Virtual Physical Therapy on the Move

In late October, the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), a leading academic medical center that specializes in musculoskeletal health, announced a $21 million Series A funding round to launch RightMove Powered by HSS. The funding round was led by healthcare technology investor Flare Capital and HSS.

The independent, not-for-profit company has proclaimed its mission is to create high quality, patient-focused virtual musculoskeletal physical therapy that’s available to all Americans. The initial $21 million of funding will be used to develop and build out RightMove’s technology platform and create a network of physical therapists specially trained for virtual physical therapy.

Amy Fahrenkopf, M.D., senior vice president of HSS and president of HSS Health, has been named the interim CEO of RightMove while an executive search is underway. “We believe RightMove can address an unmet need in the market by being a true value-based partner to health plans and employers through our proven care model, use of specialty trained physical therapists and unparalleled experience providing telerehabilitation,” Fahrenkopf said in a press release announcing the new company.

The critical need, according to HSS, is that half of all U.S. adults experience musculoskeletal-related issues that bring about an annual health expenditure of about $380 billion—and rising. Easier access to high-quality physical therapy, according to HSS, has been demonstrated to reduce unnecessary surgeries, injections, emergency room visits, and imaging.

Ultimately, all of this culminates in better outcomes at a lower cost across the healthcare value chain—patients, employers, and payors all included.

“RightMove is a milestone opportunity for people and businesses everywhere to make the vital first step in treating orthopedic conditions with the benefit of 159 years of specialized expertise,” said Louis A. Shapiro, president and CEO at HSS. “Flare Capital is a great partner to help scale the impact of HSS’ unique knowledge and capabilities.”

According to Coherent Market Insights, the size of the U.S. virtual physical therapy and telerehabilitation services market amounted to $142.2 million in 2021. Coherent expects the market to grow at a rate of 13.1% during its forecast period to 2028, reaching $336.6 million by 2028.

Telerehabilitation provides a means for patients to connect with healthcare experts remotely, assisting in assessment and delivery of therapy. Tele-physio-therapy uses networking techniques so patients can get physical therapy in the comfort of their own homes by way of audio or video conversations.

Telerehabilitation and virtual therapy blossomed as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns. JMIRx Med published a study in January this year stating that during the pandemic, about 84% of physical therapists and occupational therapists had been using video-based consultations to treat patients.

The company Virtual Physical Therapists advertises “physical therapy from the palm of your hand.” The company’s physical therapists are trained in a specific and proprietary method of treatment called Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), based on the McKenzie Method of MDT.

This method was developed by expert physiotherapist Robin McKenzie in the 1950s. The exercise-based approach of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment uses comprehensive and clinically reasoned patient evaluation without using expensive diagnostic imaging like X-rays and MRIs. The treatment principles promote the body’s potential to repair itself and also doesn’t utilize medication, heat, cold, ultrasound, needles, or surgery.

In the simplest instance, this means moving in one direction may provoke and worsen pain, and moving in the opposite direction may eliminate pain and restore function—known as Directional Preference. Other patients may have pain just at the end of movement or with certain movements like throwing or climbing stairs. The McKenzie assessment explores these different positions and movements, how the patient performs them, and response to these movements. Interpreting this information, the clinician determines which of the movements and posture becomes the treatment as well as the necessary exercise dosage.

The platform can address neck pain and headaches, as well as pain in the shoulder, elbow, wrist/hand, back/sciatica, hip, knee, and foot/ankle. It can also assist with fall prevention.

The rise in development of novel systems to provide virtual physiotherapy and telerehabilitation will only continue as patients seek cost effective and unobtrusive ways to structure their healthcare.

“RightMove is addressing one of the biggest challenges in healthcare right now, and it is doing so with a truly differentiated offering,” said Michael Greeley, co-founder and general partner, Flare Capital. “The amount of money spent on musculoskeletal care every year is staggering and there is urgency in the market to find meaningful solutions for employers and payers. We were drawn to the unique opportunity to partner with the global leader in musculoskeletal care, to quickly scale a company that cares deeply about both clinical quality and value for its customers.”