What to Expect from a Virtual Physical or Occupational Therapy Appointment
Leave a CommentAthletico is proud to be able to support our patients who wish to start or continue their physical or occupational therapy in a setting other than our clinics. Telehealth is a virtual means to receive physical or occupational therapy from your living room, basement or another comfortable area within your home. Patients work with a licensed physical or occupational therapist via video call to establish a comprehensive therapy plan of care.
The Basics
Prior to your initial virtual visit, you will be emailed new patient paperwork, a consent for treatment form and a functional baseline survey. Completing these items prior to the start of your telehealth session gives your therapist an opportunity to learn a little bit about you ahead of time. From here you will receive a link to access your telehealth appointment for a time and day that works best for you!
Getting to Know You & Your Goals
The initial evaluation will consist of your therapist getting to know you and diving deeper into the history of your injury or surgery. This can include assessment of pain, strength, range of motion, balance and overall function. Your therapist will discuss activities which may be difficult for you as well as your goals for participation in therapy.
Athletico rehabilitation professionals are skilled in the analysis of movement, range of motion and strength both in-person and virtually. To prepare, it is helpful to set up for your virtual appointment in an area that is well lit, free from clutter and with room to move around. Some items that may be helpful for your appointments include the following:
- Chair
- Pillow
- Exercise ball
- Weights
- Exercise bands
None of the above listed items are required to perform an effective therapy plan of care, however, they can be helpful based on your needs identified by both you and your physical or occupational therapist.
Recommendations from Your Therapist
At the end of your virtual evaluation, your therapist will provide thorough education regarding the nature of your injury or post-surgical recovery and work with you to establish a comprehensive plan of care. Your personal goals are important to the Athletico team and will be incorporated into your treatment plan to help you improve function and your quality of life. Follow-up virtual sessions are scheduled following the frequency and duration recommendations from your therapist.
To Get Started
Therapy delivered via our Telehealth platform comes with many convenient benefits. From being able to schedule during a lunch break to avoiding driving in wintery weather to receive care, there are many reasons to take advantage of this service.
Don’t take our word for it, hear from our patients! Patients tell their story best and we wanted to share their successful telehealth experiences. If you have additional questions, please visit our Telehealth FAQ page in which we answer some commonly asked questions around our service.
Pain and injuries are never planned and if you are experiencing this you may be unsure about if seeking physical therapy treatment is appropriate at this time. You can be confident that our experts recommended treatment plan will help you recover and protect you from future injury.
Physical therapy is usually the thing you are told to do after medication, x-rays or surgery. The best way to fix your pain is to start where you normally finish – with physical therapy at Athletico.
The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.
