Digital physical therapy is a convenient and effective way to get the care you need for your pain and injuries. Here are 6 reasons why you might want to try it.
How Does Digital Physical Therapy Work?
Digital physical therapy (DPT) is a type of physical therapy that is delivered through technology. This means that patients can receive physical therapy services from the comfort of their own homes, without having to travel to a physical therapy clinic. DPT can be delivered through a variety of technologies, including video conferencing, mobile apps, and wearable devices.
6 Reasons Digital Physical Therapy Could Be Right For You
Digital physical therapy is a rapidly growing field that offers many benefits over traditional physical therapy. Here are 6 reasons why you might want to try it:
1. Convenience
Digital physical therapy can be done from the comfort of your own home, which saves you time and money on transportation.
A study of over 440,000 individuals with low back pain was conducted to see how many people actually miss their physical therapy appointments. The study, published in the journal PLOS One (In 2021) found that 73% of people missed at least one physical therapy appointment. They also found that the “prevalence of patient no-shows” was highest in females ages 18-44, especially when compared to male patients.
The study did not offer any explanation as to why females in that age group miss more appointments than other patients, but when we consider the data that reports that “upwards of 75% of all caregivers are female, and may spend as much as 50% more time providing care than males” it makes sense that finding someone to take care of the people that you are caring for can be extremely challenging or very expensive.
2. Effectiveness
Digital physical therapy has been shown to be just as effective as traditional physical therapy in treating a variety of conditions, including back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain.
Research has shown that digital PT has shown “clinically meaningful improvements in pain and function” for those suffering from low back pain.
While some physical therapists have said that they feel like they feel more like health coaches than physical therapists, new digital tools like range of motion sensors, biofeedback sensors, and gait analysis tools can help PTs be more involved with the recovery process from afar.
3. Affordability
Digital physical therapy is often more affordable than traditional physical therapy, as you do not have to pay for many different expenses such as:
Travel
Parking
Childcare
Time off work
4. Flexibility
Digital physical therapy can be tailored to your individual needs and schedule, so you can get the care you need when you need it.
Digital physical therapy can be a lifesaver when you are traveling but still need your physical therapy sessions. Or when you are slammed at the office and simply can’t get away to a PT appointment. Or when you have to pick up the kids and get them to soccer practice and taking time to go to rehab just doesn’t seem like an option.
Being able to do your physical therapy at a time and place that suits you means that people are more likely to stick to their physical therapy plan and can heal faster.
5. Accessibility
Digital physical therapy is accessible to people of all ages and abilities, regardless of their location.
If you are one of the over 46 million Americans who live in a rural area you might have experienced the physical therapist shortage first hand. According to the National Rural Health Association, “85% of rural communities are currently classified as Health Professional Shortage Areas”.
Finding a physical therapist in your area that takes your insurance, or works with you if you don’t have insurance, is becoming increasingly challenging for many people - and it’s not just in the rural areas, although those areas are definitely hit the hardest.
Digital PT gives people the opportunity to work with a physical therapist that may not live anywhere near them. It gives patients the chance to find a therapist they really connect with, not just one who happens to be close by.
Having a great connection and really being able to trust your PT can have significant benefits for your recovery journey and may help speed up the healing process.
6. Privacy
Digital physical therapy is a private and confidential way to get the care you need, as you can complete your exercises and communicate with your therapist from the comfort of your own home.
Most physical therapy clinics will have the PT working with 2 or more patients at the same time. This can be quite off-putting for some people as they might feel like they are not getting their therapist's full attention, or they may be embarrassed to talk about certain issues in front of other people and the therapist won’t have the same information as they might have gotten in a more private setting.
One-on-one therapy is always going to be a better option than having to split your time (and your concentration) between two patients. With Digital PT you are generally assured that the session will be one-on-one and that you will have the full attention of your physical therapist.
Conclusions
Digital physical therapy is a rapidly growing field that offers many benefits over traditional physical therapy. If you are looking for a convenient, effective, affordable, flexible, accessible, and private way to receive physical therapy, digital physical therapy may be a good option for you.
If you are considering digital physical therapy, be sure to do your research and find a reputable provider. There are many different digital physical therapy programs available, so it is important to find one that is right for you.
Here are some of the things you should look for when choosing a digital physical therapy provider:
Reputation: Make sure the provider has a good reputation and is accredited by a reputable organization.
Experience: Make sure the provider has experience treating patients with your condition.
Credentials: Make sure the provider is licensed and certified by the appropriate state board.
Cost: Make sure the cost of the program is affordable for you.
Technology: Make sure the provider uses state-of-the-art technology to deliver their services.
If you are looking for a convenient, effective, and affordable way to improve your physical health, digital physical therapy may be a good option for you.