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Spoiler: it can't. 

A good physio doesn’t just treat a sore knee. We ask: 

● What’s important to you? 

● What are the demands of your life: your work, your sport, your kids? ● How is this injury holding you back from living the life you want? 

That subjective history we take? It’s not just for our notes. It’s our window into your world. Your robot doesn’t care that you need to lift your toddler without wincing or run pain-free for your mental health. But we do. 

Your physiotherapist is also trained to screen for red flags. We can spot signs of serious conditions that AI might overlook. Sometimes, that clinical suspicion can be life-saving. 

And because no two bodies (or injuries) present the same, physiotherapists are experts at recognising patterns, responding to the unexpected, and adapting on the fly. AI might be able to generate a plan for “back pain,” but it doesn’t understand your pain, in your body, on your terms. 

Let's break down the image below…

Looks neat, right? Colour-coded, bullet points, easy exercises. But here's the problems 

➔ Contradictions: “Avoid back bends/extensions – these aggravate your pain” AND “Do the Cat-Cow Stretch (which is... a back bend and extension)” 

So which is it? Your spine is confused, so is your brain, and so is your pain. 

➔ No idea what stage of recovery you’re in. 

➔ No screening for red flags. 

➔ No ability to adapt in real-time when a move feels awful. 

AI can spit out a rehab program but it can't change that program when you come in exhausted, in pain, or feeling anxious about your progress. We modify exercises based on how you’re moving, how you’re feeling, and how your body is responding; right there in the moment. Rehab isn’t a recipe, it must be goal-driven, creative, and entirely tailored to you. 

In addition to this, AI can’t use manual techniques. Hands-on skills in physiotherapy are learned, practised, refined; not downloaded. They require anatomical knowledge, motor control, sensitivity, and a human sense of what feels right. No robot can replicate that. Furthermore, your journey might involve more than just physiotherapy. All based on your unique needs; we collaborate, refer, and advocate to connect you with the right people. Whether that be orthopaedic specialists, psychologists or pain teams. 

Last of all, one of the most powerful tools a physio has isn’t their hands or their brain. It’s their ability to connect. We laugh with you, motivate you, and walk alongside you. We cheer

for your progress and feel your setbacks. You trust us with your pain, both physical and emotional. No app or AI bot can replicate that human connection. 

Until AI learns to say, “just one more rep” and actually mean it or catch your ‘I did the exercises’ lie with one look you'll still need us.