Clued Up Runners: The value of a virtual physio

Is it worth paying for virtual physiotherapy?

Whether Zooming, FaceTiming, Microsoft Teaming or old school Skypeing, we’ve all spent a large proportion of the past eight months engaging with other human beings via a screen. From once being an occasional novelty, the video call has become a central part of our professional and personal lives, with “you’re on mute,” now replacing “good morning” as a daily greeting to colleagues, family and friends.

However, while I have largely embraced this technological leap, I found myself approaching my first ever virtual physio appointment last week with a large degree of scepticism. For starters, the session – held at my dining room table – was going to cost me the same as a visit to the actual clinic.

Arranged in order to find out whether I can finally progress to running after spending eight weeks side lined with an Achilles injury, I would – for over a pound a minute - have usually expected at least some degree of massage or manipulation. Like taking your car for a service and getting a free valet, in usual times I would expect my physio’s sound advice and guidance to come with a value for money crack of the back or loosening of muscle tightness. After all, without that it would just be a very expensive chat.

But in lockdown times, physical contact was off the table, literally, and I was left with no option but to go 100% virtual with my follow-up appointment. So one morning last week I found myself logging into a Zoom chat with my physio, Ian, to discuss my Achilles, armed only with a notepad and pen. As is the case with every Zoom-based encounter – whether it’s an interview I see on the news or a call with a colleague – the first thing I did was to immediately judge his background and set-up.

Choosing not to hide behind a blurred background or green screen image, Ian was sat in a busy room where shelves bulged with what looked like computer and camping equipment. His cat, meanwhile, was busying itself climbing across boxes behind him. It was all a million miles away from meeting in the sterile clinic, but it oddly put me immediately at ease and we soon got to chatting about my ailing Achilles.

What followed was a brilliant 45 minute discussion about the best way to get back to running, how to approach warming up and cooling down, how to make best use of a foam roller, when to do eccentric exercises and what to consider when choosing trail running shoes. While contradicting a lot of what I had been reading on the internet, this was advice that was specifically tailored to me and my injury. Ian knew me, knew my injury and was able to advise based on the fine details of our conversation.

I came away from the session with detailed notes, a good idea of the road I would have to travel in order to recover properly and, for the first time in a while, a positive outlook as to my return to running. Okay, I had missed out on a sports massage, but this had been a thoroughly worthwhile virtual appointment and provided as much value for money as an in-person session.

The physio practice is also a small business and, like all other small businesses during Covid-times, has been struggling to make ends meet. So I would urge any runner reading this who may be injured and in need of the advice of a good physio, or any such specialist, to reach out, support your local practice and book yourself a virtual appointment.

As for me, I may not be about to break any Strava records, but I’m nevertheless looking forward to my first five-minute run in a few days’ time. Thanks Ian.

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