Tim Barsellotti
Estimated Read time: 2 minutes
Please note: Our articles are not designed to replace medical advice. If you have an injury we highly recommend seeing a qualified health professional. To book an appointment with Tim, or one of The Online Physiotherapy team, please visit our Physio clinic page. We have specialists for each major area of the body, ensuring you receive the best treatment for your injury.
💡 ‘The Executive Summary’
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Growing evidence for telephysiotherapy provides
The growing evidence base for telephysiotherapy provides newimpetus to address the ‘valley of death’ that prevents many newtreatments being used in clinical practice. A critical link in this areawill be reimbursement mechanisms, including public and privateproviders and insurers. For instance, government funding oftelehealth services in Australia seldom extends to allied healthpractitioners, although it is available to medical practitioners,nurse practitioners and Aboriginal health workers. A notableexception is the New South Wales Workers’ CompensationScheme, where video consultations may be reimbursed if pre-approved by the worker, physiotherapist and insurer. Some privatehealth insurers offer telephone coaching services for people withchronic disease, but generally do not subsidise more advanceddigital delivery of physiotherapy services. Telephysiotherapy hasmany potential advantages for health funders, including: broaderaccess to evidence-based care and downstream reduction inhealthcare utilisation (eg, pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation);provision of more cost-effective care, particularly for patients wholive further away from major centres;21,22more timely delivery ofinterventions due to removal of barriers (transport, travel, parking,waiting lists) and flexible scheduling; and increased patient choice,resulting in a more patient-centred approach to care. Whilst longerterm data on the cost effectiveness of telephysiotherapy arecurrently available in only a few areas (eg, joint replacement,management of urinary incontinence),21,22clinical efficacy data areavailable across a wide range of clinical areas, and development ofa funding model is essential to drive further research into long-term health, financial and societal benefits.Those who lead the way in funding and provision oftelephysiotherapy services are likely to have a competitiveadvantage. They will attract the ‘digital native’, younger generationof health consumers who are accustomed to accessing health andmedical resources online.23There is increasing evidence that olderpeople are also connected.
5. An estimated timeframe of recovery.
6. Advice that is rooted in the research and evidence.
7. Creation of your personalised rehab programme (sent over to you to use in the FREE exercise app – our patients LOVE it – and as a PDF in case you want to print it off).
8. Outcome measure sent over to you, to mark objectively how you are today and so we can see how we are progressing.
9. Necessary paperwork, including receipts, invoices and letters upon your request to your GP/Doctor, or work.
10. Support on your journey via email messaging as required!
Introduction
By definition:
➡️ ‘PHYSIO’- derives from the Greek term ‘PHUSIS’ meaning ‘NATURE’
➡️ ‘-THERAPY’ comes from the Greek word ‘THERAPEIA’, meaning ‘HEALING’.
Nature is intrinsic (from within) – ultimately ‘natural’, and healing- well that’s the essence of getting better.
Which leads us onto…
‘Natural Therapy?’ – Is Physiotherapy a PSUEDOSCIENCE?
In the current context of the term “natural therapy” may be interpreted as Physiotherapy being ‘quackery’, or a pseudoscience rather than evidence based. However, let us be clear. Physiotherapy is an evidence based profession that relies on research to test and retest practices used by Physiotherapists.
All that to say, people think Physiotherapy means it is Physical, which means movements completed by a Physio. This is false, but understandable. With poor understanding over the last millenium, of what helps recovery the most, massage, jumping up and down on people and putting needles in people have been mainstream. We love tradition, which is why it’s so difficult to move away from these passive treatments, but if you want recovery, (duh) we must consider Online Physiotherapy as a big part of the future.
Are we ON or OFF-piste?
So Physiotherapy doesn’t mean Physical movements done to me?
Very simply, no. We have gone OFF piste both as a profession and as public opinion as to what the root of our profession is. It is using nature itself, i.e the body, natural treatments such as education, advice, knowledge and a deep rooted programme vs needing to do any passive techniques TO it… we have all that we need – we only need a guide to inform and teach us.
We are largely speaking of Musculoskeletal medicine, rather than spinal cord injury etc.. and in almost all conditions, passive treatments are not helpful. When evidence-based rehab doesn’t work for you, then ultrasound, acupuncture and others may be considered….although the research for them is pretty poor!
Evidence is pretty clear of the above truth that it is not passive treatment, and the very essence of the word points to that. Tradition has kept us in the dark ages not allowing the light of evidence to bring us into faster and longer-lasting recovery. I am not saying that some passive treatments are never useful, but they should not be relied upon for sustainable results. For almost all people with an injury, it will not suffice.
Do I need to rewrite my mental script of what Physiotherapy is?
If you are somebody who believes that;
– you will only achieve recovery through hands-on approach
– evidence and studies should be trusted
– believe in the body being able to heal itself if directed well
….then, yes, your mental script is needing a shift.
Evidence is overwhelming in terms of what helps recovery the most, and the root word of Physiotherapy aligns with this, in that it’s the active based treatment, loading management and advice that gets the greatest recovery.
💡 In Conclusion
All that to say, people have often thought Physiotherapy means it is Physical, which therefore means movements completed by a Physio. This is false, but completely understandable. With poor understanding over the last millenium, of what helps recovery the most, massage, jumping up and down on people and putting needles in people have been mainstream. We love tradition, which is why it’s so difficult to move away from these passive treatments, but if you want recovery, (duh) we must consider Online Physiotherapy as a big part of the future.
It is important to say that although the majority of injuries are treated as effectively, or more effectively with Online Physiotherapy, there are a comparative small number of injuries and conditions that would benefit more from in-person Physiotherapy – for this we would point you towards.
If you are unsure if you need Physiotherapy, or if Online Physiotherapy can assist you, then we are currently offering a free 15-minute screening call, in which you can book in on the link. Or, if you need urgent Physio advice and attention then book in below.
Any questions, or thoughts on this blog, we would LOVE to hear from you. Send us a message here.
If you are in pain, or have an injury book yourself in below to start your recovery today!
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Terms and conditions: This cannot be applied with any other offer. This discount is non-transferable and solely for your appointment booking. This is a time limited offer.
