Do digital physical therapy solutions work? New report has some insights

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A new report from the Peterson Health Technology Institute suggests virtual physical therapy services could decrease health care spending for payers that invest in them. Billions of dollars have been poured into these companies and the assessment could boost business among companies wary of buying their services for their populations.

The analysis looked at three kinds of solutions: App-based exercise therapy solutions, physical therapist-guided solutions, and RTM-augmented solutions. In particular, it found that the therapist-guided solutions justified greater adoption because they showed outcomes on par with in-person treatment at lower cost. For people on commercial insurance, PHTI suggests these solutions could save between $737 and $1,306 per user in the first year. Companies in this category include Sword Health, Hinge Health, Omada Health, Vori, and RecoveryOne.

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