See a physiotherapist by video call — no commute, no waiting room. Research shows telehealth physiotherapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person care for most musculoskeletal conditions, at a fraction of the time cost.
Telehealth physiotherapy — also called tele-physiotherapy, telerehabilitation, or online physio — is a full physiotherapy consultation delivered over live video call rather than in person. You speak with a licensed physiotherapist from home, the office, or wherever you have a stable internet connection, and the session covers the same ground as an in-clinic visit: a detailed history, a guided movement assessment, hands-off treatment strategies, and a home exercise programme tailored to your condition.
It isn't a chatbot, a pre-recorded video course, or a generic exercise app. At Benchmark Physio, every telehealth session is conducted live by one of our physiotherapists, using the same clinical reasoning process we apply in the clinic — we simply substitute hands-on manual therapy for guided self-mobilisation, movement coaching, and real-time feedback through your camera.
What telehealth physiotherapy replaces is the parts of a session that don't strictly require physical touch: the assessment interview, movement screening, exercise prescription, technique correction, progress review, and education. What it can't replace is hands-on manual therapy, needling-based treatments like dry needling, or equipment-based modalities like shockwave therapy — for those, an in-clinic or home physiotherapy visit is the right fit, and we'll tell you plainly if that's what your condition needs.
2
Does It Actually Work? What the Evidence Shows
This is the question every prospective patient asks, and it's a fair one — video calls sound like a downgrade from hands-on treatment. The research says otherwise for the majority of musculoskeletal conditions physiotherapists see day to day.
Comparable
outcomes to in-person care across multiple systematic reviews of musculoskeletal telerehabilitation
12,341
patients across 15 studies in one review, reporting satisfaction on par with in-clinic physiotherapy
Lower cost
than in-person physiotherapy in health-economic reviews, without a loss of clinical outcome
A 2022 systematic review covering 12,341 patients across 15 studies found that telerehabilitation for musculoskeletal disorders achieves satisfaction levels broadly comparable to standard in-clinic care, with the review noting that "the evidence for the efficacy of telehealth interventions in improving musculoskeletal pain-related outcomes is comparable to the standard face-to-face interventions." Multiple subsequent systematic reviews, including a 2024 review published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy examining chronic musculoskeletal pain specifically, reached the same broad conclusion: video-based physiotherapy produces similar clinical outcomes to in-person treatment for pain and functional disability.
A separate systematic review of the health economics found telehealth physiotherapy "consistently produced health outcomes akin to in-person care" while being less costly in nearly every study reviewed — savings driven by reduced travel time and fewer missed appointments rather than any compromise on care quality. That combination of comparable outcomes and lower time cost is precisely why telehealth has moved from a pandemic-era stopgap to a permanent, mainstream part of musculoskeletal physiotherapy internationally.
None of this means telehealth is the right fit for every condition, and we're upfront about where it isn't — that's covered in the next section. But for the everyday aches, chronic pain, and rehabilitation programmes that make up most physiotherapy caseloads, the evidence base genuinely supports it.
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Who Telehealth Physiotherapy Suits
Suitability for telehealth comes down to clinical judgement, not a rigid rulebook — our physiotherapists screen for red flags and assess your specific presentation before recommending it. As a general guide, here's how it tends to break down:
Generally well suited
Chronic or recurring pain (back, neck, shoulder, hip, knee)
Ongoing exercise-based rehab after an initial in-person assessment
Postural and desk-related complaints
Follow-up sessions to review and progress a home programme
Return-to-sport or return-to-activity guidance
General movement, mobility, and exercise advice
Second opinions on a diagnosis or treatment plan
Usually needs an in-person visit
Sudden, severe, or rapidly worsening pain ("red flag" symptoms)
Suspected fracture, dislocation, or significant trauma
Conditions needing hands-on manual therapy as the primary treatment
Dry needling, shockwave therapy, or other equipment-based modalities
Significant balance, mobility, or fall risk without a helper present
First assessment after major surgery (a hybrid start is often recommended)
Where a stable internet connection or private space isn't available
Many patients land somewhere in between — an in-person first assessment followed by telehealth for the ongoing programme, for example, or telehealth check-ins between periodic in-clinic sessions. This hybrid approach is well supported in the physiotherapy literature and is something we routinely recommend rather than treating telehealth and in-clinic care as an either-or choice.
4
How a Telehealth Session Works
An online session at Benchmark Physio follows the same clinical structure as an in-clinic appointment — just delivered through your screen.
1
Book and prepare
Book your slot via WhatsApp or our online booking system. We'll send a video call link ahead of time and a short note on what to have ready — comfortable clothing, a clear space to move, and a device propped where your physiotherapist can see your full body during movement testing.
2
History and screening
Your physiotherapist takes a detailed history of your symptoms, previous injuries, medical background, and goals — and screens for anything that would make telehealth unsuitable, redirecting you to an in-clinic visit if needed.
3
Guided movement assessment
You're talked through specific movements and functional tests on camera — range of motion, strength-indicating tasks, balance checks, and movement patterns relevant to your complaint. Your physiotherapist observes, asks questions, and adjusts the assessment in real time based on what they see.
4
Treatment plan and exercise coaching
Based on the assessment, you'll be walked through your treatment plan and coached through the first exercises live — with real-time correction on form, tempo, and technique, the same way we'd correct you in the clinic.
5
Written programme and follow-up
You'll leave the call with a written exercise programme (with demonstration notes where useful) and a clear plan for follow-up — whether that's another telehealth session, a switch to in-clinic care, or a hybrid of both.
5
Conditions We Commonly Treat Remotely
Telehealth suits the same broad range of musculoskeletal conditions we see in the clinic, once red flags have been ruled out. Common presentations include:
Neck and back pain — including postural neck pain, lower back pain, and desk-related "tech neck"
Post-surgical rehabilitation — later-stage post-surgery rehab, once your surgeon has cleared remote follow-up
General postural and ergonomic issues — desk setup, movement habits, and preventive advice
If your condition isn't listed here, get in touch — our physiotherapists can advise whether telehealth is appropriate for your specific situation, or whether an in-clinic or home physiotherapy visit would serve you better.
6
Telehealth vs In-Clinic vs Home Visits
Benchmark Physio offers three ways to see a physiotherapist, and many patients use more than one over the course of their treatment.
New assessments, manual therapy, needling and equipment-based treatment
Recent surgery, reduced mobility, difficulty travelling to clinic
Travel required
None
To 557 Bukit Timah Road
None (we come to you)
Not sure which fits your situation? Message us on WhatsApp with a short description of your condition and we'll point you towards the right option before you book.
7
Getting Ready for Your Session
A little preparation makes a real difference to how much you get out of a 30-minute session. Before your appointment:
Wear comfortable, fitted clothing — loose or baggy clothing can make it harder for your physiotherapist to see joint and muscle movement clearly
Clear a space roughly 2m x 2m where you can stand, sit, and move without obstruction
Position your device on a stable surface at a distance that captures your full body, not just your face — a chair or stack of books works well as a stand
Check your connection and use a device with a working camera and microphone; Wi-Fi is generally more stable than mobile data
Have a chair, mat, or towel nearby in case they're useful for specific tests or exercises
Gather relevant medical history — recent scan reports, medication lists, or a doctor's referral letter, if you have one
Write down your main questions so nothing gets forgotten in the session
If you have a family member or friend nearby, it can help to have them present for balance-related tests or if you're less confident moving independently — let your physiotherapist know in advance and they'll factor this into the assessment.
8
Fees
Online Tele-Physiotherapy
30-minute video consultation
$100
Suitable for patients who prefer consulting remotely, or who can't access the clinic due to time constraints. Includes a full assessment, treatment planning, exercise coaching, and a written home programme.
We accept GrabPay, PayNow, AMEX, Visa, and Mastercard, and offer direct billing with our insurance partners — WhiteCoat, ManaCare, and Raffles Health Insurance.
See our full fees page for pricing on in-clinic physiotherapy, home visits, paediatric sessions, and sports massage, or visit our insurance partners page to check whether your plan covers telehealth consultations.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most musculoskeletal conditions, yes. Multiple systematic reviews comparing telerehabilitation with in-person physiotherapy have found comparable outcomes for pain, function, and patient satisfaction — one review covering over 12,000 patients found satisfaction on par with standard clinic care. Where telehealth falls short is anything requiring hands-on manual therapy, dry needling, shockwave therapy, or an in-person assessment for a new significant injury. Our physiotherapists will tell you directly if your condition needs an in-clinic visit rather than trying to manage it remotely.
You don't need special equipment for most sessions — a device with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, and roughly 2m x 2m of clear floor space is enough. A chair, yoga mat, or towel can be useful depending on your condition. If your treatment plan calls for resistance bands, weights, or other equipment, your physiotherapist will let you know in advance so you can source them or we can suggest household alternatives.
Yes, within the limits of what a visual assessment can capture. Video-based assessment can't replace the information gained from touch — feeling for muscle tension, joint stiffness, or swelling — which is why a hands-on in-clinic assessment is sometimes recommended first, particularly for a new or complex injury. But for range of motion, movement patterns, functional tasks, posture, and exercise technique, a trained eye over video is often sufficient, and this is exactly what the research on telehealth physiotherapy outcomes reflects.
It depends on your specific plan. Benchmark Physio has direct billing arrangements with WhiteCoat, ManaCare, and Raffles Health Insurance, but coverage for telehealth specifically varies by insurer and policy. We'd recommend checking with your insurer before your session, or messaging us your plan details and we can help confirm coverage where we're able to.
Sudden or severe pain, suspected fractures or significant trauma, conditions where hands-on manual therapy is the primary treatment, and anything needing dry needling or shockwave therapy all generally require an in-person visit. Patients with significant balance or fall risk, or without a private space and stable internet connection, are usually better suited to in-clinic or home physiotherapy. Our physiotherapists screen for these factors before every telehealth booking and will redirect you if an in-person visit is the safer or more effective option.
Yes — many patients use a hybrid approach, starting with an in-clinic assessment for hands-on treatment and switching to telehealth for ongoing exercise-based follow-ups, or vice versa. This is well supported by the physiotherapy literature and something our physiotherapists routinely recommend rather than treating the two as an either-or choice. Just let us know when booking and we'll set up whichever fits your stage of treatment.
Online telehealth physiotherapy sessions at Benchmark Physio run 30 minutes and cost $100, compared to $210 for a 45-minute in-clinic session or $320 for a 45-minute home visit. The shorter format works well because much of a telehealth session focuses on assessment, exercise coaching, and programme review, without the setup time hands-on treatment requires.
Ready to see a physiotherapist without leaving your desk?
Book a 30-minute online telehealth physiotherapy session and get a personalised assessment, treatment plan, and exercise programme from a licensed physiotherapist.
Or call +65 8836 8526 — Benchmark Physio, 557 Bukit Timah Road, Crown Centre, Singapore 269694
Meet Our Physiotherapist
Ng Hong Kai
As the Clinic Director and Chief Physiotherapist, Ng Hong Kai‘s commitment to quality care is also evident through his extensive credentials. Under Hong Kai’s guidance, you can be assured of receiving treatments rooted in expertise, experience, and genuine passion for your wellbeing.
Ready to embark on a journey towards better musculoskeletal health free from pain? Schedule your consultation with us today.
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