The coronavirus disease is affecting all aspects of our lives – the shelter in place order in Illinois is increasing our physical distance from others, but it may also be creating financial and mental stress, and affecting our physical health. Changing sleep patterns, altered exercise routines and working at the kitchen table can all contribute to those familiar aches and pains starting to creep back in to our bodies. Those of you who were in physical therapy may have put your appointments on hold, and those of you with new injuries or aches and pains are likely trying to ignore it so you can manage everything else in these uncertain times.
We have great news, you don’t have to stay in pain! Virtual sessions for physical therapy are an increasingly popular way to address your rehab needs from the comfort of your home. Physical therapy doesn’t just consist of hands-on treatment. In fact, most of our treatments involve education, advice and exercise prescription for the longer term benefit.
Telehealth has been used by physical therapists nationally and internationally for a number of years now, and has been shown to be just as, if not more, effective than face to face consults. In a 2019 randomized controlled non-inferiority trial, telerehabilitation was found to be as effective as usual care following total hip replacement.
Our therapists and patients have been pleasantly surprised with the effectiveness of our virtual video physical therapy treatments. Some of the benefits include:
- Your physical therapist can see how you function in your own home. We are able to look at all aspects of your mobility including your work from home setup, household chores, sleeping positions, and child care activities.
- Virtual appointments offer more flexibility with scheduling.
- We help you to establish an exercise routine in your home.
- Virtual physical therapy also promotes independence in self management of your rehab – something we always work towards in the clinic.
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