Virtual physical therapy could almost be considered an oxymoron.
Physical therapy, key to recovering from surgery or maintaining the strength and flexibility needed to deal with chronic pain, has traditionally put a premium on in-person instruction and can include hands-on massage and manipulation of the musculoskeletal system. And yet virtual physical therapy and rehabilitation clinics are multiplying and pulling in hefty investments.
Many have boasted triple-digit growth rates in the last year, as virtual care has become the norm. But their value may yet outlast the pandemic-fueled telecare boom. The success of any physical therapy regimen relies on time put in between visits, when patients typically need to keep up with a prescribed set of exercises. Just as virtual clinics for metabolic health started by supporting adherence to exercise and nutrition plans, a collection of digital physical therapy outfits think they can improve outcomes and reduce costs by making it easier for patients to stick to the program.
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