Top 4 Technology Trends for Physical Therapy Practices in 2023

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Ever since the COVID-19 lockdown, both patients and practicians are more mindful of the fact that healthcare technologies can be beneficial for them. According to recent publications, medical guidelines worldwide are increasingly directing better and faster results in physical therapy. Apart from the basic advantage of being in constant contact with a physical therapist, technology like physiotherapy practice management software also encourages the patients to manage their symptoms themselves.

Self-testing is a prime illustration of how control is transferred from the physical therapist to the patient. With the advent of cutting-edge software, smartwatches and EHR can now directly communicate to measure heart rate and track exercise results. Physical therapy is a crucial area of healthcare that can hugely benefit from self-management to improve care. In this article, You'll get to learn about the four most recent technological developments in physical therapy and how they will affect your business in the coming years.

 

#1 Physiotherapy Practice Management Software

Every physical therapist, whether they have an existing system or they're looking to implement a new physiotherapy practice management software, has physical therapy software on their mind. The Coronavirus pandemic accelerated patient adoption of physiotherapy practice management software and the associated technology, which were already rising. In order to provide better care in 2020, PTs needed to adopt non-contact treatment modalities, and those trends are still gaining traction. Due to increased adherence to home exercise regimens that offer patients unmatched flexibility and accessibility, recovery has already advanced noticeably.

With no discernible difference in overall patient satisfaction between in-person and virtual care models, patients also appear to adore virtual care. From a physical therapist's standpoint, the time savings from virtual care can increase productivity. In general, telehealth technology is flourishing because, in some use cases, the product is superior to in-person treatment in terms of speed, effectiveness, and efficiency.

Notable, physiotherapy practice management software offers the following

¢ Remote patient communication

¢ An app to prescribe and track your home exercise regimen.

¢ Track your workout progress and save your data in the app

 

#2 Home Exercise Plans

 HEPs, aka Home Exercise Plans, are one of the most important parts of physical therapy treatment. Patients are typically given home exercises at their first physical therapy appointment, and they are updated as needed throughout the course of treatment. They are offered to support the transition to independent management of the condition and to reinforce the work done during each visit.

Nowadays, therapists can assign patients the required exercises hassle-free through physical therapy home exercise program software. And they can also check these exercises throughout the course of treatment via physiotherapy practice management software. While some patients may lead very busy lives and find it difficult to find free time, HEPs cannot be compromised. Not only for the patients, but HEPs are fruitful for physical therapists also. Know how in this blog.

 

#3 Virtual Reality

We all have seen the common use of virtual reality in malls for multi-dimensional experiences in the entertainment and gaming industries. However, in recent years, physical therapists have started using it in their clinics to treat patients. Physical therapists use fun occupational games to engage patients in their training and virtual reality exercise games to help patients adhere to therapy exercises. With the development of augmented reality, physical therapists are increasingly using virtual reality to assist patients in their recovery.

In contrast to traditional forms of physical therapy, it was found that people performed better when using virtual reality. Virtual reality not only improves performance but also provides patients with entertainment. Thus, technical advancements in the healthcare sector have made it possible that many companies are offering this kind of tool based on augmented reality. Patients receiving physical therapy are sent headsets along with instructions on how to access software that contains exercises that will promote independent recovery. All in all, the virtual reality trend promises to be a mainstay in the industry in 2023 and the years to come.

 

#4 Wearables

Wearable technology is gaining traction as millennials' preferred method for enhancing movement and managing pain, especially when combined with other technological advancements like physical therapy software. In addition to items that patients can buy and wear, wearable technology also refers to motion capture equipment that can be used in physical therapy clinics.

This technology typically uses sensors that attach to various body parts and record movement based on the ideal range of motion. Such gadgets can track various things like range of motion, effort, and muscle triggers. It is simple to record the activity and share information thanks to reminder notifications and scheduling features. Next, physical therapists can connect these sensors to programmable apps to develop individualised care plans for better outcomes. Wearable technology gives physical therapy practises a competitive edge that is very advantageous to their patients.

 

How can Technology Boost Your Physical Therapy Quality?

Prioritising patient care

One of the most important reasons why the patient satisfaction rate increases with physiotherapy practice management software is due to the fact that it offers personalised care. Naturally, every patient wants to enjoy personal attention and care. And physical therapy software can quickly access a patient's information, including medical history, preferences, demographics, and feedback from prior appointments.

This allows them to get a clear picture of what the patient needs. Thanks to the physical therapy software, they can use this data to develop a tailored treatment strategy that is effective for a particular patient. Thus, the customised plan makes the course of treatment unique for every patient and encourages patient participation in their treatment and recovery.

 

Continuous contact

With the latest technologies in physical therapy, patients can access the exercises recommended to them anytime and anywhere through an internet-enabled device, be it through a VR device or physiotherapy practice management software. Furthermore, the patients get interactive tools that directly affect increased patient satisfaction.

At the same time, the physical therapy software allows you to stay in touch with patients after their sessions. It keeps you informed about their ongoing development and keeps you top-of mind in case they ever need additional therapy services. Thankfully, patient relationship management software has simplified patient engagement at all stages of care, whether you send new patients their intake paperwork, remind current patients of upcoming appointments, or send referral requests to previous patients.

 

The comfort of the home

Even though life is busy, working out at home makes it simple to fit fitness into your hectic schedule. It is unnecessary to waste time and effort getting ready, packing your gym bag, driving across town, and squabbling for parking. That's where pre-recorded Home Exercise Plans come in handy.

For some patients being in the comfort of their homes is everything. With physical therapy software, you can get them to stay at home and help them achieve their fitness goals. It's like hitting two targets with one arrow. And with that, the patient satisfaction rate peaks like never before.

 

Saves the patient's time and money

If a patient had to come down for an in-clinic physical therapy session, they'd have to get dressed into comfortable clothes, pack their bag, get in the car, drive to your clinic, park, fill in long forms, wait in lines, and then after a couple of hours, they would get their first session. All this cumbersome process delays their treatment and decreases the satisfaction rate.

Just imagine how beneficial it would be for you if all these problems could be solved all at once. With the technology trends we discussed above, patients can enjoy their physical therapy while saving time and money. And the cherry on the cake is getting to the goals faster than ever.

 

To Sum Up

Indeed, there are a lot of advancements in technology, particularly in the healthcare industry, raising the standards of living. As technology advances more quickly than ever before, physical therapists must keep up to retain their appeal to patients. Numerous innovations, including wearables, virtual care, and the gamification of therapy, are already providing patients with better care and more flexibility.

If you're thinking about improving the technology your practice provides to attract more patients; many physical therapists start out by simply upgrading their current physiotherapy practice management software. With impeccable software, you can translate into higher patient retention for your practice. Lastly, you can identify potential sources of bad experiences via healthcare predictive analytics software and provide technology-enabled solutions that satisfy their unique needs. 

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