Virtual Physiotherapy Spotlight: Alex Singh

Are you looking to continue your rehabilitative treatment while practicing physical distancing and self-isolating?

Good news! pt Health now offers virtual physiotherapy, giving you the opportunity to receive treatment from the comfort of your own home through video conference technology.

Wondering how virtual physiotherapy works? In this Spotlight, we’ll share some first hand information from one of our physiotherapists with you.

Alex Singh, Clinic Team Manager and Physiotherapist at Trafalgar Physiotherapy – pt Health has been offering virtual physiotherapy here for the past few weeks.

Today, we’re talking to Alex about his experience with this service so far.

Q: Tell us about the type of treatments you can provide through virtual physiotherapy.

A: Through virtual care I have been able to provide some very helpful treatments. While hands on therapy and assessment is an important adjunct to therapy it is only one piece of an effective treatment plan.

Education
Often the most important part of an effective treatment is good education. That means educating patients on what their injury is and where in the healing process they are.

Knowing what to do and not to do for an injury can be just as important as getting good manual therapy. If patients continue hurting themselves by doing the wrong things they won’t progress very far no matter how amazing the rest of their treatment is.

Self mobilization

To replace manual therapy as best we can I walk patients through how they can do some of the same self release techniques I would normally do on themselves or by a family member.

This includes self massage and using tissue release tools like balls and rollers. Self mobilization of joints is another way I show patients how to simulate the same treatment they would get in person.

Exercise

For many conditions doing the right exercises can help tremendously. I guide patients through exercises that protect but stimulate their body to get stronger so they can recover and heal from their injuries.

Exercises are progressed and modified with the patient over virtual care in the comfort of their own home. I’ve noticed that many modifications can be made to help patients create a successful home routine.

Modalities

As far as modalities go we won’t be doing any home acupuncture but do I advise my patients on how to use things like TENS machines, as well as heat and ice therapy.

Q: What has the patient experience been like with virtual care?

A: So far the patient experience has been great! The feedback has been really positive with patients making solid improvements and in some cases beyond what they expected we would be able to achieve over the internet.

Personally, I feel that I have really been able to connect with patients and help them understand their injuries and progress their therapy plans so they can continue getting better during these unusual times.

I would also say that many patients are happy that we can continue to provide physiotherapy at a safe distance and that we are still here for them.

Q: Can you share your favourite story of how you helped a patient with virtual care?

A: I had one patient who I have seen for numerous injuries in the past call the clinic with an onset of new lower back pain in an area she hadn’t felt before.

This was all after some “COVID self isolation gardening”, which is generally a common injury we see in the spring months. Through virtual care I was able to connect with her and assess her injury.

We reviewed her diagnosis, I gave her some gentle exercises and advice which she was really happy with. I would say the most satisfying part of this story was that she felt so relieved and happy after the assessment just to know that it wasn’t serious and that she could continue with some of her regular exercise routine.

Sometimes the biggest impact of physiotherapy is the support we provide people, letting them know they are going to be ok and setting them on the right path.

I’ve really enjoyed connecting with people so far and helping them get better at a safe distance.

Learn More Or Book Today

If you’d like more information about virtual care or would like to book a virtual care appointment, please visit our Virtual Care page or call us at 1-888-314-2726.