The Verdict: Virtual Care is as Effective as In Person
Hey everyone, Dr. E here.
Let’s be real: for years, many of us have viewed telerehab as a second-best, 'good enough' option for our chronic pain patients. We used it when we had to, but the goal was always to get them back in the clinic. A 2017 meta-analysis just put that thinking to rest. The verdict is in, and the evidence is clear: for pain and function, telerehab is non-inferior to traditional in-person care. It's not the future of PT anymore—it's the present. I’ve distilled the must-know findings into a quick infographic so you can get up to speed and start evolving your practice today. Check it out below.
THE VIRTUAL VERDICT IS IN.
TELEREHAB ISN'T THE FUTURE. IT'S NOW.
Still skeptical about telerehab for musculoskeletal conditions? A landmark 2017 meta-analysis gave us the evidence to move forward with confidence. Here’s what you need to know.
THE CLINICAL QUESTION
Is telerehab just a "good enough" substitute for in-person care when treating musculoskeletal pain, or is it a legitimately effective, first-line option?
The Evidence Drop: Cottrell et al. (2017) Meta-Analysis
Effective Treatment
Telerehab provides SIGNIFICANT improvements in pain and physical function for a range of musculoskeletal conditions compared to minimal or no intervention.
Comparable to Standard Care
The bombshell finding: For pain and function, telerehab produced outcomes that were COMPARABLE to traditional, face-to-face standard practice. It's not a second-best option.
High Patient Satisfaction
Across the board, patients reported high levels of satisfaction with virtual care, debunking the myth that patients won't buy into or trust a remote model.
The Modern PT's Playbook
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VALIDATE VIRTUAL: Confidently present telerehab as an evidence-based, first-line option. It's not a compromise; it's a legitimate and effective delivery model comparable to standard practice.
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EMBRACE THE HYBRID MODEL: Use in-person visits for what they're best for (manual therapy, complex assessments, initial rapport building). Use telerehab for everything else (exercise progression, education, self-management coaching).
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MASTER PATIENT SELECTION: Your clinical reasoning still rules. Identify ideal virtual candidates (tech-savvy, motivated) versus those who need more hands-on guidance to build confidence and overcome fear.
THE NEXT STEP: FROM EVIDENCE TO EMPOWERMENT
The evidence is the foundation. My system enhances it for patient-first empowerment. I teach you how to take your current, effective in-person treatments and make them virtual-enabled—creating a seamless hybrid model that boosts adherence, improves outcomes, and puts the patient in control of their own recovery journey.
Learn my full Eval, Reset, and Stabilize system and how to easily assess and treat most conditions from head to toe!
