Telerehabilitation for acute MSK pain

Study overview

Acute musculoskeletal pain can affect many parts of the body and is a leading cause of disability, healthcare use, and lost productivity. Timely, evidence-based care can improve recovery, but access to that care is often limited.

This study evaluated Sword’s fully remote digital care program for acute musculoskeletal conditions across multiple body areas. The program combined therapeutic exercise, education, and remote clinical monitoring, allowing participants to complete care from home while receiving guidance from the clinical team.

The study included 343 people who started the program, with 300 completing it. Researchers measured changes in pain, medication use, surgery intent, fear-avoidance beliefs, anxiety, depression, productivity, engagement, and satisfaction from baseline to the end of the program. 

Key findings

Pain decreased significantly

Participants reported a statistically and clinically significant reduction in pain from baseline to the end of the program.

The study found a 64.3% reduction in pain, representing an average decrease of 2.9 points on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale.  

Medication use and surgery intent decreased

Participants also reported lower reliance on medication and lower intent to pursue surgery by the end of the program.

The study reported an 82% reduction in medication intake and a 63% reduction in surgery intent.  

Mental health outcomes improved

The program was associated with improvements in mental health measures.

Participants reported a 54% reduction in anxiety and a 58% reduction in depression from baseline to the end of the program.  

Productivity improved

Participants reported meaningful recovery in work productivity.

The study found a 79% recovery in overall productivity, reflecting fewer work limitations by the end of the program.  

Completion and satisfaction were high

Of the 343 participants who started the program, 300 completed it, representing an 87.5% completion rate. The mean patient satisfaction score was 8.7 out of 10.  

Why this study matters

This study shows how a fully remote digital care program can support people with acute musculoskeletal pain across a wide range of conditions.

Acute MSK pain is often treated inconsistently, and many people struggle to access timely care before symptoms interfere with daily life, work, or recovery. The findings suggest that digital telerehabilitation can help reduce pain, support function, lower medication use and surgery intent, and improve mental health and productivity outcomes.

The breadth of outcomes is especially important. This study did not look only at pain. It also measured behavioral, emotional, and work-related factors that often shape recovery from MSK pain. That makes the study relevant for clinical audiences evaluating whole-person outcomes and for organizations looking for scalable care models that can support both health and productivity.

This study should be understood as a single-arm interventional study, not a randomized comparison against conventional care. Still, it provides strong real-world evidence that a fully remote digital program can deliver meaningful improvements for acute MSK pain while maintaining high completion and engagement.

Read the full study