Key points
- Prepare a daily activity goal and describe what has changed since your last visit.
- Use the call to clarify your current home plan rather than guessing how to progress it.
- A clinician may recommend in-person care when video cannot answer the assessment question.
Explore online physiotherapy
Review the service overview and discuss suitability before making a request.
Explore the related serviceStart with the activity that matters
Before the call, choose one or two everyday activities you want to discuss, such as reaching a shelf, walking to a nearby shop or returning to a familiar routine. Note what has changed, what feels easier or harder, and which parts of the plan you have managed to do. If an exercise has been difficult, describe the difficulty instead of repeating it for the camera. The American Physical Therapy Association’s telerehabilitation guideline addresses preparation and implementation of remote physical therapy; it does not make video suitable for every person or assessment. [1]
Review the plan instead of guessing
The physiotherapist may ask about your response to the current plan, clarify instructions and observe a comfortable task if it is relevant and safe. You can ask whether the activity, timing, support or explanation needs to change. Ask what signs should prompt you to pause and how progress will be reviewed. Do not add repetitions, resistance or new movements just because an online article suggests them. HHS describes examples of physical therapy services that may use telehealth, while noting that the format depends on the care need. [2]
Know when video is not enough
A camera cannot provide every hands-on test, measurement, equipment check or form of direct assistance. A clinician may recommend an in-person appointment if needed to answer the question safely. Set up a stable device, good lighting and clear space; keep your usual mobility aid nearby. Never attempt stairs, balance challenges, lifting or painful movements to demonstrate them. If symptoms are sudden, severe or feel urgent, contact local urgent or emergency services instead of waiting for a routine video appointment.
Prepare for a physiotherapy follow-up
- 01
Write down a goal
Choose an everyday task and note what has changed since your last visit.
- 02
Keep your plan nearby
Use the appointment to clarify instructions rather than changing the plan on your own.
- 03
Ask about the limits
Confirm what can be reviewed remotely and when in-person assessment is needed.
Before you make a request.
01Should I exercise during a video follow-up?
Only if the clinician asks and you feel safe. You can pause or describe the activity instead.
02Can I progress my home plan before the call?
Do not make changes based only on this article. Follow your current instructions and discuss questions with your clinician.
03Can video replace every physiotherapy assessment?
No. Some questions require hands-on examination, equipment or direct assistance.
Evidence behind this guide.
- 01Telerehabilitation in Physical Therapist Practice: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American Physical Therapy Association
American Physical Therapy Association · 2024
- 02How can I use telehealth for physical therapy?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Telehealth.HHS.gov