5 Technology Trends Influencing the Physical Therapy Industry

Physical therapy is a field that is forecast to grow steadily with market projections and growth expected to rise at 6.15% up to the year 2027. The industry, which is worth over $35 billion in the United States alone, has experienced a shift in different ways that have spiked a dynamic change on how physical therapy practitioners employ their skill. These changes are due to the recent trends that have affected how experts and professionals in physical therapy operate.

Let us have a look at some of these trends taking shape in the physical therapy industry today:

Telehealth

With the covid-19 pandemic affecting how we work, interact and live our lives in general, there is no doubt that the approach of access to physical therapy sessions by patients has seen a change from physical sessions to offline sessions like telehealth. Though telehealth was a trend that started before the covid-19 onset, one cannot deny that its utility has increased during this time. 

Last year, between mid-March to the end of April, over 9 million patients received physical therapy through telehealth. For many, nothing beats the hands-on approach to physical therapy, but technological advancements like video conferencing have assisted physical therapy practitioners in creating new experiences for patients to receive the services they need.

Wearables

Physical therapy has embraced the use of technologically advanced wearables. From smartwatches to advanced fitness trackers like wearable body sensors and wearable cameras, wearables are providing physical therapists with a vast range of information concerning a patient's activity. Wearables have helped physical therapists conduct more remote sessions with patients and achieve great results. 

Smart Equipment

Modern physical therapy has seen a rise in intelligent equipment, coupled with current technological aspects like the Internet of Things. These modern machines have changed the modality of how physical therapy is done. Modern equipment such as robotic treadmills, anti-gravity treadmills, and core body training machines have come up recently and are now invaluable assets to physical therapy practitioners. 

A robotic treadmill helps physical therapy patients regain their gait by supporting them as they practice their leg movements. Anti-gravity treadmills are also smart machines that relieve body weight for low impact, hence help in speeding up orthopedic recovery. These machines are very viable for physical therapy practitioners, and their use by physical therapy practitioners is increasing due to their efficiency.

Use of Mobile Apps

Mobile technology is booming in all healthcare industry sectors, and physical therapy has not been left out. Physical therapy practitioners have taken up the use of mobile apps. Mobile apps have proved to be high utility products in modern physical therapy as they incorporate a customized list of exercises that physical therapists can share with patients. 

Apps for in-home rehabilitation have also come up recently and have aided physical therapists to manage their patients well at the comforts of their home, saving their patients tight scheduled appointments at their clinics. Physical therapy practitioners have the opportunity to take advantage of mobile applications as they are an increasingly valuable asset for physical therapy.

Virtual Reality

We are used to the gaming industry using virtual reality, but in recent times, physical therapy practitioners are using it to treat their patients in their clinics. Physical therapists are using virtual reality exercise games to help increase patients' compliance to therapy exercises and using fun occupational games to get them more engaged in their training. With the advancement of augmented reality, virtual reality is gaining widespread use with physical therapy practitioners to help rehabilitate patients.

Change is inevitable, and so are the current trends that have come up in the physical therapy segment. Physical therapy practitioners continue to adopt these new trends in therapy sessions with their patients. Contact FYZICAL to learn more about how we’re helping our clinics stay on the cutting edge of trends that improve the patient experience and their outcomes.