Case studies from CSP members who demonstrate some of those digital solutions they've had to employ to deliver a physiotherapy service
We’ve gathered the case studies below to highlight the challenges, solutions, and benefits of using digital solutions to deliver physio services remotely.
These were gathered from members of the Digital and Informatics Physiotherapy Group (DIPG) and others. We are aware that there are many more solutions in use and will add more case studies as we receive them. The case studies are representative of the point in time that they were written.
A summary of some of the digital tools has been created by Ben Wanless, a member of the Digital and Physiotherapy Informatics Group (DIPG), and included below. Although written for MSK services it is definitely transferable to other specialities.
Digital Physiotherapy Solutions
Please be aware that in this rapidly evolving situation details may change. The authors have given contact details if they are happy for other members to get in touch.
Helen Preston, Clinical Director of Prestons Health talks about the tools she uses to replace face-to-face practice with patients. They use the patient's preferred platform to deliver consultations in an MSK private practice.
Helen Preston case study
Chris Tack, clinical specialist physiotherapist, on the digital physiotherapy services offers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. They use multiple platforms to deliver remote consultations in an integrated MSK Service.
Chris Tack case study
Anthony Gilbert, physiotherapist at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, on the use of Attend Anywhere. They use this video consultation platform to deliver outpatient orthopaedic rehabilitation and other services across the hospital.
Anthony Gilbert case study
Joe Russell, Clinical Information lead at AHP Suffolk on the online self-referral platform they use for their MSK physiotherapy service.
Joe Russell case study
Helen Hawley-Hague, NIHR fellow at the University of Manchester on the Together Trial. They are using video consultations to deliver falls rehabilitation to older adults.
Helen Hawley-Hague case study
Pete Grinbergs, physiotherapist and co-founder of EQL.ai, a digital health startup, on Phio. It is a chat bot and patient facing app for digital triage and self-management support in MSK physiotherapy settings.
Pete Grinbergs case study
Patrick Roberts, first contact digital physiotherapist at Babylon on the app they use for digital MSK consultation in first contact physiotherapy settings.
Patrick Roberts case study
Anthony Brightwell, co-director of Spectrum Health, a private physiotherapy clinic in London on their use of TrackActive. It is an app for supporting exercise programmes in an MSK setting.
Anthony Brightwell case study
Laura Danvers, respiratory physiotherapist and team lead in the Bristol Community Health Respiratory Team on their use of MyCOPD, an app to help people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) better manage their condition.
Laura Danvers case study
Louise Waters, extended scope physiotherapist in East Lancashire on her team's use of PhysiTrack. It is an online exercise platform used to deliver an integrated adult MSK service.
Louise Waters case study
Katie Knapton, MSK physio, has been offering online physiotherapy for more than 3 years. She uses Gruveo and Zoom as video consultation platforms to provide MSK physiotherapy nationwide.
Katie Knapton case study
Carron Manning, physiotherapist and co-founder of iPrescribe Exercise on using the app for monitoring physical activity programmes for people with long-term conditions remotely.
Carron Manning case study
Emma Dunphy, senior MSK physiotherapist and co-developer of TRAK-ACL. It is an online platform to support self-management of ACL rehabilitation.
Emma Dunphy case study
Iain Loughran, MSK extended scope physiotherapist, and Stephanie Mansell, consultant respiratory physiotherapist, are NHS England Clinical Entrepreneurs. They have co-founded ONCALLbuddy, an app designed to support physiotherapists deployed in respiratory and critical care settings.
ONCALLbuddy case study
Kate Robinson, physio team lead at Reach Active, has been offering online physiotherapy for nearly three years. It is an app to give MSK physiotherapy assessment and treatment for people with back or neck pain aged over 16.
Kate Robinson case study
Nirtal Shah, physiotherapist and CEO of Curovate, has been offering digital physiotherapy for over four years. It is an app to provide rehabilitation following a total knee replacement, total hip replacement or ACL reconstruction.
Nirtal Shah case study
Cathal Malone, physiotherapist and co-founder of MSK Assist. It is a digital platform allowing clinicians to provide self-management MSK advice to patients.
Cathal Malone case study
Andrea Hemingway, physiotherapist, is using myrecovery app with patients rehabilitating remotely after shoulder surgery.
Andrea Hemingway case study
James Stanton, clinical specialist for the Oldham Adult MSK physiotherapy service. His team use a variety of platforms to deliver MSK services to their population.
James Stanton case study
Andy Curtis, extended scope physiotherapist and clinical director for The Medical Group in the south of England. His team use TeleHab from VLAD to deliver remote physiotherapy to their MSK and neuro patient population.
Andy Curtis case study
Hayley Williamson and her physiotherapy team in the Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust are using a number of virtual methods to deliver pulmonary rehabilitation to their patients.
Hayley Williamson case study
Carys Hansed, specialist physiotherapy lead, and the team at Denton RPA are using Re:flex, an app with connected motion sensors, to remotely monitor and offer physiotherapy to hip and knee patients.
Carys Hansed case study
Sara McGowan, lead physiotherapist at the Samson Centre, is providing exercise classes and one-to-one physiotherapy sessions to MS patients using a variety of digital solutions.
Sara McGowan case study
Christina Sothinathan, clinical lead physiotherapist at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, is using Attend Anywhere in MSK assessment and triage services.
Christina Sothinathan case study
Susan Pattinson, physiotherapist and director of SP Therapy Services, uses a variety of digital solutions to provide physiotherapy and occupational therapy to patients living with complex and catastrophic brain injuries.
Susan Pattison case study
Sue Julians, director and practice principal at Barbican Physio, uses the digital platform of her patients' choice to offer non face-to-face appointments for some MSK physiotherapy services.
Sue Julians case study
John Mitchell, interim pulmonary rehabilitation service lead at Southeastern Trust in Northern Ireland, is piloting a remote pulmonary rehabilitation service using Zoom.
John Mitchell case study
Sarah Daniel, director of MOTIONrehab, uses a mixture of robotics and virtual reality technology as part of neurological rehabilitation for their patients across Yorkshire and Humberside.
Sarah Daniel case study
Jane Clark is an MSK physiotherapist and founder of Pickwick Physiotherapy. She is using multiple platforms to continue delivering physiotherapy in her local area.