Sword Health Launches the Industry's First End-to-End Clinical MSK Solution
After developing the leading solution to treat musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders, SWORD is bringing the flagship solution to prevent such conditions. The SWORD+ solution consists of three modules:
- The Academy — educational masterclasses and job-specific video educational content on chronic pain & injury prevention
- ASK a PT™ — connect with a Doctor of Physical Therapy 24/7 on physical health related questions
- Digital Guardian™ — patented sensor-based technology for personalized monitoring of hazardous workplace activities to prevent further injuries
Today we are launching SWORD+. Combined with our existing treatment programs, SWORD Health has the most comprehensive, end-to-end MSK prevention program in the market. Our primary focus of SWORD+ is to prevent injuries and address muscle and joint injuries before they surface, or before they worsen and develop into more serious physical health conditions. Whether employees require refresher training for workplace settings, need a question answered about sudden or increasing pain from everyday activities, or require a more precise support, SWORD+ is a suite of three clinical-grade methodologies so that we can now cover the entire spectrum of MSK prevention.
Having a complete, end-to-end solution is important for many reasons.
- Many people currently struggle with MSK issues but don’t know who to ask or what to do about them. People spend years muddling along with pain, thinking that they have no alternative but to suffer. By providing trustworthy, expert answers to MSK questions, people are more likely to get the help they need.
- If left untreated, minor MSK problems can turn into major problems. Investing in solving problems early is cost effective—but more importantly benefits the individual members who are spared from months of discomfort, pain, and the associated behavorial conditions like anxiety and depression.
- Untreated physical health issues can hammer businesses: according to a 2021 Lancet study, “approximately two-thirds of the economic costs from low back pain stem from indirect costs (eg, loss of productivity).”
- Avoiding a problem is always better than fixing one later.
Because our mission at SWORD Health is to free 2 billion people from physical pain, we know that education and prevention must be core to accomplish it. SWORD+ will help people gain health literacy and understand the exercises, movements, and behavorial controls that will help people avoid injury in the first place. It will provide reliable answers to questions using live experts. And it will use sensors and data to make for safer, more injury-free workplaces.
SWORD+ consists of three modules designed to address the diverse needs of the workforce from educational content, to real-time answers from live Doctors of Physical Therapy, to active monitoring of each employee’s physical health:
The Academy provides premium original content for educational awareness in the workplace, with the goal to reduce injuries and improve quality of life. With longer remote hours that bleed into personal time, along with poor posture in both sedentary and active workplace environments, SWORD has developed content through clinical research and guidance from Doctors of Physical Therapy to directly address the MSK issues. These videos demonstrate proper movements, stretches, posture, or habits that will empower users to avoid injuries through everyday best practices in physical health.
ASK a PT™** is a 24/7 text-based service that puts a PT in your pocket for MSK-related questions. It is the only solution in the market that provides such ubiquitous access to clinically trained Doctors of Physical Therapy for all its members. Designed with remote work and busy lifestyles in mind, the ability to ask and receive instant responses to MSK concerns eliminates an extra ER or doctor’s appointment. Whether you suffer from lower leg pain while riding a bike, strained your shoulder lifting a package, or tweaked your lower back from sitting on virtual conference calls all day, Ask a PT™ quickly addresses muscle and joint pain questionsthat otherwise may worsen over time.
Digital Guardian™ is the sensor-based technology through SWORD Health’s real-time feedback mechanism. The sensors actively monitor employees at high risk of developing an MSK condition and provide real-time haptic feedback while gathering data for later analysis. Whether an employee is involved in manual work or routine repeated motions that can cause MSK injuries, the Digital Guardian is a wearable device that provides individualized movement feedback to prevent injuries before they occur. The data and metrics are shared with employees and safety teams to improve schedules, routines, workplace environments, and movements through best practices and safety protocols.
MSK is a huge issue for individuals worldwide. In 2016, the US Bone and Joint Initiative reported that 1 out of 2 Americans suffers from musculoskeletal disorder. This has only been further exacerbated by the 2020 pandemic.
Financially, MSK issues are a major issue for employers. According to the NIH, MSK disorders are responsible for $297 billion in lost productivity annually. MSK disorders are responsible for 360 million lost workdays, or 2.9 per employee, annually in the U.S. (OSHA) and according to the Harvard Business Review, Presenteeism due to MSK pain commonly reduces individual productivity by 33% or more.
“We have listened to members, employers, and communities who require a truly personalized way to address MSK prevention. While certain solutions exist, many are generic programs that do not meet the needs of those looking for direct answers. SWORD has designed each of the innovative modules with a forward-looking view in mind, taking into account the state of the world today,” said Virgílio Bento, founder and CEO. “We meet the members where they are and surround them with relevant information and data-driven feedback that not only gives them the ability to improve their issues, but also provides them with the tools to stabilize and improve their MSK health."
These three components of the SWORD+ solution—The Academy, Ask a PT™, and Digital Guardian™— constitute the most comprehensive, most innovative program available to prevent musculoskeletal issues from arising. SWORD Health is committed to freeing two billion people from physical pain, and SWORD+ is a major step toward achieving this goal.
SWORD Health is the only company positioned to provide a solution like SWORD+. Because we deliver 100% of care through Doctors of Physical Therapy, and because we use FDA-listed sensors and the Digital Therapist, we already have the pieces in place to deliver a true end-to-end solution for MSK care.
Feel free to reach out to help us solve your people’s MSK issues of today, and what might come tomorrow.
