Virtual Physical Therapy Saved My Christmas 

COMMENTARY

This Christmas, I hosted 17 people less than a month after getting my left hip replaced.

I have virtual physical therapy to thank for the miraculous recovery. And my story isn’t unique. Millions of Americans have quickly bounced back from surgeries and injuries because of virtual PT. Studies show that it’s just as effective as in-person PT, while being more convenient and less expensive for patients.

Unfortunately, virtual PT could soon be out of reach for millions of people. It became widely available through Medicare thanks to pandemic-era flexibilities. Those flexibilities are set to expire at the end of March. 

Congress needs to do right by patients by making Medicare coverage of virtual PT permanent.

My own journey with virtual PT began in August 2024, when I had my right hip replaced. The first days after surgery were difficult. I was stressed and unsure if the pain I was feeling was a “normal” part of recovery. My doctor’s top rule after hip replacement played repeatedly in my mind: “Do. Not. Fall.” Studies show that up to half of falls in hip replacement patients occur in the first 30 days after surgery.

That’s why being able to do therapy at home was so invaluable. Virtual PT allowed me to recover in a safe, familiar environment, reducing my risk for falls while ensuring I received the expert guidance I needed in a timely manner. 

Each morning, I’d set up my iPad in my living room, where I felt comfortable and secure. I didn’t need to make travel arrangements to and from a physical therapist’s office or deal with the discomfort of getting in and out of a car. These are not small concerns for someone who’s had a hip replacement.

At first, I was skeptical about whether physical therapy would be as effective through a screen. How could a therapist properly guide me without being in the room? Wouldn’t I miss the hands-on corrections and adjustments that seem so essential? 

That skepticism melted away during my first virtual session. My therapist watched carefully as I performed each exercise, offering real-time corrections to my form and answering my questions. 

I had my first session less than 48 hours after being discharged from the hospital. I never would have been able to begin in-person therapy that quickly, given the logistical challenges of getting there. 

The timing of this visit was essential for me, helping me to shift my uncertainty so that I could do the work of recovering physically and emotionally. My therapist helped me understand that the discomfort I was experiencing was part of healing — “regenerative pain” rather than “degenerative pain.” 

Research backs this up. Studies show that patients who understand the nature of their pain during recovery feel less anxiety and achieve better outcomes.

By the time I wrapped up my first course of virtual PT for my right hip, I felt much more confident scheduling my left hip replacement surgery for late November. Knowing what to expect and how long recovery would take, I calculated that I’d be pain-free and ready to host friends and family for Christmas.

Right now, millions of Americans are planning surgeries for the coming months with the understanding that they’ll be able to choose the physical therapy option that works best for them — whether in-person or virtual. 

Unless Congress acts quickly, they’ll lose access to virtual PT after March 31.

It’s crucial that lawmakers explicitly include the services of physical therapists in any extension of telehealth flexibilities under Medicare.

Research shows that permanent coverage would likely lead to lower costs for patients and health systems. According to a 2020 study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, patients who received virtual physical therapy incurred about $2,700 less, on average, in health care expenses in the 12 weeks following their surgeries, compared with patients who received in-person physical therapy.

This past summer, before my first hip surgery, I did a lot of reflection, wanting to be sure I was making the right decision. I didn’t know what the outcome would be or whether I’d be fully mobile by Christmas. But I wasn’t just mobile — I was able to enjoy the holiday with family and friends. And it was chiefly thanks to the virtual physical therapy I received.

My joint replacement recovery was greatly enhanced by the availability of virtual PT services. Everyone deserves the same opportunity.

Geraldine M. Kerr, Ph.D., is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She can be reached on LinkedIn.