Digital health. Virtual care. Telehealth. Many names but all point to the same thing: new ways for healthcare providers to connect with their patients.
Many thought that once the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic was over, telehealth would slink back into the shadows and be mostly forgotten about.
But virtual care, and specifically virtual physical therapy (physical therapy that is delivered through technology) for conditions like back pain, is only growing more popular and threatening to take the healthcare world by storm.
In this article we take a look at the rise of telehealth, how it has become part of the physical therapy world, and we look at how virtual physical physical therapy for back pain can benefit you. Let's check it out!
The Rise Of Virtual Healthcare - A Much-Needed Solution
Virtual physical therapy is certainly not a new phenomenon. In the past, virtual care was generally reserved for those in more rural areas when people didn’t really have the option to see a provider in person because there just wasn't one near them.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic came along and it turned our world upside down and left providers scrambling to see how they could reach their patients, primarily through virtual means. Suddenly this once somewhat elusive treatment option was the only option!
Once telehealth became the “norm” it was easy to see how many people preferred the convenience that this type of care offered. It was faster, cheaper, and more convenient.
So how can digital PT benefit back pain? LivaFortis looks at 6 specific ways that DPT can help reduce low back pain.
The Growing Need For Remote Access To Healthcare
In the US alone, a large number of people do not live in urban areas. Some 14% of people live in rural communities where there are significant shortages in healthcare providers. Research has found that more than 80% of rural communities are considered medical deserts.
This means that more than one third of people in the US live in counties where there is insufficient access to pharmacies, primary care providers, hospitals, trauma centers, healthcare specialists and/or low-cost health centers. In fact, more than two thirds of the primary care health professional shortage areas in the US are in rural communities.
To make matters worse, more than 50% of adults in the US live with at least one chronic health condition, like chronic back pain, and many of these individuals reside within those rural medical desert areas. Because of this, many people find themselves having to travel incredibly long distances to cities and towns where healthcare providers are located.
Is Telehealth Here To Stay?
While telehealth is obviously a much needed option to help solve a healthcare access crisis, virtual care companies have had to fight to keep it in play. After much back and forth Congress just stopped the extension of the current Medicare telehealth flexibilities.
Telehealth groups, like Teladoc, are concerned about losing this as it will mean a big hit to their business. Hopefully Congress will be able to come to a more permanent solution to safeguard people's access to this care and look at reinstating this in the future. In the meantime, many companies will continue to offer these services on a private pay basis rather than going through insurance.
So why is telehealth such a big deal and how can digital PT benefit back pain? LivaFortis looks at 6 specific ways that DPT can help reduce low back pain.
The 6 Key Benefits Of Virtual Physical Therapy For Low Back Pain
1. Increased Access To Care
Virtual physical therapy allows patients in rural areas to access the best providers regardless of their geographical location.
By connecting digitally with providers, many of the healthcare barriers listed above become obsolete. People no longer have to arrange for child care or time off work as they can participate in their treatment from the convenience of their own home or town.
Instead of being limited to healthcare providers located within their geographical area, clients can find someone who fits their individual preferences and works with their specific type of condition.
2. Convenience
Similar to increased access to care, virtual physical therapy is a lot more convenient than traditional in-person visits. When it comes to making a telehealth appointment it seems as if there are more appointments available and that this provides for more flexibility for patients.
Doctors no longer need to worry about patients being late due to traffic or parking issues. They also avoid the hassle of overcrowded waiting rooms or new patients struggling to locate their offices.
Likewise, patients don’t have to worry about driving to the doctor’s office, or making their way into the clinic when they are having problems walking. Virtual visits are easier to fit into people’s busy schedules and people can even see the doctor from their workplace or home.
More than 70% of millennials, Gen Xers, and Gen Zs say that they actually prefer telehealth because it is so convenient. Some have even said that they would consider switching providers if telehealth visits are not going to continue to be an option.
3. Personalized Treatment
Traditional physical therapy appointments typically take place in a physical therapist's office or clinic. During these visits, the therapist evaluates the patient’s condition and provides hands-on treatment, often accompanied by a set of exercises for the patient to complete at home between sessions. While effective, this approach is limited to what the therapist observes during the appointment itself.
Virtual physical therapy appointments on the other hand, offers distinct advantages by allowing therapists to see patients in their home environments. This perspective can uncover critical details that might otherwise be missed. For instance, a therapist might observe that a patient’s desk setup is contributing to poor posture and exacerbating their back pain. Or they might notice that a patient recovering from surgery has their main bedroom upstairs, creating challenges if they’ve been advised to avoid climbing stairs.
These insights enable therapists to provide highly personalized advice. They can suggest ergonomic adjustments to a workspace, recommend temporary sleeping arrangements to avoid stairs, or identify other environmental factors affecting recovery.
By tailoring recommendations to real-world conditions, virtual physical therapy not only improves accessibility but also enhances treatment effectiveness, empowering patients to make meaningful changes that support their healing journey.
4. Reduced Costs
We have already seen how digital physical therapy can help reduce costs for clients by way of reduced transportation costs, child care costs, and less time off work. Research has found that telehealth visits are actually cheaper than traditional office visits.
A 2017 study found that telehealth visits cost patients an average of $79 compared to $146 for an office visit. Patients are more likely to show up for a telehealth visit which means that providers aren’t left with as many no-shows and canceled appointments. In 2018, CMS estimated that telehealth services saved Medicare patients $60 million just on travel, with those numbers projected to reach $170 million by 2029.
Is Telehealth A Cheaper Option?
Telehealth services often bring significant savings to people in various ways including saving on things like:
Preparing or waiting for an in-office visit
Time taken off work
Missed appointments
Technology/infrastructure costs
Clinic costs
Childcare costs
Transportation costs
When all of these aspects are considered, higher projections start putting the savings in the $500 million range, and that is just for Medicare patients.
Preventing More Costly Care
Virtual physical therapy can significantly reduce healthcare costs for both individuals and companies by preventing more expensive care. When patients struggle to access in-office visits, they may avoid important services altogether, leading to increased reliance on costly urgent care, emergency department visits, or unnecessary imaging.
Regular virtual physical therapy sessions help patients stay on track with their rehabilitation, reducing the need for MRIs, additional pain medications, or emergency interventions. For instance, having a physical therapist reassure a patient that their severe back pain can be managed through consistent therapy builds confidence and prevents unnecessary escalation of care.
Research by Ascension Health found that from March to May 2022, nearly 70% of patients would have gone to urgent care or the emergency department if virtual care hadn’t been available. Telehealth ensures patients receive the right care at the right time, improving outcomes while keeping costs in check.
5. Improve Health Equity
We wanted to save the last spot for what we think is one of the most important benefits of virtual physical therapy. The global pandemic really turned a spotlight on the issue of healthcare inequity which is a major concern in many countries, but particularly in the United States where there is no universal healthcare plan.
Rural communities, racial minorities, the underprivileged and the elderly are all particularly vulnerable to healthcare inequities. Digital technologies like virtual PT have enormous potential to help reduce these inequalities.
Increased access to care, more affordable solutions, improved access to highly qualified specialists, translation services, improved diagnostics and greater flexibility with regards to appointments, all of these benefits can make a huge difference to those who bear the brunt of healthcare inequalities.
6. Realtime Feedback
Digital health solutions allow clients to receive the most up to date, clinically validated care from the convenience of their homes. For those who cannot leave work during the day, after hours appointments are imperative.
For those who cannot arrange for childcare, being able to consult with their doctor from their own home saves them money and helps ensure that they are able to keep their appointments.
Improved medication/treatment plan adherence means that there are fewer clinical problems and complications. Hospital admissions and ER visits are decreased and patient satisfaction scores soar.
Keeping Patient-Centered Care at the Heart of Innovation
As technology in healthcare evolves at an unprecedented pace, it’s crucial to keep the focus on the people it’s meant to serve. If innovation leads to tools that are overly complex or prohibitively expensive, we risk losing sight of the ultimate goal: improving patient care.
Virtual physical therapy must strive to break down barriers, not create new ones. It should enhance equity and inclusion, ensuring that these transformative technologies are accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status or digital literacy. Quality healthcare should be a universal right, not a privilege.
Expanding patient options is one of the most powerful benefits of virtual care. Patients gain access to a broader pool of providers, enabling them to find someone they truly connect with on a personal level.
This deeper connection fosters trust, facilitates the identification of underlying issues, and empowers patients to take ownership of their health. When treatment feels like a collaborative partnership, the results are not just better health outcomes—they’re better experiences for both patients and providers.
Conclusions
Digital physical therapy is transforming the way we manage low back pain, offering unparalleled benefits such as:
Increased Access to Care: Reach the help you need, no matter where you are.
Convenience: Skip the commute and get care that fits your schedule.
Personalized Treatment: Tailored plans that work for your unique needs.
Reduced Costs: Save money by avoiding unnecessary imaging and emergency visits.
Increased Health Equity: Breaking down barriers to care for everyone.
Real-Time Feedback: Immediate insights to keep you on track.
With its innovative approach, digital physical therapy isn’t just an alternative—it’s a game-changer. It combines the best of technology and healthcare to deliver convenient, accessible, and personalized solutions for lasting relief. Low back pain doesn't have to hold you back; with digital physical therapy, better health is just a click away.
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