While working from home is new to many people, E-Therapy’s teletherapists have been holding online sessions with special education students for more than 12 years. It may be easy to envision virtual speech therapy, but what about virtual physical therapy? E-Therapy online Physical Therapist, Kelsey Riley, shares her recommendations for equipment, materials, and office set up for a functional, low maintenance virtual physical therapy space.
How to set up your virtual physical therapy space
- Space! Have enough room to stand up and move.
- Good lighting so the student and therapist can see each other clearly.
- Webcam that can be adjusted/tipped to better demonstrate exercises.
- Simple, minimal environment, so that students can be focused with few distractions.
- Have equipment organized and ready to use.
Easy to find equipment
- Painter’s tape to make a balance beam, hopscotch grid, or targets on the floor to practice jumping to/from.
- Step stool for step-ups, stair practice, and other PT leg exercises.
- Chair for sit-to-stand exercises and practicing transfers such as moving in or out of a wheelchair.
- Empty paper towel tubes to kick for single leg stance practice or to use as bowling pins.
- Yoga mat/rug/blanket for floor exercises such as yoga poses and core strength/endurance practice or to fold into a balance beam.
Looking for activities to do with kids? Check out the Teletherapy Activities category of our EMPOWER blog!
