What does a physio telehealth (video) consultation involve?

Dr Breanne Kunstler (BBiomedSci, BHealthSci, MPhysio, PhD). 

Physiotherapist, behaviour change scientist and run coach.


Those who have seen a physio before are probably used to going to a clinic, checking in with the receptionist, waiting in the waiting room and then seeing the physio in their consultation room.

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a spanner in the works. The clinic is your computer room, your receptionist is the 'accept' button on a calendar invite, your waiting room has a comfy couch and your trusty dog and your physio's consulting room is in the cloud. This is 2020. This is pandemic physio. This is telehealth!

So what does a telehealth consultation look like? A patient of mine gave me permission to share a video of part of our consultation where I am assessing her shoulder movement and prescribing her an exercise.


As you can see, there's not much difference between assessment over telehealth and assessment in person! Except that the consultation occurs in your own comfy environment and at a time that suits you.

During my consultations I make sure I assess your condition to the best of my ability, demonstrate your treatment (e.g. exercises or manual therapies that might need help from someone you live with or some home equipment) and prescribe you with a management plan. Your management plan is emailed to you with all the information you need to manage your condition.

I will ask you to video yourself doing your treatment at home (if you want to) and send them to me between consultations so I can make sure you are doing it all correctly and safely. Here's a video of my patient being creative at home and using what she has around the house to do her exercises in the bathroom.


So that's telehealth! Simple, convenient and easy. You might also notice that the consultations are cheaper because you're attending remotely. What's even more exciting is that many private health insurance companies are providing insurance rebates for telehealth sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Go on, check out what other patients have to say about telehealth. Contact me at breannekunstler@ownbody.com.au to try a 15min, 30min, 45min or 60min consultation today!

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