Virtual Physio – Is It Effective?

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Virtual Physio – Is It Effective?

 

Telehealth or virtual consultations are nothing new but we are all much more used to seeing patients in person. Yet, is telehealth simply a temporary stop-gap during the COVID19 pandemic or will it serve a purpose once restrictions are lifted? Is it effective or a waste of time and better to have face to face treatment?
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In the world of orthopaedics, Pastora-Bernal et al (2017) found strong evidence in favour of telerehabilitation in patients following total knee and hip arthroplasty. More recently, Cottrell and Russell (2020) found that in musculoskeletal physiotherapy (the kind of physio performed at On The Go Physio), telehealth has been shown to be a low-cost and effective alternative means of providing assessment and treatment.
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Since the start of the COVID19 pandemic, face to face appointments have been cancelled and non-essential treatments have been postponed which has placed a huge burden on the NHS and private sectors due to the backlog of appointments (CSP, 2020). Therefore, virtual physiotherapy is especially beneficial in meeting the demands placed upon both these sectors. It offers a viable alternative when compared to conventional methods of delivering healthcare and can improve physical function and pain across a number of conditions.
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It also allows those who are unable to get to a clinic, for example those who are shielding or can’t get childcare to access physiotherapy. Some patients have enjoyed that they don’t have to leave their house and have been surprised at just how much can be achieved in the sessions.
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What’s the bottom line? It works!

PRP – Platelet Rich Plasma. What is this new phenomenon?

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PRP – Platelet Rich Plasma. What is this new phenomenon?


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What is it?
Platelets form part of the blood and produce growth factors that assist in the repair of tissues. It is therefore believed that a higher concentration of platelets applied to an injured tissue will help it heal faster.
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How are the number of platelets increased?
A blood test is performed. The blood is then centrifuged or spun and divided into its various components. The level of platelets is increased and the then concentrated platelets are applied for example by an injection to the site of injury.
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Does it work?
PRP has been around since the 1980s but has only begun to gain popularity in the past decade. However, it has been found to have only very marginal clinical benefit. In other words, it has not been shown to conclusively demonstrate a reduction in patients’ symptoms. Furthermore, as PRP is an expensive method of treatment and with little efficacy it should therefore not be a first port of call compared to other treatments.

Benefits of an Online Consultation

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Benefits of an Online Consultation

We are all used to traditional face to face consultations but since the onset of COVID19 all healthcare professionals have had all had to adapt our practise. The use of virtual appointments is not a new phenomenon but is now being used more and more, yet the benefits remain unknown. Here at On The Go Physio, we offer a virtual service. Could a virtual consultation be an appropriate service for you? What can you get done in a virtual consultation? Is there any benefit to not coming into the clinic and having an appointment remotely instead?

During a virtual consultation we can:

– Take a full and thorough history of the presenting condition
– Discuss past medical histories, gain an understanding of work and social history
– Ascertain how one’s condition may be impacting on their life
– Demonstrate certain tests as part of a physical examination
– Outline a treatment plan and set goals for rehab.
– Reassure patients about their condition.

A virtual consultation can be more convenient for people, especially:

– If self-isolating
– Unable to get childcare
– A tight working schedule may make traveling to and from a clinic to have treatment difficult
– You want to avoid sitting in traffic

As you can see virtual consultations can produce the desired outcomes and can be managed online or over the phone. Some patients have even said that they have got more out of their virtual session than face to face! You might just be surprised how much you can get out of a virtual consultation and that physiotherapy does not always need to entail hands on therapy.