Can AI Videos Replace In-Person Physical Therapy?
/By Crystal Lindell
A UK-based technology company claims their Artificial Intelligence (AI) videos are good enough to replace in-person physical therapy for some back pain patients.
Like the United States, the waiting time in the UK to see a medical specialist can be daunting. According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), the average wait time after a referral for simple back or spine pain is more than 18 weeks. Nearly 350,000 people in England were on waiting lists for treatment for musculoskeletal problems last year.
But in a pilot study of over 2,500 NHS patients who used a physiotherapy (physical therapy) app operated by Flok Health, the waiting times were cut in half. 98% of referred patients continued watching the AI powered videos, while only 2% required or requested a transfer to traditional to face-to-face care with a therapist.
The app works by showing patients pre-recorded videos of actual human instructors, but then tailors the video clip order based on how AI interprets responses from the patient.
“Each appointment is like a 30 minute video call, except our side of the call is created by our AI engine in real-time, just for you,” Flok Health explains on its website. “You can answer questions and your digital physio will respond to you live, in a continuously generated personal video stream.”
Patients are also prescribed a set of exercises for the coming week before the next appointment. Flok Health says the exercises are specifically selected based on “a detailed analysis of symptoms and movement patterns.” The app also guides patients through practicing their exercises between appointments, and helps them see their progress and stay on track.
Patients also have access to human physiotherapists and doctors. The company said they monitor patient recovery remotely and can arrange to speak to a patient if they have questions.
The BBC's Scott Nover tried the app back in March and wrote about his experience with an AI generated physical therapist named “Kirsty.” He found her recommendations lacking, with his main complaint being that Kirsty wasn’t able to correct his form in real time like a live therapist would.
“The big difference here is that Kirsty can't see me. Her pre-recorded videos don't watch my movements and stretches. They rely on me following her instructions correctly and reporting if something is amiss,” Nover wrote.
“My back felt better after my sessions with Flok, but the app likely isn't for me. I'm clumsy and uncoordinated and need someone watching my form at all times – if not, I'm likely to hurt myself further.”
However, I could see a near-future scenario where AI is able to analyze patient form in real-time with technology that’s similar to that used in gaming counsels like XBox Kinect.
Nover also pointed to a 2024 study for a similar AI-powered back pain treatment called selfBACK that found patients were unlikely to use it. Nearly one-third of patients never accessed the app, and another third rarely used it.
It’s definitely easier to blow off an app than it is to blow-off an in-person physical therapy appointment with an actual human being, so those results make sense.
As a patient, I’ve had both in-person physical therapy referrals given to me sometimes, and links to relevant videos with accompanying handouts provided to me at other times.
To be frank, this Flok Health app sounds a lot like that latter. And I will confess that I was a lot less likely to follow a physical therapy treatment plan when it didn’t involve an actual physical therapist.
At the same time, at least in the United States, physical therapy can be very expensive, especially when there’s a high co-pay for each session. So having less expensive treatment options is a good thing. Although it’s unclear when Flock might be widely available to U.S. patients.
I’m skeptical that AI will be fully replacing physical therapists any time soon, but it sounds like tech companies are hoping they can make a massive dent in their client base and waiting times..
