A new study in the Journal of Pain Research reveals that people in a digital exercise therapy program offered by Hinge Health were 42% less likely to start taking opioids than those who tried traditional physical therapy. The study also found that people who used Hinge Health had 25% fewer opioid prescriptions overall than traditional PT patients after 12 months.

The study is based on medical and pharmacy claims data from 160 employers and included 4,195 Hinge Health participants and 4,195 PT patients. Participants started the digital back, neck, shoulder, hip or knee program from Hinge Health between January 2020 and October 2020. The company's approach to care combines digital exercise therapy with a clinical care team of physical therapists and health coaches to help reduce the odds that individuals in pain will start (or continue) taking opioids.

"Our digital exercise therapy program helps people manage their pain while avoiding long-term opioid use," Jeff Krauss, Hinge Health's chief medical officer, said in a statement. "This study is significant in that it is the first of its kind to quantify the impact that Hinge Health's care program can have on reducing the need for opioids, helping people move beyond pain without medication."