AR Exercise Form Correction: Technology for Remote Physiotherapy

The Remote Physiotherapy Quality Challenge

Remote physiotherapy expanded dramatically but faces persistent quality concerns. Therapists struggle verifying whether patients perform home exercises correctly—improper form reduces effectiveness or risks injury. Video calls provide limited feedback angles and require synchronous scheduling inconvenient for both parties. Patients lack confidence they're executing movements properly without in-person supervision, reducing exercise frequency and intensity. Meanwhile, therapists spend excessive video call time providing verbal form corrections rather than advancing treatment. The fundamental challenge: how do you ensure proper exercise form during unsupervised home practice maintaining treatment quality while preserving remote convenience?

AR Form Correction Solution

Augmented reality provides real-time exercise form feedback using smartphone cameras and motion analysis. Patients receive immediate visual and audio cues when movements deviate from proper form, self-correcting without therapist presence. The technology enables quality remote physiotherapy:

• Real-time form feedback correcting movements immediately during home exercises
• Visual guides and overlays showing correct movement paths and positions
• Compensatory movement detection identifying improper technique before injury occurs
• Asynchronous supervision therapists review recorded sessions identifying persistent errors
• Patient confidence building through immediate feedback reducing form uncertainty

AR Form Correction Applications

Remote physiotherapy form correction serves diverse exercise types effectively:

• Strength Exercises: Squat depth, plank alignment, lunge form monitored with posture correction cues
• Range-of-Motion Work: Shoulder, hip, spine movements tracked ensuring adequate range without compensation
• Balance Training: Weight distribution monitoring during single-leg stands or dynamic balance exercises
• Functional Movement: Sit-to-stand, reaching, bending mechanics corrected preventing re-injury during daily activities
• Post-Operative Protocols: Careful movement monitoring during early recovery stages ensuring surgical healing protection

Technology Implementation and Patient Experience

AR form correction works through patients' existing smartphones without requiring expensive equipment. Apps use device cameras capturing movement, machine learning algorithms analyzing form against ideal patterns, and AR overlays displaying real-time feedback. Visual cues show movement paths—green indicators for correct form, red warnings for deviations, arrows suggesting corrections. Audio feedback provides verbal form reminders—"keep back straight," "lower deeper," "don't lean forward"—without requiring visual attention. Sessions record automatically enabling therapists to review form asynchronously, identifying persistent technique issues requiring video call correction or protocol adjustment. The technology proves particularly valuable during early home exercise phases when patients learn movements, post-discharge when clinic access ends but rehabilitation continues, or for rural patients with limited specialist physiotherapy access requiring quality remote care.

Clinical Integration and Evidence Development

AR form correction integrates throughout remote physiotherapy workflows. Initial in-clinic sessions establish baseline movement patterns the AR system references. Therapists prescribe specific exercises with form parameters—depth requirements, range targets, speed guidelines—AR monitors during home practice. Weekly check-ins review recorded sessions identifying form degradation or compensatory patterns developing. The technology addresses primary remote physiotherapy limitation—inability to ensure proper form—making telehealth clinically comparable to in-person care for appropriate cases. Implementation costs typically £8k-£18k for AR platform development customized to clinic protocols, modest investment expanding remote service capabilities and geographic reach. While evidence base continues developing, early research shows promising outcomes with patient satisfaction ratings comparable to in-person care and adherence rates superior to unsupervised home programs. The technology particularly benefits practices with rural patient populations, post-surgical protocols requiring extended home exercise periods, or clinics seeking competitive advantage through innovative telehealth capabilities. Dagger Interactive helps physiotherapy practices implement AR form correction enabling quality remote care through real-time feedback, asynchronous supervision, and patient confidence supporting effective home exercise completion between clinic visits or throughout fully remote treatment courses.