Virtual physical therapy, also known as telehealth physical therapy, has emerged as a transformative force in the healthcare industry, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This innovative approach allows patients to receive physical therapy services remotely, using digital communication tools such as video conferencing, mobile apps, and wearable devices.
Moreover, studies have shown that the outcomes of virtual physical therapy are comparable to those of traditional in-person sessions for many conditions, including musculoskeletal issues and post-surgical rehabilitation. The integration of digital tools, such as motion sensors and biofeedback systems, further enhances the effectiveness of virtual therapy by providing real-time feedback and personalized exercise programs.
In this article, we will explore the 9 best virtual physical therapy services available today, highlighting their unique features, benefits, and how they cater to the diverse needs of patients.
1. Pain Management Consultation
Virtual Physical Therapy with Sophia Anderson, PT, DPT, provides a comprehensive and personalized approach to pain management and physical rehabilitation, allowing patients to receive expert physical therapy from the comfort of their own homes. Each patient gets a customized treatment plan tailored to their specific needs and conditions, developed after thorough assessments by Sophia Anderson, a licensed physical therapist with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. This virtual format eliminates the need for travel, making it easier for patients to fit therapy sessions into their busy schedules, which is particularly beneficial for those with mobility issues or living in remote areas.
The initial consultations involve detailed evaluations of the patient’s medical history, current physical condition, and specific pain points, ensuring a holistic understanding of the patient’s needs. Therapy sessions are conducted via video calls, enabling real-time interaction and feedback. Patients can demonstrate their movements and exercises, and Sophia can provide immediate corrections and adjustments. Regular follow-up sessions monitor progress and make necessary adjustments to the treatment plan, ensuring that patients continually move towards their recovery goals.
Patients also have access to a wealth of educational materials, including exercise videos, instructional guides, and wellness tips, helping them understand their conditions better and stay motivated throughout their recovery journey.
2. Agile Virtual PT
Agile Virtual PT is a comprehensive telehealth platform offering personalized virtual physical therapy from licensed therapists across the country. Their services begin with a personalized care plan. During the initial video consultation, a therapist discusses the patient’s condition, symptoms, limitations, and goals, then creates a treatment plan tailored to the individual’s needs.
Patients benefit from working with the same physical therapist throughout their entire course of treatment. This consistency allows for continuity of care and helps build a strong patient-therapist relationship. Agile therapists treat a wide range of conditions, including musculoskeletal injuries and pain, post-surgical rehabilitation, chronic conditions, women’s health issues like pelvic floor dysfunction, oncology rehabilitation, and more. Their clinicians have specialized training in various areas.
Agile Virtual PT provides convenient access to care with therapists licensed in over 40 states, ensuring that patients can receive virtual physical therapy regardless of their location. Appointments can be scheduled at convenient times, including nights and weekends. Patients also have 24/7 access to their treatment plan, exercise videos, and the ability to message their therapist through a secure online portal.
Additionally, Agile partners with employers to offer virtual physical therapy as an affordable musculoskeletal care solution for their employees, making it a practical option for both individuals and organizations seeking effective health care solutions.
3. CityPT Virtual
CityPT Virtual offers online physical therapy services that emphasize personalized care and patient education. Each patient receives an individualized treatment plan tailored to their specific condition, goals, and needs. The therapists customize the exercises and interventions accordingly, ensuring that each patient gets the most appropriate care.
To support patients in performing their exercises correctly, CityPT provides access to video demonstrations of prescribed exercises. This allows patients to see the proper form and technique, enhancing the effectiveness of their home exercise program.
CityPT virtual therapists are equipped to treat a variety of musculoskeletal issues, including back and neck pain, sports injuries, post-surgical recovery, chronic pain, and neurological conditions. This diverse expertise ensures that patients receive comprehensive care for a wide range of conditions.
A significant aspect of CityPT’s approach is patient education. By helping patients understand their condition and recovery process, therapists empower them to manage their health better. This includes providing guidance on body mechanics, injury prevention, and self-management strategies.
One of the key advantages of CityPT Virtual is the convenience it offers. Patients can schedule virtual appointments at flexible times, eliminating the need to travel to a clinic. Additionally, CityPT strives to maintain continuity of care by having patients work with the same therapist throughout their treatment whenever possible.
4. Greylock Physical Therapy
Greylock Physical Therapy (GPT) is a private physical therapy practice based in Lanesborough, Massachusetts. They offer self-pay virtual telehealth services conducted by Lisa J. Baumgart, MPT, FAFS, IFNCP.
During these virtual sessions, Baumgart provides one-on-one care tailored to each patient’s needs. The sessions focus on education about self-mobilization techniques and individualized exercises to improve mobility and strength.
Patients can complete the virtual telehealth appointments from anywhere using a smartphone, computer or tablet. The virtual platform used is Doxy.me, which is user-friendly and HIPAA-compliant for secure video conferencing.
The cost for a virtual telehealth session with Lisa Baumgart is $70 per 30-minute session. Patients can purchase the desired session length in advance on GPT’s website and then call to schedule their appointment time.
Lisa Baumgart has over 15 years of experience as a physical therapist. She is a Fellow of Applied Functional Science (FAFS) and an Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner (IFNCP) through the Integrative & Functional Nutrition Academy. Her approach focuses on restoring functional movement patterns.
5. Virtual Physical Therapists (VPT)
Virtual Physical Therapists (VPT) is a national telehealth platform that connects patients with highly trained physical therapy clinicians for online consultations and treatment.
VPT offers services through their website and user-friendly mobile app available on iOS and Android. Patients can create a free account, view clinician profiles and ratings, and schedule secure video visits.
During a virtual consultation, the physical therapist is able to evaluate the patient’s movements, identify problems, and provide an exercise program tailored to their specific condition and needs. The video platform allows two-way visual communication.
VPT’s clinicians are able to assess and treat a wide range of musculoskeletal issues like sprains/strains, tendinitis, arthritis, back/neck pain, shoulder issues, hip/knee pain, and more. They can also help with vestibular dysfunction and TMJ disorders in certain states.
After the virtual consultation, patients receive a summary with their home exercise program and recommendations via a video link to reference between sessions.
The service is designed to provide convenient access to specialized physical therapy care from any location. VPT highlights the benefits of no commuting, evening/weekend availability, and the ability to get treatment right away instead of waiting.
6. A Step Ahead Physical Therapy
A Step Ahead Physical Therapy (ASAPT) offers telehealth services to help patients manage musculoskeletal conditions from their homes. This service is especially useful for those who cannot attend in-person sessions due to scheduling conflicts, mobility issues, or the need to maintain social distancing.
ASAPT provides telehealth services at a cash price of $45 per 15-minute increment, with a maximum cost of $180 for a one-hour session. These sessions are conducted via video conference, enabling therapists to hear patient concerns, assess conditions, and provide appropriate exercises or advice. During these telehealth sessions, patients receive one-on-one attention from their physical therapist. This personalized approach ensures that each patient’s unique needs are addressed, and the therapist can observe the patient’s home environment, offering additional insights into their condition and daily challenges.
While telehealth services are available on a self-pay basis, ASAPT’s Front Office Coordinator can verify if the service is covered by the patient’s insurance, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs.
ASAPT’s telehealth services can treat a variety of conditions, including injury rehabilitation, chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia and Parkinson’s disease, sports medicine and athletic training, respiratory issues, post-surgical rehabilitation, headaches and migraines, back pain, and arthritis pain.
7. Kaia Health
Kaia Health offers an innovative virtual physical therapy program through an app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to guide users through their exercises. This program is designed to provide comprehensive care for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions by combining advanced technology with human support to improve treatment outcomes.
One of the key features of Kaia Health’s app is its AI-powered motion coaching. This technology provides real-time feedback on exercise performance by tracking the user’s movements through their smartphone camera. The app then offers corrections and suggestions to ensure exercises are performed correctly. Additionally, the app creates personalized therapy plans based on the user’s pain level, pain location, and daily feedback, ensuring that each user receives a therapy plan tailored to their specific needs and progress. Users also have unlimited access to certified health coaches through the in-app chat feature, providing additional guidance, motivation, and support to help them stay on track with their therapy goals.
Kaia Health’s app provides comprehensive care with a variety of exercises, including physiotherapeutic strengthening exercises and relaxation and stress management techniques. It also offers educational resources to help users understand their condition and manage their pain more effectively. The app is designed to address a wide range of MSK conditions such as back pain, neck pain, joint pain, post-surgical rehabilitation, and chronic pain management.
The app offers several benefits, including 24/7 accessibility, allowing users to engage in their therapy at any time and from any location. It is cost-effective, helping to reduce healthcare costs by minimizing the need for in-person visits. The app is often covered by health plans or employers, making it an affordable option for many users.
Additionally, the exercises and techniques provided by the app are evidence-based and follow guidelines recommended by the American College of Physicians, having been clinically validated to be as effective as traditional physical therapy.
8. Agile Physical Therapy
Agile Physical Therapy (Agile PT) is a private practice that specializes in providing comprehensive telehealth services through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. Their virtual approach aims to deliver personalized, high-quality care directly to patients in the comfort of their own homes.
Agile PT conducts virtual physical therapy sessions using a user-friendly video conferencing platform. This setup allows patients to remotely connect with their therapists for evaluations, exercise guidance, and real-time feedback. During these sessions, Agile PT’s licensed physical therapists create customized exercise programs tailored to each patient’s specific condition, needs, and goals. They guide patients through these exercises, offering demonstrations and modifications as necessary.
The virtual physical therapy services at Agile PT are designed to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including sports injuries, post-operative rehabilitation, back and neck pain, and joint pain. By providing telehealth services, Agile PT offers patients the convenience of receiving physical therapy care from home, thus eliminating the need for travel and reducing wait times associated with in-person visits.
Agile PT is committed to ensuring a seamless and effective virtual experience for their patients. During telehealth sessions, therapists utilize household items to assess strength and range of motion, ensuring a thorough evaluation and treatment plan. Additionally, Agile PT provides patients with access to a downloadable app that contains videos of their personalized exercise programs, allowing them to continue their therapy anytime, anywhere.
9. ATI Physical Therapy
ATI Physical Therapy’s CONNECT platform is a comprehensive telehealth solution that offers virtual physical therapy services with licensed therapists. The platform is designed to deliver the same high-quality care as in-person visits, allowing patients to continue their recovery from the comfort of their homes.
CONNECT provides one-on-one virtual sessions with licensed physical therapists, occupational therapists, and specialized therapists. During these sessions, patients receive personalized evaluations, treatment plans, and guidance from experienced clinicians. Therapists create customized care plans tailored to each patient’s specific condition, goals, and environment, guiding them through exercises, providing real-time feedback, and making necessary modifications.
The platform is designed to be user-friendly, featuring a secure video platform and a dedicated app for scheduling appointments, messaging therapists, tracking progress, and accessing prescribed exercises. CONNECT has achieved over a 92% patient satisfaction rate, indicating high satisfaction with the quality of care and convenience provided by the virtual platform.
How Telehealth is Transforming the Skincare Industry(Opens in a new browser tab)
ATI Physical Therapy emphasizes that CONNECT offers the same high-quality care as in-person visits, with identical patient outcomes. The platform allows patients to continue their treatment plans seamlessly, even when in-person visits are not possible or preferred. Therapists work with patients to create effective exercise programs based on their home environments, ensuring a tailored and engaging virtual experience.
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