Physical Therapists' Perceptions of Telerehabilitation for Patients with Musculoskeletal Conditions in the Post-Pandemic World.

OBJECTIVES

To examine physical therapists' experience of providing telerehabilitation and their perceptions of telerehabilitation for patients with musculoskeletal conditions.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional survey, members of the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy were invited to respond.

RESULTS

We received 208 completed responses to our survey invitation. Physical therapists reported using little to no telerehabilitation prior to the pandemic but increased use during the pandemic, followed by the decreased use of telerehabilitation post-pandemic. Physical therapists reported that they believed that they could deliver effective care using telerehabilitation, but that it was not as effective as in-clinic care, and that they would prefer to use telerehabilitation as a part of a hybrid care model versus using only telerehabilitation. Physical therapists suggested that certain patients were more likely than others to benefit from telerehabilitation and identified specific factors (e.g., patient preference, self-efficacy) that influenced whom they consider to be appropriate for telerehabilitation. "Patient issues with technology" was identified as the most common barrier to telerehabilitation use. Most physical therapists reported planning to use telerehabilitation in the future and agreed that telerehabilitation plays an important role in expanding access to physical therapy in the United States.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical therapists believed that telerehabilitation continues to play an important role in the post-pandemic world. Although physical therapists reported that they considered telerehabilitation to be an effective method for delivering care, they did not consider it to be a replacement for in-clinic care, and they believed that certain patients are more likely than others to benefit from telerehabilitation.