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Mary Free Bed takes physical therapy online

Posted at 2:04 PM, Apr 02, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-19 20:40:39-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Governor Whitmer's Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order has forced many people out of their daily routines, including those who need rehabilitation on a regular basis.

The good news? Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital has taken its services online.

It's called Virtual Therapy, and it's been pretty popular. They've seen hundreds of patients since they started this, which totals more than 600 visits a week.

The tele-health technology allows doctors to connect with patients confidentially. Patients can be served in a variety of ways, from physical therapy to psychological therapy to prosthetics. Mary Free Bed can also help with patients nutritional needs, and all can be helped while never having to leave their homes.

"I wouldn’t say it’s as good, but I think it’s good right now while we’re under the sort of social isolation state," said Dr. Kelly Armstrong with Mary Free Bed. "And for any new patient that I’m seeing now, I’m expecting that I will see them in the office once our restrictions for seeing patients in the office is lifted."

Research shows patients seen virtually with problems in areas like their neck, back, shoulders, knees and elsewhere, saw improvement in their movement and function in less than four visits and maintained it over the next three months.

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