Physical Therapists

(No chance) says

Physical therapists understand how the body feels manually and sensation wise in a way machines can't replicate.

D Dourney (No chance) says

Hands on soft tissue mobilization to patient tolerance is that something AI can feel? Joint mobility with contract relax techniques is that something AI can be used for

John B. (Low) says

This is interesting to think about. Short answer - I say no.

Long answer - while I agree with the previous commenters that 'Someone needs to be there', who is that someone? Is it just a PT Assistant and a chatbot that comes up with the plans and the assistant guides the exercises? You need to consider reduction in job scale (thus salary) here not just elimination.

I say no overall because the way I think about it is people will pay for this service (mainly the care/psychological aspect and not just the exercises that they could find on google already). I have been in this situation myself. This isn't a fast food restaurant where people just want their food and don't care how it is made. I think if the therapist is good at the care, patient management, psychology, and any additional 'experience' aspects in addition to knowing the technical stuff they will be fine.

John (No chance) says

Yes, there are apps developed that provide exercise protocols. However, these exercise protocols are superficial. These treatment protocols aren't magic bullets that fit every single patient with the same diagnosis.

I am a physical therapist. We don't treat injuries based solely on reported impairments. We view each injury holistically. If AI can treat chronic pain patients better than us therapists, then that would be a nice day.

Plus, would you rather have a robot treating and instructing you to exercise? I don't think so. Physical therapists also face patients who are in their worst state. Imagine being treated by robots like Darth Vader. Yes, that might sound profitable for some hospitals, but ask any patient if they would like to be handled solely by robots.

We're not just patting your backs or asking you to lift some weights. We see you as more than just your back problem. We don't just zap or pat your backs.

Jenis (Moderate) says

It would be physios doing the diagnosis and robots doing the techniques

Nada wael (Low) says

Because it is a medical field that needs diagnostic skills, understanding and communication with the patient

Physiotherapy Clinics Edmonton says

Robots are not new to the medical environment. They are used in a variety of ways, such as telepresence, surgical assistance, rehabilitation, medical transportation, sanitation, and disinfection, and dispensing prescriptions.

Anonymous says

Frederick is right, physical therapists do more than just pat someone on the back a bunch. They also have to diagnose the problem. And the pat on the back is a really important procedure where that pat on the back does something special to the body to maybe recover or relieve some pain. The procedures they have to use in some instances can be very difficult.

Pablo Santurbano (Low) says

I think that there is a small risk, because it is possible to develop an app with the best treatment protocols evidence based.

Furthermore, in most health problems that physios treats, exercise is the most recommended intervention. And many exercises can be done without a professional supervision. This scenario could allow a patient to download an app that facilitates to conduct a self treatment.

mike says

physios are just a pat on the shoulder isn't it? Robots can do that

To (Uncertain) says

There are already algorithm based apps being used in sports rehabilitation, nothing is impossible

Frederik (No chance) says

I've had the chance to meet several physiotherapists with whom I've had in-depth discussions (not personal injury-related). I'm a prospective physiotherapy student myself.

If all physiotherapy was, was prescribing exercises, then it would definitely have a huge chance of being replaced by automation soon. Look at the field of radiology for a good example of this phenomenon—technology is getting exceedingly good at finding and diagnosing illnesses without human help. But the work physios do is diverse. Yes, prescribing exercises is a part of the job, but hands-on manual therapy is just as important. The variety of work within the field of physiotherapy is enormous as well. Physios may specialise in everything from working with athletes to patients with neurological disorders.

Physiotherapists undergo training in tangential fields, such as psychology, in order to be better able to understand their clients. After all, the goal is really to help patients in the best possible manner! Great physios also act as psychologists, guiding their patients through the mental challenges of rehabilitation and overcoming injury or illness (which may take place over the course of several months). Just like in occupational therapy (physiotherapy's sister), human-to-human interaction is a huge part of the job. This isn't something that can be replaced by a robot, at least not easily...

You never know fifty, one hundred years down the line. Just look at the difference between 2020 and 1970, 2020 and 1920. Honestly though, physiotherapy is absolutely safe considering the current situation of technological development. It will be one of the fastest growing, in-demand occupations in the next few decades.

jeff (No chance) says

no chance

Sarah (No chance) says

Physical therapists can't always be replaced by robots. Someone has to be there to help out.