If testing your balance, improving your balance, preventing falls, preventing injuries, balance therapy, postural stability or balance exercises are important to you, read on. In my previous BLOG I explained how I helped to develop the app called myAnkle which is capable of measuring balance. myAnkle uses the sensors that are already in your phone to objectively measure your balance and provide you with a Balance Number. You can use this Balance Number to compare your balance on your right and left leg. If you want to learn more about how myAnkle was developed and the research that proves you can use your phone to measure balance, read my previous BLOG here. The focus of this blog will be to provide some simple instructions to use myAnkle to measure your balance.

Step 1: Download Curovate to measure your balance with myAnkle

The first thing you need to do is download the Curovate app. myAnkle is a measurement feature that is now built into the existing and readily available Curovate app. You can either visit the Curovate website or you can scroll to the bottom of this blog and download the Apple iOS app or the Google Play app from the links below. Curovate has a 5 day free trial, during which time you can test out the myAnkle balance measurement, and then decide if you would like to subscribe to Curovate.

Step 2: Go to “Measure” in the Curovate app to Measure your Balance

From the home screen select select “Measure” and you will see an option called “Measure Balance.” This is the myAnkle balance measurement.

Step 3: The app will Calibrate your phone for balance measurements

The first time you open Measure Balance you will see a simple tutorial that explains how to use myAnkle. After you pick your balance exercises, and eyes open or closed, you will be asked to put your phone in the pocket of the leg you are testing. This is so that the sensors in your phone can detect the changes in acceleration as you complete a balance test. The very first time you choose an exercise the app will ask you to calibrate your phone. Do not skip this part! Calibration means that the app will independently figure out how much “noise” your phone sensor is making. Noise in this case means unwanted and random signals that interfere with measuring your actual balance. All phone sensors produce some noise and the purpose of calibration is to remove this noise in your balance measurements. All you need to do is place your phone on a flat surface that is not moving or vibrating, press start and then do not touch your phone while myAnkle calibrates for 30 seconds. After this simple step your phone is calibrated and it will account for your phone’s sensor noise and produce more accurate balance measurements. You only need to calibrate once and not each time you want to measure your balance.

Step 4: Start New Test and measure your balance

Now that you have gone through the brief tutorial and calibrated your phone, the next step is to select “Start New Test.” You will be presented with 34 possible balance tests. Not to worry, I will keep it simple to complete your very first balance test. I strongly recommend that the first test you try is “One Foot” or single leg standing with your eyes open. Test one leg for 30 seconds and then repeat the same standing on one foot test with the other leg. Once you have tested both the right and left leg balance, a process that takes about 2 minutes, you will have objective numbers to compare your balance on your right and left leg. Once a balance test is complete you will be presented with a Balance Number (BN). This Balance Number is a measure of your acceleration over the time period of the balance test, in this case 30 seconds. Remember that a higher Balance Number indicates poor balance. The leg that has a higher Balance Number has poor balance and the other leg has better balance. For example, if your Balance Number on your left leg was 1.05 m/s² and 1.85 m/s² on your right leg, then you have better balance on your left leg (lower Balance Number) compared to your right leg (higher Balance Number).

Step 5: Improve your Balance!

You now know that your balance is worse on one leg or that your balance on both legs is not great. So what? You likely didn’t know about or care about your Balance Number before measuring your balance with myAnkle. You probably used myAnkle because you were trying to improve your balance, you want to prevent injuries or prevent falls. Knowing your balance number does not yet help you do any of this. After conducting my peer-reviewed research study using myAnkle I came to the same conclusion that allowing people to measure their balance doesn’t fix anything! This is why the current myAnkle app has a feature that the original myAnkle app did not have called “Improve My Balance.” By selecting “Improve My Balance” you will be able to choose the number of minutes of balance training you wish to do, the difficulty level of your balance exercises, if you have access to balance equipment and if you want to improve the balance for your right, left or both legs. Once you make these selections the app will automatically create a customized balance program with exercises every day just for you.

Let me provide a simple example of how to use the Improve My Balance feature. I have tested my balance on one foot and I have determined that my balance on my right leg is worse than my left leg. I want to improve my balance on my right leg so I go to Improve My Balance. I only have 3 minutes per day so I select 3 minutes as my Total Session Time, and I want each exercise to be 30 seconds in duration with a 5 second break between exercises. The app shows me that I will be provided with 6 balance exercises which will be automatically generated. I then specify that I only want to train my right leg, that I can use the floor and I have a pillow under “Equipment Available” and that I want to do moderate and hard balance exercises. I then select “Generate My Plan” and the app provides me with 6 unique balance exercises that I should do to improve the balance on my right leg. I press “Start Routine,” place my phone in my right pocket and start my balance exercise as the app tells me with audio instructions which balance exercise I am completing and if my eyes should be open or closed. The next day I open the app again and when I select “Improve My Balance” the app generates 6 new balance exercises and it remembered that I want to do 3 minutes of balance training per day. If I review the list of exercises and I don’t like the exercises I can select “Shuffle” and the app will auto-generate 6 different balance exercises based on my total time, the difficulty and the balance equipment I previously selected. I can now do unique balance training each day to improve my balance and eventually have equal balance on my right and left legs. Once I have equal balance on both legs the next step is to continue my balance training but now instead of just on my right leg I would switch my selection to “Both Legs” and the app would provide me with 1.5 minutes of balance exercises for each leg.

Step 6: See your Progress

Once you have measured your balance and you have started a training program to improve your balance you should review your progress in the myAnkle app. Simply select “My Progress” and the app will show you all of your balance measurements, your training sessions, a comparison between your right and left leg and the badges that you earned while improving your balance. If you still have issues or challenges with your balance feel free to send me a chat message in the Curovate app to address your specific balance concerns. If you are a clinician or researcher and you would like to utilize myAnkle for research please send us an email at research@curovate.com

Conclusion

This blog shows you detailed screenshots of the myAnkle app to allow you to measure your balance at home with just your phone. myAnkle, the app that measures balance, is now available as part of the Curovate App. To measure your balance at home simply download the Curovate App from the links below and select "Measure" in the app to measure your balance.

If you need further personalized support to help you improve your balance check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a licensed physical therapist.

Blogs Related to Balance

1. Can you measure balance at home?
2. Am I at risk of falling and what can I do to reduce my risk?
3. Am I at risk of falling - Video Blog
4. Tips to prevent falls after knee and hip replacement and ACL surgery

Do you know if you have good balance? Measuring balance is a challenge both in a health care facility as well as at home. Most people do not have any method of independently assessing their balance. For many years I have tried to visually quantify standing balance when I see my patients in the clinic. This is the process; I ask my patient to stand on one leg and then with either their eyes open or closed I watch them balance. Then I count simple errors in their balancing such as their other leg touching down or moving their body to the side. Over a 30 second period I count these errors and more errors means poor balance. This is an okay method of measuring balance but there is a lot of individual variability from one physical therapist counting to another in terms of what each therapist counts as an error and this is called a lack of interrater reliability. The second issue with this visual scale is that this measure has a ceiling effect. A ceiling effect means that there is a maximum number of errors that are counted regardless of how many errors the person makes. For a 30 second test the ceiling is 10. This means if you made 10 errors or 35 errors during the 30 seconds your score is 10 in both cases. Clearly someone who made 35 errors has worse balance but they achieved the same balance score as someone who made 10 errors. Why is there a ceiling on a visual scale? This is an inherent limitation of visual balance scales because the scale is not sensitive enough to distinguish balance performance that results in greater than 10 errors. The other major issues is that patients go home and they have no way to reproduce this same visual test. At home the patient does not know if they are improving and they do not see any ongoing progress. The lack of feedback and insight into their balance results in people skipping their balance exercises entirely.

Balance exercises are critcial after many injuries including ankle sprains, ACL surgeries, knee replacements and hip replacements along with many other leg injuries and surgeries. Poor balance results in higher rates of reinjury in sports and physical activity and there are well documented balance deficits that occur after knee, ankle and hip surgeries and injuries. So if balance is so imp[ortant why don't people just do their balance exercises regularly? Well, to be honest most balance exercises are quite boring and repetitive. Add this to the fact that people have no way to assess or measure their progress it is not surprising that balance training is often neglected in the process of recovery and prior to returning to sports and physical activity.

As a physical therapist I first learned about digital health in a graduate class in 2011 and I wondered if the sensors in a smartphone could be used to measure standing balance. However, I had no idea if using these phone sensors could accurately measure balance. At the time I worked closely with two engineering graduate students and we created the very first version of an app called myAnkle to measure standing balance. After helping to create myAnkle I conducted research at the University of Toronto with 48 participants to measure their balance on eight different balance exercises, on the ground and on a balance board with their eyes open and closed. What we learned through this research was that myAnkle is capable of measuring balance and distinguishing between easier and harder balance exercises and identifying people who were better or worse at balance. I was intrigued by this research and my ability to work with engineers to develop solutions for problems that I knew my patients faced every day. This graduate class and the development of myAnkle is what led to my involvement in digital health and ultimately what led to me creating my company Curovate.

If the app myAnkle has been able to measure balance since 2011 why have you never heard of it? myAnkle started as a project in a graduate class and it was released to the Google Play Store in 2012. The app was then live in the Google Play Store through the hard work of undergraduate and graduate software engineering students who helped me further develop myAnkle. But eventually I ran out of favours and there was no one remaining who could support the software of myAnkle making the app unavailable in the Google Play Store. For me this was very sad because it was like the death of something that I had worked hard to build. Now that I work with a dedicated software team I was able to "revive" myAnkle. The new myAnkle app is now live in the Curovate App. To measure your balance simply download Curovate from the links below and then select Measure and you will see the option to "Measure Your Balance."

Now let's address why you would want to measure balance in the first place. Balance is something that is compromised after most lower leg injuries. In many cases people are unaware of their balance deficits or they only realize that their balance is poor when they sustain another injury. Balance training is critical to fully rehabilitate from injury or surgery as well as to prevent future injuries. Don't believe me? Try it yourself. If you have had an injury to one leg more than the other, download the Curovate App, measure your single leg standing for 30 seconds and compare it to your other leg. My guess is that your balance number will be worse on the leg where you have had more lower leg injuries or surgeries. myAnkle assigns a higher balance number, which is a measure of acceleration, for poor balance and a lower balance number for better balance. If that doesn't make sense let me explain it briefly. If your goal is to run really fast, a large number for acceleration, the measure of the rate of change of velocity with respect to time, is a good thing. Incidentally velocity is defined as the rate of change of position, which in this case is the rate of change in the position of your body. However, if your objective is to be stable, then a higher amount of acceleration is not a good thing. In this case we use myAnkle to measure acceleration and when you move more while trying to balance your balance number will be higher which indicates poor balance.

I encourage you to try myAnkle in the Curovate App and determine if you have one leg that needs some work on improving balance. Even in the absence of injury, improving your balance can help in preventing injuries, minimizing risk of falls and improving your overall stability.

Conclusion

This blog discusses a simple at-home method of measuring your standing balance. myAnkle, the app that was created in 2011, is now available as part of the Curovate App. To measure your balance at home with a simple objective measure that requires no sensors or wearables simply download the Curovate App from the links below and select "Measure" in the app to measure your balance.

If you need further personalized support to help you improve your balance check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a licensed physical therapist.

VHA Home HealthCare partnered with Curovate to pilot our physical therapy app for their home care clients. On average VHA clients found Curovate to be intuitive and easy to use for their at-home rehabilitation. Read the full poster presentation below. The following poster was presented at the 10th annual AGE WELL conference in Montreal, Quebec.

I would like to sincerely thank the wonderful Innovation Team at VHA Home HealthCare, Jordan D'Souza, Philip Woode and Sandra Al Ali, who conducted this pilot project and authored the poster presentation you see below.

Learn more about VHA Home HealthCare and reach out to them by visiting this link. If you want to complete your own at-home rehabilitation and you would like the type of access and benefits you have read about here please download Curovate from one of our links below.

If you need further customized assistance during your surgery or injury recovery check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physical therapist.

Curovate has always been focused on providing accessible physical therapy to people in their homes and this is why we are partnering with VHA Home HealthCare (VHA). VHA is a not-for-profit charitable organization that offers 24/7 healthcare and support services in the home and community to people of all ages across Ontario. VHA was formed in 1925 and today has over 3000 team members including personal support workers, nurses, dietitians, occupational therapists, social workers, speech language pathologist and physiotherapists who are leading the future of health and independence at home.

The clinical and research collaboration between Curovate and VHA will consist of working with VHA clients to provide at-home digital physical therapy. Curovate is a digital health company that provides mobile application (app) based at-home physical therapy for people who are awaiting or recovering from knee replacements, hip replacements, or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery. In addition, Curovate also provides rehabilitation for people who suffer from knee osteoarthritis, hip osteoarthritis and those who wish to strengthen their knees and hips to prevent injuries and surgeries. Select VHA clients will be provided with access to the Curovate app for a full year to help them with their recovery as part of our initial pilot project.

The purpose of our collaborative pilot project is to better understand the needs of people who are recovering at home after injury or surgery. VHA and Curovate will collect critical patient reported outcome measures, and conduct qualitative interviews to understand the perceived benefits and barriers to utilizing an at-home mobile app for daily rehabilitation. The findings of this pilot study will be openly accessible and disseminated so that other home care agencies and people who are recovering at home can learn from our experience. Once our pilot study is completed I will write a follow-up blog and post it on our Curovate blog so our readers can learn about how Curovate was utilized in collaboration with VHA Home HealthCare.

How will people benefit from this collaboration between VHA and Curovate?

Improved access to publicly funded physical therapy

There is a lack of access to publicly funded physical therapy in Ontario. This problem is not unique to Ontario or to Canada as people in many countries have limited or no access to critical physical therapy. In Ontario publicly funded physical therapy has been reduced since the early 1980’s and it continues to be reduced. Physical therapy is now provided by private for-profit community clinics. The major issue with this is that it leaves a large segment of our population without access to physical therapy and therefore results in poor health outcomes. The lack of access to physical therapy further disadvantages people of a lower socio-economic status, racialized people and Indigenous people all of whom already have poor access to physical therapy. If you want to learn more about exactly how little publicly funded physical therapy there is for people in Canada read our previous blog. We have also written a blog about the poor access to health care for Indigenous populations. Curovate’s current collaboration with VHA will help to improve the accessibility of physical therapy in Ontario.

People with mobility issues can access ongoing physical therapy in their home

One of the major issues with access to physical therapy is the need to travel to seek out in-person care. Many people after surgery or injury are not able to drive and find it very challenging to use public transit. Using Curovate, a person can access all of their daily physical therapy exercise videos, track their rehabilitation progress and have their physical therapy questions answered through our in-app chat. By providing a person with everything they need, our collaboration will make it possible for VHA clients to continue their rehabilitation at home.

Measure real time progress with the Curovate app

One of the reasons to seek out in-person physical therapy after a major surgery or injury is to make sure that you are making progress. Everyone wants to know that they are improving but the issue with traditional physical therapy is that you must see an in-person physical therapist to track your progress. This is both time consuming and unnecessary. Simple measures such as knee and hip range of motion can now be measured with the Curovate app. Typically, a physical therapist utilizes a protractor type tool called a goniometer to measure how much a person’s knee or hip bends and straightens. This measure, also called range of motion, is an excellent indicator of a person's progress or limitations. With Curovate, using nothing more than your mobile device, you can measure your knee or hip range of motion at home in 60 seconds. Watch the video in our previous blog to learn about how you can use Curovate to measure your knee range of motion. One common question we often get about Curovate’s knee range of motion measurement is how accurate is this app measurement? The short answer is very accurate! You can read all about our peer-reviewed pilot study that demonstrated a correlation of 0.99 or better across 4 different mobile devices and one licensed physical therapist measuring knee range of motion. In collaboration with VHA we are bringing reliable knee and hip range of motion measurements into people’s homes.

Conclusion

On a personal note, as the founder of Curovate and a licensed physical therapist, publicly funded and accessible physical therapy is very important to me and the main reason I founded Curovate. This collaboration with VHA in support of their purpose of Care at home. Delivered with heart. Led by science., is the perfect partnership for Curovate. I have ambitiously stated that the vision of Curovate is to make physical therapy affordable and accessible to everyone who needs it globally and this partnership with VHA helps us stay consistent with that vision. Once our pilot project is completed I will provide the outcomes and lessons learned in a future blog.

You can learn more about VHA Home HealthCare and get in touch by visiting this link. If you want to complete your own at-home rehabilitation and you would like the type of access and benefits you have read about here please download Curovate from one of our links below.

If you need further customized assistance during your surgery or injury recovery check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physical therapist.

AGE WELL is Canada’s “technology and aging network." AGE WELL is a federally funded network that is focused on utilizing technology to allow older adults to live meaningful lives at home. AGE WELL achieves this mission by collaborating with researchers, student trainees, technology partners and by supporting startups that help with aging and technology. The 2023-2024 AGE WELL Annual Report highlights the work done by the network to help over 5000 older adults and their caregivers, 2994 publications they have helped to release and the more than 70 startups they have supported. Curovate, a digital health company that has developed a physical therapy app, is one of those 70 startups. AGE WELL provided the initial funding that made Curovate’s work and existence possible through the Strategic Investment Program (Sip) Accelerator Funding in 2018. Over the past 7 years Curovate has continued to work with older adults who require pre and post-operative physical therapy for knee replacements and hip replacements. For their Annual Report, AGE WELL spoke with and conducted a photoshoot with one of our clients Peter Crosby.

I know and work with Peter personally as his physical therapist prior to and after both of his knee replacements. Peter recognizes the importance of “prehab” or pre-rehabilitation which simply means completing physical therapy exercises prior to a major surgery. You can read all about the importance of prehab for knee replacements in our blog here. The goal of prehab is to get your knee joint ready for surgery, improve your knee bending and straightening and increase your strength and balance before surgery. If people are able to complete rehabilitation before their knee replacement they will have an easier recovery and better outcomes after surgery. One aspect of prehab that is not mentioned in the scientific literature is the fact that structured physical therapy exercises are much easier if you have already done them prior to surgery. After a knee replacement you will experience pain, swelling and disturbed sleep for some time. With all of this going on, learning new exercises is very challenging. If you have already done all of the exercises as part of your prehab then doing them after surgery is much easier. Read our previous blog to learn about what to expect after a knee replacement.

What the research does prove is that people who complete a structured prehab program have better knee range of motion, improved strength and better overall outcomes compared to people who do not complete rehabilitation prior to surgery. If you read about Peter’s experience of using Curovate prior to and after his knee replacement you will hear all about the benefits of prehab. You can read Peter’s full story in AGE WELL’s Annual Report here.

Conclusion

Curovate has been working with AGE WELL since 2018 and we appreciate the support that we have received from the network. In this blog I discuss how AGE WELL helped to fund the early work that Curovate was doing and how they continue to support us through mentorship, strategic partnerships with home care agencies and featuring Curovate in their publications. In AGE WELL’s 2023-2024 Annual Report you can read all about Peter Crosby who has benefited by using Curovate prior to and after his knee replacement to return to a healthy and active life.

Curovate continus to help people with their pre and post-operative rehabilitation for knee replacements and hip replacements. If you are preparing for your surgery and you need at-home rehabilitation download Curovate from one of our links below.

If you need further customized assistance during your surgery or injury recovery check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physical therapist.

Are you experiencing chronic knee pain and wondering if video physical therapy is as good as in-person physical therapy? This video will go over what telehrehabilitation is, and explain a new research study that examines how effective video physical therapy is compared to in-person physical therapy for improving knee pain and function.

Telerehabilitation refers to the delivery of rehabilitation services, like diagnoses, check-ups, and treatments through the use of digital technology.^[1] Telerehabilitation is beneficial because it allows you to communicate with a healthcare provider and receive rehabilitative services without the time and financial burden of having to travel to a physical clinic.^[1] While there are many different types of telerehabilitation, in this blog, when we refer to telerehabilitation, we are referring to video physical therapy where you and your healthcare provider can both see and hear one another in real time via a video call.^[2]

While telerehabilitation holds promise and potential for increasing accessibility and transforming the healthcare system, you may be wondering, how effective it is compared to in-person physical therapy. A recent randomized controlled trial study titled: Telerehabilitation consultations with a physiotherapist for chronic knee pain versus in-person consultations in Australia: the PEAK non-inferiority randomised controlled trial,^[3] published in the Lance on March 30th, 2024 explored this very question. What’s interesting is that only 45% of the people being treated in the study thought that video physical therapy could be effective.^[3] Additionally, less than half of all allied healthcare workers (physical therapists, occupational therapists etc) think that video therapy is as effective as in-person therapy.^[3] Despite the skepticism, the findings of the study demonstrated that video physical therapy produced similar results to in-person care for people with chronic knee pain in terms of improving pain and physical function after 3 months.^[3] The results of this study challenges the commonly held belief by both physical therapists and patients that video physical therapy is not as effective as in-person physical therapy.

If you are experiencing chronic knee pain and wondering what physical therapy services are available to help you, know that video physical therapy or telerehbilitation is a safe, effective and convenient option. Another aspect discussed in this study was travel time and cost. On average a person who lived in a city traveled 28 minutes to see a physical therapist whereas people living outside of a major city traveled between 56 to 84 minutes per appointment.^[3] The researchers calculated the average cost of travel, both in terms of distance and a person’s time, to total $218 per person.^[3] As such, opting for video physical therapy is just as effective as in person therapy and can also save time and money since it does not require you to travel for your appointment.

If you are interested in exploring telerehabilitation, Curovate is a digital physical therapy platform that offers real-time 1-on-1 video physical therapy sessions with a physical therapist, as well as asynchronous, video-guided daily exercises to help with your recovery. Simply download the Curovate Physical Therapy App by clicking on the links below or visit our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your real-time synchronous session with a physical therapist today!

Blogs related to video physical therapy and the Curovate app

• How to use Curovate, the physical therapy app, every day to recover after injury, surgery or for strengthening
• How to sign up in the new Curovate physical therapy app for knee surgery
• How to measure knee range of motion in the Curovate app

References

1. Levy CE, Silverman E, Jia H, Geiss M, Omura D. Effects of physical therapy delivery via home video telerehabilitation on functional and health-related quality of life outcomes. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development. 2015;52(3):361-370. doi:10.1682/jrrd.2014.10.0239

2. Prvu Bettger J, Resnik LJ. Telerehabilitation in the age of covid-19: An opportunity for learning health system research. Physical Therapy. 2020;100(11):1913-1916. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzaa151

3.Hinman RS, Campbell PK, Kimp AJ, et al. Telerehabilitation consultations with a physiotherapist for chronic knee pain versus in-person consultations in Australia: The peak non-inferiority Randomised Controlled Trial. The Lancet. 2024;403(10433):1267-1278. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(23)02630-2

Note - we have received permission from Jo to share her recovery story to help motivate and inspire others.

Life Before the ACL Injury: An Endurance Athlete's Story

Meet Jo from Adelaide, Australia, an accomplished endurance athlete who completed her first marathon in an impressive 3 hours and 44 minutes. As a dedicated runner, cyclist, and swimmer, Jo believed completing that marathon would be her toughest physical challenge. Little did she know, her ACL recovery journey would test her resilience in ways she never imagined.

The Unexpected Turn: A Common ACL Injury Scenario

Ironically, Jo's ACL injury didn't occur during her intense endurance training. Instead, it happened during a casual game of touch football - highlighting how ACL injuries can occur in unexpected moments. While sidestepping around another player, Jo experienced the classic ACL tear sensation: her lower leg going in one direction while her upper leg moved in another. This non-contact injury mechanism is particularly common in ACL tears, regardless of the activity level or sport involved.

The Silver Lining: Maximizing Pre-Surgery Preparation

Due to Australia's public healthcare system, Jo faced a five-month wait for her surgery. While this might seem disadvantageous, it became an opportunity to optimize her pre-surgical condition. Using the Curovate app's pre-operative rehabilitation program, Jo achieved remarkable pre-surgery milestones:

• Performed weighted squats with proper form
• Mastered single-leg sit-to-stand exercises
• Maintained running capacity up to 7 kilometers
• Retained excellent knee range of motion

Digital Physical Therapy: A Global Solution

Jo's experience highlights a crucial advantage of digital physical therapy - its accessibility isn't limited by geography. Whether you're in Australia, Canada, the USA, or the UK, the Curovate app provides consistent, professional guidance through:

• Daily video-guided exercises tailored to your recovery phase
• Precise knee range of motion measurements using your smartphone
• Progressive milestone tracking
• Pre and post-operative exercise programs

Post-Surgery Recovery: Measuring Progress

After her hamstring graft surgery in July 2019, Jo approached her recovery with the same dedication she brought to marathon training. By following the Curovate app's daily exercise recommendations and tracking features, she achieved several key milestones ahead of schedule:

• Day 13: Completed full rotations on a stationary bike
• Week 2: Achieved 110 degrees of knee flexion
• Week 5: Performed single-leg sit-to-stand exercises
• Week 5: Matched her non-surgical knee's range of motion

Keys to Success: Consistency and Guidance

Jo's remarkable progress stems from her commitment to the rehabilitation process and proper guidance through digital physical therapy. Her dedication to the RICE protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) soon after her ACL injury 4-5 times daily, combined with consistent exercise progression through the app pre and post-operatively, created optimal conditions for recovery.

The Power of Digital Physical Therapy

Jo's experience demonstrates how digital physical therapy can provide professional guidance regardless of location. The Curovate app offered:

• Structured daily exercise programs
• Precise progress tracking
• Range of motion measurements
• Clear recovery milestones
• Exercise technique guidance

Conclusion

Jo's story exemplifies how digital physical therapy can support ACL recovery across international borders. Her advice to others? "Keep the end goal in mind! You can't build a skyscraper without a strong foundation. The basic exercises may be monotonous but they work!"

If you need further customized assistance during your surgery or injury recovery check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physical therapist.

Whether you're preparing for ACL surgery or starting your post-operative rehabilitation, having professional guidance at your fingertips can make the difference between good and optimal recovery outcomes.

Start your guided rehabilitation with Curovate today:

Note - we have received permission from Mohammed to post his recovery story to help motivate and inspire others.

Understanding Multiple Ligament Knee Injuries

The human knee contains four major ligaments, each playing a crucial role in stability and function. When Mohammed's car accident occurred on June 5th, 2020, it resulted in tears to three of these vital structures: the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), and Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL). Only his Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) remained intact.

For context, this type of injury represents one of the most complex knee trauma patterns that medical professionals encounter. While single ligament injuries are common in sports, multiple ligament injuries often result from high-energy trauma, such as car accidents. The combination of torn ACL, PCL, and MCL creates a particularly challenging recovery scenario due to the knee's compromised stability in multiple directions.

The Mechanics of Car Accident Knee Injuries

Unlike sports-related injuries, knee trauma in car accidents presents unique characteristics. During a collision, the lower leg can be forced backward while the upper leg remains fixed by the seat belt, creating a complex injury pattern. This mechanism typically affects multiple ligaments simultaneously, as seen in Mohammed's case.

Understanding these injury mechanics is crucial for rehabilitation planning:

• The ACL prevents excessive forward movement of the tibia
• The PCL prevents excessive backward movement
• The MCL provides stability to the inner knee
• When multiple ligaments are compromised, the knee loses stability in multiple directions

Initial Recovery Challenges

Multiple ligament reconstruction presents unique challenges compared to single ligament repairs. During the initial phase of Mohammed's recovery, his rehabilitation team focused on carefully managing the widespread inflammation throughout his knee joint. This delicate period required a precise balance between protecting the surgical repairs and introducing gentle movement. The complexity of having three ligaments reconstructed meant that each movement needed to be carefully controlled. Mohammed learned to navigate the challenging balance between rest and activity, understanding that too much or too little of either could impact his recovery.

The Critical Nature of Early Knee Flexion

Regaining knee flexion emerged as one of the most challenging aspects of Mohammed's recovery journey. Multiple ligament reconstruction creates unique complications that aren't typically seen in single ligament repairs. The extensive surgical repair work meant that multiple tissues were healing simultaneously, creating increased post-operative inflammation throughout the joint. This inflammation, combined with the complex rehabilitation protocols needed for multiple ligament recovery, made the process of regaining motion particularly challenging. Despite these obstacles, early mobility work proved essential for laying the foundation for long-term recovery success.

Technology's Role in Complex Recovery

Modern rehabilitation benefits significantly from technological support. The Curovate app played a crucial role in Mohammed's recovery by providing:

• Weekly rehabilitation goals specific to multiple ligament recovery
• Daily exercise guidance with video demonstrations
• Progress tracking for range of motion
• Milestone monitoring
• Exercise progression based on healing timelines

Progress Through Dedication

At nine months post-surgery, Mohammed's recovery stands as a testament to the importance of consistent effort and proper guidance. While multiple ligament reconstruction typically requires 12-18 months for full recovery, his progress has been remarkable. His success stems from unwavering dedication to rehabilitation protocols and careful attention to exercise progression. Throughout his recovery, Mohammed maintained detailed tracking of his improvements, demonstrating the value of consistent monitoring. This commitment to understanding his condition and rehabilitation process, combined with proper utilization of technological support tools, has played a crucial role in his impressive progress.

Key factors in his successful rehabilitation include:

• Strict adherence to rehabilitation protocols
• Regular exercise progression
• Consistent tracking of improvements
• Understanding the injury and surgery recovery process
• Use of technological support tools

Educational Insights for Multiple Ligament Recovery

Mohammed's experience provides valuable insights for others facing similar injuries:

• Recovery timelines may extend beyond typical single-ligament rehabilitation
• Progress requires patience and consistent effort
• Technology can provide crucial support and guidance
• Regular monitoring and adjustment of goals proves essential
• Professional guidance combined with home exercise programs optimizes outcomes

Conclusion

Multiple ligament knee injuries present unique challenges requiring dedicated, long-term commitment to rehabilitation. Mohammed's recovery journey demonstrates that with proper guidance, consistent effort, and technological support, significant progress is achievable. His experience particularly highlights the importance of early mobility work, consistent exercise progression, and regular monitoring of improvements.

For those facing similar complex knee injuries, the combination of professional guidance and technological support through tools like the Curovate app can provide the structure and motivation needed for successful rehabilitation.

If you need further customized assistance during your recovery check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physical therapist.

Start your guided rehabilitation with Curovate today:

Other Blogs Related to ACL Recovery

Note - we have received permission from Elina on Instagram to post her recovery story to help motivate and inspire others.

When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn: The Injury

Meet Elina, a women's fitness and weight loss coach, certified trainer, and nutrition expert. In 2018, just three days before her 30th birthday, what should have been an exciting ski trip to Whistler, British Columbia, turned into a life-changing moment when she tore her ACL.

Instead of celebrating her milestone birthday as planned, Elina found herself following the crucial RICE protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation), preparing for the road ahead. As a fitness professional, she understood the importance of proper initial care - reducing swelling and maintaining range of motion before surgery would be crucial for optimal recovery.

The First Steps: Early Recovery Phase

Nine weeks post-injury, Elina traveled to Ukraine for her reconstructive surgery. The first 24 hours proved challenging, with pain management being a primary concern. The initial three weeks tested her patience as she adapted to using crutches for mobility.

"The transition from crutches to a cane was mentally challenging," Elina recalls. Like many athletes, she wanted to skip straight to normal walking, but understanding the importance of proper progression helped her stay focused on long-term success.

Technology Meets Determination: The Rehabilitation Process

From day one post-surgery, Elina committed to her rehabilitation. Using the Curovate app to track her progress, she focused on improving her knee's range of motion, which initially wouldn't bend past 90 degrees. Despite this challenge, she maintained her determination, following her exercise program consistently while properly managing recovery through icing and rest.

Breaking Records Safely: The Results

Through unwavering dedication to her rehabilitation program, Elina achieved remarkable progress. For 20 consecutive weeks, she showed up every day, putting in the work that would lead to an impressively swift recovery. While she completed her initial recovery in approximately 5 months, it's important to note that every individual's timeline differs.

Important Note: While Elina's recovery timeline was shorter than average, we always recommend following your healthcare team's guidance for the safest, most effective long-term results. The standard recovery timeline of 9-12 months exists for good reason.

Looking Forward: Lessons Learned

Today, Elina reflects on her experience with gratitude: "Now looking back it's crazy but I'm thankful this happened - it built resilience in me in a way that nothing else could have. It pushed me past my limits and made me stronger."

For those beginning their own ACL recovery, consider using the same tools that helped Elina succeed. The Curovate app provides comprehensive support throughout your rehabilitation process, from pre-surgery preparation through return to activity.

Conclusion

Elina's story demonstrates that while ACL recovery presents significant challenges, success is achievable through dedication, proper guidance, and the right tools. Her experience as a fitness professional brings unique insights to the recovery process, highlighting the importance of both physical and mental preparation. Whether you're an athlete, fitness enthusiast, or someone recovering from ACL surgery, the key elements of success remain consistent: commitment to rehabilitation, proper progression through recovery phases, and utilization of appropriate support tools.

While every recovery timeline is unique, having the right resources at your fingertips can make a significant difference. The Curovate app provides the structure, guidance, and tracking tools needed to support your ACL rehabilitation journey, whether you're in the pre-surgery phase or working toward return to activity.

If you need further customized assistance during your ACL recovery check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physical therapist.

Start your guided rehabilitation with Curovate today:

Other Blogs Related to ACL Surgery and Rehabilitation

• Why do I feel weak after surgery?
• How to become more consistent with your exercise program using curovate
• ACL recovery timeline
• Is my ACL graft weaker than my original ACL or is my ACL graft stronger than my original ACL?
• When can I return to sport after ACL injury or surgery?
• Is there a difference in what I need to do if I had a quad tendon graft compared to a patellar tendon graft for my ACL reconstruction?

How do I know I tore my ACL? The 5 most common signs and symptoms of an ACL injury

Here are five signs and symptoms common with ACL injuries:

1. Audible pop
2. Instant pain
3. Immediate swelling
4. Knee instability
5. Reduction in knee range of motion

By being able to identify common signs and symptoms associated with a torn ACL, you can more rapidly understand the severity of your potential injury which will allow you to seek health care sooner. The sooner you seek professional help, the faster you can begin your journey towards recovery.

Watch Aleesha discuss how to identify common signs and symptoms of ACL surgery

Read the full blog that discusses the 5 most common signs and symptoms of an ACL injury here.

Read all 8 of Aleesha's blogs here!

If you are recovering from an ACL injury or ACL surgery and you want to do everything possible to return to running download our Curovate physical therapy app from the links below. Curovate provides daily video guided strengthening exercises, the ability to measure knee range of motion, in-app chat with a physical therapist to answer your surgery and recovery questions and educational blogs and webinars.

If you need further customized assistance during your ACL recovery check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physical therapist.

Other recommended blogs

• How does cycling help with my ACL recovery? Is a stationary bike good after ACL surgery? Do I need a stationary bike after ACL surgery
• After ACL surgery, how much help will I need? And help with what?
• Is my ACL graft weaker than my original ACL? Or is my ACL graft stronger than my original ACL?

References

1. Austermuehle, P.D. Common knee injuries in primary care. The Nurse practitioner. 2001;26(10):26, 32–45; quiz 46. doi: 10.1097/00006205-200110000-00005. PubMed PMID: 11688237.

2. Pines, J.M. and W.W. Everett. Acute Knee Injuries, in Evidence-Based Emergency Care. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.; 2008. p. 67–71. doi: 10.1002/9781444300772.ch9.

3. LaBella, C.R., W. Hennrikus, T.E. Hewett, and Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness, and Section on Orthopaedics. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Pediatrics. 2014;133(5):e1437-50. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-0623. PubMed PMID: 24777218.

4. Brukner, P. and K. Khan. Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, in Ebook Brukner & Khan’s Clinical Sports Medicine: Injuries, Vol. 1. 2017. p. 737.

5. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2014 [cited 2021 Sep 28].

"I had to change a lot mentally to get better physically," says Lani Woods, perfectly capturing the essence of rehabilitation. Lani's remarkable journey through a complex knee injury and multiple surgeries offers hope and guidance for anyone on their own recovery path.

Note - we have received permission from Lani on Instagram to post her recovery story to help motivate and inspire others.

The Initial Injury and Diagnosis

In October 2019, Lani faced a combination of injuries that would test any athlete's resolve. During a training incident, she experienced:

• A tibial plateau avulsion fracture
• Complete ACL and PCL ruptures
• Lateral and medial meniscus tears

For those who aren't knee experts, think of an avulsion fracture as the ligaments actually pulling away a piece of bone – definitely not your average sports injury! Lani was looking at 6-9 months of recovery, but she took on this challenge with an amazing attitude, asking herself "how bad do you really want it?"

The First Recovery Phase

After her first surgery, where doctors used bioabsorbable screws to reattach the ligaments, Lani dove into rehab head-first. She knew there would be good days and bad days, but that didn't stop her from crushing the workouts she could do while wearing a plaster cast.

Using Technology to Track Progress

During her recovery, Lani found a game-changer in the Curovate app. "I specifically liked that I could use Curovate to measure my knee flexion and extension on my phone!" Lani says. The app helped her track her progress with precise measurements right from her smartphone.

A Twist in the Recovery Tale

By July, things got complicated. Lani's knee started swelling chronically, puzzling her doctors. Here's where her ultrasound tech training came in handy – she used diagnostic ultrasound to discover fluid and blood buildup in her knee. Talk about being your own health advocate!

The rare rejection of her bioabsorbable screws (happening in only 4% of cases) meant another surgery in November 2020.

The Comeback

One year after her final surgery, Lani proved that comebacks are possible. She's back to cycling, crushing obstacle races, and dominating workouts. As Lani says, "Be curious, be adventurous, be unapologetic in your pursuit to find what sets your soul on fire."

What You Can Learn from Lani's Journey

1. Your mindset matters as much as your physical therapy
2. Track your progress - it keeps you motivated
3. Listen to your body and speak up when something feels off
4. Focus on what you can do, not what you can't
5. Keep your eye on the prize, but celebrate small wins

Conclusion

Whether you're an athlete recovering from surgery or someone working through rehabilitation, Lani's journey offers valuable lessons in perseverance. Recovery isn't just about returning to previous activities – it's about emerging stronger, wiser, and more resilient than before.

Remember that every recovery journey is unique. Focus on your own path, celebrate your progress, and maintain faith in the recovery process. As Lani demonstrated, with determination, proper medical care, and the right mindset, coming back stronger is absolutely possible.

If you need further customized assistance during your ACL recovery check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physical therapist.

Start your recovery journey with Curovate:

Blogs related to ACL surgery

• Understanding numbness after ACL surgery
• When can I run after ACL surgery?
• How long does it take for my ACL scar to heal? Scarring after ACL surgery
• Can an ACL injury lead to knee arthritis in the future?
• Why does my knee hurt when it rains? Knee pain and rainy days

People decide to undergo a knee replacement surgery when they are in pain and are no longer able to take part in their everyday life activities. It is a highly effective surgery, and most people have less pain and are able to be more physically active after the surgery.

Typically, people see a gradual improvement in their pain symptoms during the first year after their knee replacement surgery. About 3 months after the surgery most people had less pain than they did before. After about a year, people state they have less pain and an overall improved quality of life.

In the video below, watch physical therapist Monica Kim discuss what to expect during the first year after a knee replacement surgery.

Read the full blog on "Is it normal to still have knee pain after a knee replacement?" here.

Read all of Monica Kim's blogs here!

The Curovate mobile physical therapy app can help you if you have had a knee replacement surgery to reduce pain in your everyday life and help get you back to the activities you love. Curovate is for at-home physical therapy exercises following a knee replacement, ACL surgery, ACL injury or hip replacement. The app includes a personalized exercise program, video guided exercises, and the ability to track your progress, all from your phone! You can download the Curovate app from the App Store or the Play Store using the links below.

If you need further customized assistance during your surgery or injury recovery check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physical therapist.

Other recommended blogs

• Tips and tricks to fit rehab exercises into your daily schedule

• How to use crutches after surgery

• How to speed up recovery after total knee replacement

References

1. Bade, M. J., Kohrt, W. M., & Stevens-Lapsley, J. E. (2010). Outcomes before and after total knee arthroplasty compared to healthy adults. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 40(9), 559–567. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2010.3317

2. Li, C., Ng Cheong Chung, K., Ali, O., Chung, N., & Li, C. (2020). Literature review of the causes of pain following total knee replacement surgery: prosthesis, inflammation and arthrofibrosis. EFORT Open Reviews, 5(9), 534–543. https://doi.org/10.1302/2058-5241.5.200031

3. Wainwright, A. V., Kennedy, D. M., & Stratford, P. W. (2015). The Group Experience: Remodelling Outpatient Physiotherapy after Knee Replacement Surgery. Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada, 67(4), 350–356. https://doi.org/10.3138/ptc.2014-44

Is it safe for me to exercise if I have knee osteoarthritis or hip osteoarthritis?

Exercise is considered the most effective non-surgical treatment when it comes to managing your hip and knee osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, only about 30 percent of people with OA meet the physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week. Aerobic exercises like walking can actually help to combat a lot of the comorbidities seen with people who have OA such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Strength and flexibility exercises can help to improve your muscle strength, improve the stability in your joint, and increase range of motion. All of which will help you to ultimately reduce your pain. Experiencing some pain during exercise with OA is completely normal. On a scale of 1 to 10 if your pain rating goes up about two to three points during exercise that is considered completely normal. It's worthwhile to push through it because ultimately the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks.

In the video below, watch Aleesha, a physical therapist student, answer the question "Is it safe for me to exercise if I have knee osteoarthritis or hip osteoarthritis?"

Read the full blog on Is it safe for me to exercise if I have knee osteoarthritis or hip osteoarthritis? here.

Read all of Aleesha's blogs here!

Getting help from online physical therapists and our app Curovate can help you to find exercises that are specific to your needs. Curovate is a physical therapy app for ACL reconstruction, knee replacement, and hip replacement. Adding exercise to your routine as a person with osteoarthritis will ultimately help you to improve pain and return to activities that are meaningful to you!

Other Blogs Related to Osteoarthritis

• Does running cause knee osteoarthritis? Can I still run after my ACL surgery? Will running wear out my knee?
• My surgeon said I have knee osteoarthritis but I don't have pain - should I get a knee replacement?
• What is Osteoarthritis?
• What's the difference between Arthritis, Osteoarthritis and Osteoarthrosis?
• How to Become More Consistent with your Exercise Program Using Curovate
• Should I be experiencing pain when I do my rehabilitation exercises?

References

1. Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, Oatis C, Guyatt G, Block J, et al. 2019 american college of rheumatology/arthritis foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020 Feb;72(2):220–33.

2. Calders P, Van Ginckel A. Presence of comorbidities and prognosis of clinical symptoms in knee and/or hip osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2018 Jun;47(6):805–13.

3. Juhl C, Christensen R, Roos EM, Zhang W, Lund H. Impact of exercise type and dose on pain and disability in knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arthritis Rheum. 2013 Dec 18;

4. Messier SP, Resnik AE, Beavers DP, Mihalko SL, Miller GD, Nicklas BJ, et al. Intentional weight loss in overweight and obese patients with knee osteoarthritis: is more better? Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018 Nov;70(11):1569–75.

5. Loew L, Brosseau L, Wells GA, Tugwell P, Kenny GP, Reid R, et al. Ottawa panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for aerobic walking programs in the management of osteoarthritis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012 Jul;93(7):1269–85.

6. Gay C, Chabaud A, Guilley E, Coudeyre E. Educating patients about the benefits of physical activity and exercise for their hip and knee osteoarthritis. Systematic literature review. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2016 Jun;59(3):174–83.

My surgeon said I have knee osteoarthritis, but I don't have pain - should I get a knee replacement?

You do NOT need a knee replacement in a knee you’ve never had pain in, even if an X-ray shows you have osteoarthritis. In addition to arthritic X-ray findings, knee pain and a decreased ability to do everyday activities need to be present to consider getting a knee replacement. To delay or decrease the likelihood of needing a knee replacement, there are several actions you can take. Most importantly, you should continue to move your knee by staying active with activities you enjoy. Additionally, if you are overweight, losing weight will help you decrease pain and improve physical function. Lastly, it is important to recognize the impact that good mental health has on pain prevention. Following these strategies will help keep your knee pain-free and prevent the need for a knee replacement.

Watch the video below, where physiotherapist Andrew discusses if it is possible to have knee arthritis without pain and if knee arthritis alone means you should get a knee replacement.

Read the full blog on "I Have Knee Osteoarthritis but I Don’t Have Pain. Do I need a knee replacement?" here.

Read all of Andrew's blogs here!

Whether you’re managing osteoarthritis or just had a knee replacement, the Curovate mobile physical therapy app is a great tool to use to help you decrease pain and get back to the activities you love. Curovate includes a personalized exercise program, video guided exercises, and the ability to track your progress, all from your phone! You can download the Curovate app from the App Store or the Play Store using the links below.

If you need further customized assistance during your osteoarthritis or knee replacement journey check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physical therapist.

Other Blogs Related to Osteoarthritis and Knee Replacement

• What is Osteoarthritis?
• What is a Total Knee Replacement?
• Should I put off my total knee replacement surgery? What are my other options?
• The Mental Side of Injury: Hot to Keep a Positive Attitude During Recovery
• Is it normal to still have pain after a knee replacement surgery?
• Why does my knee feel weird after my total knee replacement? Why does my knee feel heavy after my total knee replacement?

References

1. Chen D, Shen J, Zhao W, et al. Osteoarthritis: toward a comprehensive understanding of pathological mechanism. Bone Res. 2017;5:16044. doi:10.1038/boneres.2016.44

2. Page CJ, Hinman RS, Bennell KL. Physiotherapy management of knee osteoarthritis. Int J Rheum Dis. 2011;14(2):145-151. doi:10.1111/j.1756-185X.2011.01612.x

3. de Rooij M, van der Leeden M, Heymans MW, et al. Prognosis of Pain and Physical Functioning in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016;68(4):481-492. doi:10.1002/acr.22693

4. Gademan MGJ, Hofstede SN, Vliet Vlieland TPM, Nelissen RGHH, Marang-van de Mheen PJ. Indication criteria for total hip or knee arthroplasty in osteoarthritis: a state-of-the-science overview. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016;17(1):463. doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1325-z

5. Bedson J, Croft PR. The discordance between clinical and radiographic knee osteoarthritis: a systematic search and summary of the literature. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2008;9:116. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-9-116

6. Duclos M. Osteoarthritis, obesity and type 2 diabetes: The weight of waist circumference. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2016;59(3):157-160. doi:10.1016/j.rehab.2016.04.002

7. Bair MJ, Robinson RL, Katon W, Kroenke K. Depression and pain comorbidity: a literature review. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163(20):2433-2445. doi:10.1001/archinte.163.20.2433

Why do rural communities and remote communities have poor access to physical therapy?

Rural and remote communities have poor access to physical therapy. Some communities do not have a local physical therapist and have to travel for over an hour to access care. Areas that do have physical therapists often have long wait times and a lack of specialized care due to limited staff. Residents of rural communities often have to travel to urban centers to access the specific physical therapy care they need. Barriers such as time, cost, and limited access to public transportation make accessing physical therapy much harder. Virtual physical therapy is one solution to try to address some of these barriers. Virtual physical therapy has its own barriers such as internet access and the cost of technology.

Watch Andrew, a physical therapist, address the question "Why do rural communities and remote communities have poor access to physical therapy?" in the video below.

Read the full blog on Why do rural communities and remote communities have poor access to physical therapy? here.

Curovate is a physical therapy app for ACL reconstruction, knee replacement, and hip replacement. One motivation behind creating the Curovate app was to increase access to healthcare and reduce the barriers to providing physical therapy.

For those living in rural areas that have access to an internet connection, this is a great way to access physical therapy. Curovate was designed by a physical therapist and works with you throughout your entire recovery. It provides a list of video-guided exercises to complete each day. As you move through the stages of recovery, you will be given new exercises to ensure you continue to make progress. Other features include the weekly achievements, measuring range of motion, and the option to connect with a licensed physical therapist virtually.

If you need further customized assistance during your surgery or injury recovery check out our Virtual Physical Therapy page to book your 1-on-1 video session with a physical therapist.

Other related blogs:

• “The world is mobile and so are physical therapists!”
• How is physical therapy access changing in 2020? COVID-19: Part 1
• How To Manage Your Recovery Protocols With Curovate
• How to Navigate your exercises in Curovate
• How To Access and Follow Your Exercise Program Using Curovate
• How To Become More Consistent With Your Exercise Program Using Curovate

References

1. Canada S. Number of persons in the total population and the farm population, for rural areas and population centres, classified by sex and age. Government of Canada. 2017. doi:10.25318/3210019701-eng

2. Ford DM. Four persistent rural healthcare challenges. Healthc Manage Forum. 2016;29(6):243-246. doi:10.1177/0840470416658903

3. Nielsen M, D’Agostino D, Gregory P. Addressing rural health challenges head on. Mo Med. 2017;114(5):363-366.

4. Spalevic M, Dimitrijevic L, Kocic M, Stankovic I, Zivkovic V. AB1124 The Importance of the Early Rehabilitation after Total Knee Replacement in Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014;73(Suppl 2):1173.4-1174. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.4638

5. Adams R, Jones A, Lefmann S, Sheppard L. Rationing is a reality in rural physiotherapy: a qualitative exploration of service level decision-making. BMC Health Serv Res. 2015;15:121. doi:10.1186/s12913-015-0786-3

6. Bourassa C. Addressing the duality of access to healthcare for indigenous communities: racism and geographical barriers to safe care. Healthc Pap. 2018;17(3):6-10. doi:10.12927/hcpap.2018.25507

7. Grona SL, Bath B, Busch A, Rotter T, Trask C, Harrison E. Use of videoconferencing for physical therapy in people with musculoskeletal conditions: A systematic review. J Telemed Telecare. 2018;24(5):341-355. doi:10.1177/1357633X17700781

8. Jiang S, Xiang J, Gao X, Guo K, Liu B. The comparison of telerehabilitation and face-to-face rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Telemed Telecare. 2018;24(4):257-262. doi:10.1177/1357633X16686748

9. ‘Left out of this equation’: Why virtual health care is leaving some Ontarians behind | TVO.org. https://www.tvo.org/article/left-out-of-this-equation-why-virtual-health-care-is-leaving-some-ontarians-behind. Accessed August 18, 2021.