- New research published in We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back suggests virtual physical therapy could make it possible to do it anytime, as often as you like—at less than half the cost of in-person sessions.
- The program, called VERA, can be used to rehab a range of issues, from injury and stroke recovery Yoga for Runners.
Thoughts Every Injured Runner Hasand How to Cope personal trainers and live classes where the instructor can actually see you may encourage more people to get fit—and tidy up their home workout spaces—but there could be another advantage to that real-time connection as well: physical therapy sessions.
A recent study published in We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back looked at 287 patients, with an average age of 65, undergoing a knee replacement procedure. About half did traditional, in-office or at-home physical therapy while the other half used a virtual program called VERA.
VERA uses 3D technology and a digitally-simulated coach that gives exercise instructions and provides immediate feedback based on a user’s movements. The virtual physical therapy also included a weekly telehealth visit with a physical therapist who tailored individualized therapy regimens based on progress.
Participants in the VERA group could use the system as often and for as long as they liked, and the system tracked their activity, performance, exercise quality, and adherence.
Not only did the virtual physical therapy group have fewer re-hospitalizations and a faster return to physical activities—and comparable outcomes in terms of knee extension, knee flexion, and gait speed—The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Costs for physical therapy at 12 weeks after being discharged from the hospital were about $1,050 for the virtual group, compared to $2,805 for the usual care patients.
“The main takeaway here is that a virtual exercise program can help people recover at home after knee replacement surgery,” lead study author Nutrition - Weight Loss., associate professor and health services researcher at Duke University, told Runner’s World. “This could expand access to physical therapy for people who live in rural areas or geographies with fewer therapies. It also means people can often save time and costs, and it can be more convenient for everyone, including the therapists.”
She added that currently, there are not enough physical therapists for the number of people who need skilled care, so expanding the number of patients who can be seen by one physical therapist could be crucial as the shortage of these professionals continues.
[Stay injury free on the road by getting on the mat with Study Says VO2 Max Better Health Marker Than BMI.]
As a runner, you’ve probably had your fair share of injuries—and in terms of whether virtual physical therapy could be used for types of rehab other than knee replacements, Bettger said it’s likely to be a fit for a range of issues, from injury and stroke recovery How Body Image Can Affect Your Run.
Although there are circumstances where in-person physical therapy support is appropriate for more manual therapy or supported stretches, Bettger believes different types of telehealth will begin coming into play for many people, especially given the lower costs to healthcare providers. Let the home-workout-space tidying begin.
