Interested in working with us but unable to come in person? No problem! We offer virtual physical therapy appointments online via doxy.me, an easy-to-use, HIPPA-compliant telehealth platform you can access through any web-browser, no need to download anything.
We know that getting access to the treatments you need can be challenging. That is why we offer virtual physical therapy services online with our licensed physical therapists, so you can access the high quality and effective treatments you need, from wherever you are*.
We offer both our standard Physical Therapy and Postural Restoration® Physical Therapy virtually.
How Virtual Physical Therapy Works
Book a virtual appointment
Book an appointment via phone (616) 741-9555 or online.
Prepare for your virtual physical therapy appointment
We’ll connect with you by phone or email to get the information we need, such as your health history and specific concerns, and to answer any questions you may have prior to your appointment.
System requirements: An up-to-date internet browser with web camera and microphone access and a stable internet connection is recommended. If this is not possible, a phone call is offered, but video is preferred.
Set-up: Since you will be asked to perform some movements, we suggest wearing comfortable clothing you can move easily in, and orienting yourself in a space where you can be in full view of the camera when standing or lying down.
Attend your appointment via your Doxy.me link
You’ll receive a secure link for your online physical therapy session when you book your appointment. At the time of your appointment, just click the link and your physical therapist will greet you.
What to expect at your first virtual physical therapy session
Prior to your first online physical therapy session, an initial email with health history and content specific to your questions is used to streamline the information that we need to obtain for your appointment.
The beginning of the virtual physical therapy session is a question-and-answer interview to understand your condition, circumstances, lifestyle, and concerns. A visual evaluation of standing position, postural asymmetry, and grounding sense follows. Then some movement screenings that would require you to step back to put most/all of your image in view of the camera to do motions with the whole body (toe touch, squat, roll shoulders, arm, neck and back range of motion, etc.). Occasionally you may be asked to lay down on the floor in view of the camera for lower extremity observational tests.
After these tests, we follow up with some education and demonstration of restorative therapy concepts, tailored to your individual needs. Finally, we return to a Q&A period to complete the session.
FAQs for Virtual Physical Therapy
What can virtual physical therapy treat?
Not everything… it is effective for determining if a client should travel for in-person treatment. The greatest benefit comes after a first in-person treatment to decrease the travel time and expense for coming from out of town for progression visits after the initial in-person session. Telehealth virtual physical therapy sessions can be effective for balance and grounding sessions, improving sleep quality, improving airflow and perfusion, improving flexibility and range of motion. It can be used for sports performance and form correction for gait and lifting mechanics. It is less effective for specific areas of pain, post-operative rehab, pelvic health, and acute injury.
Are there any restriction on receiving virtual physical therapy from SIMIO?
Due to licencing, we can provide consultation and treatment to individuals that are in the state of Michigan at the time of their virtual physical therapy session. If you are outside of Michigan, we can provide consultation and education only.
What are the pros and cons of virtual physical therapy?
CONS: Telehealth sessions are less efficient, and of lower precision since they require the physical therapist to make some visual assumptions, but since they take the same amount of time, they cost the same. In-person is better.
PROS: Pros include the ability to decrease the number of in-person visits for traveling clients. If a client is local and/or travel is reasonable, it is better to do in-person.
Will I get the same benefits as in-person physical therapy?
The simple answer is “No”. The more a physical therapist can do hands-on and in-person testing and guidance for exercise prescription, the better and more efficient the care progression will be.
How do I know if virtual physical therapy is right for me?
Online physical therapy may be right for you if geographical location prevents or impairs your ability to come for in-person treatment, if travel-time and expenses are an issue, or if the client is in prison.
Does insurance cover my virtual physical therapy sessions?
Your insurance may cover virtual physical therapy sessions, however we do not do direct billing for virtual care.
Is the pricing for virtual physical therapy the same as in-person?
Yes, since we spend the same amount of time with you, whether online or in-person, the cost is the same. However, we have a program package that has some discounts built in for those that would like to combine less frequent in-person visits with more frequent telehealth visits (for travelers) so that they can minimize travel.
Can I still book for an in-person treatment at your clinic?
Yes, and you should. We suggest making use of telehealth to help determine if our approach is right for you, and if making a trip for an in-person treatment session makes sense. Often, for far away or out-of-state patients, we use a combination of in-person and virtual physical therapy sessions.
Let’s discuss your goals during your free online consultation
Correcting poor alignment, postural awareness, or improving your ability to move starts with discovering what is limiting your body’s ability. We will examine your whole body for imbalanced relationships that lead to undesired tension, restriction or altered movement. We will create a roadmap to help you overcome your limits and an awareness that lead to lasting results.
Arrange a meeting with a licensed physical therapist online today.