13 reasons why your musculoskeletal injury prevention program should include virtual PT

A musculoskeletal injury prevention program (MIPP) can help to keep your employees safe, healthy, and happy at work. Ideally, your MIPP will reduce work-related injuries to the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs, which can lead to fewer sick days and increased productivity.

Unfortunately, sometimes musculoskeletal injuries are inevitable, especially among employees whose jobs involve heavy lifting, overhead work that requires bending the neck, and repetitive high-impact tasks. A 2018 study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, of the 2.9 million nonfatal injuries that occurred in 2016, 30% of them took the form of sprains, strains and tears caused by overexertion.

That’s why every MIPP should account for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders just as much as prevention. While ergonomic equipment and training can help reduce the number of injuries that occur on the job, physical therapy can help your employees recoup, recover and come back stronger after they’re injured.

Below, we’re going to discuss why virtual physical therapy is a great option that you should consider adding to your MIPP.

13 reasons to add virtual PT to your practice’s musculoskeletal injury prevention program

Here are some of the benefits virtual PT offers to employees:

1. Undeniable convenience — Your employees work hard all day. Virtual PT alleviates the need for them to drive to the therapist’s office, giving them more time to rest, relax, and spend time with their families before and after their PT sessions.

2. Easy setup — Virtual PT is designed to give everyone access to professional physical therapy services, no matter where they live. All your employees need are a reliable internet connection, a mobile device with a camera and enough space to perform their exercises.

3. Faster scheduling — Our data shows that virtual PT offers 60% faster scheduling than in-person visits. Offering it as part of your musculoskeletal injury prevention program allows your employees to see a specialist faster so they can get the ball rolling with the recovery process.

4. Hybrid care offerings — Some physical therapy clinics offer hybrid services that include both in-person care and virtual PT for clients who require face-to-face sessions for manual therapy and other treatment methods.

5. Treating the same conditions as in-person PT — Physical therapists can treat many if not all of the same conditions online as they can in person. Whether your employees are recovering from an injury, suffering from arthritis or struggling with general MSK pain, physical therapy can treat your employees for a wide range of ailments.

6. Aiding in pain relief — The CDC estimates that 7.4% of U.S. adults suffer from chronic pain that limits their ability to live or work comfortably. A physical therapist can remotely walk them through exercises designed to improve their posture and reduce pain in their daily lives.

7. Helping employees recover from surgery — If an employee undergoes surgery for a musculoskeletal disorder, virtual physical therapy can help them regain strength and flexibility in the affected area so they can return to work with confidence.

8. Helping prevent future pain and injuries — Your employee’s physical therapist will offer advice on how to move and carry their body as they perform their job, ideally helping them avoid future back injuries, ankle sprains and other ailments. This is one of the primary reasons why it’s an integral part of your musculoskeletal injury prevention program.

9. Personalized long-term care — Just like with in-person physical therapy, virtual PT allows your employees to meet with the same therapist for their entire course of treatment. Your employee’s clinician will develop and implement a personalized plan to meet the employee’s needs.

11. Reduced costs — While every practice offers different pricing plans, our virtual PT services save patients up to 47% on treatment. An outside study found that, on average, telehealth visits cost almost half the price of in-person treatment. Not to mention, preventive musculoskeletal maintenance can help reduce the need for expensive surgery procedures.

12. Covered by insurance — Many insurance companies cover virtual PT and other telehealth services. Many virtual PT providers give patients the option to pay with insurance or to pay directly if they wish.

13. Proven outcomes — An impressive93% of our virtual PT patients saw a decrease in pain after care. While we can’t speak to the efficacy of every clinic’s services, we’re happy with those results!

How to find a virtual PT provider for your musculoskeletal injury prevention program

Agile PT has a large network of partners providing virtual physical therapy services all over the country. By joining our network, you can give your employees access to high-end virtual PT care that can help them avoid and recover from work-related injuries.

Remember, every good musculoskeletal injury prevention program offers resources for recovery in addition to prevention training.

Contact us today to learn how you can bring virtual PT into your musculoskeletal injury prevention program.