Digital physiotherapy case studies

We’ve gathered the case studies below to highlight the challenges, solutions, and benefits of using digital solutions to deliver physio services remotely.

These were gathered from members of the Digital and Informatics Physiotherapy Group (DIPG) and others. We are aware that there are many more solutions in use and will add more case studies as we receive them. The case studies are representative of the point in time that they were written.

A summary of some of the digital tools has been created by Ben Wanless, a member of the Digital and Physiotherapy Informatics Group (DIPG), and included below. Although written for MSK services it is definitely transferable to other specialities.

Please be aware that in this rapidly evolving situation details may change. The authors have given contact details if they are happy for other members to get in touch.

Helen Preston, Clinical Director of Prestons Health talks about the tools she uses to replace face-to-face practice with patients. They use the patient's preferred platform to deliver consultations in an MSK private practice.

Chris Tack, clinical specialist physiotherapist, on the digital physiotherapy services offers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. They use multiple platforms to deliver remote consultations in an integrated MSK Service.

Anthony Gilbert, physiotherapist at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, on the use of Attend Anywhere. They use this video consultation platform to deliver outpatient orthopaedic rehabilitation and other services across the hospital.

Joe Russell, Clinical Information lead at AHP Suffolk on the online self-referral platform they use for their MSK physiotherapy service.

Helen Hawley-Hague, NIHR fellow at the University of Manchester on the Together Trial. They are using video consultations to deliver falls rehabilitation to older adults.

Pete Grinbergs, physiotherapist and co-founder of EQL.ai, a digital health startup, on Phio. It is a chat bot and patient facing app for digital triage and self-management support in MSK physiotherapy settings.

Patrick Roberts, first contact digital physiotherapist at Babylon on the app they use for digital MSK consultation in first contact physiotherapy settings.

Anthony Brightwell, co-director of Spectrum Health, a private physiotherapy clinic in London on their use of TrackActive. It is an app for supporting exercise programmes in an MSK setting.

Laura Danvers, respiratory physiotherapist and team lead in the Bristol Community Health Respiratory Team on their use of MyCOPD, an app to help people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) better manage their condition.

Louise Waters, extended scope physiotherapist in East Lancashire on her team's use of PhysiTrack. It is an online exercise platform used to deliver an integrated adult MSK service.

Katie Knapton, MSK physio, has been offering online physiotherapy for more than 3 years. She uses Gruveo and Zoom as video consultation platforms to provide MSK physiotherapy nationwide.

Carron Manning, physiotherapist and co-founder of iPrescribe Exercise on using the app for monitoring physical activity programmes for people with long-term conditions remotely.

Emma Dunphy, senior MSK physiotherapist and co-developer of TRAK-ACL. It is an online platform to support self-management of ACL rehabilitation.

Iain Loughran, MSK extended scope physiotherapist, and Stephanie Mansell, consultant respiratory physiotherapist, are NHS England Clinical Entrepreneurs. They have co-founded ONCALLbuddy, an app designed to support physiotherapists deployed in respiratory and critical care settings.

Kate Robinson, physio team lead at Reach Active, has been offering online physiotherapy for nearly three years. It is an app to give MSK physiotherapy assessment and treatment for people with back or neck pain aged over 16.

Nirtal Shah, physiotherapist and CEO of Curovate, has been offering digital physiotherapy for over four years. It is an app to provide rehabilitation following a total knee replacement, total hip replacement or ACL reconstruction.

Cathal Malone, physiotherapist and co-founder of MSK Assist. It is a digital platform allowing clinicians to provide self-management MSK advice to patients.

Andrea Hemingway, physiotherapist, is using myrecovery app with patients rehabilitating remotely after shoulder surgery.

James Stanton, clinical specialist for the Oldham Adult MSK physiotherapy service. His team use a variety of platforms to deliver MSK services to their population.

Andy Curtis, extended scope physiotherapist and clinical director for The Medical Group in the south of England. His team use TeleHab from VLAD to deliver remote physiotherapy to their MSK and neuro patient population.

Hayley Williamson and her physiotherapy team in the Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust are using a number of virtual methods to deliver pulmonary rehabilitation to their patients.

Carys Hansed, specialist physiotherapy lead, and the team at Denton RPA are using Re:flex, an app with connected motion sensors, to remotely monitor and offer physiotherapy to hip and knee patients.

Sara McGowan, lead physiotherapist at the Samson Centre, is providing exercise classes and one-to-one physiotherapy sessions to MS patients using a variety of digital solutions.

Christina Sothinathan, clinical lead physiotherapist at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, is using Attend Anywhere in MSK assessment and triage services.

Susan Pattinson, physiotherapist and director of SP Therapy Services, uses a variety of digital solutions to provide physiotherapy and occupational therapy to patients living with complex and catastrophic brain injuries.

Sue Julians, director and practice principal at Barbican Physio, uses the digital platform of her patients' choice to offer non face-to-face appointments for some MSK physiotherapy services.

John Mitchell, interim pulmonary rehabilitation service lead at Southeastern Trust in Northern Ireland, is piloting a remote pulmonary rehabilitation service using Zoom.

Sarah Daniel, director of MOTIONrehab, uses a mixture of robotics and virtual reality technology as part of neurological rehabilitation for their patients across Yorkshire and Humberside.

Jane Clark is an MSK physiotherapist and founder of Pickwick Physiotherapy. She is using multiple platforms to continue delivering physiotherapy in her local area.