Online Physiotherapy Consultations and Treatment
(Virtual Physiotherapy)
Photo by Jonathan Borba from Pexels
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many patients are looking for access to quality physiotherapy services that would be accessible from the comfort of their home. I am pleased to say that I offer online physiotherapy consultations (virtual physiotherapy) to meet this need. Online consultations can be done through Zoom, Skype, Facetime, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp or other such applications. The most important thing about them is that they WORK. I have treated many conditions online and on this page you will find more information on why virtual physiotherapy consultations work, how they are conducted and how you can get started.
What I Can Offer Through an Online Physiotherapy Consultation
I can assess and treat most types of pain and injury through online physiotherapy consultations. Through the video consultation, I can:
– Conduct a thorough physiotherapy assessment: take a detailed history of your issue, inspect the painful area, assess your mobility and strength and arrive at a physiotherapy diagnosis (for most conditions),
– Offer you valuable information and education on what is causing your problem and the steps you can take to resolve it,
– Give you the specific therapeutic exercises that you need to relieve your pain and help you recover your mobility,
– Guide you or a family member to use more specialized physiotherapy techniques if needed. These include kinesio-taping, therapeutic massage, simple joint mobilizations and special physiotherapy techniques.
These step can be sufficient to completely resolve many health concerns. The patients that fit the category of those who’s issues can be completely resolved with online physiotherapy treatments, I classify in Group A.
I use a group grading system so that after your initial consultation, you can have an idea of what to expect from online physiotherapy treatments and how much improvement you will get. As per our clinic’s policy, if after the initial assessment, I determine that you are likely not to receive any benefit from online physiotherapy treatment (Group C), you will not be charged for the initial physiotherapy consultation.
Group A: Patients Who Can Fully Recover With Online Physiotherapy Consultations and Treatment
Many conditions fit in this category. Rehabilitation for sprains, fractures (after the cast is off), and joint replacements (total hip or knee replacement) is done easily through virtual consultations because it is based mostly on therapeutic exercises. The same goes for physiotherapy treatment of any time of acute injury such as can happen during a workout or sport.
Conditions such as neck pain, low back pain, tendonitis, bursitis and the such can also often be completely resolved through virtual physiotherapy care, but some of these might fit into group B depending on the level of health of the patient and the intensity of the condition.
I can also provide online ergonomic assessments of your home office to make sure that you have the right setup to be able to work safely from home without injuring your back, neck, shoulders and arms. This is now a major issue as many people are working from home without an adequate set-up for their work station. Patients requiring ergonomic assessments are also often part of Group A as their condition is caused by a faulty posture and will generally improve once the cause of the pain is addressed.
Group B: Patients Who Can Get Benefit And Partially Improve With Online Physiotherapy Consultations and Treatment
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For some other problems, my online physiotherapy consultations will help improve your pain and mobility, but you might require an in-person consultation in order to resolve the issue or get the maximal benefit that physiotherapy can give you. I categorize these patients as group B patients.
If this is the case for you, I can treat you through online consultations to start and you can then follow-up with in person consultations at my clinic once you have obtained the maximal benefit from the virtual physiotherapy care. If you live outside Ottawa, I can refer you to a physiotherapy clinic that is closest to your home.
Group C: Patients For Whom Online Physiotherapy Consultations and Treatment is Not Suitable
What I cannot do through online physiotherapy consultations are hands on treatments like massage and modalities such as therapeutic ultrasound. Also, some complex cases might absolutely require an in-person consultation in order for me to be able to complete my assessment and arrive at a physiotherapy diagnosis.
Patients that I cannot assess properly online or that cannot make any improvement without in-person treatment are part of Group C. These are more uncommon. Also, our clinic policy is that patients who are part of Group C will not be charged for the online consultation. If I assess you and deem that I cannot give you an adequate assessment and treatment online, you will not be charged.
Conditions That Usually Fit In Group A and B (I Can Treat Them Well Online)
Most conditions fit here but here is a list of common ones: back and neck pain, recovering your mobility once a cast or sling has been removed after a fracture, tendinitis, bursitis, shoulder pain, plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains, rib problems, most injuries, finger and toe conditions, etc. Note that if your condition does not appear on this page, this does not mean that we cannot help you.
We can actually help most conditions through virtual physiotherapy treatment. If you are unsure if your condition is suitable for online physiotherapy treatment, you can call us or email us and we will be happy to check this with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your fees? My fees will be the same as with my regular consultations. Please call our clinic to obtain current fees.
Will my private health insurance plan cover the costs? I am a Registered Physiotherapist in the Province of Ontario and will provide your with legal receipts for your payment. Sun Life has issued a statement that says they will be covering online (virtual) physiotherapy consultations. Many other extended health benefit providers are following suit. Please check with your extended health benefits provider to see if they cover virtual physiotherapy treatments. Patients pay for their appointment at the end of each visit and are responsible for submitting their receipts to private insurance.
How do I book my appointment? The easiest is for you to book online through this website. Please make sure to choose the option: Online Physiotherapy Consultation. You can also call us at 613-836-3699.
How do I pay? You will pay after your consultation. You can do this either through the phone by credit card or by sending an e-transfer.
What equipment do I need? You need a phone, tablet or computer with access to the internet and one of the following video conferencing apps: Zoom, Skype, Facetime, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, etc. I recommend a laptop as they are the easiest to move around while keeping a steady camera angle. In terms of other equipment, access to a chair, desk or table and bed or floor mat are helpful. Occasionally you might need other equipment like free weights, exercise bands, lumbar rolls, kinesio-tape. If this is the case, I will let you know where you can purchase them or how to order them online and get them delivered to your home.
Where should I be inside my home to make best use of your service? You can sit at a desk with your device in front of you. Ideally, sit somewhere where you have 2 meters of space behind you so that you can stand and do some movements when i ask you to do so. If there is a bed near you where you can lie down and I can see you from the side, this is also helpful.
What is the most suitable clothing? For leg issues, please wear shorts so that I can see the area once we start the examination portion. For shoulder, back and neck issues, wearing the clothing you are comfortable with and that would allow me to best visualize the area when it is time for the examination.
How is my privacy protected? I assess and treat all of my patients in a private treatment room, both for online and in-person consultations. All your information remains confidential and private. I use JaneApp, a state of the art software that meets and surpasses the privacy and security requirements for handling the medical information. I take privacy seriously and take all possible steps to protect the private life of my patients.