If you have sustained a sports-related injury, physical therapy may be an excellent option for you. Given that 90% of sport-related orthopedic injuries do not require surgery, most are referred to physical therapy for a rehabilitation program. However, there are multiple factors that make an injured athlete unable to be seen in the physical therapy clinic. Travel to a clinic around school/work schedules can be difficult. The healing process can be painful and could restrict mobility to get to the clinic, especially in the acute stage. Many lack a means of assistance for transportation to a clinic if not cleared to drive. Finally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many have limited access to orthopedic doctors and outpatient facilities.

The solution? Teletherapy.

Teletherapy allows you to be seen at your convenience, in the comfort of your home, so to optimize your rehabilitation process. Virtual Therapy Partners, LLC, has a teletherapy program specifically designed to:

1. Reduce risk for injury,

2. Maximize your recovery time via teletherapy for optimal results,

3. Assess other body parts, mechanics, structures, and functionality of the body to assist in recovery from an injury,

4. Provide guidance on home exercises to facilitate the healing process,

5. Include an interactive patient portal for ease of communication with your therapist, and

6. If needed, VTP can come to your home for an in-person visit!

Teletherapy is on the rise, and many may not know the efficacy of teletherapy vs. in-person therapy. However, research is showing parallels in outcomes between the two for sports-related injuries. A study by Mani et al. showed a high correlation for PT diagnoses obtained in a clinic vs. teletherapy, using a remote diagnosis and a functional movement screen. And, if you are worried about missing the “hands-on” approach from physical therapists, there is a systematic review by Opeyei et al. which showed that the most effective interventions for musculoskeletal injuries, such as low back pain, are patient self-management, psychosocial interventions, and therapeutic exercises. It is important to note, however, that although manual therapy is not the most effective, there are times where it is appropriate and necessary. And, VTP has the solution — we can and will send a PT to your home if it is determined that hands-on therapy will be an effective treatment for you!  If you’d like to learn more about what peer-reviewed clinical research indicates regarding teletherapy’s equivalence to in-person clinical outcomes, you can explore:  https://www.apta.org/your-practice/practice-models-and-settings/telehealth-practice

The VTP approach will allow you to:

1.) Maximize the prevention of injuries,

2.) Rehabilitate from acute injuries,

3.) Address chronic pain from sports injuries, and

4.) Give you a strong self-understanding of how to optimally recover from an injury.

Give us a call today to see how we can help you get on the road to recovery!