Evidence to guide smarter health decisions

Across large populations, unnecessary MSK surgery often results from identifying high-risk members too late in the care journey. When average employee tenure is less than a year, savings that take multiple years to materialize are difficult to rely on. MSK is different. Surgical escalation can happen quickly, and procedures like injections and surgery are among the largest drivers of near-term MSK spend. This whitepaper explains how Sword's AI Care reduces unnecessary surgery within the plan year by combining evidence-based digital physical therapy with proactive identification of members at risk of escalation. The result is earlier access to conservative care, fewer low-value procedures, and more reliable near-term cost impact.

Proactive care models that engage members earlier can reduce escalation and avoidable MSK costs within the plan year. Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a hidden cost driver impacting so many employers and health insurers. Often starting as mild discomfort, MSK issues like back, neck pain, knee, and shoulder issues can escalate into chronic pain, productivity loss, and costly surgeries. But what if you could stop this progression early? This Sword white paper outlines why many MSK claims are avoidable and how Sword Move delivers proactive care to slash MSK healthcare spend.

Pelvic health is a high-impact but historically under-addressed category, and organizations are increasingly evaluating its potential to deliver measurable cost savings. Pelvic health has long been ignored by medicine. Conditions like incontinence, pelvic pain, and bowel dysfunction are often dismissed—leaving millions of women untreated. Sword Health’s digital pelvic health solution, Bloom, is changing that. Backed by a third-party validated claims analysis, this white paper reveals how Bloom delivers both financial impact and life-changing outcomes.

Independent analysis shows that organizations using Sword AI Care see meaningful reductions in MSK and related medical spend. Third-party validation is key to earning trust — and this independent analysis of Sword’s impact delivers exactly that. Risk Strategies Consulting conducted a rigorous 18-month retrospective cohort study, comparing more than 2,700 Sword members to over 5,100 matched controls. The result: Sword drives substantial reductions in MSK and chronic-condition-related costs, even when controlling for region, comorbidities, and engagement thresholds.