Physical therapy is a $46 billion industry in the U.S. with an average annual growth rate of over 3% 1. Several trends in U.S. PT needs are impacting the industry as it grows.
One of the trends is a growing demand for PT in a proactive, preventative setting, especially for athletes in the U.S. Traditionally, physical therapists have simply supported the recovery of patients suffering from an illness or injury. However, physical therapy is now increasingly leveraged to prevent such illness or injury in the first place. For example, working alongside athletes, physical therapists can help them learn key exercises to prevent injuries 2.
The rise in telehealth services means that patients no longer need to commute to a clinic or make childcare arrangements for some kinds of PT appointments, providing far more flexibility. This is particularly important in the current pandemic context. As a result, as of mid-2021, the use of telehealth was nearly 40 times higher than that pre-pandemic across the health care industry broadly; and as of November 2021, more than half of patients were more satisfied with virtual visits than in-person appointments 3. Nevertheless, since virtual visits make it harder to build trust and empathy, these need to be more deliberately addressed.
There are additional trends in PT needs in the U.S. that provide patients with more flexibility and access to care. Home-based health care services are unlocking higher-quality care at a lower cost 4. Not only is home-based physical therapy more comfortable for patients, but physical therapists can assess a home for any fall risks or other hazards, as well as help enhance the ergonomic nature of a patient’s work space. The number of home-based care businesses has risen by nearly 5% annually from 2017 to 2022 5.
Burnout rates have reached an all-time high in the U.S. according to a 2021 study 6. Given how much patients need engaged, compassionate physical therapists for successful care, greater attention has been paid to this problem within the field of PT itself. As part of a regular employee evaluation, physical therapy centers are increasingly prescribing self-tests for its staff to assess their mental health. Ethical scheduling practices can then be implemented to help reduce burnout.
Additional trends center on technological innovations. New technologies such as augmented reality and artificial intelligence have the potential to boost physical therapy programs. Augmented reality has a range of applications from enhancing hand rehabilitation programs to improving balance in the elderly. It can also gamify otherwise mundane exercises 7, helping patients stay dedicated. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence-powered apps can be harnessed to measure patient movement and mobility. While helping patients and therapists stay informed, they may also improve pain management and long-term adherence to protocols.
Wearable tech is gaining momentum as the preferred way millennials manage pain and improve movement. Associated apps can help enhance the precision of recovery while boosting patient engagement.
Improved management software is helping streamline patient care for practitioners. This type of software automates tasks that were once tedious and time-consuming. It can be used to keep tabs on internal billing or maintain electronic health records.
Finally, changes in the field of PT are also occurring in the system of how patients are directed to physical therapy in the first place. Some health care systems are moving toward a more centralized health care network that may be easier for patients to navigate. This means that independent physical therapy clinics are receiving fewer referrals as hospitals are maintaining more care in-network. Independent physical therapy practices will need to identify new ways to connect with and recruit patients as a result.
References
1. 5 Trends Changing the Future of the Physical Therapy Industry – masc. Available at: https://mascmedical.com/5-trends-changing-the-future-of-the-physical-therapy-industry/. (Accessed: 21st November 2022)
2. Physical Therapy Trends for 2022 – The Colorado Physical Therapy Network. Available at: https://coloradophysicaltherapynetwork.com/physical-therapy-trends-for-2022/. (Accessed: 21st November 2022)
3. Telehealth: A post-COVID-19 reality? | McKinsey. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/telehealth-a-quarter-trillion-dollar-post-covid-19-reality. (Accessed: 16th September 2021)
4. How ‘Care at Home’ ecosystems can reshape the way health systems envision patient care | McKinsey. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/how-care-at-home-ecosystems-can-reshape-the-way-health-systems-envision-patient-care. (Accessed: 21st November 2022)
5. Home Care Providers in the US – Number of Businesses | IBISWorld. Available at: https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/number-of-businesses/home-care-providers-united-states/T. (Accessed: 21st November 2022)
6. The State of Rehab Therapy in 2021 | Downloads | WebPT. Available at: https://www.webpt.com/downloads/state-of-rehab-therapy-2021/. (Accessed: 21st November 2022)
7. Pereira, M. F., Prahm, C., Kolbenschlag, J., Oliveira, E. & Rodrigues, N. F. Application of AR and VR in hand rehabilitation: A systematic review. Journal of Biomedical Informatics (2020). doi:10.1016/j.jbi.2020.103584