Using Telehealth to Improve Musculoskeletal Care Through Expanded Physical Therapy Access: The TELE-MC Trial

Summary

The purpose of this study is to explore and compare the effectiveness of in-person versus remote physical therapy (PT) for the treatment of musculoskeletal (MSK) pain within the Military Health System (MHS).

Description

Eligibility

Age range

18–64 years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

No

Interventions

• Other
  In-person physical therapy (PT)

  Participants assigned to in-person PT will receive individual treatment sessions provided by a licensed, on-site PT. Participants will receive 1-on-1 sessions based on the preference and clinical expertise of the clinician. Participants assigned to in-person physical therapy will receive individual treatment sessions provided by a licensed, on-site physical therapist at the participating military treatment facility. Physical therapists delivering in-person physical therapy will have the option to provide participants a digital home exercise program, however this will not be required. If you choose to download and use either app, you will have to accept the app's terms of service.

• Other
  Telehealth physical therapy (TH-PT)

  Participants assigned to telehealth physical therapy will use two-way video conferencing with a licensed physical therapist via a secure platform approved for patient care. Video conferencing will be accessible via a mobile app or web browser on your home computer. Participants assigned to telehealth physical therapy will be provided a digital home exercise program. The home exercise program is accessible via a mobile app or web browser on your home computer. This is an app that some military clinics already use as standard of care for providing home exercise programs to their patients, so there is a chance you would be receiving your exercises by this method even if you didn't participate in this study.

Locations (4)