Groundbreaking Study: Joint Academy’s Digital Treatment for Lower Back Pain Reduces Pain by 30% in Just Three Months

A new study published in JMIR Publications reveals that Joint Academy’s digital treatment for lower back pain (LBP) reduces patients’ pain by an average of 30% within just three months. The study suggests that medical outcomes from Joint Academy’s digital treatment are comparable, if not superior, to traditional face-to-face interventions. Additionally, the study highlights a high adherence rate, with 69% of participants completing at least 80% of the program.

Study Highlights: Effective, Scalable Treatment for Lower Back Pain

The study included 2,593 participants, making it one of the most comprehensive investigations into digital LBP treatment. Notably, it is the first of its kind to include elderly participants, with an average age of 63 years and over 51% of participants retired at the time of the study.

This focus is significant because LBP has a disproportionately severe impact on older adults compared to younger patients. For the elderly, LBP is more likely to lead to isolation and loneliness, which are both associated with poorer health outcomes and increased healthcare costs.

Lower Back Pain: A Growing Public Health Concern

LBP is a widespread and escalating healthcare challenge across the U.S.:

• It is the most commonly reported pain condition.
• According to the CDC, 80 million Americans suffer from LBP at any given time.
• Opioids remain widely prescribed for LBP, despite a lack of evidence supporting their effectiveness.
• LBP is one of the costliest conditions in the U.S., with payers spending hundreds of billions of dollars annually on lower back and neck pain.

Evidence-Based, Non-Invasive First-Line Treatment

International guidelines recommend exercise-based interventions aimed at strengthening back muscles, combined with patient education, as the preferred first-line treatment for LBP. Joint Academy’s treatment model follows these guidelines, providing:

• Direct access to a licensed physical therapist
• A personalized treatment program tailored to each patient’s needs
• Guided exercise videos to ensure proper technique
• Progress tracking tools for both patients and their physical therapists

Tens of thousands of patients have already begun Joint Academy’s digital treatment for LBP, achieving strong clinical outcomes at a lower cost—without side effects.

Partnering with Payers to Improve Patient Outcomes

For health plans and payers, this study further demonstrates that digital first-line treatment is a scalable, cost-effective solution that helps reduce opioid dependence, improve outcomes, and lower overall MSK healthcare spending.

If you are a payer interested in offering Joint Academy’s treatment to your members, contact us at [email protected].