Many people have found they don’t need to go out for many things since the coronavirus outbreak began. Groceries can be delivered. House supplies can be ordered online. One need that hasn’t changed is that many people still require physical therapy.
Fortunately, even this need can be met without going out, thanks to virtual physical therapy. This type of therapy is also called remote physical therapy or virtual care, and it uses a real-time audio and video link to connect you to a therapy specialist. Patients who want to remain at home for therapy will find that virtual therapy can be very effective. However, you might want to know more about what to expect from virtual therapy before booking a session.
Three things to expect during a virtual physical therapy session
Virtual physical therapy is a type of care that’s been steadily growing in the past few years. In fact, one specialist claims that up to 75% of patients choose to use virtual care when it’s available. You might be more likely to use virtual care if you know what to expect from it. Three things you can expect during a typical virtual physical therapy session include:
- Education — Understanding your injury or condition is vital to treating it effectively. Virtual physical therapy sessions often include an educational component. This component could involve your physical therapist talking with you about injury care. It can also include tips about movements or activities you should avoid. Physical therapists can also educate you about how fast you might recover and how often you should have therapy sessions.
- Normal daily activity tips — Many injuries and medical conditions can cause pain; swelling and stiffness are also common symptoms of a number of issues. Managing and reducing your symptoms can involve doing normal daily activities in a different way. Your physical therapist can give you tips about doing normal daily activities during virtual therapy sessions. They can even show you how to put these tips in action via the live video feed.
- Therapeutic exercises — Movements that physical therapists use to stretch or strengthen the body are called therapeutic exercises. Such exercises can be very beneficial for many patients. One study showed that therapeutic exercises helped reduce hip osteoarthritis pain by 30%. This study also revealed that this therapy method led to a 30% improvement in hip extension. Exercises relevant to your issue can be discussed and demonstrated by your physical therapist during virtual physical therapy.
Border Therapy Services can help you find out more about what to expect from virtual physical therapy
At Border Therapy Services, our team wants to help you learn what to expect from virtual therapy. Virtual physical therapy care is covered by most major insurances in the same way as an in-person visit. Our team also accepts credit and debit as well as Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) payments for Medicare, Medicaid and self-pay patients.
Are you ready to try a virtual physical therapy session with one of our physical therapists? Contact our team for more information about virtual care today or to schedule your initial appointment.