October 10, 2017
By now, most physical therapists are using tablets or other mobile devices during their interactions with patients. From demonstrating how a therapy exercise should be performed to illustrating how different parts of the anatomy work together, technology has become an invaluable tool in every facet of the healthcare industry. Let’s take a look at five apps that every physical therapist should be using.
Top Apps for Physical Therapists
- Shoulder Decide – This powerful tool is just one in a series of anatomy related applications from Orca Health, Inc., and can open up new ways to maximize your patient education and engagement. In addition to Shoulder Decide, PT’s can incorporate Spine Decide, Foot Decide, and Hand Decide into their practice. Only available on iTunes, the series of applications features interactive 3D models and anatomy specific strength-building, stretching, and rehabilitation videos. Each Decide app is free to download and includes in-app purchases to unlock additional features.
- ICD10 Consult 2017 – With all of the coding changes in recent years, having a current, accurate ICD10 resource close by is invaluable. Whether you keep getting stuck on a particular code, or you are training someone new in the office, ICD10 Consult 2017 is a “go to” tool for every office. ICD10 Consult is fully searchable with an easy-to-use interface and intuitive design. The app also features ICD9 to ICD10 conversion, thousands of medical acronyms for easy searching and much more. Updated for 2018, this application is only available on iTunes and best of all is free to download.
- Muscle Trigger Points – An in-depth reference featuring scientifically proven trigger points and referral patterns for 108 muscles. This paid app ($2.99 to download) highlights visual referral patterns and locations and 80 conditions that are caused by trigger points. The simple to use interface allows quick access to colorful 3D renderings of muscles and muscle groups to help you and your patient understand the source of pain. For Android users, this application can be downloaded here.
- Goniometer – If there is one activity that is typical for PT’s to be doing on a daily basis, it would be measuring a patient’s range of motion. Now, there is an easy, accurate mechanism for digitally measuring the angle of rotation, called Goniometer. Only available for iOS devices, this application can be downloaded for $4.99 in the App Store.
- Stopwatch & Timer – Do you often find yourself with multiple stopwatches around your neck as you are monitoring patients doing timed activities? If this sounds familiar, you need Stopwatch & Timer for your Apple device. This simple app allows you to have five different timers going at one time with each one having its own label to keep them straight. Very easy to use, this free app is one you will wish you had downloaded sooner. A similar app is available for Android devices here.
Do you have any “must have” apps for your PT practice? What mobile device are you using and what are your most useful apps? Share your experiences with fellow colleagues in the comment section below, or drop us a line on our Facebook page.
