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October 24, 2023
The opioid epidemic is a public health emergency that’s caused immeasurable harm to peoples’ physical and mental health and shocking increases in overdose deaths over the past three years. Opioids are highly addictive: An estimated one in three prescriptions leads to misuse. This makes reducing the number of opioids prescribed for incidental pain relief one of the most effective ways to fight the opioid epidemic.
More than half of Americans (54%) suffer from musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, including low back pain, chronic joint pain and arthritis. Surgery can often help, but overreliance on surgery is a key contributor to both avoidable opioid prescriptions and rising health care costs. The majority (76%) of employers rank MSK among their top three drivers of health care spend and lost productivity due to absenteeism.
Physical therapy (PT) is an effective alternative to help patients avoid both surgery and the need for opioids. Numerous studies show that regular PT can improve many common MSK conditions and reduce chronic pain. The challenges are that a PT regimen requires a commitment of time and expense to achieve results; attending frequent sessions can be disruptive to a patient’s work and personal schedule; and in-person PT isn’t always readily accessible in rural areas.
Hinge Health was founded to make high-quality MSK care convenient and accessible to everyone. Its guided virtual exercise therapy solution—the Digital MSK Clinic—delivers personalized care for a variety of MSK conditions, from mild to acute. With proven ability to engage and keep patients on track to achieve results, Hinge Health delivers measurable return on investment by helping employers manage their MSK spend and reducing overreliance on surgery and prescription opioids.
At the core of Hinge Health’s Digital MSK Clinic is the industry’s largest team of licensed physical therapists. Patients engage with their Hinge Health exercise therapy program using a combination of advanced wearable and motion-sensing technologies, guided via an all-in-one app. And because the majority of MSK treatment requires care beyond exercise therapy, Hinge Health provides patients a complete care team—including licensed doctors, orthopedic surgeons and board-certified health coaches—to deliver personalized end-to-end care that addresses each patient’s unique needs.
Whether a patient needs preventive, acute, chronic or pre-/post-surgical care, Hinge Health’s comprehensive program is clinically proven to drive high adherence and deliver results, including:
- High reduction in MSK pain vs. prescribed opioids
- Lower rates of depression and anxiety that often co-occur with MSK conditions
- Lower rates of MSK-related surgeries
Available as a buy-up to self-funded employer groups, there are no out-of-pocket costs for employees receiving Hinge Health care. And since patients can access the Digital MSK Clinic from the comfort of home or anywhere, the program generates high engagement and adherence.
Hinge Health’s results are backed by powerful research. A first-of-its-kind study conducted by UC San Francisco and University of Washington researchers compared opioid use between 4,195 Hinge Health users and 4,195 patients who received in-person physical therapy. The research found that one year after treatment, those completing a Hinge Health program had started 42% fewer opioid prescriptions and had 25% fewer opioid prescriptions per 100 members than those completing in-person PT¹.
Want more information about how Hinge Health can help your self-funded groups? Please view this flyer or contact your account representative.
- SOURCE: Wang G, Lu L, Gold L, Bailey JF. J of Pain Research. “Opioid initiation one year after a digital musculoskeletal (MSK) program: an observational, longitudinal study with comparison group.”