Physiotherapy Equipment Market

Market Overview

The global Physiotherapy Equipment Market size was valued at USD 6.93 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 12.35 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.64% during the forecast period (2023–2031). Factors like the rise in the geriatric population, the surge in sports injuries, joint disorders, and sedentary lifestyles, and the increasing frequency of mergers and acquisitions are expected to spur market growth.

Physical therapy or physiotherapy evaluates, diagnoses, and treats physiological defects resulting from abnormal movement or disease. Physiotherapy also involves physical rehabilitation, injury prevention, and techniques that optimize the body's strength, function, mobility, and general health. Physiotherapists are medical specialists with specialized clinical skills who provide individualized physical therapy plans to patients with various diseases, injuries, or disabilities.

Physiotherapists evaluate and diagnose patients' conditions and create a treatment plan that includes an exercise program with the aid of physiotherapy equipment. Common clinical practice areas in physiotherapy include neurology, pediatrics, sports, orthopedics, senior health, women's health, and private practice. Long-term care facilities, private clinics, rehabilitation centers, home care programs, geriatric settings, and acute care facilities utilize physiotherapy devices the most. Physiotherapy devices increase patients' flexibility and mobility, reduce pain, and avoid injury.

Market Dynamics

Global Physiotherapy Equipment Market Drivers:

Rising Geriatric Population and Sedentary Lifestyle 

Physical inactivity has been deemed the most significant public health problem of the 21st century and has been shown to kill more people than diabetes, smoking, and obesity combined. A recent analysis of international data collected by the WHO estimated that 31.1% of adults worldwide are physically inactive. Despite the well-known health advantages of physical activity, more than 50% of men and women aged 65 and above have a sedentary lifestyle.

As the aging population continues to expand, there is a pressing need to expand geriatric programs that address the onset of chronic pain throughout the retirement years. This is a significant consideration as this demographic enters the later stages of life. Thus, the growing geriatric population and rising sedentary lifestyle among people for various reasons contribute to the growth of the global physiotherapy equipment market.

Rising Frequency of Product Launches by Emerging Players 

The majority of global physiotherapy equipment market participants are expanding their consumer base and expanding their product offerings. In February 2018, EMS Physio Ltd. (UK) released the NeuroTrac PelviTone Dual-channel Stimulator, a dual-channel stimulator unit designed for pelvic floor pain alleviation, lack of sensitivity, and pelvic floor exercise.

Technological advances in physiotherapy devices and the rise in competition among existing players have contributed to a considerable surge in product launches. For instance, in August 2021, DJO, a subsidiary of Colfax Corporation and a prominent global supplier of medical technologies to get and keep people moving, introduced EMPOWER Dual Mobility. EMPOWR Dual Mobility is the most recent addition to the EMPOWR Hip portfolio and provides surgeons with a treatment option for a large patient population requiring enhanced joint stability. Thus, the rising number of product launches by prominent players is expected to drive the growth of the global physiotherapy equipment market during the forecast period.

Global Physiotherapy Equipment Market Restraint:

Lack of Reimbursement

The impact of modifications to healthcare insurance policies and coverage significantly affects the financial burden patients bear in terms of out-of-pocket expenses. This may lead to irregular services and impact the quality of health care. Patients are also prone to uninformed hospital visits that reduce yearly and do not fall under the initial diagnosis or severity conditions, leading to variabilities in rehabilitation progress and complications. As a result, most patients face several constraints in receiving therapy under insurance benefits, as out-of-pocket payment is the only option for them to continue receiving services. Thus, variabilities in coverage will hamper the overall market growth during the forecast period.

Global Physiotherapy Equipment Market Opportunities:

Launch of Software Applications to Promote Physiotherapy 

In recent years, smartphone and iPad applications have been adopted among physical therapy patients and professionals. Many inexpensive or free applications provide handy resources such as exercise videos, physiotherapy glossaries, clinical tests, orthopedic diagnosis tools, and 360-degree visual anatomy. Other applications, such as PTGenie, are designed to assist patients with their home exercise programs (HEPs). With printable and emailable exercises, protocols, images, and evaluation forms, these intuitive applications assist clinics in saving time and money while increasing patient compliance.

Healthcare companies are focusing on building applications that will help them reduce the long waiting times for their patients, leading to enhanced patient experience. For instance, in August 2021, Exakt Health launched a free and fully digital physiotherapy application for sports injuries across the UK and EU countries. The company has extended easy access to personalized sports injury treatment. The application adheres to high qualitative and medical standards and has recently been certified as a Software-as-a-Medical Device (SaMD) under the European Medical Device Directive. Thus, the launch of such software applications is expected to create opportunities for market growth.

Regional Analysis

North America Dominates the Global Market

Based on region, the global Physiotherapy Equipment Market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.

North America is the most significant global Physiotherapy Equipment Market shareholder and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.89% over the forecast period. The American Physical Therapy Association undertook a national campaign to increase understanding about the advantages of regular physical activity and encourage Americans of all ages and abilities to embrace active lifestyles. According to HHS, over 80% of adults and adolescents in the country do not meet the physical activity guidelines recommended for their age and ability. People are also consulting physiotherapists to relieve the pain and other treatments. Thus, all these factors contribute to the surge in demand for physiotherapy equipment.

In addition, the surge in the rate of outpatient arthroplasty across North America will propel the demand for home-based physical therapy, and access to such services will be of paramount importance, which will augment the expansion of the regional market during the forecast period. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading reason of mortality in the US, responsible for 840,768 deaths (635,260 cardiac) in 2016. With the prevalence of cardiovascular illnesses in the region, people are increasingly adopting physiotherapy as a treatment, which is expected to drive the regional market's growth.

Europe is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 7.28% over the forecast period. In Europe, 1.5 million individuals are affected by strokes yearly, costing the region's countries more than EUR 60 billion annually. Although there has been a decline in global stroke incidence, the prevalence rate has been high among young adults in European countries, which has propelled the need for strategies to improve prevention. With the rise in life expectancy in the region, there has been a considerable surge in stroke events, long-term sequelae, and related costs are expected to increase dramatically. Therefore, the growing risk of stroke in the region is accelerating the demand for physiotherapy services and equipment. In addition, CVD contributes 45% of all deaths in Europe and 37% in the EU. In 2040, 155 million Europeans will be in the above-65 age group. The incidence of CVDs is expected to rise sharply as the population in the area ages, which will boost demand for physiotherapy tools and supplies.

In Asia-Pacific, insufficient physical activity is a prominent risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, leading to other ailments, such as chronic pain. Low back pain has emerged as a global problem, contributing to the highest number of years of disability among all musculoskeletal conditions. Factors like low levels of physical activity, a sedentary lifestyle, and back pain are related and create a vicious cycle. Prolonged inactivity can increase back pain because the back becomes stiff and weak, which forces patients to forego physical activity. Thus, the lack of physical activity increases back pain, and the cycle continues. Physiotherapy has also emerged as the most effective treatment for acute pain, enabling many regional patients to avoid surgical interventions.

In recent decades, several initiatives have been undertaken by various governments in Latin America to improve healthcare and offer better protection against infectious diseases. However, aging and population growth have surged the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, soaring mortality, and disability because of stroke and cardiovascular diseases. According to the WHO, about 25% of all annual deaths in Latin America are attributable to cardiovascular diseases. In addition, cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and tobacco use, are highly prevalent in Latin America and contribute to three-fourths of CVD cases. Such factors propel the demand for physiotherapy, especially exercise therapy, fueling the adoption of physiotherapy equipment or equipment in Latin America.

Segmental Analysis

The global Physiotherapy Equipment Market is bifurcated into type, applications, and end-users.

Based on type, the global Physiotherapy Equipment Market is segmented into ultrasound therapy equipment, electrotherapy equipment, laser therapy equipment, exercise therapy equipment, traction therapy equipment, combination therapy equipment, CP motion equipment, shockwave equipment, hot and cold therapy equipment, and other equipment segments. 

The ultrasound therapy equipment segment is the highest contributor to the market and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.84% throughout the forecast period. Ultrasound therapy, or therapeutic ultrasound, is a treatment tool physical and occupational therapists use. Therapeutic ultrasound is often utilized for treating chronic pain and stimulating tissue healing. Professionals and physiotherapists use a therapeutic ultrasound device to treat painful conditions and promote tissue healing. In addition, ultrasound therapy employs sound waves above the human hearing range to treat injuries such as muscle strains or runner's knees. Ultrasound therapy is frequently used to treat hip, knee, and shoulder pain and is often linked with other therapeutic modalities.

Laser therapy includes the application of low-intensity laser light to lessen the pain caused due to the damage to soft tissue. The therapy accelerates tissue repair and helps restore normal cell function. Several physiotherapists use laser therapy to heal wounds and offer pain relief. The light level in these devices is relatively lower than in other forms of laser therapies used to destroy tumors and coagulate tissues.

Based on application, the global Physiotherapy Equipment Market is segmented into cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, neurological, and other applications. 

The cardiorespiratory segment is the largest contributor to the market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.86% throughout the forecast period. Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy is a clinical practice area that entails compensating, preventing, and rehabilitating patients with cardiac and pulmonary injuries and diseases. Some common symptoms of these conditions include shortness of breath, reduced ability to exercise, or persistent cough. Furthermore, cardiorespiratory physiotherapy is used to treat patients with chronic respiratory conditions like cystic fibrosis. It may also benefit children with acute respiratory illness following surgery, especially in intensive care unit ventilation cases.

A lack of physical activity has been significantly linked to the development and aggravation of musculoskeletal discomforts. As per WHO approximates, more than 80% of the population is estimated to suffer from musculoskeletal disorders during their lifetime. Musculoskeletal disorders like lower back pain are the most common reasons patients visit physiotherapists.

Based on end-users, the global Physiotherapy Equipment Market is bifurcated into physiotherapy clinics, hospitals, and home care settings. 

The physiotherapy clinics segment dominates the global market and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.99% during the forecast period. Globally, there has been a considerable increase in the number of new, advanced, and established private physiotherapy clinics or rehab centers that provide care and therapy for patients with acute or chronic musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiothoracic conditions. Most extensive equipment used for physical therapy is available in physiotherapy clinics. With the exponential advances in technology and medical science, a broad range of tools is required to make treatments readily available in clinics.

Globally, physiotherapists frequently serve in acute hospital wards and intensive care units. Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy focuses on managing acute and chronic respiratory conditions and seeks to enhance physical recovery after a serious illness. With people's extremely chaotic lives, physiotherapy's role in managing stress and other lifestyle-related disorders like anxiety, headaches, neck pain, back pains, obesity, etc., becomes even more noticeable. Physiotherapy treatments are provided using various types of equipment. The right type of physiotherapy equipment plays a significant role in optimizing recovery and letting a person stay healthy for a long time.

Recent Developments

• May 2023- Startoon Laboratories received US FDA (510 K Exempt) clearance for its wearable device, PHEEZEE. Pheezee is useful for assessing joint health during physiotherapy following musculoskeletal, neurological, and spinal cord injuries and neuropathologies such as paralysis, hemiplegia, paraplegia, muscular dystrophy, etc.
• May 2023- SynPhNe, based in Singapore, collaborated with Indegene, a life sciences commercialization company, to launch its Synergistic Physio-Neuro Platform.