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How Patients Can Use ChatGPT to Support Physical Therapy (But Not Replace It)

At OSO Physical Therapy in Alameda, we’re always exploring new ways to support
our patients throughout their rehab journey. One of the most talked-about tools in the
digital health space right now is ChatGPT, an AI-based platform that helps users find
clear answers to questions about health, wellness, and more.

We understand the curiosity: Can AI help me with my physical therapy? Can I use
ChatGPT to manage pain or recover faster?

The short answer is yes—with some big caveats.

ChatGPT can absolutely support your care by helping you stay informed, engaged, and
empowered between sessions. But it’s not a physical therapist. It doesn't replace the
personalized, hands-on, and deeply human experience that is provided at OSO
Physical Therapy and other patient centered PT clinics.
Let’s walk through how you can use ChatGPT effectively as a patient, where its
limitations lie, and how we, as skilled therapists, are embracing tools like this to better
serve our Alameda community.

How Patients Can Use ChatGPT to Support Their Physical Therapy

1. Understanding Your Diagnosis

You might leave your appointment feeling overwhelmed by terms like rotator cuff
tendinopathy, SI joint dysfunction, or cervical radiculopathy. ChatGPT can help
you review and reinforce what we discussed—breaking things down into plain language
at your own pace.
For example, you might ask ChatGPT:
 “What is shoulder impingement?”
 “Why does sciatica cause pain down the leg?”
 “What causes plantar fasciitis?”
Think of it as a supplement to your therapist’s explanation—not a substitute for it.

2. Clarifying Exercises (But Not Creating Them)

While we’ll always customize and demonstrate your exercises here in the clinic,
ChatGPT can help you learn more about the muscles being targeted, or offer general
insight into how an exercise works.

You might ask:
 “What does a clamshell exercise strengthen?”

 “Why are glute bridges important for low back pain?”

This can help you stay connected to the “why” behind your program. However, we
strongly recommend against asking ChatGPT to create an exercise program—it doesn’t
know your body, history, or progress. It simply can’t see how you are performing these
exercises and the resulting efficacy of them.

3. Staying Accountable and Motivated

Consistency is key to recovery. ChatGPT can offer creative tips for building routines,
creating home exercise spaces, or staying motivated when life gets busy. You can even
ask it for strategies to track progress or work around a busy schedule.
While we’ll always guide your program here at OSO, having a tool like this between
visits can help you feel supported, not stuck.

4. Learning About Lifestyle and Ergonomics

Therapy doesn’t stop at the clinic door. ChatGPT can provide general advice on:
Posture for working from home
Sleep positions for shoulder or back pain
Safe lifting techniques at home or workTips for returning to recreational activity or sport

We often talk about these topics during your care, but having a way to revisit them at
home can deepen your understanding.

What ChatGPT Can’t Do

1. It Can’t Assess or Diagnose

ChatGPT doesn’t watch you walk, test your strength, assess your range of motion, or
feel your joints. It can’t pick up on subtle movement patterns or red flags that we look for
during your evaluation.
If you’re experiencing new or worsening symptoms, ChatGPT isn’t the place to
turn. Contact us directly.

2. It Doesn’t Know You

Here at OSO, we build relationships. We take time to understand your injury, your
lifestyle, your goals, and how your body responds to treatment. That kind of
individualized care can’t be replaced by AI.

ChatGPT may offer a “one-size-fits-most” response. But what you need is a program
tailored to your goals—whether you’re a weekend warrior, a busy parent, a desk
worker, or a retiree looking to stay active.

3. It Can’t Provide Real-Time Feedback

A major part of physical therapy is helping you move better, not just more. We provide
real-time corrections, tactile cues, and expert observation during every session.
ChatGPT can’t see that your knee is collapsing during a squat or that your shoulder is
hiking during a press. But we can—and we’ll help you fix it. There are a million good
exercises out there, but proper execution of them and individual application are often
times far more important than simply picking the best one.

How OSO Physical Therapists Use ChatGPT to Improve Care
We’re not anti-technology. In fact, we believe in using every tool available to support
our patients. Here’s how we’re thoughtfully incorporating tools like ChatGPT into our
work at OSO:

1. Helping Patients Stay Informed

We may use ChatGPT to help create easy-to-understand explanations of complex
diagnoses, or summarize general home tips to reinforce what we’ve discussed in
person. It helps ensure patients leave the clinic with confidence—not confusion.

2. Creating Educational Resources

We use AI to support the creation of patient handouts, blog posts, and
newsletters—like the one you’re reading now. This helps us provide timely, accurate,
and readable information to the Alameda community.

3. Saving Time on Admin, So We Can Spend More Time With You

From drafting summaries to brainstorming patient-friendly education, ChatGPT can help
reduce some of the behind-the-scenes work—so we can spend more of our time
focused on hands-on, high-quality care.

The Bottom Line

ChatGPT can help you stay curious, motivated, and informed—but it’s not your
therapist. It won’t know how your body is healing. It won’t be there when your form starts to slip. It
won’t celebrate with you when you take your first pain-free hike, pick up your kid without
flinching, or return to the sport you love.

At OSO Physical Therapy in Alameda, our goal is to pair the best of clinical expertise
with the right tools—whether that’s manual therapy, targeted strength training,
movement analysis, or AI-powered education. We’re here to guide you every step of the
way, with care that’s as human as it is informed.

So feel free to use ChatGPT as a support tool. But for real recovery, real results, and
real connection—come see us.