AI Physiotherapist Now Available in the UK – But Can It Fix My Back?
Can AI Really Treat Back Pain? The UK’s First AI Physio Clinic Thinks So
Back pain is one of the most common and debilitating health issues worldwide, yet millions struggle to access timely treatment. Now, an AI-powered physiotherapy service in the UK is aiming to change that.
When I injured my back in late 2024—possibly from lifting my nephew or moving heavy furniture—I didn’t think much of it. But soon, sharp pain radiated down my leg, making sitting unbearable. By the time I got a diagnosis of lumbar radiculopathy and started physical therapy months later, I realized just how long the wait for proper care can be.
Traditional physiotherapy has been my saving grace—human therapists providing hands-on treatment and guided exercises. But what if technology could bridge the gap for those stuck on waitlists?
Enter Flok Health, the first AI-powered physiotherapy clinic to be trialed by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). Approved by the Care Quality Commission, it launched in late 2024, offering immediate, app-based treatment to patients. Instead of waiting months, users can begin therapy instantly through AI-assisted video sessions designed by real physiotherapists.
With over 350,000 people in England waiting for musculoskeletal treatment as of 2024—and back pain costing the UK economy millions in lost workdays—Flok’s mission is ambitious: to ease the NHS burden and provide faster relief for patients.
But can AI truly replace in-person physiotherapy? Is it just a stopgap, or could it revolutionize how we treat chronic pain? I decided to find out.
Can AI Physio Replace Human Care? Meet the Team Behind the UK’s First AI-Powered Clinic
For many, back pain is a frustrating, drawn-out battle—long wait times, limited appointments, and few affordable treatment options. But what if AI could change that?
Dr. Finn Stevenson, now CEO of Flok Health, knows this struggle firsthand. Before co-founding the UK’s first AI-driven physiotherapy clinic, Stevenson was a professional rower in Great Britain’s Olympic development program. Rowing is an intense sport—great for fitness but brutal on the back if technique isn’t perfect. As an athlete, Stevenson had immediate access to world-class physiotherapists. But once he retired from professional rowing, he experienced the harsh reality of the healthcare system.
“It was a real shock,” says Stevenson. “I had an academic background, years of professional physio, and still struggled to get care. If it was hard for me, imagine how difficult it is for everyone else.”
That realization led him to team up with Ric da Silva, an expert in medical robotics, to create Flok Health. Their goal? To make physiotherapy accessible to those who don’t need surgery or hands-on treatment—just guidance, consistency, and the right exercises.
How AI Powers Flok’s Virtual Physiotherapy
When I first open Flok, I meet Kirsty—my virtual physiotherapist. She appears on my screen in a sleek, minimalist setting, dressed in workout gear, seated on a bamboo-colored mat. But unlike a live video call, Kirsty isn’t interacting with me in real-time. Instead, she’s an AI-driven system, responding to my multiple-choice answers with tailored pre-recorded videos.
The AI behind Flok doesn’t generate new responses like ChatGPT. Instead, it follows a structured “choose-your-own-adventure” approach, offering over a billion possible intervention combinations based on a user’s condition. This prevents the risks associated with generative AI in medicine—like AI “hallucinating” incorrect treatments.
“It’s a perfect software problem,” Stevenson explains. “We know what needs to be delivered, and AI allows us to do it at scale.”
By handling simpler cases with AI-powered guidance, Flok aims to free up real physiotherapists for patients who require complex, hands-on care. With growing NHS waitlists and back pain affecting millions worldwide, could this be the future of physiotherapy?
AI Physiotherapy Expands Across the UK – But Can It Fully Replace Human Care?
The future of physiotherapy is changing fast, and Flok Health is leading the way. After launching in Scotland last year, the UK’s first AI-powered physio clinic is expanding into England. Within the next 12 months, CEO Finn Stevenson hopes to have Flok available in half of the UK, offering treatment for hip and knee osteoarthritis and women’s pelvic health alongside back pain.
But Flok isn’t the only player in the AI physiotherapy space. The AI-powered app selfBACK has been undergoing clinical trials in the US to help manage lower back and neck pain. It operates on a similar principle—analyzing past patient data to create personalized exercise plans. Early studies show that it can help reduce pain, but adoption rates have been slow, with many users barely engaging with the app. Experts suggest that AI tools like selfBACK and Flok should supplement, rather than replace, traditional physiotherapy.
The AI Debate: Revolution or Risk in Healthcare?
AI’s role in healthcare is a hot topic, with some experts questioning whether AI-powered treatments undergo the same rigorous testing as traditional medical interventions. Elizabeth Stuart, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, emphasizes that AI tools need thorough evaluation. “We need to assess how well they work, who they work for, and whether they evolve in unpredictable ways,” she explains. Unlike flu vaccines, which are updated annually through strict review processes, AI tools can change dynamically—sometimes in ways that aren’t entirely transparent.
Pranav Rajpurkar, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, believes AI has the potential to triage care effectively but warns against forcing direct collaboration between AI and clinicians. “When doctors and AI analyze cases side by side, accuracy often barely improves,” he notes. Instead, successful AI systems will be those that “redistribute clinical work to make healthcare more efficient and patient-focused.”
Can AI Really Replace a Human Physiotherapist?
In my first session with Flok, I was introduced to Kirsty—my AI physiotherapist. Through a series of pre-recorded videos, she assessed my pain and prescribed stretches for the week. But unlike a human therapist, she couldn’t watch my movements in real time or correct my posture. If I needed adjustments, I had to rely on my own awareness—or leave a voice note for a human physio to review later.
After several sessions, I felt some improvement, but I quickly realized Flok wasn’t the right fit for me. I need someone physically present to ensure I’m performing exercises correctly. While AI physio has potential, it still lacks the real-time feedback and hands-on guidance that many patients—especially those prone to incorrect movements—need.
The real question isn’t whether AI will replace human physiotherapists, but how it will integrate into healthcare to provide faster, more accessible treatment for those who need it most.