As telemedicine becomes more available across specialties, some people may prefer a video visit to an in-person appointment—even for an injury requiring physical therapy. According to Kate VanDamme, DPT, PT, OCS, Cert. TMM, clinical specialist at NYU Langone’s Sports Performance Center, if you’re able to bear weight, the pain is not extreme, and there is not a malformation of bone as a result of the injury, it is OK to seek a virtual consult first. If you suspect a serious injury, you should consider going to either the nearest emergency department or immediate care facility such as our Samuels Orthopedic Immediate Care Center.

“You’d think the physical part of physical therapy would make it difficult for treatment to occur virtually, but we are good at thinking outside the box and show our clients how to stretch, strengthen, retrain their muscles and sometimes their running patterns properly all virtually,” VanDamme tells Runner’s World.

After an initial evaluation, a physical therapist may recommend continuing with in-person visits if hands-on treatment is necessary or they need to observe you running on a treadmill.

Read more from Runner’s World.