As an employer, keeping your team healthy and happy is a top priority. But with rising healthcare costs, it's a challenge to provide the benefits your workforce needs. Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, like low back pain or shoulder pain, in particular, can be a major expense. That's why many employers are turning to digital wellness benefits to support their employees' health while keeping costs under control.

But not all digital wellness programs are created equal. The right choice for your organization depends on your team's specific needs. Let's break down the difference between digital physical therapy and chronic pain management, and how to decide which is best for your workforce.

Digital Physical Therapy: Focused Support for MSK Conditions

Digital physical therapy programs are designed to increase access to high-quality physical therapy. They're perfect for employees dealing with acute MSK pain who are ready to take action. These programs provide:

• Personalized exercise video playlists tailored to the individual's specific MSK condition
• Real-time biofeedback using sensors or computer vision technology to track progress
• Virtual or in-person consultations with physical therapists
• Education about specific MSK conditions

By overcoming barriers like long wait times, high costs, and lack of transportation, digital physical therapy helps employees strengthen the affected joints or muscle areas, increasing mobility and flexibility. It's a great resource for those ready to engage with physical therapy or continue managing pain through exercise.

Digital Chronic Pain Management: A Holistic Approach

But what about employees living with long-term or persistent pain? For those with chronic pain lasting months or years, physical therapy alone may not be enough. Chronic pain often leads to a fear of movement, making it hard to take that first step towards recovery. It can also negatively affect sleep cycles and can create a sense of isolation or shame. . Digital chronic pain management programs address this challenge with a holistic approach that considers the physical, mental, and social aspects of pain.

These programs offer:

• Education on pain neuroscience to help the brain reprocess pain signals
• Skill building in lifestyle strategies like sleep and nutrition, as well as CBT-informed practices to support mental and emotional health
• Coaching from pain-management specialists to set goals, track progress, and reinforce coping strategies
• Gentle movement programs to help those with a fear of movement gradually become more active by helping them understand movement is key to progress, not a source of further pain
• Customized DPT-approved physical therapy programming for those that are ready

The goal of these programs is not to cure pain, but to empower individuals to better manage their pain, improve their physical function, and enhance their overall quality of life. 

Choosing the Right Program for Your Workforce

Both digital physical therapy and chronic pain management programs can improve employees' quality of life and reduce healthcare costs by minimizing unnecessary interventions. So, how do you decide which is best for your organization?

• Analyze your high-cost MSK claims: Are they one-time issues that can be resolved with physical therapy, or is there persistent spending indicating chronic pain?
• Evaluate patterns in your workforce productivity: If you have the data available, begin to look at presenteeism and absenteeism trends. As with claims, long-term patterns of unscheduled time off or productivity issues may be the result of employees dealing with unpredictable long-term pain.
• Assess your workforce's health needs: Is MSK pain the only driver of costs, or are there other complex, chronic conditions like headaches, fibromyalgia, or neuropathy at play?
• Consider your workforce demographics: Do you have a higher proportion of women, older employees, veterans, or those in physically demanding roles who may be more prone to chronic pain?

By understanding the unique needs of your workforce and the focus of each type of program, you can make an informed decision about which approach will provide the most value. With the right support, your employees can find relief from chronic pain and lead fulfilling lives.

The Bottom Line

Digital physical therapy and chronic pain management are both powerful tools in the fight against MSK conditions. By choosing the program that best aligns with your workforce's needs, you can improve their health, increase job satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs. It's a win-win for everyone involved. So, take the time to assess your options, ask the right questions, and make a decision that will have a real impact on your team's wellbeing.