The Future of Physiotherapy

When his mother suffered a stroke, Vijay Karunakaran realised that the toughest phase was not inside the hospital but after discharge. The lack of structured, affordable and continuous rehabilitation highlighted the absence of organised after-care. That personal struggle became the seed for Rewin Health, a Chennai-based clinic started in 2021. Today, it is building what it calls India’s first full-stack digital therapeutics platform.

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REWIN HEALTH TARGETS A vast unmet need in In­dia’s healthcare system, where recovery after stroke, surgery or injury often gets derailed because patients stop therapy midway. Vijay, who once served as a di­rector at Intel and advises the Tamil Nadu government, said the gap is striking particularly outside metros. “We have excellent hospitals and doctors, but once the patient leaves the hospital, continuing care is missing in India. Most people do not get to complete even 10 sessions of therapy. Globally, the average is more than 40 sessions. That is the gap we are trying to bridge,” pointed out Vijay. Post his mother’s surgery, Vijay was left to figure out what kind of exercises had to be done, how often and whether they were even effective. That was when he took the technological recourse.

GAMIFIED, AI-DRIVEN REHAB
Rewin’s Health uses gamified virtual reality exercises and AI-based motion sensors to deliver rehabilitation at home or in clinics. Patients wear sensors that track every movement and the software guides them through exercises that feel more like games. The use of AI also allows the programme to adapt to a patient’s specific needs, gradually increasing difficul­ty as strength and mobility return. Early pilots show that recovery timelines shorten significantly when therapy is consistent. “We have seen pa­tients who might take a year to regain mobility recovering in three to four months when they stick to the programme,” pointed out Vijay.

INTEGRATED SOLUTION…
Rewin positions itself as an end-to-end so­lution: assessment, therapy delivery, monitoring and progress reporting. It works directly with around 150 doctors and thera­pists and indirectly through hospitals and networks it touches nearly 500 healthcare professionals across India. These collaborations are central to building standardised rehabilitation practices. “We cannot do this without the doctors. They are the ones who pre­scribe and guide, and our role is to ensure their patients get consistent care at scale,” explained Vijay.

KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR SCALABLE SOLUTIONS
The company is also focusing on building a strong database of rehabilitation outcomes. By digitising every session and movement, it creates valuable in­sights. This data-driven approach, Vijay believes, will not only help patients but also contribute to medical research in India. “We are not just treating patients, we are building a knowledge base that can shape how rehabilitation is practised in the future,” he said. As of now rehabilitation is not formally recognised within healthcare policy. Inclusion under insurance schemes and government programmes would ensure more patients complete their recovery. “If recovery can be measured and outcomes can be assured, then rehabili­tation becomes something insurers and even public health systems can cover. That would transform ac­cess,” highlighted Vijay.

Rewin healthcare has just begun generating revenue. Its current turnover is about Rs 5 crore. By 2030, the target is to touch Rs 300 crore supported by part­nerships, product diversification and geographical expansion. To achieve this, Rewin Health is preparing for the capital market. The plan is to explore an SME IPO route before 2030.

Rewin is looking to expand into more therapeutic areas including orthopaedic rehabilitation, post-surgical recovery and even preventive fitness. But the top priority is affordability which is ensured through subscription models and partnerships with hospitals to reduce costs for patients. “Access should not be lim­ited to those who can pay high fees. Every family that goes through this deserves better. We want to make sure no one is left alone after hospital discharge,” em­phasised Vijay.

FREELANCE ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE
One of Rewin’s most recent programmes is a freelance entrepreneurship model for rehabilitation providers. Under this scheme, individuals can set up their own re­habilitation centres with Rewin’s technology platform. They invest a small amount, while the government offers partial support, and banks provide easy EMI-based loans. Vijay believes this will create a new class of entrepreneurs in smaller towns. “If a young profes­sional in a tier-2 city wants to start a clinic, we make it possible.” This initiative is expected to increase reach and create jobs, while also addressing India’s shortage of trained therapists.

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