Fitness Gear Best Online Physical Therapy Programs TheraNow is the best online physical therapy practice By Amanda Capritto, ACE-CPT, INHC Amanda Capritto, ACE-CPT, INHC Facebook LinkedIn Amanda Capritto, ACE-CPT, INHC, is an advocate for simple health and wellness. She writes about nutrition, exercise and overall well-being. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 07, 2023 Reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Tara Laferrara, CPT Reviewed by Tara Laferrara, CPT Tara Laferrara is a certified NASM personal trainer, yoga teacher, and fitness coach. She also created her own online training program, the TL Method. Learn about our Review Board Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Katelynn Rigano Fact checked by Katelynn Rigano Katelynn Rigano is a qualified expert in mental health. With experience in both the clinical and consumer ends of mental health, she has hands-on experience when it comes to evaluating products and services geared toward health and wellness. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. The words “online” and “physical therapy” don’t really seem to go together, do they? Physical therapy is traditionally a very hands-on practice. However, in a digital-first world, therapy has moved online. Many physical therapy practices were already implementing online physical therapy into their treatment plans, but the whole industry has gotten on board. You may be skeptical of online physical therapy at first, but, the truth is, you can get high-quality, physical therapy from the comfort of your home. In fact, one January 2020 study showed that virtual physical therapy helped patients recover from knee replacement surgery just as well as traditional physical therapy—and with fewer costs and a lower time burden. If you need physical therapy but don’t want to venture out to a clinic, you have options. The following online physical therapy programs constitute some of the best ones out there. Best Online Physical Therapy Programs of 2023 Best for Online and In-Person: ATI Physical Therapy Best for People Without Insurance: Physera Best DIY: PT Timer: Stretch and Exercise Best Online Physical Therapy Programs View All Best Online Physical Therapy Programs Our Top Picks ATI Physical Therapy Physera PT Timer Final Verdict Frequently Asked Questions How Does Online Physical Therapy Work? Is Online Physical Therapy Secure? How Much Do Online Physical Therapy Programs Cost? Who Can Do Online Physical Therapy Programs? Methodology Best for Online and In-Person : ATI Physical Therapy ATI Physical Therapy Sign Up Now Key Specs Insurance Coverage: YesApp? Yes; Apple and AndroidSpecialties: Offers both in-person and online physical therapy Why We Chose It ATI Physical Therapy offers a robust online physical therapy program, as well as in-person physical therapy in more than 24 states. Pros & Cons Pros In-person and online options available App helps track your progress Nationally renowned company Cons Only available in 24 states Overview Not only is ATI Physical Therapy nationally renowned for its treatment of collegiate and aspiring athletes, but the company has a long list of accolades spanning more than a decade. Now, anyone in the U.S. can receive top-notch care from ATI Physical Therapy through the online physical therapy treatment program. ATI Physical Therapy accepts most health insurance plans but also has payment plans for patients who aren’t covered. When you start online physical therapy with ATI, you get matched with a provider through an online screening. You can schedule your first appointment as soon as 24 hours after signing up for the service. Make sure to download the ATI Physical Therapy app, which is how you’ll stay in touch with your provider and track your progress. Best for People Without Insurance : Physera Physera Sign Up Now Physera offers a beautiful user interface and a seamless app experience with direct access to highly qualified physical therapists. You can video chat with your provider through the HIPAA-compliant app. During your initial consultation, you’ll get a complete musculoskeletal analysis, and after that, you can access all of your treatment information, exercise demonstrations, and progress logs within the app. Physera is a great option for people without health insurance or with insurance that doesn’t cover physical therapy. The direct-pay costs aren’t exorbitant—about $100 for your initial session and roughly $50 per session after that—and the service is well worth it. You’ll never be faced with surprise fees from Physera: It's truly a "get what you pay for" scenario. Available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., anyone who needs online physical therapy (with or without insurance) can sign up with Physera. The app is available for iOS and Android operating systems. Best DIY : PT Timer : Stretch and Exercise PT Timer: Stretch and Exercise Sign Up Now PT Timer: Stretch and Exercise is an app available for iOS only. If you want truly DIY physical therapy, this app might be the right choice for you. It provides rehabilitation exercises customized to your pain points and recovery needs, but you can also pick and choose your own exercises. You can take advantage of the free, one-week trial to see if PT Timer is right for you. After your week is up, you’ll have to pay for the entire functionality of the app, which includes the full exercise library, timing and counting, and on-demand technical support. The subscription price varies depending on whether you select the one-, three-, or 12-month plan; the monthly plan costs roughly $1 per month. Take caution with this approach if you’re dealing with serious pain, nursing a new injury, or recovering from surgery. If any of those scenarios apply to you, it’s probably best to choose an online physical therapy program that allows you to interact with a provider face-to-face. Final Verdict Frequently Asked Questions How Do Online Physical Therapy Programs Work? Online physical therapy programs work much like traditional, in-person physical therapy—but without the in-person component. You’ll schedule an appointment with your provider and log onto your computer, using your provider’s HIPAA-compliant video calling software, and work with your physical therapist remotely. The specifics of an online physical therapy program will vary among individuals, but you can generally expect your physical therapist to: Ask about your condition and how you’re feeling.Ask you to point to any painful areas and demonstrate your range of motion.Provide exercise demonstrations and ask you to mimic the demos.Provide corrections to your form and technique.Give you “homework” to complete in between sessions. Keep in mind that online physical therapy may not be allowed in your state if it doesn’t allow direct access to physical therapists. Some states require a physician’s referral to get physical therapy treatment, and health insurance plans may not cover a referral for telehealth physical therapy. Are Online Physical Therapy Programs Secure? Any reputable physical therapy practice will use a secure, HIPAA-compliant video calling software to conduct sessions. If you have any questions or concerns about your privacy, security, or related matters, ask your physical therapist to explain exactly how the online sessions work. How Much Do Online Physical Therapy Programs Cost? The cost of online physical therapy programs varies greatly depending on a number of factors. For example, if you’re undergoing physical therapy for a condition covered by your health insurance, you may not have to pay anything. Some insurance plans may charge you a copay per session or an overall copay for the entirety of your treatment. If you don’t have health insurance or if your insurance doesn’t cover physical therapy, treatment may become quite costly. One hour of online physical therapy may run as high as several hundred dollars without health insurance, although it may be less expensive because you don’t get the added benefit of using any special equipment you’d find in an office. Because online physical therapy is so new, there’s no average cost per session. To be safe, you may want to budget about $100 to $200 per session. Who Can Do Online Physical Therapy Programs? Anyone with minor musculoskeletal conditions or pain can benefit from online physical therapy programs. For example, if you’re struggling with low-grade back pain or a stiff neck, your physical therapist can easily provide exercise instructions remotely. Those nursing serious injuries or recovering from surgery, however, probably need to see a physical therapist in-person. Methodology We looked for online physical therapy that offers their services in several states, utilize secure, HIPAA-compliant video software, has a history of success with in-person and online physical therapy, and has positive reviews from past patients. We also analyzed the online presence of these physical therapy practices to determine how accessible the practice is, what the provider support is like, and what insurance plans the practice accepts. We’re confident that our selections for the best online physical therapy programs have something for everyone. martin-dm / Getty Images Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Prvu Bettger J, Green CL, Holmes DN, et al. Effects of virtual exercise rehabilitation in-home therapy compared with traditional care after total knee arthroplasty: VERITAS, a randomized controlled trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2020;102(2):101-109. doi:10.2106/JBJS.19.00695 By Amanda Capritto, ACE-CPT, INHC Amanda Capritto, ACE-CPT, INHC, is an advocate for simple health and wellness. She writes about nutrition, exercise and overall well-being. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit