While the year is slowing down and coming to a close, the physical therapy world continues to stay busy. With more people taking time off for the holidays at the end of the 2023 insurance cycle, patients are taking advantage of booking appointments now.
And, as the weather gets cooler, many therapists anticipate additional clients who will be recovering from falls.
Despite the business, it’s also a season for resolutions and annual outlooks. Here are some trends in physical therapy that we expect to see in 2024:
1. Telehealth and PT
During the pandemic, 72% of physical therapy clinics saw major financial losses. Then, when people started venturing into public again, PTs were loaded with a backlog of patients. Telehealth services are one way to fight burnout from the increase in patients.
Some providers see virtual patient check-ins as less personal, yet 55% of patients are satisfied with these services.
Physical therapists can also perform a variety of services from a screen. Many softwares are made to help with conducting virtual appointments online. This is one of many physical therapy trends here to stay for 2024, as it allows for more flexibility for clinicians as well as patients. As the demand for physical therapists continues to rise, offering telehealth for some appointments can help ease a clinic’s schedule.
2. Physical Therapy at Home
Speaking of flexibility, many physical therapists now offer home visits for clients. This is often prescribed to patients with mobility difficulty following injury or surgery. But now, many physical therapists are offering this as a mobile service for regular patients.
Sure, this provides ease and flexibility to patients. It also has major cost savings benefits for physical therapists. One 2023 study claims that in-home PT models can reduce costs by 52%.
At-home PT allows for high-quality care in a low-cost setting.
3. Preventative PT
Another trend that physical therapists are seeing is a continuous rise in preventative PT.
This business comes from patients who are not prescribed physical therapy. Instead, it’s coming from individuals who want to remain healthy and reduce the risk of injury through regular PT visits.
This coincides with the overall trend of preventative healthcare measures, such as dieting, exercising, and general wellness. With progressing technology, patients can track their health and wellness journey through Apple Watches, Fitbits, and other wearable medical devices. This healthcare data allows for more personalized plans.
4. Growing Use of Technology in Clinics
Technology has always gone hand-in-hand with healthcare. However, with technology rapidly progressing, many physical therapists utilize artificial intelligence within workflow software. Other PTs utilize AR (augmented reality) in training.
Medical devices like PowerPlay’s cold compression system also unlock new potential for patient care. In the clinic, cold compression kits allow therapists to passively treat multiple patients simultaneously. This treatment can ease pain and increase mobility, allowing patients to complete exercises and other therapies in the office.
Browse PowerPlay cold compression kits for clinics.
*The information featured on this page is subject to our standard content policy and disclaimer. It is available for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice.
