Should I see a physical therapist virtually?

Some people who are looking for help with pain will try to stick with treatment options that they know well. Others will be open to trying treatment options that they have never used before. However, either type of person should consider seeing a physical therapist virtually to address their pain.

Virtual physical therapy is a type of virtual health care service that grew significantly during 2020. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reports that their patients’ visits shifted from only about 5% virtual to nearly 93% virtual in just a few weeks during 2020. This vast shift in the type of services used was primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but people who are worried about this virus aren’t the only ones who should consider seeing a physical therapist virtually.

Who should see a physical therapist virtually?

There are many people who should consider having a virtual physical therapy session, including:

1. Rural patients — There is a wealth of medical research that shows that rural patients have less access to health care services. The National Rural Health Association reveals that rural patients have access to only 30 medical specialists per every 100,000 people. Comparatively, there are 263 specialists available per every 100,000 urban residents. Virtual services like virtual PT can help more rural patients gain access to specialty health care without going far from home.

2. Patients who have difficulty leaving home — There are a variety of  issues that can keep people stuck at home. Significant joint pain caused by osteoarthritis is one such issue. Other issues that can keep people homebound include:

• Ankle sprains.
• Knee injuries.
• Back pain.

With virtual physical therapy, there’s no need to go anywhere. People who have access to an internet connection and some basic equipment can meet with a certified physical therapist right in their own home.

3. Patients who want PT to have a smaller impact on their schedule — Don’t feel like you can squeeze physical therapy into your busy schedule? You aren’t alone. Between the driving time, waiting to see the physical therapist and the session itself, a physical therapy appointment can take quite a chunk of time.

One reason so many people are choosing to see a physical therapist virtually is that doing so tends to have less of an impact on their schedules. For instance, you can skip the driving time. It’s also less likely that you’ll spend weeks waiting for your appointment if you do your physical therapy virtually.

Check out Agile Virtual PT if you want to see a physical therapist virtually

Still trying to decide if you should see a physical therapist virtually? Let our Agile Virtual PT team of more than 400 licensed clinicians help you learn if virtual physical therapy is right for you. We can do so using one of our free virtual screenings. Even better, using our services can help reduce your pain. Our data shows that 93% of our patients reported a drop in pain after their virtual sessions. Contact our team today for more information about all the virtual physical therapy services we offer or to schedule your initial appointment.