APA | Digital health and telehealth

Digital health and telehealth

The image is of a woman holding a tablet and interacting with a holographic display, which is in front of her.

INMOTION 01 Jun, 2026

Building digital capacity in physiotherapy

Associate Professor Mark Merolli considers what every physiotherapist needs to do to prepare for rapidly developing healthcare technology.

Physiotherapy is changing.

Digital health is no longer something on the horizon; it’s now part of everyday practice.

Electronic medical records, exercise apps, telehealth consultations, artificial intelligence and wearable devices, for example, are now common across many clinics, hospitals and community care.

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A computer-generated conceptual image of technology, featuring an image of a human body with the skeleton displayed x-ray-style, overlaid on computer test, and other technological symbols including graphs and pie charts.

INMOTION 01 Jun, 2026

Working out digital health technology's place in physiotherapy

As digital technologies continue to develop and their use becomes more widespread in healthcare, the ability of physiotherapists to adapt for the future is paramount. Here, based on their popular session at APASC25 in Adelaide last October, Mark Merolli, Leo Ng and Trevor Russell offer insights into the power and potential of digital health technology in clinical practice.

To read their articles, click on the links below:

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An artist's impression of the digital landscape to represent increased uptake of AI.

INMOTION 26 May, 2026

The power of digital technology

Over the course of my career, I have come to see digital technology not as an add-on to physiotherapy, but as a fundamental enabler of high-value care.

My interest began as a business owner. Technology improved communication, streamlined operations and supported more consistent care, creating a better experience for both patients and clinicians.

My work has since focused on developing and evaluating digital health solutions that extend physiotherapy beyond traditional clinic walls.

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INMOTION 26 May, 2026

How should AI be used in physiotherapy?

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ADOPTION Pete Haynes considers the ethical implications of how artificial intelligence may support or undermine best practice.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already entering physiotherapy practice but efficiency alone is not a good enough reason to adopt it.

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INMOTION 29 Apr, 2026

When AI writes software, who builds healthcare?

Healthcare software is increasingly being written by AI. Barry Nguyen looks at what this could mean for physiotherapists.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can now write large amounts of working software. Tools such as Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Replit and Lovable allow developers to describe what they want in plain English and generate functioning applications in minutes.

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Two men are standing on a sports field. They are both wearing the iX Cricket pro watch.

INMOTION 30 Mar, 2026

Finalists showcase innovation at Pitchfest

PHYSIO PITCHFEST While there were only two winners at the 2025 Physiotherapy Research Foundation Physio Pitchfest, held during the APA’s national conference APASC25, the shortlisted finalists were strong contenders. Adam Daniels, whose iX Cricket Sports Watch aims to change the way bowlers measure load, and Julie Sheahan, who has developed an easy-to-use ankle strap for seated leg exercises, talk about their innovations.

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A box labelled AI, surrounded by caution signs

INMOTION 27 Mar, 2026

Informed consent in the age of AI

The APA’s insurance partner BMS and Scott Shelly and Alexander Sheridan of health law firm Barry Nilsson discuss informed consent and physiotherapists’ obligations in the use of AI tools.

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Two women undertaking a reformer pilates class

INMOTION 25 Mar, 2026

Snapshots of the latest research

The April issue answers diverse questions with a consistent answer: physiotherapy delivers meaningful impact when it is accessible, evidence-informed and implemented well. Scientific editor Mark Elkins provides a summary of the content.

Should the abdomen be relaxed or contracted during Pilates exercise for low back pain?

A randomised trial from Brazil tackles a longstanding assumption in Pilates-based rehabilitation: that consciously contracting the abdominal wall during exercise enhances outcomes.

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A woman holds her lower back as if experiencing low back pain.

INMOTION 25 Mar, 2026

Physiotherapists lead public health's virtual program for low back pain

Virtual physiotherapy care may be just as powerful as a hospital bed for non-serious low back pain. At the APASC25 scientific conference in Adelaide, Dr Chathurani Sigera described how the Back@Home program in Sydney is helping patients recover in their own homes.

Low back pain is a condition amenable to conservative, movement-based care led by physiotherapists, yet it continues to be one of the most common and costly reasons Australians present to emergency departments (EDs).

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The image shows a patient about to undergo an imaging scan on his leg. A technician is holding a cover.

INMOTION 25 Feb, 2026

Smoothing the path for referrals

A digital platform that streamlines and speeds up the process of referrals for scans and specialist care won the 2025 Physiotherapy Research Foundation Physio Pitchfest People’s Choice Award at the APASC25 conference last year.

When sports physiotherapist Daniel Patterson APAM worked in pro sport as a young physiotherapist, the multidisciplinary team that surrounded him included medical staff who were always on hand to write prescriptions and referrals for imaging or for specialist care when needed.

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