When is home physiotherapy necessary?

Physiotherapy in a therapy practice has various advantages, so the relief for the patient during a home visit must be weighed up against the benefits of treatment in the practice. In a therapy center, rooms and treatment equipment are available (therapy benches, therapy tables, gait trainers, exercise baths, heat packs) that can support the treatment process. The journey to the center (and the associated daily structure) can also have a therapeutic value. A visit to a therapy center requires the ability to walk or other mobility.

In the event of a loss of walking ability and logistical difficulties (high time expenditure, need for accompanying persons, risk of falling), the cost-benefit ratio changes when weighing up therapy in the practice against a home visit: if the burden increases from the patient’s perspective, a home visit by the therapist is preferable. The doctor prescribing the treatment must check the “home visit” box on the prescription. The therapist receives a small payment for the journey, which can hardly compensate for the effort involved in the home visit, but at least provides some financial compensation.

The balance between a visit to the practice (by the patient) and a home visit (by the therapist) must be weighed up individually between the patient, therapist and doctor. A combination of both types of visit is also possible. The respective choice can also be determined by social factors (availability of an accompanying person for a practice visit) or the therapy circumstances (reduced travel options for a practice treatment in winter weather). When weighing up practice and home visits, the decisive factor should be to choose the form of treatment that enables the greatest possible continuity of therapy.