March 26, 2026
Faster ROI
The new standard for MSK ROI
Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are the single largest driver of employer healthcare spending, responsible for nearly $980 billion in annual costs in the United States. Despite this, the ROI claims of too many vendors still rely on modeling assumptions, engagement proxies, and vendor-reported estimates.
This whitepaper answers the question that smart benefits leaders and CFOs are starting to ask: how do you find credible, validated ROI for MSK care? You’ll see how an outcomes-based MSK care model built on claims-based evidence, independent actuarial validation, and peer-reviewed clinical results sets a new standard. This model can remove bias and deliver measurable results across employer and health plan populations, including:
- 3.2x independently validated ROI
- 58% reduction in surgeries
- 62% reduction in pain levels
- 81% program completion
For any leaders responsible for controlling healthcare spend, this whitepaper provides the framework you need to evaluate MSK vendors and ensure financial accountability.
Key learnings inside the guide
- Why most MSK ROI claims fail independent validation
- The claims-based actuarial framework used to measure real healthcare savings
- How propensity matching and difference-in-differences analysis isolate true program impact
- The clinical and financial outcomes behind Sword’s validated 3.2x ROI
- What benefits leaders should demand from MSK vendors in contracts, guarantees, and evidence
Contributors to White Paper

Vice President, Health Economics