Study overview
Elbow pain can limit work, daily function, and physical activity, yet it is less frequently studied than spine, knee, or shoulder conditions. This study evaluated Sword’s fully remote multimodal digital care program for people with nontraumatic elbow pain.
The program included therapeutic exercise, education, cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, and remote physical therapist monitoring over 8 weeks. Researchers assessed pain, disability, mental health, productivity, surgery intent, medication use, engagement, and satisfaction.
Key findings
Pain and disability improved
Participants reported significant recovery in pain and disability after completing the digital program. These outcomes are important because elbow conditions can interfere with work tasks, lifting, gripping, and daily activities.
Mental health and productivity improved
The study evaluated broader outcomes beyond pain, including mental health and productivity. Improvements across these measures suggest that the benefits of care extended into whole-person and work-related recovery.
Surgery intent and medication use decreased
The program was associated with lower surgery intent and reduced pain medication use, suggesting that digital care may help some members manage symptoms with conservative treatment.
Engagement supported feasibility
This was one of the first studies focused on remote management of nontraumatic elbow pain. The findings support the feasibility of a digital program for an upper-extremity condition that requires guided movement progression.
Why this study matters
This study expands Sword’s evidence base into a less-studied MSK condition. Elbow pain is common in the workforce, but the evidence base for fully remote rehabilitation has historically been limited.
The study should be understood as a single-arm prospective cohort study. Its value is in showing that a multimodal digital care program can support improvement in pain, disability, mental health, productivity, and care escalation signals for people with elbow pain.
About the author
Fabiola Costa
Senior Director of Clinical Research, Sword Health
