician’s Perspective

As the world continues its shift toward digital solutions, healthcare is no exception. Gone are the days of humorous AI-generated images with too many fingers and exaggerated facial features—AI is here to stay. With the rise of telehealth and digital products, the question arises: How does physical therapy fit into the virtual healthcare landscape?

While virtual physical therapy has limitations, certain conditions are particularly well-suited for a digital approach. Patients focused on improving posture, functional strength, and balance can benefit from a skilled therapist guiding them virtually as they progress through their exercise programs. Those who are 6-8 weeks post-injury and no longer require hands-on treatment are also ideal candidates for virtual care. Companies like Sword Health, Kemtai, and Kaia Health are leveraging cutting-edge technology to provide personalized feedback as patients perform exercises. This eliminates the need for patients to commute, arrange childcare, or take time off work to attend in-person sessions. Meanwhile, clinicians benefit from a break from the constant demands of traditional outpatient clinic settings, allowing them to focus more on patient outcomes.

Several aspects of physical therapy lend themselves naturally to virtual care. Patient education—one of the most valuable tools in a physical therapist's toolbox—transitions seamlessly into a digital format. Therapists can provide essential information about healing timelines, the purpose of specific exercises, and expected recovery progress. Virtual platforms also offer the opportunity for therapists to spend more time educating patients on energy conservation techniques, pain neuroscience, and even nutrition. Furthermore, the ability to see inside a patient's home allows therapists to make personalized suggestions for modifying their living space to improve outcomes, such as repositioning furniture to encourage more movement or removing rugs to reduce fall risks.

This model also has the potential to alleviate some of the strain on an already overburdened healthcare workforce. By treating higher-functioning patients virtually, clinicians can free up time and resources in traditional clinic settings to focus on manual therapy, lower-function patients who require physical assistance, vestibular treatments, and more complex balance cases. Patients who require close monitoring for medical conditions or who have symptoms that may warrant a referral to another provider are not suitable candidates for virtual therapy.

Importantly, virtual physical therapy supports treatment adherence. With the ability to offer real-time feedback and maintain meaningful conversations, therapists can ensure patients stay on track with their goals—potentially with greater consistency than in traditional clinic visits. By removing barriers such as travel and scheduling conflicts, more patients can access care on their own terms, without disrupting their daily routines.

Telehealth for mental health professionals has flourished since the COVID-19 pandemic, and while some elements of physical therapy may not fully translate to virtual care just yet, it is clear that digital healthcare is the future. Introducing patients to this evolving landscape now can help set them up for long-term success in an increasingly digital world.

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