“The physio will see you now” – How online physiotherapy works

Remote worker Tom* booked into our online physiotherapy clinic from the Canary Islands after he had injured an elbow doing Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The injury kept him from fighting and hampered his strength training in the gym, and he didn’t want to wait until his return to the UK to get it fixed. We diagnosed his injury and gave him a bespoke rehabilitation programme via WhatsApp video and e-mail.

Tom is one of a small but growing number of people who have come to realise the value of online physiotherapy.

“But how can you fix my injury without touching me?” you may ask. Most injuries can be self-treated as long as you have an accurate diagnosis and a sensible treatment plan, which we can do on a video call. A massage may make you feel better for a while, but it won’t fix your injury. Our team of physiotherapists' combined years of clinical experience and the latest research suggest that it’s the right mix of rest and exercise, prescribed by a physio, that will heal you in the long run.

Our typical international patient is someone who doesn’t have access to a physio where they live. We also get English-speaking expats who can’t find an English-speaking physio.

And online physiotherapy is especially useful for people who can’t take time off work or find it difficult to travel with an injury to go and see a physio. They consult one of our team on a video call right there in the comfort of their own home to get a diagnosis and a bespoke treatment plan. Obviously this is handy for people in far-flung locations, but also in the UK, where we are based.

All our physios have Masters degrees in a sports and exercise injury related field and each has more than 10 years' experience. We started offering our services online in 2014 and have seen the concept of online physiotherapy gradually gain acceptance. Business travellers, digital nomads and other regular users of video calls don’t find it strange anymore to access physiotherapy in this way. Soon it will be as normal for everyone as ordering groceries, take-out food or a cab online.

Do you need help with an injury? You’re welcome to consult one of the team at SIP online via video call for an assessment of your injury and a tailored treatment plan.

About the Author

Maryke Louw is a chartered physiotherapist with more than 15 years' experience and a Masters Degree in Sports Injury Management. Follow her on LinkedIn or ReasearchGate.