Brits with back pain will soon be treated by AI physiotherapists
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is set to roll out a partnership with Flok Health, the country's first AI-powered physiotherapy clinic, in an effort to reduce waiting times and alleviate pressure on healthcare providers. Flok's platform, which has been approved as a registered healthcare provider, will offer NHS patients same-day access to automated video appointments with an AI physiotherapist via a smartphone app.
Patients seeking treatment for back pain can be referred to Flok Health through their primary care physician or can self-refer directly to the service. During an initial video assessment, the AI physiotherapist evaluates the patient's symptoms and, if approved for treatment, provides on-demand video appointments, prescribes exercises and pain management techniques and adjusts treatments based on the patient's progress.
For now, Flok has only been authorized to treat back pain, but it's working on clinics for other musculoskeletal conditions. The service will be introduced later this year.
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The need for novel solutions is undeniable, as healthcare systems worldwide are straining under increased demand and limited resources. Services like Flok could be a game-changer, offering scalable yet personalized treatment to a broader population, including people in underserved areas. If successful, AI-powered clinicians could reduce wait times while allowing human professionals to focus on complex cases.
