If you suffer from back pain, have been injured in a fall or experience mobility issues due to a long-term medical condition, you know how beneficial the services of a physiotherapist can be — both for your physical and mental wellbeing.

So, what happens when local public health officials impose strict stay-at-home measures due to an outbreak of coronavirus in your community and your physiotherapist is no longer available?

Enter virtual physiotherapy – a convenient, secure and confidential way to get the benefits of an in-person physiotherapist online.

Thanks to advancements in technology, you can connect with an accredited physiotherapist for diagnosis and treatment using your computer, tablet or mobile device, without having to leave your home..

Just like an in-person physiotherapist, a virtual physiotherapist helps people affected by injury, illness or disability through movement and exercise, education and advice — just not in the same room.

The role of any physiotherapist, whether in a clinic or on a computer screen, is to restore, maintain, and make the most of a patient's mobility, function, and well-being. This can be one hands on or hands off.

Here’s how virtual physiotherapy works:

• Your physiotherapist learns about your medical history via a video conversation
• Your physiotherapist assesses and diagnoses your condition
• Based on that evaluation, your physiotherapist creates a customized treatment plan that sets goals for you
• Your physiotherapist monitors you live as you perform therapeutic exercise

This means that instead of suffering in pain, you can interact with your physical therapist in real time as you do your exercises from the comfort, privacy and security of your home, while minimizing your risk of being exposed to illness.

As long as you have a computer, tablet or smartphone with a camera and email, you can receive immediate, safe, effective care from your physiotherapist.

Remember that the longer you delay treatment, the longer it may take to return to pain-free mobility. If you try to ignore your injuries, your body will begin to move in ways that avoid causing pain. This can result in poor movement patterns that affect other parts of your body.

Because you can access virtual physiotherapy quickly and conveniently, you’re likelier to fix the problem faster, before complications arise, and feel better sooner.

Benefits and advantages

Here’s a few of the benefits and advantage of virtual physiotherapy:

Ease and convenience – You can do your exercises at home with live access to the skilled care of your physiotherapist.

Flexibility – You can book your sessions with your physiotherapist around your schedule, during your lunch hour, between meetings or while your kids are doing their piano practice.

Real-time feedback – You can have live movement testing done as your physiotherapist monitors you for proper form and technique, answers your questions and provides feedback.

Better outcomes – Your physiotherapist can help you follow your treatment plans to ensure proper technique and support your recovery.

At Medavie Blue Cross, we cover the services of virtual physiotherapists to enable you to connect, communicate with and receive care from a licensed practitioner– wherever and whenever you need it.

Sore? In pain? Just not physically yourself? Help may be only a few clicks away!

Steps to recovery

1. Log in at medaviebc.ca/connected-care or through the Medavie Mobile app to book an initial assessment with Phzio.
2. An email with a linkwill connect you with your physiotherapist who will assess your injuries and create a customized treatment plan for you.
3. The physiotherapist will supervise your treatment in real-time while you complete your exercises

Enjoy savings

Are you a member of a Medavie Blue Cross-insured plan? Virtual physiotherapy is covered by most benefit plans as an extended health benefit.

Through our partnership with Phzio, a physical therapy telehealth platform, we provide members with an exclusive discount on initial assessments and subsequent treatments, Phzio is also an ePay provider so the costs for these claims will be direct billed to us.

Check your coverage

You can confirm your coverage for physiotherapy on our mobile app or by logging in at medaviebc.ca.