Digital health and telehealth

The image depicts several heads in silhouette, with dotted arrows looping around from individual mouths to other peoples' brains.
INMOTION 01 Jul, 2026

Pain and the power of narrative storytelling

Pain researcher Dr Felicity Braithwaite is interested in the power of storytelling to influence people’s beliefs about pain.

For many people with osteoarthritis (OA), their beliefs about their condition and the way they manage it are strongly influenced by myths and misconceptions about OA, such as ‘exercise makes it worse’, ‘the pain is caused by wear and tear in the joint’ or ‘I need a joint replacement because my knee joint is bone on bone’. 

A creative image that suggests a depiction of technological advancements in healthcare.
INMOTION 24 Jun, 2026

Virtual clinic manages spinal fractures at home

When the Spinal Virtual Clinic run out of Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia first opened, it managed a handful of patients annually. Fast-forward a decade and the clinic now oversees more than 1000 patients each year, with physiotherapy at the forefront.

For many patients with minor spinal fractures, recovery is less about intervention and more about time. 

Two hands, one human, one robotic, hold up puzzle pieces to each other.
INMOTION 01 Jun, 2026

Accountability in the age of information

Professor Trevor Russell explores ethics, clinical risk and consent in digital physiotherapy practice.

The integration of digital technologies into physiotherapy practice is accelerating rapidly. 

Artificial intelligence (AI), wearable sensors, telehealth platforms and automated clinical tools are no longer emerging concepts. 

Rather, they are increasingly embedded within everyday care. 

The image depicts a man holding up a hand to touch the hand of a digital representation of a man.
INMOTION 01 Jun, 2026

Digital health, data and the human touch

Professor Leo Ng contemplates the future of physiotherapy and the role of digital advancement as an extension of physiotherapists’ capabilities.

Australia’s physiotherapy profession stands at a crossroads. 

As healthcare systems grapple with persistent workforce shortages, staff burnout and growing skills gaps, the question is no longer whether technology will reshape our profession but how we adapt to harness its potential while preserving what makes physiotherapy fundamentally human-centred care. 

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. 

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: 

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. 

A woman holding a tablet.
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. 

A robot typing on a computer
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. 

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.