It’s impossible to know exactly what the future holds, but if we study some recent trends and projections, we may be able to get a better idea of what’s in store for physical therapists and their clients down the road. So what does the future hold for the physical therapy industry? We look at the current landscape of physical therapy and provide some projections for where things may go in the future.
The Future Of Physical Therapy
While the complete picture of the future is largely unclear, one thing that many industry experts agree on is that there will be a growing need for physical therapists in the near future. Baby boomers are already into retirement age where joint degeneration and natural aging has taken a significant toll on a body. Not only will physical therapists be needed to treat acute or chronic conditions that are a direct result of natural degeneration, but there is also expected to be a boom in the number of patients who undergo a joint replacement surgery. Patients who get a new hip, knee or shoulder joint will undoubtedly need months of physical therapy to restore the most physical function possible.
The need for physical therapists will also continue to grow because we are largely becoming less active as a nation. Technological advances have made it easier to get work done at a desk, whether that is at home or in the office, and we’re simply not moving as much as we used to. This can also partially explain the rising obesity rates in the country, and obesity significantly increases the load that your joints have to bear. Natural degeneration is expedited in heavier individuals, increasing their risk of needing physical therapy and other rehabilitative services in the future.
However, technology has also been the driving force behind some exciting changes in the physical therapy world recently. Driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, many physical therapy clinics added remote sessions to safely connect with patients when in-person sessions weren’t the best option. Telehealth appointments appear here to stay even as we shift away from what we hope was the worst of the pandemic, and it opens up a number of possibilities for patients. Not only can they save valuable time by connecting with a physical therapist from the comfort of their home, they also aren’t restricted by which offices are close by. While you’ll want to be cognizant of remaining in-network, it certainly seems like the future of physical therapy will involve patients connecting with different providers through telehealth communications, removing physical distance to a provider as a barrier to treatment.
Finally, we expect that technology will only continue to improve the diagnostic and treatment phases of first therapy. Digital images are getting clearer and artificial intelligence is already starting to make it easier to ensure that patients are performing exercises correctly based on movement patterns. While physical therapists will want to be careful not to over rely on these technological advances, it’s clear that they will continue to make it easier to provide a high level of care to each patient going forward.
So if you’re considering a career path in rehabilitative health, physical therapy seems like a great opportunity. There is a growing need for skilled physical therapists, and technology will only make it easier to help each patient get the care they need. If you are interested in a career in physical therapy, or you simply want to connect with a physical therapist to overcome an issue that you’re dealing with, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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