Latest News
Sword Health recognized as an Employer Wellness and Prevention Leader
From the very beginning, Sword Health has followed two unwavering principles: we would never compromise our technological quality and we would never jeopardize our clinical validation. We chose these premises because we knew this was the only way to give patients the best possible musculoskeletal care. And we delivered. Our efforts have been recognized a number of times this year. SWORD was ranked as one of the world’s 150 most promising digital health companies at the CBInsights ‘Future of Health’ conference in New York. We were also featured on Wired’s 2019 list of the Hottest 100 Startups in Europe and won honorable mention in Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas 2019. Last week, we achieved a new milestone: Sword Health won the Employer Wellness & Prevention category at the UCSF Digital Health Awards 2019. Sword was recognized as the “best wellness or prevention digital health product or solution aimed at employers.”
October 14, 2019 • 3 min read
Sword Health Innovation Team
Introducing Sword Health's new Clinical Advisory Board
Clinical validation has always been at the core of our company. Sword Health’s Digital Therapist has already shown to recover patients faster and better than traditional physical therapy. However, there is more to be done, tested, and proven. Therefore, we are proud to announce the appointment of our company’s new Clinical Advisory Board (CAB). The group of specialists, whose expertise ranges from orthopedics to cognitive psychology, will help SWORD devise a long-term clinical strategy and supervise the clinical studies within the company. “Sword Health knows clinical validation plays a crucial role in our company’s differentiation,” says Sword’s CEO, Virgílio Bento. “It is the touchstone for every development we bring into our Digital Therapist. The addition of this knowledgeable group of clinical experts is not only welcome but also the extension of our understanding that science has to lie at the very core of everything we do at Sword.” Members of Sword Health’s Clinical Advisory Board include: The newly appointed Clinical Advisory Board joins the team at a particularly fitting time, since SWORD also reported the outcomes of its most recent study, the first proving a digital solution (Sword Digital Therapist) can achieve better outcomes than conventional face-to-face rehabilitation (35% better functional outcomes), requiring 80% less time from the physical therapist. The clinical validity of the digital program, that has once again shown very high patient satisfaction (91% rated their satisfaction with 10/10) and engagement (83% of patients performing five or more sessions/week), makes Sword's Digital Therapist an evermore interesting solution for both post-operatory and chronic scenarios. “On one hand, Sword directly addresses the increasing rehabilitation needs we see every day in every health system,” says Jorge Lains, member of the CAB and President of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. “On the other hand, this a solution that obeys all the golden rules of physical therapy: it’s intense, it’s repetitive, it’s task-specific. Sword upholds not only the highest physical therapy standards but also the scientific and psychosocial ones.”
August 19, 2019 • 3 min read
Sword Health Innovation Team
2018: SWORD Health’s Year in Review and Look Ahead
For Sword Health, 2018 was the year to dare, to double down on our promise of bringing innovation into the world of physical therapy. So at the dawn of 2019, it’s time to wrap up all the things that happened in the past year and to launch some challenges at the year to come. In 2018, our innovative therapy reached more people and more markets. And the numbers reflect that scale: That is triple-digit growth in three different categories: minutes spent in therapy, saved trips to rehabilitation centers and the overall number of patients treated. Giving patients the ability to recover at home is crucial to keep their motivation high, and it saves them time and effort. This is why these numbers reflect much more than anecdotes around how many trips around the world we saved or how many songs fit into the minutes of therapy we delivered this year. This is patient empowerment happening before us and that is the fulfillment of our core goal.
January 15, 2019 • 2 min read
Sword Editorial Team
Fresh health insights
Ultimate employee benefits guide
Employee benefits aren’t just perks. In 2025, they’re a strategic lever. With rising healthcare costs, increased workforce expectations, and the permanent shift toward hybrid work, your benefits strategy isn’t just a retention tool. If you can offer the best employee benefits in your industry, you send a strong message to potential candidates (and to your existing team members). This demonstrates your company values and your bottom line. A strong employee benefits plan signals care, financial strength, and a commitment to invest in your team. A forward-looking benefits plan is a competitive advantage. It influences recruiting outcomes, impacts employee health and productivity, and shapes how your organization is perceived. We want to help you understand the full landscape of a modern benefits plan including what’s most common, and emerging trends. But what really matters is attracting and retaining top talent. This guide will focus on the most cost-effective benefits to achieve that organizational goal.
October 24, 2025 • 19 min read
Sword Editorial Team
Healthcare cost trends for 2026
Healthcare costs are rising again, and health insurance providers are feeling the pressure. After a brief slowdown at the start of the year across the macro industry, costs have continued to push higher on the back of inflation, new drug therapies, and pent-up utilization. Most benefits leaders already know the headlines, like trend lines above 7 percent and specialty drug spend surging, but what they need now are answers. Not all of this is beyond your control. Healthcare leaders can consider these broader trends to update their plans. This guide will explain the key trends impacting the industry in more detail, but the foundations of cost-effective plans are increasingly built on prevention, digital access, and value-based partnerships that drive measurable ROI. We've pulled together a high-level overview of the key trends shaping the cost basis of healthcare in 2026 and beyond. Read on to find what you need to know about the reasons for these trends, and the practical steps you can take to stay ahead.
October 10, 2025 • 8 min read
Sword Editorial Team
GLP-1 muscle loss: the hidden cost of weight loss without movement
Early indications show the drugs are helping patients lose weight. But as more research and analysis is collected, concern around GLP-1 muscle loss is building. While GLP-1s promote fast weight loss, the type of weight lost matters. Clinical research shows that up to 39% of lean body mass is lost during GLP-1 usage. Lean muscle loss from GLP-1 use presents an invisible but dangerous risk, for health insurers and patients alike. Lean muscle loss isn’t cosmetic. This has serious implications for physical health, mobility, long-term function, and cost exposure. For health plan administrators sarcopenia muscle loss adds nearly $900 in excess healthcare costs per employee annually. Lean muscle is essential. Lose it, and you compromise strength, movement, and future health.
August 22, 2025 • 14 min read
Morgan Hollis, MS, RDN
