The Business Group on Health's 2025 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey1 reports that musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are a leading concern for employers. According to the survey, employees with joint pain missed 10.3 workdays in 2024. Employees struggling with joint pain coupled with mental health needs missed 14.4 days. MSK conditions of the back, shoulder, and other joints increase health care costs, while decreasing employee productivity and well-being.
The World Health Organization2 (WHO) estimates that approximately 1.7 billion people live with MSK and joint health conditions. These conditions often cause chronic pain plus limited mobility, flexibility, and agility. Any of these challenges can result in premature retirement, reduced well-being, and decreased social engagement.
While low back pain is the top cause of disability in 160 countries, MSK conditions include more than 150 diseases affecting muscles, bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments. Some of the most common conditions include:
Highmark collaborates with Sword Health to offer a virtual joint health program to improve mobility, flexibility, and musculoskeletal wellness. The program helps to alleviate joint and muscle pain, while supporting members in building healthy habits to prevent injury.
In many cases, members are also able to avoid surgery and opioid use by completing the stretching and strengthening exercises customized for them. The program features educational videos about different conditions and problem areas including self-guided exercises, modifications, and nutrition tips.
Everyone who enrolls in the Sword Health joint health program receives a tablet preloaded with exercises and a table stand. Movement-sensing technology provides guidance on proper form and movement. Specialists provide consultation and adjustments as needed based on the member's feedback and progress in the program.
Sword Health helps employees stick to their health goals and keep their joints healthy. The company's findings echo data from the National Institutes of Health3, which finds that consumers prefer virtual interactions. Members can complete their treatment at home, in private, whenever they want.
Highmark launched the virtual joint health program in 2022 and has seen consistent growth in member enrollment and engagement. By the end of 2024, more than 36,500 members had enrolled — each completing an average of 20 sessions.
Outcomes show considerable improvement in health, along with high rates of engagement and satisfaction. Data includes:
We also saw statistically significant reductions and lower increases in both utilization and spend for members enrolled in Sword Health. Members had fewer emergency department and primary care appointments, along with less surgery and fewer imaging, physical therapy, and chiropractic visits.
The mind-body connection plays a crucial role in overall good health, as evidenced by improvements seen among members participating in the joint health program. Members who completed at least nine virtual joint health sessions experienced improvement in both their mental and physical health.
These member's Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores, which assess the severity of depression, decreased by an average of 18%. Their General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scores, which evaluate the severity of anxiety, decreased by an average of 25%.
The Sword Health joint health program supports recovery from injury and helps members build habits to prevent future joint damage. Once added to the employer health benefits offering, services are available at no additional cost to employees.
New features are being added this year. Soon, members will be able to give in-session feedback on pain and difficulty, allowing exercises to adapt in real time as needed.
Joint health specialists will also be able to refer members for additional virtual programs through Highmark. This includes enrollment in our Mental Well-Being program for improved daily functioning — as physical pain impacts both body and mind. A combination of programs can help bring a member back to whole-person health. Virtual Joint Health and Mental Well-Being are just two of the digital employee wellness programs offered by Highmark. We also provide virtual programs to support and manage pelvic health, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Talk to your client manager for more information on Sword Health or any of our specialty programs.
All references to "Highmark" in this communication are references to Highmark Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and/or to one or more of its affiliated Blue companies.
Sword Health is an independent company that provides wellness services for Highmark Health plans. Sword Health Professionals provides its services through a group of independently owned professional practices consisting of Sword Health Care Providers, P.A., Sword Health Care Providers of NJ, P.C., and Sword Health Care Physical Therapy Providers of CA, P.C.
*Individuals ages 13 – 17 will need to obtain consent from their parent or guardian.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns regarding a medical condition and before you begin a wellness program.
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