Clinical validation is a crucial part of developing and proving the value of new healthcare solutions, but not all studies are created equal. Clinical trials sometimes get a bad rap, and for good reason - it can be hard to understand their nuances. As a clinician, I’ve been trained to read and understand clinical studies, which makes it easier to distinguish good from bad. Here are a few tips to help you weigh the importance of a study in your decision-making.

Ask: ‘what is this study trying to prove?’

Every clinical study is designed to prove something. But they take a long time to prepare and run, and they’re often expensive, so some researchers design their studies to guarantee results. Make sure the goal of the study is clear, that it addresses the right questions and that the outcomes make sense in the real world. If this is not clear, the study designer or the company funding the study should at least be able to tell you why they made the decisions they made and declare any biases. As an example, in our clinical studies on hip and knee replacement, here is how we stated the aim of the study:

"This study was designed to compare the clinical outcomes of a [digital] home-based program against conventional home-based rehabilitation after total knee replacement (...). We hypothesize that the clinical outcomes of such a program will be at least similar to those of conventional rehabilitation".

This means that we had a hypothesis that SWORD’s program would perform just as well as traditional PT. It ended up performing 30% better!

Look for randomized trials with a control group (RCTs)

The quality of a study depends on its design. In the digital health field, you’ll mainly find two types of studies: observational and experimental. Observational studies follow real patients over time. Some observational studies have a control group, others don’t. While they are very useful for broad, directional feedback, there are many variables that can confound the results (especially if they have no control group) - So, be wary of evidence coming only from these types of studies. Experimental studies, sometimes called Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), take the top spot in the hierarchy of scientific evidence. They compare the effects of an intervention with a control group, with random allocation of participants to reduce the chance of bias.

Make sure the control group received active treatment

Not all RCTs are of the same quality. An active control group, where you are comparing a proven treatment to the new one (for example, in-person physical therapy), is much better than comparing an intervention against a partial treatment (for example, just education without exercise) or no treatment at all. At SWORD, our clinical studies are designed to understand how our solution compares with the gold standard in physical therapy, so our clinical trials are always RCTs, our treatment group receives the full SWORD treatment and our control group performs intensive, one-on-one physical therapy - three one-hour sessions per week.

Make sure the study is published in a credible journal

Unfortunately, there are a lot of journals that have a fraudulent or non-existent peer review process. Look for well-established journals with high relevance in the field, as these offer more guarantees of an independent and thorough peer-review process. It is not easy to check the credibility of a journal, but a relatively quick ways is to using this site to see where the journal sits relative to other journals in that field. The simplest way to tell the quality of the journal is to look at what quartile it’s in (indicated by a colored square and the letter Q). The highest-quality journals have a green square labeled Q1 - this means they’re in the top 25% of all publications in their space. For example, Nature Scientific Reports, where we have published the results of our knee replacement study, is in the top quartile (Q1) in its category.

Do the results matter?

Back to square 1. Every clinical study wants to prove something. But proving it does not mean that it matters clinically. Many studies claim that a group of patients has improved from baseline by [x], or that there was [y] difference between the two groups. However, this difference may not actually mean anything in the real world. Statistics can be deceptive. For example, in our knee replacement study, we found a 4.9 second difference in a functional test of the lower limbs (called Timed Up and Go) between the SWORD group and the conventional PT group, favoring our group. Is this clinically meaningful? Yes, because the Minimal Clinically Significant Difference (MCID) for this test is 2.27 seconds. Providing context is crucial here - so make sure this was made clear by the authors, and if you’re unsure, check with them.

Need help deciphering a study?

Our clinical team is happy to help you understand the results of any clinical study. Email the study to [email protected] and we’ll help you get to the bottom of it.

Check out our clinical studies here: Digital rehabilitation vs conventional PT after total knee replacement Digital rehabilitation vs conventional PT after total knee replacement: mid-term results Digital rehabilitation vs conventional PT after total hip replacement: short and mid-term results

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About the author: Dr. Fernando Correia, M.D.

Dr. Fernando Correia is the Chief Medical Officer at SWORD Health, where he leads clinical validation and medical affairs. He is a physician with a specialty in Neurology, and also holds an Executive Masters degree in Healthcare Management. He co-founded SWORD with the firm belief that technology can lead healthcare into a new era, one where high-quality, evidence-based medicine is available to everyone, not just a select few. He also believes that a more humanistic approach to healthcare is needed, and that technology and the human touch can go hand in hand and make each other better. Fernando received his M.D. from the University of Coimbra and his Executive Masters from Católica Porto Business School. He trained in Portugal and in the UK (National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children). He lives in Porto, Portugal with his family, where he enjoys playing tennis, reading all kinds of books and savoring a good glass of wine.

As people across America heed orders to stay at home, more people have begun lacing up their sneakers and getting outside. Now, after weeks of rapidly increasing mileage, I’ve begun seeing the aftermath of the COVID running boom: people who haven’t run or exercised in years are experiencing sudden, unexpected aches, pains, and full-on injuries. This isn’t surprising. Over my years of working with people with musculoskeletal injuries, I’ve heard the same complaints numerous times from patients who’ve ramped their mileage too quickly. Often, it sounds something like: “Everything was going so well - I could run eight miles! - then suddenly my knee hurt so much I could hardly take a step.” I understand the enthusiasm. It’s fun to feel the endorphins and see yourself getting better at something. But despite our bodies’ ability to adapt to stress and become stronger, injuries can happen when there’s too much stress or there’s not enough recovery between loads. While this can happen with experienced athletes, running-related injuries are particularly common among new runners. In the first year and half of running, more than 8 out of 10 novice runners will experience an injury that's severe enough to take them out of running for at least a day.

Some of the most common running-related injuries are:

• “Runner’s knee” (patellofemoral pain syndrome). Runner’s knee is characterized by pain in the front of the knee, usually under the kneecap. Your knee might pop or grind, but you won’t feel clicking or catching, and it won’t buckle (if it does, see a physical therapist). It might feel sore when running, going up or down stairs, walking downhill, or after sitting for long periods of time.
• “Shin splints” (medial tibial stress syndrome). Shin splints are a term for pain, achiness or tenderness along the shinbone. Without adjustments, shin splints may progress into a stress fracture, an injury that requires weeks off running.
• Achilles tendinitis. Achilles tendinitis is characterized by achiness or pain along the tendon on the back of your ankle, tightness in the calf, and stiffness when you wake up in the morning. Going up on your tiptoes may feel especially painful.
• Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS). ITBS typically presents as aching or sharp pain on the outside of your knee or on the outside of your hip, especially when bending or straightening the knee.

How do you prevent these injuries from happening?

While there’s no way to guarantee you avoid injury, there are general principles that will help reduce the risk:

• Build your volume (the amount you run) slowly. Increasing by 10% a week works for most people. Slow and steady increases in running volume will win the race.
• Don’t increase volume, intensity and frequency at the same time. If you’d like to run more miles per week, don’t start running faster and more often at the same time. Pick one thing to increase at a time.
• Warm up prior to exercise. While jumping out of bed or up from your desk and starting running may seem efficient, it’s also a recipe for injury.
• Incorporate a strength routine. Exercises with weights or bodyweight can greatly reduce injury risk. Not sure where to start? This routine is a great option of a no equipment-required program you can do in a small space.

What if it’s too late for prevention?

If you’re already hurt, take a three step approach:

• Modify the load. The first question most runners ask is whether they have to stop running. That depends on your pain. Skipping one to three days of running can sometimes completely resolve the issue. Here are some good rules:
  • Don’t run if your pain:
    1. is present when you’re walking prior to running
    2. causes you to limp
    3. starts immediately and gets worse during your run
    4. starts after your run and lingers for hours.
  • Reduce your volume and run with caution if the pain:
    1. goes away as you warm up
    2. goes away as you warm then returns at the end of the run
  • Continuing running, but keep an eye on your symptoms if the pain:
    1. starts in the middle of a run
    2. feels better as you run,
    3. doesn’t bother you after the run
• Identify and treat your weaknesses. If you don’t have a strength routine, now is the time to start one. Here’s a simple at-home workout that doesn’t require equipment.
• Rebuild slowly. If you’ve taken a break or reduced your volume, or if you want to begin running more than before, take a long-term approach. Running a bit less today is better than not being able to run at all in a month.

With these tools in hand, you should be off and running in no time. Sometimes, though, despite our best efforts, we can’t solve our own pain. When that’s the case, a physical therapist will help get you back on track. Reach out to one if your pain doesn’t improve with rest, strengthening and changes in the amount you run, or if you feel severe pain, numbness or tingling, or a progressive loss of strength.

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About the author: Dr. Megan Hill, DPT

Dr. Megan Hill is a licensed physical therapist focused on musculoskeletal rehab and chronic pain management. She dropped her plans to go to law school for physical therapy after a knee injury from the Chicago Marathon left her in need of rehab, and she hasn’t looked back since. She’s on a mission to empower people to manage their health through exercise, education and coaching, rather than relying on passive approaches. Megan earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Duke University and is a certified running coach. Megan lives in Denver, Colorado, where she spends every spare second running, biking, hiking, sailing and stand up paddleboarding with her husband, Layton, and dog, Ollie.

If there is one thing I wish every fellow runner knew, it’s this: strength training is your best ally! Strength training is an often overlooked part of a great running program. If you’re injured, this set of exercises can help ease your pain. If you’re not, they’ll help improve your endurance and help prevent injuries from happening. Start with three sets of eight to 12 repetitions. Do both sides, not just the painful one. If your pain increases after the exercises for more than 30 minutes, remove the provocative one and speak with a physical therapist. To learn more about how SWORD’s virtual PT solutions can help you and your employees move their way to better health, contact us here. Run on!  

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About the author: Dr. Megan Hill, DPT

Dr. Megan Hill is a licensed physical therapist focused on musculoskeletal rehab and chronic pain management. She dropped her plans to go to law school for physical therapy after a knee injury from the Chicago Marathon left her in need of rehab, and she hasn’t looked back since. She’s on a mission to empower people to manage their health through exercise, education and coaching, rather than relying on passive approaches. Megan earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Duke University and is a certified running coach. Megan lives in Denver, Colorado, where she spends every spare second running, biking, hiking, sailing and stand up paddleboarding with her husband, Layton, and dog, Ollie.

We’re on the threshold of a revolution in musculoskeletal (MSK) care. The recent acquisitions, funding, and lofty plans from digital providers are signals that the market is waking up to what those of us at the forefront have known all along – digital solutions can solve the physical health crisis in this country. This is our moment, and we get one shot to do it right. We must remember that MSK conditions are serious, and the consequences of mistreatment have cost us billions of dollars and countless lives. Solving this problem requires nothing less than the highest level of quality and care. At SWORD, we’ve been delivering clinical-grade MSK care for five years on three continents, treating thousands of patients with chronic, acute and post-surgical conditions. We promised early on that we would always provide the highest quality of care to our members, and when we make promises, we keep them.

So today, I urge us all to make promises we can keep.

Let’s promise to treat our members with real clinicians, and only clinicians. At SWORD, our members only interact with a licensed physical therapist – never a health coach or other non-clinician – and they only ever will. The MSK system is complex, and diagnosing and treating these conditions requires deep expertise. Putting MSK sufferers in the care of non-clinicians puts members at risk of being misdiagnosed, incorrectly treated and poorly monitored. Having a clinician present for only part of the journey isn’t enough, because non-clinicians can fail to recognize patterns that may be signs of more serious issues. This means we all need to employ enough physical therapists to ensure that every member gets their own PT, and the number of PTs should far exceed the number of clients. Let’s promise to invest in the safety and precision of our technology. We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure our sensors are safe and precise enough to provide clinical-grade care. SWORD’s Digital Therapist is an FDA-listed class II medical device. Certification is a lengthy and costly process: it took SWORD over a year to certify our sensor technology. We invest time and energy in certifying our sensors for medical use because we believe it is absolutely necessary to guarantee the best care possible. We urge others in the industry to do the same, for the health and safety of their members. Let’s promise not to rush new treatments to market. Our solution already covers all the major MSK conditions – those affecting back, shoulder, neck, knee, hip, ankle and elbow – at any point in the journey, from prevention, to acute conditions, to chronic pain, to recovering from surgery. These programs were years in the making, and included rigorous internal and clinical testing and refinement to ensure safety and efficacy. We didn’t launch them until we were certain they could be used the very next day. We counsel the industry to take great care in developing each new treatment, recognizing that the needs of chronic, acute and post-surgical patients are unique, and each new treatment needs to be developed with care. Let’s promise to validate our solutions against the gold standard of care. If you believe, as we do, that digital solutions deserve to become the new standard of care, the only way we’ll achieve this is by validating our programs in clinical trials against the current gold standard – traditional physical therapy. We have validated our solution against traditional PT and found it to be 30% more effective. This complements our market data – both clinical studies and real-world outcomes are needed to prove the validity and quality. Clinical trials with no control group, or where the control group receives no treatment, aren’t to be taken as proof the solution works better than the best care. They’re only proof that the solution is better than nothing at all. Controlled clinical studies are expensive and time-consuming to run, but we urge you all to invest in them. Developing truly clinical-grade treatments takes dedication, integrity and time – and most importantly, it takes commitment at the core. Since Day 1, we have been committed to providing a clinical-grade digital treatment, never taking shortcuts, never pretending to be something we’re not, and always keeping our promises. At SWORD, we promise we’ll always provide clinical-grade care, for the health and safety of our members, and we hope that the rest of the industry can keep their promises, too. Digital MSK: this is our moment. Let’s make it matter. Yours in health, V

COVID-19 has sped up a trend that’s been coming for quite some time - people and clinicians are getting more comfortable with telehealth, which is good news for employers and plans looking to reduce costs without compromising on outcomes. When I tell people that I work for a digital musculoskeletal (MSK) therapy provider, I’m met with a combination of curiosity and skepticism, especially from my clinician friends. The most common response is something along the lines of “that sounds cool, but virtual PT can’t possibly work as well as in-person PT.” I’m proud to tell them it does. In fact, SWORD’s solution has been clinically-proven to outperform gold standard PT programs (three one-hour in person sessions per week) by 30%. Plus, with SWORD, members report 70% less pain, and are 64% less likely to consider surgery and 36% less likely to take medication. But not all virtual MSK solutions will work as well. There are three main pillars that have to be met in order to deliver high quality MSK care virtually:

• Programs must be tailored to the member’s needs and adequately supervised;
• Results only happen if the members actually do their exercises, and do them correctly;
• Education and behavioural coaching are essential to achieving lasting changes.

Here are three questions to ask if you’re considering a digital MSK solution:

Is the program designed and supervised by a licensed PT?

It might sound obvious, but virtual MSK programs need a real physical therapist managing care in order to get the best results. We have years of clinical training in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions. We understand underlying patterns to diagnose referred pain or other conditions as early as possible, and we monitor every patient’s progress to make sure they’re getting the best treatment possible. At SWORD, members only ever interact with a physical therapist who is there every step of the way, from diagnosis to recovery.

Does the member and the PT both get feedback on performance and progress?

Feedback on how the body is moving is critical for effective PT. We can’t do our jobs properly unless we understand exactly how someone is moving and their subjective experience of the session (Was it painful? Was it difficult? How are they feeling?). In the clinic, the PT is able to see how their patient’s body is moving with their own eyes. We’re trained to identify movement patterns that are causing issues or indicative of problems and adjust our patient’s form accordingly. When they go home from the clinic, patients often leave with instructions on a piece of paper. Those paper instructions may not even make it out of a purse, and even when they are followed, we have no idea if the person is performing exercises correctly. This means the recovery process can be slow. At SWORD, we use wearable inertial motion sensors that are even more precise than the human eye. They give the member real-time feedback on how they’re doing. If a member performs an exercise incorrectly, our Digital Therapist will correct their form. This feedback not only helps members learn new movement patterns, but it also helps them stay accountable and stick with their program. These sensors also give the PT live feedback on exactly how a member is performing every stretch and bend, and we use that feedback to evolve their program and catch any red flags that come up through the course of their treatment. Since joining SWORD, I’ve been amazed at how much information I’m getting about how my members are performing. I can progress their programs with more certainty, and have seen members start feeling better quickly. There are many solutions out there that use video to guide people through exercise programs. While they may be good for helping people see how to do an exercise, they don’t tell you if you are doing them correctly, and the clinician on the other end is flying blind. Just like that piece of paper from the clinic, they aren’t going to get you the results you need, especially for serious chronic or post-surgical issues.

Does the program combine education and coaching?

I became a PT after I experienced the benefits of great physical therapy first-hand. I had just injured my knee running the Chicago Marathon. I love to run, and this injury was devastating. My PT helped me get back on track - not just by prescribing me an exercise program, but by helping me understand why I got injured in the first place, giving me the tools to prevent it in the future, and making me believe that I had it in me to make a full recovery. I’m grateful to this day for her guidance and support - and she has inspired me to become the PT I am today. Great physical therapy is more than just an exercise program - because pain is complex and healing involves both body and mind. Physical therapists are trained to incorporate pain education into their treatments, helping patients understand that hurt does not equal harm, their bodies are strong and adaptable, and that they do not need fixing - they are the most important factor in their own rehabilitation. The words we use to empower our patients are critical. Discussing pain from a less-trained perspective can result in increased fear, decreased belief in one’s ability to heal, and avoidance of activities - all of which can contribute to the persistence and aggravation of pain. At SWORD, our PTs develop coaching programs that incorporate education as well as motivational techniques. These programs are specific to each member and are adjusted as they progress along their journey, so they don’t just get better, they stay better. Want to learn more about SWORD? Fill out this form and someone will get in touch.

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About the author: Dr. Megan Hill, DPT

Dr. Megan Hill is a licensed physical therapist focused on musculoskeletal rehab and chronic pain management. She dropped her plans to go to law school for physical therapy after a knee injury from the Chicago Marathon left her in need of rehab, and she hasn’t looked back since. She’s on a mission to empower people to manage their health through exercise, education and coaching, rather than relying on passive approaches. Megan earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Duke University and is a certified running coach. Megan lives in Denver, Colorado, where she spends every spare second running, biking, hiking, sailing and stand up paddleboarding with her husband, Layton, and dog, Ollie.

Have you ever felt pain in one area of the body, only to be told by a clinician that the real source of pain is somewhere else? You’re not alone - this is quite common. In fact, 12% of SWORD members end up getting a program for a different area of the body than the one they feel the pain in. It’s called ‘referred pain’ and it’s one of many things that physical therapists are trained to look out for.

Your brain on pain

Here’s why it happens: pain is complex and involves both the body and the mind. Our body is like a giant antenna, capturing signals that travel to our brain. All the pain happens in our brain: the brain controls where and how much it hurts. So, pain is an experience that can be influenced by multiple factors. Imagine stubbing your toe at the same moment as finding out that you won the lottery. It’s highly unlikely you’d feel the pain in your toe, as your brain would have more important things to focus on. When you feel referred pain, it’s caused by signals from different parts of your body converging in the same place in your brain. You might have knee pain that’s actually caused by hip arthritis, or shoulder pain that’s actually stemming from an irritated nerve in your neck.

The danger of treating the symptom and not the cause

When you treat the area that the pain is referring to, rather than the true source, the best possible scenario is that nothing will happen - the pain simply won’t go away. Worst case, the original condition could get worse and you could end up considering medication, injections or surgery. In about 1% of cases, pain isn’t caused by a musculoskeletal issue at all. A wide range of disorders can manifest as physical pain - from anxiety, to neurological conditions, and even cancer. If this is misdiagnosed, someone may run an entire course of treatment for their pain without clinical supervision, only to find that they have a condition requiring a different kind of treatment altogether.

How physical therapists prevent misdiagnosis

Physical therapists like me are trained to find the real source of pain - a process that requires years of clinical training. We understand underlying patterns to detect referred pain or other conditions as early as possible, and can recommend you see a clinician if we think something else may be at play. At SWORD Health, we’re proud that our members only ever interact clinically with a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy. In addition to making sure we’re treating the right condition, we continuously monitor how you’re performing, adjust your prescription as you progress, and motivate you every step of the way, ensuring you don’t just get better, you stay better. Want to learn more about SWORD? Fill out this form and someone will get in touch.

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About the author: Dr. Megan Hill, DPT

Dr. Megan Hill is a licensed physical therapist focused on musculoskeletal rehab and chronic pain management. She dropped her plans to go to law school for physical therapy after a knee injury from the Chicago Marathon left her in need of rehab, and she hasn’t looked back since. She’s on a mission to empower people to manage their health through exercise, education and coaching, rather than relying on passive approaches. Megan earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Duke University and is a certified running coach. Megan lives in Denver, Colorado, where she spends every spare second running, biking, hiking, sailing and stand up paddleboarding with her husband, Layton, and dog, Ollie.

Whether it’s riding a bike, avoiding surgery, or eliminating the need for opioids, virtual physical therapy can help people live pain-free. At SWORD, we take pride in helping our members return to the health and lifestyle that they aspire to. Watch our video below to see just a few examples of how members have been able to find a new lease on life with SWORD.

SWORD Health, a digital musculoskeletal and pulmonary therapy provider, today announced the appointment of industry paragon Brian Marcotte to lead their Client Advisory Board. Brian is the former President and CEO of Business Group on Health, the leading advocate for large employers in healthcare policy and benefits strategy. At the Business Group, Brian established the Health Innovations Forum, which helped accelerate market traction for promising digital health startups, and the Executive Committee on Value Purchasing, a cross-industry council focused on shifting the market toward value-based pricing and provider accountability. Prior to the Business Group, Brian was the Vice President of Compensation and Benefits for Honeywell International where he implemented innovative solutions to help employees maximize their experience with the healthcare delivery system. “Virtual care is taking off, and COVID-19 is giving it a jump start. We’re seeing an explosion of digital solutions in the MSK space, but SWORD stands apart because they provide virtual MSK care at the level of quality that employers, plans and members require,” said Brian. “SWORD has the potential to help make physical therapy accessible to millions of people, drastically improving outcomes and reducing unnecessary expenses, and I am excited to bring together the industry’s best to help them do it.” Brian will establish and preside over SWORD’s Client Advisory Board, bringing together a cross-section of industry stakeholders to understand their current challenges and future needs, and collaborating with SWORD’s leadership team on strategy, innovation and go-to-market initiatives that will benefit the entire market. “We have spent years developing a clinical-grade solution that members love, but we’re far from finished. We want to keep innovating, and we know we need to do it right,” said Virgílio Bento, Founder and CEO, SWORD Health. “Brian is one of the most respected leaders in the employer benefits space, and he understands the needs of employers, plans, providers and members like nobody else. Under Brian’s stewardship, SWORD will be able to keep pushing the envelope in a way that delivers value to all.” Brian’s appointment follows the appointment of several industry leaders to SWORD’s executive and advisory teams, including Karin Ajmani, former President and Chief Strategy Officer at Progyny.

About SWORD Health

SWORD Health is a digital musculoskeletal (MSK) and pulmonary therapy provider that’s on a mission to free two billion people from chronic and post-surgical pain. The company’s digital therapy platform pairs expert physical therapists with medical-grade wearable technology to deliver a personalized treatment plan that is more effective, easier and less expensive than traditional physical therapy. SWORD believes in the power of people to recover at home, without resorting to imaging, surgeries or opioids. Since launching in 2015, SWORD Health has worked with insurers, health systems and employers in the U.S, Europe and Australia to make quality physical therapy more accessible to everyone. SWORD Health has offices in New York City, Salt Lake City and Porto.

Quarantine has been a pain in the neck for a lot of us. Around 10% of our members are struggling with neck pain. What’s causing these increases in neck pain, and how can we fix them?

Why your neck is hurting

Our head weighs about 10 pounds, and we evolved to hold it high and move it around. Today, we spend more time looking down at our phones and computers than looking up and out. Holding the same position - even if your posture is “perfect” - for long periods can be really bothersome to your neck. Tension in your neck can also cause headaches and brain fog.

How lockdown is making it worse

If you’re reading this from a laptop screen, you’re not alone. Laptop sales now outnumber desktop sales by about two to one. In an office, you might plug your computer into an external monitor, which helps you hold your head higher. But at home, you’re more likely to be looking down at that laptop screen while you sit at a dining table or on your couch. That lack of variety puts a lot of pressure on your neck. Even when you’re not working, you’re also less likely to be using your neck as much as you otherwise would. Think about all the times your neck gets a workout in everyday life - turning your head to spot oncoming traffic as you cross the street, extending to find your car in the carpark, looking up to grab the subway pole. Your neck isn’t getting as many opportunities to move when you’re at home. Our bodies love movement, and when they don’t get it, our nervous system becomes more sensitive. Our muscles become tighter and joints stiffer.

The solution

Thankfully, our bodies have an inbuilt way to relieve and prevent pain: movement! Moving your body is beneficial in so many ways. It increases blood flow to keep your muscles limber and brings nutrients to damaged tissues to help them repair. It also releases hormones like endorphins to keep your brain happy and sharp and triggers our innate pain-relieving system, sending endogenous (made internally) opioids and cannabinoids through your body. The exercises in the video above can be done anywhere and will give you quick relief from any neck pain you might be feeling. Remember that it’s ok if there is a bit of discomfort, but don’t push through pain when you’re doing these exercises - if you are feeling pain as you perform them, the SWORD neck program can help you rehab your muscles and relieve the pain for good. To learn more about how SWORD can help you and your employees overcome their musculoskeletal pain, use the contact form below to get in touch! Contact us

SWORD Health, a digital musculoskeletal and pulmonary therapy provider, today announced the appointment of industry luminary Karin Ajmani to their Board of Directors. “Karin is one of the most forward-thinking leaders in the employer-sponsored health space, and we’re thrilled to have her join our Board,” said Virgílio Bento, Founder and CEO, SWORD Health. “She will be an exceptional asset to our team.” Karin is a healthcare entrepreneur who has committed her career to building companies that expand access to critical services, while greatly improving the member experience. She served as President and Chief Strategy Officer of Progyny, a national infertility health benefits company, from inception in 2015 through the company’s recent IPO. She developed Progyny’s employer benefits product and was responsible for sales and account management from pre-revenue to serving over 2 million lives and over 80 marquee clients. Prior to joining Progyny, Karin served as CEO of US Imaging, a radiology benefits management company, and CEO of CarePlus Health Plan, where she led the organization from inception through its sale to United Health Plan. “I am thrilled to be joining Virgílio and the accomplished team he has recruited to modernize how musculoskeletal therapy is delivered. SWORD Health checks all of the boxes: improved outcomes, enhanced patient experience and cost savings,” said Karin.

About SWORD Health

SWORD Health is a digital musculoskeletal (MSK) and pulmonary therapy provider that’s on a mission to free two billion people from chronic and post-surgical pain. The company’s digital therapy platform pairs expert physical therapists with medical-grade wearable technology to deliver a personalized treatment plan that is more effective, easier and less expensive than traditional physical therapy. SWORD believes in the power of people to recover at home, without resorting to imaging, surgeries or opioids. Since launching in 2015, SWORD Health has worked with insurers, health systems and employers in the U.S, Europe and Australia to make quality physical therapy more accessible to everyone. SWORD Health has offices in New York City, Salt Lake City and Porto.