Abstract

From a possible provision to address a forbidden remote client Tele-Physiotherapy now has emerged as a tall solution for growing challenges of urban especially metropolitan lives. Some decades back it was an option to reach out clinical situation which otherwise remained unattended due to distance or scarcity of manpower. The rural/ remote outreach used to be the USP pertaining to the scope of Tele-Physiotherapy; however soon it got challenged by unmatched infrastructure requirements, unprepared technical staff and generally doubtable efficacy in society. This most promising mode was thus succumbing to “challenge–thrive–challenge” vicious. Until recently it was not considered as an effective mode of physiotherapy care delivery in urban population. Unlike rural settings urban population has to brave traffic, time constraint to address there physiotherapy needs, in addition growing cost of infrastructure especially space in mega cities are directly impacting cost equation of the treatments which is turning detrimental to the social acceptance of physiotherapy and its due penetration in healthcare system. Further there are aspects of treatment like real life therapy interventions, dynamic treatment modulations, continuous monitoring, multiple daily sessions, group therapy and so on; where attending to a physiotherapy clinic once daily even is not purposeful. And contrary to rural scenario urban infrastructure is well equipped, better and faster connected; client is much aware tech savvy, accessible and available on all communication platforms be it mobile or internet. Also in cities workplace, schools, public places and even homes are more ready for instructional and communication connectivity.