Managing Your Practice’s Physical Therapy Equipment

Physical therapists are the heroes of patient rehabilitation. Without them, patients would struggle mightily during the rehabilitation process, and some might never recover at all.

Therapists rely on cutting-edge physical therapy equipment to help their patients improve. Below are tips on choosing the perfect rehabilitation equipment for your practice.

Understanding Physical Therapy Equipment

Physical therapists use high-quality equipment to help patients recover, relieve pain, improve balance, and boost blood flow. Common physical therapy supplies in treatment and rehabilitation include:

• Resistance bands (also called exercise bands) to strengthen core muscles
• Balance balls
• Weights
• Strength training equipment
• Treadmills
• Recumbent steppers
• Ultrasound machines for deep tissue healing
• Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) devices
• Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for expedient tissue repair
• Iontophoresis machines, which provide localized relief for conditions like tendonitis
• Mechanical traction devices for spinal decompression
• Cryotherapy chambers for relieving inflammation

Key Physical Therapy Supplies for Effective Treatment

In addition to exercise equipment, physical therapy clinics must stock up on high-quality products to treat physical ailments, such as the following:

• Foam rollers
• Kinesiology tape
• Topical pain relievers for muscle soreness
• Cold therapy products, such as ice packs
• Therapeutic putty
• Nebulizer supplies for people with chronic respiratory diseases

Innovations in Physical Therapy Tools

Physical therapy equipment and supplies have come a long way with the advancement of body awareness. Electrotherapy machines, for example, offer benefits such as strengthening muscles and stimulating the healing process.

Digital exercise software and virtual reality systems also help patients. A physical therapist can use such software to track patients’ biometrics during resistance training exercises.

Other innovations include:

• Outcome tracking and reporting software with customizable reporting features
• Telehealth integration for meeting with patients virtually from the comfort of their homes
• Patient management and scheduling software, such as Weave
• Insurance management and billing programs
• Home exercise prescription programs
• Wearable device integration for monitoring patient activity and progress remotely
• Biofeedback systems, which can improve patient engagement and awareness

Selecting the Right Equipment for Your Practice

The best equipment for physical therapy practices doesn’t come cheap, so choose wisely. Here’s how to pick the right equipment and supplies:

• Consider your services, the types of patients you regularly see, and how much space is available in your practice. There’s no point in purchasing large equipment if your patients won’t use these machines.
• Set your budget. Again, physical therapy supplies can be expensive, so plan accordingly. It’s usually best to buy just a few high-quality items instead of a bunch of cheaply made products that don’t work well.
• Look for equipment with a versatile design to accommodate a wider range of assessments and exercises.
• Choose equipment that’s easy for mobility-challenged patients to use.
• Buy equipment with safety features, such as locking mechanisms, to prevent people from hurting themselves.
• Pick suppliers with a great track record of quality products and impeccable support. You should also choose suppliers that offer lengthy warranties and will back you up should anything go wrong.

How Weave Integrates With Physical Therapy Practices

Weave is the perfect partner for physical therapy supplies and equipment. It seamlessly integrates with your practice and comes with must-have tools like the following:

• Appointment scheduling and reminders
• Online bill pay
• Communication features

If you crave a well-managed, streamlined practice, Weave can get you there. Check out our practice management software to see how Weave could help your business soar.

Learn How Weave Can Help You Get More Patients and Improve Patient Outcomes

Choosing the right physical therapy equipment is an absolute must if you want to keep your patient roster full. Eager to take your practice to the next level? Get your free demo of Weave now.