Physical therapy extends beyond the clinic’s boundaries. As healthcare providers, it’s crucial that we extend our support to help patients continue their treatment at home, especially with telehealth workflows being more common. This article will outline the eight best physical therapy home exercise programs, offering a comprehensive guide for physical therapists committed to long-term patient success.
Before you put your stamp of approval on a Home Exercise Program (HEP) software, there are some game-changing factors to think about. First off, how straightforward is the program? We want to encourage, not frustrate, our patients to promote patient adherence. Then there’s equipment. What will your patients need, and is it easily accessible? Do they have access to physical therapy equipment at home? Flexibility is another key point with a patient’s HEP. Can the program be tailored to fit the unique needs of different patient interventions taking into account range of motion and pain levels with specific exercises? And, we can’t underestimate the power of goal tracking to keep patients engaged and improve the patient experience. Keep an eye on these elements, and your recommended home exercise program will be a valuable extension of the top-notch care you provide and optimize your treatment plan/plan of care.
Let’s dive into our curated list of our favorite Home Exercise Programs for Physical Therapists
Patient Exercises
Price: $200 annually for the premium package.
Pros:
Comprehensive Exercises: Wide variety of exercises aimed at knee arthritis.
Customizable Plans: Easy-to-adapt templates for various patient needs.
Affordable: Budget-friendly and offers a basic free version.
Cons:
Limited Specialization: May not cater to more complex rehabilitation requirements.
HEP2Go
About: HEP2Go is an online platform aimed at rehab professionals. It comes with a vast selection of exercise programs categorized by body region, and allows customization for custom exercises.
Reputation: Highly popular in PT circles, HEP2Go has been recommended by APTA PT in Motion.
Price: Free basic membership with a pro plan available at an additional monthly cost.
Pros:
Customizable Routines: Allows practitioners to upload their personalized exercise routines.
Broad Access: Free membership provides considerable utility, including unlimited exercise creation.
Brand Customization: Pro plan allows you to brand your own page.
Cons:
Lack of Advanced Features: The basic free plan may lack some advanced features available in the pro plan.
Home Exercise Program by WebPT
About: Developed by a married couple combining expertise in sports PT and software development, WebPT’s Home Exercise Program provides an extensive library of visual and text aids to supplement patients’ at-home exercises.
Reputation: The program has garnered a 4 out of 5 stars in consumer reviews and has numerous testimonials from physical therapists.
Price: Monthly plans are available, with a free demo provided for initial exploration.
Pros:
Extensive Library: Wide variety of videos, photos, line drawings, and instructional texts.
User Experience: Easy-to-navigate interface designed by professionals in the PT field.
Customization: Option to create your own exercise programs.
Cons:
Price Tag: The effective cost can rise significantly if you want to unlock the full range of features.
Limited Free Version: The free demo offers limited functionality compared to the paid plans.
theraVid
About: Presented by strivelabs, theraVid is designed to redefine the management of musculoskeletal diseases. It features a patient portal for messages, surveys, and targeted content, along with customizable exercise programs.
Reputation: The platform has been recommended by physicaltherapyweb.com as a top exercise prescription software.
Price: A pricing calculator is available on the website to tailor the cost according to your specific needs.
Pros:
Customizable Programs: Create tailored exercise routines that can be tracked for patient progress.
Patient Portal: Engage with patients through messages, surveys, and educational content to monitor patient satisfaction.
Scalable Pricing: The pricing calculator allows you to select features that meet your specific needs, making it budget-friendly.
Cons:
Learning Curve: The platform has numerous features that might require time to master.
Price Flexibility: While scalable, costs can escalate depending on the features you choose.
Exercise Pro
About: A physical therapist specifically designed Exercise Pro, which BioEX Systems developed. Clinics and hospitals widely use its network-based, password-protected platform.
Reputation: The platform is well-regarded, featuring a list of current clients and testimonials on the BioEx website, adding to its credibility.
Price: Pricing is available on the website and varies depending on the software package you select. Support and updates are provided free of charge.
Pros:
Customization: Tailor exercise programs specifically to individual patient needs.
Multi-Language Support: Instructions are available in English, Spanish, and French.
Robust Features: The platform offers a wide range of features to aid in patient education and treatment.
Cons:
Price Complexity: Users may find it complicated to determine the best fit among the various packages available.
Potential Learning Curve: The plethora of features may require a significant time investment to master.
Real Time Rehab
About: Real Time Rehab offers a quick and efficient platform for creating home exercise programs, claiming to do so in 30 seconds or less. It provides a large library of exercises and supports multiple devices for patient accessibility.
Reputation: Jeremy Green founded Real Time Rehab and won Tulsa’s 2009 Entrepreneurial Spirit Award for the program. The PT community has well-received the program, and it has garnered multiple positive testimonials.
Price: For pricing information, you would need to contact Real Time Rehab directly.
Pros:
Speed: Create comprehensive home exercise plans in less than a minute.
Device Flexibility: Exercises can be accessed on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Quality Content: The platform collaborates with physical therapists to ensure high-quality, effective exercise programs.
Cons:
Pricing Ambiguity: Direct contact is required to find out the pricing, which might deter some users.
Lack of Pricing Transparency: The need to contact the company for price details can make budget planning more cumbersome.
MedBridge
About: MedBridge is a comprehensive platform offering not just a home exercise program (HEP) but also continuing education courses for healthcare providers. The design serves as an all-in-one solution for both patient engagement and professional development.
Reputation: The physical therapy community highly regards MedBridge for its quality and depth. It offers a wealth of educational content alongside its HEP features, making it a favorite among clinics that prioritize continuous learning.
Price: The annual subscription is $300, which may seem steep but provides access to an array of features beyond just the HEP component.
Pros:
A dedicated mobile app for patients.
Includes continuous education courses as part of the plan.
Cons:
The cost can be a hurdle for smaller practices.
HEP functionality comes only with the purchase of a larger, more expensive plan.
Final Thoughts:
The quest for the best HEP platform is anything but straightforward. Each platform comes with its own set of pros and cons, and the best choice for you will depend on your particular set of priorities including HIPAA compliance. Whether you’re most concerned with offering a large library of exercises, an intuitive patient interface, the ability to provide handouts, integration with your EMR, or simply want the most cost-effective solution, this guide aims to simplify your decision-making process. Also, keep in mind, that some of these platforms also offer features or content that can be beneficial for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and occupational therapists (OTs), if your practice includes a variety of specialties. With this information, you can now make an informed choice that benefits your practice and patient outcomes.