Latest articles
Fresh healthcare insights
GLP-1 and lean mass loss: why you need movement to retain muscle
GLP-1 medications are having a strong and fast impact. Patients are losing weight and in the short term, results are positive. These medications work effectively to promote fast weight loss by curbing appetite, slowing gastric emptying, and improving glycemic control. The possibility of delivering these outcomes without stimulants or surgery represents a significant step forward for obesity treatment. However, employers and insurers need to make sure that GLP-1 drug usage is supported by regular physical activity over a longer time horizon to protect against longer term risk factors. One clinically significant issue in particular often goes unnoticed.
July 24, 2025 • 12 min read
Morgan Hollis, MS, RDN
Affordable healthcare options for employers (that still deliver results)
Healthcare costs continue to rise, squeezing HR budgets while employees expect more support than ever. Many employers feel stuck between doing the right thing for their workforce and controlling costs that spiral year after year. When budgets are tight, the temptation is to cut corners, squeeze premiums, or add cheaper vendors. But “cheaper” health benefits often cost more in the long run. This guide gives you specific implementation advice that will reduce your overall cost base AND improve the health outcomes of your employees. Benefits managers are dealing with a situation that feels like they’re paying more while their employees get less in terms of healthcare outcomes.
July 24, 2025 • 10 min read
Sword Editorial Team
Low impact activities: the easy way to boost your physical and mental health
When you think of exercise, you might picture sweat-dripping, heart-pounding workouts. But the most transformative type of movement? It’s often slower, quieter, and much gentler on your body. Low impact activities are exercises that reduce stress on your joints and muscles, making them ideal for people managing chronic pain, recovering from injury, or simply looking to stay active without overdoing it. They’re also deeply supportive of your mental well-being, helping ease anxiety and boost energy. This type of low intensity movement is also easier to sustain. No sprinting or pressure on the joints. Just movement that anyone can add to their day-to-day routine.
July 22, 2025 • 8 min read
Morgan Hollis, MS, RDN
Sword Move: stay strong, stay moving, skip the pain
Sword Move is designed to help you build strength, lose weight, and prevent injury, all from the comfort of home. Maybe your back tightens up after long hours at your desk. Maybe your knees feel stiff when you’re chasing after the kids. Or maybe you’ve just fallen out of your movement routine, and you’re not sure how to restart safely. Sword Move was built to help you tackle that pain for good and give you a simple regular movement plan to prevent future flare-ups.
July 18, 2025 • 6 min read
Sword Editorial Team
Thrive digital physical therapy: Sword Health’s approach to smarter care
Pain has a way of taking over. It shows up in your routines, your workday, your sleep. It makes you move differently or stop moving altogether. And the longer it lingers, the harder it is to know what to do next. You shouldn't have to put up with it, even if it's too hard to access traditional physical therapy. Sword’s Thrive is for the people who can't schedule a 9-5 appointment and travel to a busy clinic appointment during normal working hours. For the people who’ve been told to wait it out. For the ones who’ve sat through appointments, bounced between referrals, or started physical therapy only to feel forgotten. Thrive gives you a better path.
May 16, 2025 • 5 min read
Sword Editorial Team
Sword's guide to managing MSK pain
Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain can make everyday tasks feel like uphill battles. Whether it's bending down to pick up a child, sitting through a workday, or simply getting a good night’s rest, MSK pain touches nearly every aspect of life. If you're here, you might be one of the millions looking not just for information, but for real solutions that work. You’re not alone and you don’t have to settle for treatments that leave you frustrated or stuck. Thankfully, modern care models are evolving. Sword Health is pioneering a virtual-first, clinically guided approach that empowers people living with MSK pain to recover from the comfort of home. This is your guide to understanding MSK pain, exploring your treatment options, and learning why digital physical therapy might be exactly what your body and your life need right now.
May 15, 2025 • 7 min read
Megan Hill, PT, DPT
The benefits of at-home physical therapy
Over the past decade, healthcare has experienced a meaningful shift. Patients no longer need to wait weeks for appointments, spend hours commuting to clinics, or rearrange their lives to receive expert care. One of the most transformative changes has taken place in musculoskeletal (MSK) care. The rise of at-home digital physical therapy gives people everywhere easier access to expert care with the flexibility to complete their recovery at a time that suits their schedule. This new digital delivery model of care means patients don't need to confront the barriers of traditional in-clinic physical therapy. They can avoid the challenge of scheduling appointments in office hours, racing across town to a busy location, or waiting for a referral and delaying their recovery.
May 15, 2025 • 12 min read
Sword Health Innovation Team
What is physical therapy?
If you’re living with pain, whether it’s in your back, knees, neck, or elsewhere, you’re not alone. Millions of people experience pain that affects how they move, sleep, and live each day. For many, physical therapy is a proven and effective path to feeling better and regaining control. But what is physical therapy, exactly? And how does it work? Physical therapy is a personalized, hands-on approach to improving physical function. It’s guided by licensed professionals who use exercise, education, and movement strategies to help people recover from pain, injury, or limited mobility. Whether you’re healing after surgery or dealing with chronic pain, physical therapy can help you build strength, improve flexibility, and move more confidently again. Let’s walk through what physical therapy really is, who it helps, and how you can access it in person or through a virtual-first solution like Thrive from Sword Health.
May 9, 2025 • 8 min read
Megan Hill, PT, DPT
Orthopedic physical therapy: What it is and how it helps you heal
Muscle, joint, and bone pain are common health concerns that affect millions of people each year. Whether it's lingering discomfort from a sports injury, recovery after surgery, or chronic stiffness that’s crept in over time, these issues often signal an underlying orthopedic condition. For many people, orthopedic physical therapy offers a safe, effective, and evidence-based path to healing. But if you're just starting to explore your options, understanding what this kind of therapy involves, and whether it's right for you, can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks it down clearly, so you can make informed decisions about your health and recovery.
May 9, 2025 • 8 min read
Megan Hill, PT, DPT
The Best Surgery is No Surgery. With Sword Predict, That’s Now Possible.
Healthcare spending in the United States has soared over the past few decades, consistently outpacing inflation and economic growth. In recent years, this trend has accelerated, putting mounting pressure on employers, their employees, and the broader economy. Despite decades of innovation in other industries, healthcare remains an outlier where more technology often means more spending, not less. Meanwhile, health outcomes have not generally improved. Consider obesity rates in America, which have risen consistently over the past 20 years, affecting nearly every age group and demographic. The financial impact on both employers and workers is massive: Annual family health insurance premiums now rival the cost of buying each employee a new car every year ($23,968 annually) Healthcare takes money out of the average family’s paycheck. Wage growth has stagnated as healthcare spending consumes an ever-larger share of compensation In 2023, 38% of U.S. adults said they or a family member skipped or postponed medical care due to cost As Warren Buffett once put it, healthcare has become the “tapeworm of the American economy.” What’s driving this persistent inefficiency? To find the answer, start with inappropriate care — particularly for musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders, which affect 1 in 2 adult Americans. MSK conditions are the leading contributor to healthcare spend and lost productivity. Yet across the U.S., decisions about care are anything but consistent. A person in Dallas is 4x more likely to receive spine surgery than someone in New York Data from Dartmouth Atlas shows massive variation in orthopedic surgery rates by region, with spine surgeries spiking at least 30% higher than the national average in 59 hospital regions across the country According to research conducted by Dr. Vijay Yanamadala, a practicing neurosurgeon and Sword’s chief medical officer, up to 58% of spine surgeries may be unnecessary and avoidable, and may even lead to worse outcomes than no surgery at all One study found that 33% of total knee replacements were unnecessary MSK-related surgeries continue to skyrocket, despite growing evidence from major trials showing that physical therapy is as effective as surgery for many common MSK conditions, including lumbar spinal stenosis, hip osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tears. Knee and hip replacements have more than doubled since 2020, while hip replacements have tripled in the past two decades. Spinal fusions, one of the most common MSK surgical procedures, have risen 60% between 2004 and 2015. In fact, the U.S. performs more spine surgeries per capita than any other country. So why are unnecessary surgeries still so common? Because traditional physical therapy often fails to engage the very people who need it most. Inconvenience, access barriers, and low perceived value all contribute to abysmal adherence rates. Because of these factors, half of all PT patients drop out after just four sessions. At Sword Health, we’ve helped tens of thousands of members avoid surgery and reclaim their lives through Thrive, our flagship MSK-care program. We’re allowing employers, health plans, and individuals to drastically cut their medical spending by making physical therapy the first intervention for chronic pain — not the last. However, when we look at claims data, a clear pattern emerges: Some of the highest-risk individuals aren’t engaging with our interventions that could save them from the financial and physical burden of surgery. We knew there was a critical need for a more proactive way to reach the people most in need of MSK care. How could we reach people before they head down the path toward expensive and invasive interventions like surgery? We needed a more personalized, proactive solution that overcomes barriers, boosts engagement, and maximizes clinical outcomes and cost savings. Enter Predict — our AI-driven triage engine that identifies high-risk members 6 to 8 months in advance of a potential surgery and engages them with concierge-level support to avoid unnecessary surgeries and invasive treatments. Predict is built to: Identify members who are at the greatest clinical risk of needing costly MSK procedures and who stand to benefit most from early, targeted intervention Understand and overcome the engagement barriers unique to this high-risk population Deliver personalized, human-centered outreach to build trust and activate care Predict combines predictive AI with one-to-one human support to help the most vulnerable members get the right care before they end up on the wrong path. The result: much lower MSK costs for employers and health plans, and better outcomes for people suffering from acute and chronic pain.
May 1, 2025 • 7 min read
Sword Editorial Team
Movement and Mental Health: The Science Behind It
It probably comes as no surprise to hear that movement helps with your physical health, but did you know that moving your body can strengthen the mind? Whether it’s through structured exercise or daily activities, movement plays a critical role in maintaining mental wellbeing and stamina. Regular physical activity can decrease the effects of stress, improve mood, and even enhance memory and cognition.
September 20, 2024 • 7 min read
Sword Editorial Team
Study confirms efficacy of AI care model
NEW YORK, August 20, 2024 — A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine confirmed that Sword Health’s AI Care model, which makes world-class, life-changing care accessible anytime, anywhere, can safely and effectively scale clinicians while maintaining patient outcomes, resulting in equally positive results and higher completion rates than the control group. The study found that with the use of AI to complete clerical tasks, support patient monitoring, and aid decision-making on patient progression, Sword’s AI Care model makes it possible to deliver high-quality care to a broader population and has a positive impact on patient engagement and satisfaction, enabling high-quality care. “This study is yet more proof that AI Care is transforming how care is delivered by providing high-quality personalized care that is also cost-effective, creating benefits for members, employers, and clinicians alike,” stated Virgilio “V” Bento, founder and CEO of Sword Health.
August 20, 2024 • 2 min read
Sword Editorial Team
For employers
Workplace health advice
How Digital Physical Therapy Improves Employee Retention
Did you know that fear of pain can be more disabling than pain itself? Chronic pain and employee turnover prevention are critically linked, but with the right MSK benefits coverage, employers can help their team members recover from pain to increase workplace productivity. Nearly 28% of people in the workplace will take leave for MSK pain over the course of a year. Patients who suffer the two most common conditions of low back and neck pain have an average return to work of 7 days. Overall, MSK conditions are responsible for 44 missed work days each year on average.
October 24, 2025 • 6 min read
Sword Editorial Team
How to evaluate and select the best digital MSK vendors
Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders are one of the most expensive and under-addressed cost centers facing U.S. healthcare providers. MSK disorders affect 1 in 2 Americans and cost over $190 billion per year, more than heart disease, cancer, or mental health conditions. For employers and health plans, MSK claims are often among the top 3 cost drivers. And for members, chronic pain reduces quality of life, drives absenteeism, and often leads to costly downstream interventions. That’s why digital MSK solutions have surged in popularity. The promise is compelling: better access, which drives stronger engagement, delivers better outcomes, and therefore lowers overall healthcare costs.
October 24, 2025 • 6 min read
Sword Editorial Team
Reduce MSK costs with more effective digital MSK care plans
You’ve likely seen numerous digital health solutions that promise to lower medical spend. You’ve probably zeroed in on the top conditions with significant digital solutions in the marketplace: musculoskeletal (MSK), mental health, and diabetes. For most companies, prioritizing MSK care over other digital health solutions will drive the biggest benefits for your employees and your bottom line when it comes to savings. Given the multitude of vendors, platforms, and solutions available, prioritization can be a daunting task. How do you choose from among the thousands of digital health tools? What combination of condition focus and solution selection will drive the best outcomes for your population and the biggest return for your business?
October 24, 2025 • 5 min read
Sword Editorial Team
Tackling the #1 driver of employers’ health costs: MSK
The phrase ‘musculoskeletal disorder’ may not ring a bell — but the feeling might. The term refers to any type of pain in the muscles or joints, from chronic pain to injuries to post-surgical pain. Many of us have suffered from a musculoskeletal (MSK) issue at some point in our lives. In fact, one in two Americans is struggling with an MSK condition right now. And it’s causing economic ripples, especially in the workplace.
January 20, 2020 • 6 min read
Sword Editorial Team
Expert guidance
From the experts: Ask a physical therapist
Ask a PT: when is the best time to do my exercises?
Before I joined Sword Health, I worked in brick-and-mortar clinics. I never worked weekends, and rarely worked past 6 pm. My schedule was great...for me. But for my patients, it was a real challenge. Attending a physical therapy appointment might require leaving work early or slipping out at lunch. Even patients with more flexible schedules would sometimes lament about finding childcare or arranging transportation. A thirty-minute appointment could easily take an hour or even 90 minutes once travel was taken into account. When I was in a clinic, the “best” time for a patient to do their exercises was the time that worked for me, not for them. Sword's virtual model gives our members the power to do their exercises when AND where it's most convenient for them. Now that I work remotely for Sword, I’m able to help our members figure out the best time to do their exercises at home. Now, when my members ask me when they should do their exercises, I tell them - the best time is when you’ll actually do them!
February 11, 2021 • 6 min read
Megan Hill, PT, DPT
Ask a PT: Does walking really help with pain?
If you’ve ever stood on the sidelines of a sporting event, you’ve likely witnessed many falls, trips and tackles. Whether the players are small children or professional athletes, the advice from the coach may have simply been to “walk it off.” While that is not always the best solution after an acute injury, walking can be a really effective way to manage chronic pain. Motion is lotion. Movement increases blood flow, which brings nutrients to our tissues. It also helps those that don’t have blood flow, like cartilage. Cartilage lines our joints, absorbing impact. It’s surrounded by a liquid which provides it with nutrients, flowing in and out of it like a sponge. Exercise, like walking, causes loading that fills and squeezes that sponge, particularly in the joints of our legs and spine.
August 13, 2020 • 5 min read
Megan Hill, PT, DPT
Ask a PT: What Is Causing My Shoulder Pain?
When your shoulder hurts, it can be difficult to tell exactly what’s gone wrong. You’ve probably heard of pinched nerves and rotator cuff tears. Perhaps you’ve also heard about shoulders being ‘impinged’ or ‘frozen.’ It’s not easy to keep these various shoulder conditions straight, especially when they all cause similar pain symptoms. The first step towards fixing a problem is identifying it. This article, written by a team of Doctors of Physical Therapy, is designed to help you figure out what’s causing your shoulder pain — so you can begin the process of healing it. We will dive into the five most common causes of shoulder pain and how to differentiate them. Cervical refers to the neck, and radiculopathy is pain that radiates to another body part. Hence, cervical radiculopathy: a pinched nerve in the neck, which can cause radiating pain affecting the shoulder. It occurs when the cervical spine becomes damaged due to sudden injury or degeneration over time, and squeezes or puts pressure on a nearby nerve.
November 1, 2023 • 6 min read
Megan Hill, PT, DPT
Healthcare contributors
Meet Sword's expert authors
Dr. Vijay Yanamadala, MD, MBA, FAANS
Chief Medical Officer at Sword Health
Dr. Fernando Correia, M.D.
SVP Clinical & Regulatory Affairs at Sword Health
Megan Hill, PT, DPT
Director, Clinical Specialists
Morgan Hollis, MS, RDN
Head of Clinical Strategy, Sword Move
Jennesa Atherton
Head of Clinical Affairs, Sword Bloom
Liz Santo
Senior Clinical Program Manager, Sword Bloom ·
