• Home
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Staff
    • My Running Story
    • Testimonials
    • Careers
  • What We Treat
    • Running Injuries
    • Sciatica, Back, & Neck Pain
    • Chronic Pain
    • Shoulder/Elbow Pain
    • Hip/Knee Pain
    • Ankle/Foot Pain
    • Balance/Vestibular
  • Specialities
    • Traditional Manual Therapy
    • Non-Traditional Manual Therapy
    • Running Services
    • Correct Toes
    • Kinesio Taping
    • OOV Services
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Free Guides
    • Events
    • Videos
    • Running Portal
  • Patient Info
    • Forms
    • FAQs
    • For Your Doctor
  • Contact Us
  • Reviews
    • Read Reviews
    • Rate Us!
  • COVID-19

The Manual Touch Physical Therapy

Whole Body Approach

Reclaim movement, function and life
For information, call: 847-541-7600
or email: info@themanualtouch.com
  • The Manual Touch Linkedin
  • The Manual Touch YouTube
  • The Manual Touch Instagram
  • The Manual Touch Facebook

How Does Physical Therapy Telehealth Work?

February 1, 2021 By Emilie Totten Leave a Comment

The pandemic ushered in a new age of healthcare for millions of Americans. To help slow the spread of Covid and reduce the risk of burdening the healthcare system, many providers began offering Telehealth as an alternative to in-person care. Insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid also supported the effort by providing flexible coverage during the pandemic. 

Shortly after the pandemic began, I had an experience where I had to call my doctor for an urgent medical issue. Instead of a traditional appointment, I was evaluated via a video call and prescribed medication over the phone. It was fast, convenient, and covered by my insurance — just like a regular visit. 

The same kind of telehealth appointments are happening in Physical Therapy offices around the country, too. 

In November, my 63-year old mother suffered complications from COVID-19, leaving her with severe vertigo and balance issues. We knew she needed to be evaluated by a Physical Therapist right away, but she was unable to walk without the assistance of a walker plus someone helping her.  It was clear she wasn’t going to be able to physically see a therapist any time soon, so we called a local physical therapy practice and explained what happened. 

Fortunately, we were able to schedule a telehealth visit for an initial evaluation. The therapist sent us a secure link via email where we logged into the video appointment. Then, he walked me through how to hold the iPad up to my mom’s face so he could see her eye movements. I was able to move the iPad up close so he could get a good look and conduct a thorough evaluation of her condition. I was very impressed with how well the telehealth appointment went and how easily the therapist was able to evaluate and prescribe eye exercises virtually. It was absolutely amazing to see first hand how well telehealth works. I believe it is a game changer in terms of expanding access to healthcare services to people who desperately need it.

The Manual Touch Physical Therapy has been providing telehealth services since the beginning of the pandemic to those who are unable to physically come into the clinic. 

Here’s what to expect before, during, and after a telehealth appointment.

What to Expect Before a Physical Therapy Telehealth Visit

Scheduling a telehealth visit is easy; simply call our office at 847-541-7600 or contact us through our website. Our scheduler will take down your information, including insurance details, to determine your coverage and schedule your appointment. If you’re a current or former patient, we should have all of your information already on file.

Then, we will email you a HIPPA-compliant “Zoom” virtual appointment link. You’ll use this link to virtually attend your appointment during your scheduled day and time.

What to Expect During a Physical Therapy Telehealth Visit

To join the virtual appointment, simply click the link we sent to your email either on your phone, tablet or computer. If you have any trouble with the link, call our office and we will assist you. Once you’re connected to the Zoom virtual appointment, you’ll be able to see and talk to your therapist over the video call. You’ll need to turn on your camera so that the therapist can see you, too. 

The therapist will ask you questions and walk you through movements or exercises in front of the camera to evaluate and/or treat your condition. For any hands-on treatment, the therapist can teach you to do self hands-on work yourself, or another person at home or family member can assist you as well.

Many conditions can be evaluated and treated via telehealth, however, there are some conditions that are best treated in person. No matter the reason, if you’re in pain and can’t get into the clinic, please don’t hesitate to give us a call to see how we can help.

What to Expect After a Physical Therapy Telehealth Visit

To treat your condition, the therapist may prescribe exercises and/or hands-on work, which you’ll need to do, on your own as prescribed, until your next appointment. To help keep you on track, you’ll receive a link to The Manual Touch app, with video demonstrations of the exercises you were prescribed. This way, if you don’t remember the exercises you were taught during the telehealth appointment, you can go back and watch them anytime using the app.

If you have any questions before your next appointment, feel free to call or email us right away. We are always happy to help! I hope this article has been helpful to explain how Physical Therapy Telehealth appointments work, and what to expect before, during, and after your appointment.

As Denise always says, keep on moving!

Filed Under: Health & Wellness

About Emilie Totten

Emilie manages the marketing strategy for The Manual Touch Physical Therapy. She's passionate about holistic health and wellness solutions. Outside of marketing you can find Emilie spending time with her two children, reading a good book, or practicing yoga.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Health Tips

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required
I'm also interested in receiving:

Search Other Blogs

Recent Blog Posts

  • Chronic Pain (a Central Nervous System Disease) and IMT
  • Scar Tissue: What Is It and How It Affects your Body
  • 2022 Reflections | A Letter From Denise

Blog Post Topics

Testimonials

I saw Denise at The Manual Touch recently for sciatic pain, that only the day before I saw Denise kept me from walking; I could only hobble for short distances before I would sit down and collapse. After some tissue work and gentle exercise with Denise, she put Kinesiotape around the affected area. I immediately noticed stability and pain improvement and could walk so much better that I was able to complete shopping trips to 4 stores I had been planning but did not think I could do. To me, the t… Read more
Read More
I was in Florida for vacation and developed an upper respiratory infection. I had annoying coughing and congestion in my chest. This went on for several days, and it was not getting better. It felt like I had a mucous plug stuck in my chest that would not break up. One night I remembered the self-treatment that Denise taught me at The Manual Touch where I had received PT, putting one hand over the afflicted area, and one hand near my abdomen where mucous could drain out. After about 5-10 minutes… Read more
Read More
The best physical therapist I’ve ever experienced is Denise Schwartz in Wheeling at the Manual Touch. I have seen Denise twice for over 6 months to treat 2 bouts of frozen shoulder that occurred 8 years apart. In addition to my shoulder, she has also helped with my back, exercise regimen, and overall health. She is a holistic practitioner expert in PT techniques and knows how to teach her clients how to fit her techniques easily into their lives. She relates with her clients about as well as any… Read more
Read More
As a young elite athlete I was involved in numerous accidents resulting in scar tissue causing loss of flexibility and restrictions as an adult. After each treatment I feel so much less restriction and experience greater range of motion.
Read More
Last winter our daughter Maddie had had several eye and ear infections, and all required topical and oral antibiotics.  These were instigated by a plugged tear duct.  A pediatric ophthalmologist said there was little chance the duct would open up on its own since she was well over a year old, and there was no harm in waiting a little longer before SURGERY. My husband and I did not want our little girl’s eye probed, and we definitely did not want her to have a general anesthetic, so we bro… Read more
Read More
The physical therapy I received at The Manual Touch PT helped reduce my sciatica pain to a manageable level in just a few sessions.  The exercises I was given strengthened and trained my muscles to prevent further back problems allowing me to return to playing basketball.
Read More
Just a note to thank you for the time you spent with me Saturday in evaluating my running technique and body alignment.  Your suggestions are already making sense and having an early impact.  After our meeting, I went out for a 5K run and found your suggestions “to shorten my stride” and “being conscious of not overlapping my steps” to be helpful. Thanks Denise  
Read More
I have been receiving PT therapy for pain and autoimmune disorders for over 18 months at The Manual Touch.  This also affects my kidneys and my lungs and other organs as I swell with fluid that my lymph system doesn’t seem to handle well.  I depend on the regular IMT tissue therapy I receive from Denise to help me function as normally as possible.  This therapy seems to work synergistically with the acupuncture and medication I also receive.  There are no cures for these disorders and as n… Read more
Read More
Excellent, professional assessment and treatment for an older woman who’s had lots of failed therapy. Kind and compassionate and caring! Thanks.
Read More
I can honestly say that Denise was the first physical therapist to listen to my story.   She has demonstrated more patience and compassion than any other therapist that I’ve ever met. For the past 8 years, I have been symptomatic with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a rare genetic condition which affects the connective tissue throughout my body. As a result of this disorder I deal with ongoing severe acute and chronic pain and a variety of other rare overlapping conditions such as thoracic outl… Read more
Read More

Our Mission


We believe all body systems and mental/emotional health are connected. We take a whole body approach to discover why patients are not healing and what were the initial causes of their current symptoms. 

Our mission is to use this whole body approach to help patients heal and overcome pain and limitations, resulting in improved quality of life. We also aim to promote wellness in our communities through ongoing education. 
Top 10 physical therapists in Wheeling

A winner of the
2015 Patients' Choice Awards
for
Wheeling Physical Therapist

Verified by Opencare.com

Testimonials

I saw Denise at The Manual Touch recently for sciatic pain, that only the day before I saw Denise kept me from walking; I could only hobble for short distances before I would sit down and collapse. After some tissue work and gentle exercise with Deni… Read more
https://themanualtouch.com/wp/testimonial/m-d-evanston-il
I was in Florida for vacation and developed an upper respiratory infection. I had annoying coughing and congestion in my chest. This went on for several days, and it was not getting better. It felt like I had a mucous plug stuck in my chest that woul… Read more
https://themanualtouch.com/wp/testimonial/a-b-riverwoods
The best physical therapist I’ve ever experienced is Denise Schwartz in Wheeling at the Manual Touch. I have seen Denise twice for over 6 months to treat 2 bouts of frozen shoulder that occurred 8 years apart. In addition to my shoulder, she has also… Read more
https://themanualtouch.com/wp/testimonial/b-h-elmhurst-il
As a young elite athlete I was involved in numerous accidents resulting in scar tissue causing loss of flexibility and restrictions as an adult. After each treatment I feel so much less restriction and experience greater range of motion.
https://themanualtouch.com/wp/testimonial/s-northbrook-il
Last winter our daughter Maddie had had several eye and ear infections, and all required topical and oral antibiotics.  These were instigated by a plugged tear duct.  A pediatric ophthalmologist said there was little chance the duct would open up o… Read more
The physical therapy I received at The Manual Touch PT helped reduce my sciatica pain to a manageable level in just a few sessions.  The exercises I was given strengthened and trained my muscles to prevent further back problems allowing me to return… Read more
Just a note to thank you for the time you spent with me Saturday in evaluating my running technique and body alignment.  Your suggestions are already making sense and having an early impact.  After our meeting, I went out for a 5K run and found you… Read more
I have been receiving PT therapy for pain and autoimmune disorders for over 18 months at The Manual Touch.  This also affects my kidneys and my lungs and other organs as I swell with fluid that my lymph system doesn’t seem to handle well.  I depe… Read more
Excellent, professional assessment and treatment for an older woman who’s had lots of failed therapy. Kind and compassionate and caring! Thanks.
I can honestly say that Denise was the first physical therapist to listen to my story.   She has demonstrated more patience and compassion than any other therapist that I’ve ever met. For the past 8 years, I have been symptomatic with Ehlers Danlo… Read more
Read More

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Copyright © 2023 The Manual Touch, LLC. · 325 n. milwaukee ave. · Ste D. · Wheeling, IL. 60090 · 847-541-7600

The information provided on The Manual Touch Physical Therapy website is for personal and noncommercial use only. The resources and content provided should be used for educational purposes only and not as a substitute for appropriate medical care. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort please seek medical attention.