Frequently Asked Questions

So you’ve downloaded the ROMBOT app…now what? Please read below for our frequently asked questions.

ABOUT US

What is ROMBOT, exactly?

ROMBOT is a health-technology company that connects people with physical therapists. We are one of the few platforms for telehealth PT (also called, “telerehabilitation”) that also includes your home-exercise program and easy messaging with your PT directly in our app. Nowhere else can you find such quick and easy access to a physical therapist.

How did ROMBOT start?

ROMBOT started as a hardware company, making smart braces for people who were recovering from surgery. While creating these products, we realized there was a great demand for patients to connect to physical therapists through digital means. We began shifting to build our Movement Marketplace to facilitate this process and are now able to offer telehealth physical therapy services to people all across the country.

How does it work?

Our platform is for anyone who wants to take charge of their physical health. Whether you want to prevent injuries or are currently in pain, we can help.

The process goes as follows:

Make an appointment with one of our PTs through the ROMBOT app or on our website.
Fill out a few forms so our PTs have more information about you.
Join a video call at your scheduled time to chat with your PT. During this session, your PT will evaluate your range of motion and overall movement. Using this information, your PT will make recommendations for future steps:

a. Prescribed exercises will appear in the app.

b. Schedule follow-up visits in the app to complete your course of care.

Is ROMBOT right for me?

ROMBOT is great for anyone who has concerns about their physical health. Whether you are having a specific problem that is getting in the way of activities you would like to do, or you want to improve your health to prevent future injuries, we can help.

Unfortunately ROMBOT is not the best fit for everyone, and our PTs are quick to recognize this and can help identify other options. You might not be a great fit if:

You only want in-person physical therapy treatment
You have severe balance problems
You need physical therapy for skin problems (wound care)
You need immediate/emergency care

What are the braces I see on your website?

ROMBOT started as a hardware company developing braces to help people recover from injuries and manage pain. We have a selection of braces and hardware that could benefit anyone. If you are interested in purchasing hardware for a specific issue, consider setting up an appointment with a ROMBOT PT to ensure proper use and fit.

Can this be a substitute for traditional face-to-face physical therapy?

In many cases, yes! There are many ailments or injuries that can be handled via telehealth, however there are instances that require in-person physical therapy. Our PTs will always work with you to determine the best plan to help you reach your goals.

How do I schedule an appointment?

You can do this in one of two ways:

Download the app and select the tile that says “Take the first step to pain free movement.” From here you can schedule your assessment select a time with a ROMBOT physical therapist in your area.
Visit our website www.rombot.com/book and book an appointment there. a. If you schedule an appointment this way, make sure to download our app before your appointment! This will make it much easier for your PT to prescribe you exercises after your session.

ROMBOT PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

Who will be working with me?

You will schedule an appointment with a licensed, trained, and experienced physical therapist. Most of our PTs have either a Master’s or Doctorate degree (MSPT or DPT). Each therapist has the endorsement of their state board after rigorous education, training, and examinations.

Who are our PTs?

Most of our PTs have either a Master’s or Doctorate degree. All of our PTs specialize in treating orthopedic conditions, with varying specialities within orthopedics. You can browse PTs licensed in your state to find one with the experience or specialization you prefer.

The app says there are no licensed physical therapists in my area. What now?

We are in the process of bringing more PTs to our platform with the goal of having at least one PT in each state. If we do not have a licensed PT in your state yet, please contact us at help@rombot.com and we will inform you as soon as we do.

TELEHEALTH

What is telerehabilitation?

Telerehabilitation (telerehab) is simply the use of a digital platform to deliver physical, occupational, or speech therapy. At ROMBOT, it is used to help with joint and muscle pain, stiffness, weakness, etc. We only use physical therapists to evaluate and treat movers. In simpler terms, you work with your physical therapist online instead of in a clinic.

I thought physical therapy required in-person treatment. How can it be done online?

Traditionally physical therapy was practiced in-person and often in a clinic, but the profession has progressed from this view, especially in light of social-distancing requirements due to COVID-19. The most current research on physical therapy techniques supports active patient involvement (i.e. exercise) over hands-on treatment. When undergoing treatment through telerehab, the focus is on exercise-based treatments.

Through telerehab, a physical therapist can watch you perform many different movements to get an idea of where you are having problems. From this movement assessment, PTs can prescribe exercises, activities, and/or hands-on techniques for you to perform on your own at home.

This provides you with more control over your own progress and helps you independently manage your symptoms. At ROMBOT we are finding this is at least as, if not more, effective at reducing pain and symptoms.

Check out these studies on exercise, telerehab, and pain: Telehealth and pain/strength Telehealth and knee pain Strength training and musculoskeletal health Telehealth and low back pain

Will I see an actual person?

Yes! If you schedule an appointment with a physical therapist, you will see that PT through a real-time video call.

How does digital physical therapy compare to traditional, in-person PT?

In recent years, more studies have determined that the most effective treatment for people who have problems with their joints and muscles is treatment that involves active patient participation (i.e. exercise). Telehealth PT is just as effective as in-person PT for most patients. Of course, there are some patients that do require hands-on treatment. Your physical therapist will determine if telehealth is the appropriate method of treatment for you.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of telerehab?

Advantages:

✅ It works: outcomes are similar to traditional PT

✅ Individualized treatment: No more working with a distracted PT who’s also working with other patients

✅ More time to talk one-on-one with your PT

✅ You can get care from anywhere: telehealth appointments provide movers with flexibility

✅ Access to any PT who is licensed in your state

✅ Gives you more control in your recovery

Disadvantages:

✖ No hands-on treatment

✖ Inability to use certain (but not all) assessment techniques to help diagnose you

Can anyone use telerehab?

While the vast majority of people in need of physical therapy can benefit from doing at least a portion of it online, there are some diagnoses that cannot be treated digitally. Currently, we cannot work with people who are seeking treatment for the following conditions:

Lymphedema,
Burns,
Open Wounds, or
Cystic fibrosis.

Also, we cannot treat people with severe pulmonary or cardiac conditions, or more severe balance issues.

Fortunately, all of these conditions can be treated by an in-person PT, and we can help you to find one in your area.

How can a PT evaluate my progress when they don't see me in person?

There are many different ways to your PT can remotely monitor progress throughout your care, including:

Observing specific movements on camera
Movement-based strength assessment
Range of motion and mobility tests
Exercise program performance in our app
Discussion about your goals and concurrent development of specific measurable steps to achieve goals

What if I don’t get better with online treatment?

All physical therapists commit to a code of conduct that requires a referral to a physician if patients do not show improvement after a number of visits. Just as an in-person PT would watch your progress and refer you to someone else if you don’t improve, our PTs are held to the same expectation if you aren’t improving. They will also refer you if they feel you would benefit significantly from hands-on treatment. Depending on your location, it’s possible you may be able to see your Rombot PT in-person.

WHAT TO EXPECT

What you can expect from your ROMBOT PT:

Kindness
Compassion
Excellence
Innovation
Timeliness: we know that everyone’s time is valuable
Expertise

What is expected of me when working with a Rombot PT?

There are several expectations:

Preparation:

Show up on time to any scheduled appointments. If you must cancel an appointment, please do so with at least 24 hours notice.
Come to each appointment ready to move around!
Come to your first appointment prepared with questions. PTs are experts in movement, and love helping you understand the whys behind your pain or discomfort.

Commitment:

Perform the exercises given to you by your PT on your own at home. We’ve designed the ROMBOT App to help you keep track of your exercises.

Honesty:

Be honest with your physical therapist. If you don’t like a particular exercise or feel that your program is too overwhelming (or too easy), you must tell your PT. They can work with you to find what works best for you.

Positivity:

Come to every session with a positive attitude.Studies show that a positive outlook improves outcomes for patients undergoing physical therapy treatment. Positive attitude improves effectiveness of physical therapy.

We ask for no commitment other than coming to your initial physical therapy appointment with an open mind. During the 45 minute assessment, your PT will ask you questions about your symptoms and analyze your movement. After this session you are not required to continue with treatment, however your PT will recommend a treatment plan outlining how frequently sessions should occur and what exercises you should perform to help you achieve your goals.

What can I expect once I’ve scheduled an appointment with a PT?

After you've successfully scheduled your assessment appointment:

📃 Complete additional forms in the ROMBOT App These forms ask for information about your medical and surgical history, medications, and limitations you are experiencing. ❗ This step is extremely important! It gives your PT more insight into you, improves their ability to diagnose and treat you more effectively.
Join a zoom call on the day of your appointment You will receive confirmation and reminder emails that include a link to join the video session with your PT.

YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT

Do I need any special equipment before or during my first appointment?

All you need is:

A stable internet connection
A computer/smartphone/tablet with camera capability so your PT can see and assess you
Some space to move around while your PT assesses you
Comfortable clothing that you can move around in

What happens during an initial assessment with a PT?

You will talk with your PT about your symptoms and answer a few questions.
Your PT will have you perform a few movements so they can get a better idea of what’s going on. Make sure you come prepared to move around - you may need to move your camera around as well (your PT will help you position it).
After the assessment, any exercises your PT prescribed will show up in the app. You can find these under either the Dashboard or Exercise tab near the bottom of the screen.

FOLLOW-UP VISITS

Will I always work with the same PT?

Yes, you will continue to see the same PT throughout your plan of care. However, if you don’t feel that this PT is a good fit , you can always change PTs by contacting: help@rombot.com.

Do I need special equipment for treatment?

For the initial assessment all you need is access to a computer/smartphone/tablet and a stable internet connection. Once you begin your treatment plan you may need some simple equipment such as an exercise band, a ball, or weights. ROMBOT PTs are pretty creative and may ask you to improvise with some household items. Ultimately, you can work with your PT to develop a plan that works best for you.

How will my PT communicate with me once the first session is over?

After the first session, you can communicate with your PT through our in-app chat. If follow-up visits are necessary you can schedule them using the app.

I’m having pain with some of my exercises. How do I tell my PT?

While you’re doing the exercise(s) that is giving you pain, select the flag in the lower left corner in the app. This will give you the opportunity to document your pain (and rate how much pain). This message will go directly to your PT.

Is there a limit to how many sessions I can have with my PT?

No. You can continue with as many sessions as your PT feels is necessary. Normally, if using insurance, physical therapy sessions are limited by how many have been approved by your insurance company. Because ROMBOT is not currently contracted with any insurance company, this limit does not exist.

Can I use a combination of in-person and digital PT?

Absolutely! Oftentimes this is a great combination because you can get the best of both worlds. If you would like to do this make sure you talk with your ROMBOT PT first so that your care team is in communication to help you reach your goals.

Can I cancel an appointment?

You can cancel an appointment at any time, however if you cancel less than 24 hours before your appointment you will only be refunded 50% of the cost. You can go about cancelling your appointment by selecting "My Appointments" from the top left menu button in the app.

PRICING

How much does it cost?

Currently one initial 45 minute session with a PT is $49. Our standard price is $69.

When do I pay for visits?

We request payment upfront during the booking process in the app or on our website.

What payment methods can I use?

We accept all major credit cards securely using Square. We accept Flexible Spending or Health Savings Account credit cards as well.

Can I use my insurance?

At this time ROMBOT is not contracted with any insurance company. This means that you can either pay 100% out of pocket, or you can ask your PT to provide you with a superbill.

A superbill is an itemized list of services provided. With a superbill you can submit the cost of physical therapy from ROMBOT to your insurance company for reimbursement. If you choose this method, you will pay 100% of the cost up front.

You are responsible for all payment to ROMBOT, any other negotiation of reimbursement is purely between you and your insurance company.

Will I get a refund if I cancel my appointment?

You will be refunded 100% of the appointment cost if you cancel with more than 24 hours notice, and 50% of the appointment cost if you cancel with less than 24 hours notice.

ROMBOT APP

I just downloaded the app. When can I see a PT?

This depends on the availability of the PTs that are licensed in your particular state, however most people are able to see a PT within 24-36 hours. Each PT sets their own schedule, you can see available appointments in the app! At this time we do not support appointment booking sooner than 24 hours in advance.

What else can I use the app for besides scheduling an appointment with a PT?

Once you have been assessed by a PT, your prescribed exercises will show in the app. You can then use it to track how frequently you’ve done your exercises and how that correlates to your pain levels.

You can also use the ROMBOT app to go through several of our basic exercise programs without seeing a PT.

Can I use the app without making an appointment with a PT?

Yes! We have several basic exercise programs available for you to use without scheduling an appointment.

Why do I keep seeing “Find a PT” when going through exercises on the app?

If you are experiencing high pain levels while using our basic exercise programs, we encourage you to book an assessment from a PT to ensure that you are performing the exercise correctly.

I had to reset my password, but never got an email. What do I do?

Make sure to check your junk/spam folder(s). If you still can’t find it, email: help@rombot.com.

When going through an exercise program, I noted that I was experiencing pain, and now the app won’t let me continue. Why?

We don’t want you to continue exercising beyond a certain pain level. Once you hit this level, you are encouraged to stop the exercise program and schedule a visit with one of our PTs.

Can I integrate the ROMBOT app with anything on my phone?

Yes. Currently you can integrate with Apple HealthKit. You can do this by selecting the menu button on the top left while in the app. Then select Settings > Privacy & Security, and turn on Apple Healthkit.

I have encountered a bug in the app. What do I do?

You can report the bug to us by shaking your phone while in the app or taking a screenshot while in the app: this will alert our team to the issue you are experiencing. This is also a great way to give us feedback—we are always looking for ways to improve!