Obviously there are some clear differences between a sports injury app and a therapist when it comes to injury diagnosis and rehab planning. So here’s what the Sports Injury App can’t do.
It can’t massage
Seems obvious. Getting a sports injury app to provide a massage isn’t going to happen (no doubt the iPhone 45 will have this feature though…)
And that’s actually a good thing. One of the biggest comments we hear from patients about previous unsuccessful treatment approaches is “all they did was massage it. Felt good but there was no real progress”.
So without massage to occupy rehab time, all the app can offer is effective exercise programs and pain relief you can do at home.
It doesn’t have days off, or off days
The sports injury app makes decisions based on data. It’s programmed to think like a therapist but it doesn’t get tired. It doesn’t feel rushed. It doesn’t have off days, when decisions aren’t as sharp as they could have been.
It also doesn’t get days off. So it’s ready when you are. There’s no “sorry but Dr Smith isn’t in until Thursday”.
Think about it – most injuries happen on weekends but most medical clinics are closed on weekends.
It can’t book you in 3x per week for months
This sports injury app is about self management. It doesn’t make money from more frequent treatments or regular visits, check ups and “maintenance” sessions.
If you want to do 2 sessions per week, that’s fine. If you want 7 sessions, it’s still the same. It’s your program so you don’t pay extra for faster recovery.
There’s no financial incentive for the app to do more regular sessions so every recommendation is based on research and years of experience.
Limitations are benefits
So the things that this app can’t do are actually some of its best features. It takes away distractions, inconsistency and profit incentives.
All that’s left is a simple, clear, consistent plan for a fast recovery without the drama of real life to get in the way.