Brittany Barreto, Ph.D., is a podcaster, entrepreneur and molecular and human geneticist. (In other words, he is very smart.) Read her column here every month to learn what’s happening in the world of technology and innovation in women’s health.
For years I thought I had weak wrists. Sure, push-ups and downward facing dogs were inherently difficult, but the pain these exercises caused in my wrists was disturbing. Over time, the pain worsened and activities such as cooking, driving long distances, and even certain sexual positions became too painful. I started to get seriously worried when my knees started hurting too.
I went to an orthopedic specialist who sent me home saying my joints looked fine. But like many people who experience chronic pain, I knew something was wrong.
Luckily for me, I was able to attribute the pain to a gluten intolerance. I’ve been wheat-free for eight months and feel stronger and healthier than I have in years. Some people say they could never give up bread. But if you are one of the 1 out of 5 For people in the US living with chronic pain, you can guess that I happily gave up my cookies and pasta so I could be free from constant pain.
Read: Learn more about chronic pain >>
Chronic pain is very common, especially in women, who represent 70% of people with chronic pain. And fortunately, more and more companies are creating tools that people can use to manage pain. These are some of the newest technologies for chronic pain relief.
Lin: a brain-based approach
Lin, an online platform for chronic pain, seeks to redefine chronic pain from “all in your head” to “also in your head.” I remember still shuddering at a pot of water expecting electric pain in my wrist for weeks after going gluten-free.
When we feel pain for too long, our mind waits for it through complicated interactions between the brain, nervous system, and body. The Lin program educates users about patterns, habits, and mindsets that could make their pain worse and teaches them how to break this cycle to gain relief.
This integrated digital health app has millions of users and incorporates psychology, neuroscience, pain reprocessing therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, emotional awareness and expression therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
Lin Health reports that 90% of members show reductions in pain within four to six months. What isn’t an issue for some members is the price, as Lin is covered by a few insurance providers in three states and accepts FSA/HSA payments.
Moonai: sounds that calm
Photo/Courtesy of Moonai
Did you know that music has the power to reduce pain? He lunai The app uses ambient drone soundscapes produced by musicians and scientists to naturally relieve menstrual pain. After answering a few questions, Moonai suggests a playlist of sounds. It may seem too good to be true, but Moonai says that more than 80% of users report feeling less pain after listening to their personalized playlist.
“We use binaural beats to convert the brain into a relaxed, pain-free state,” said Laura-June Clarke, founder of Moonai. “Binaural beats occur when the sound in the left and right ear is unbalanced. This influences brain waves. “So, depending on the frequency differences, we can induce relaxation or interrupt pain signals in the brain.”
Read: Like millions of women, I live with chronic pain and have had to learn to advocate for myself >>
Clarke said another example is playing music at 60 beats per minute, which relaxes your heart rate and breathing. “Slower, deeper breaths increase oxygenation and blood flow. Obstruction of blood flow is what causes most menstrual cramps, so if we can get breathing to slow down and veins to dilate, the end result is less painful periods.”
Stanza: an app as good as a pill
(Photo courtesy of Swing Therapeutics)
This digital therapeutic is a technology software that has been clinically proven to successfully treat a medical condition and has obtained FDA approval. That means your healthcare provider can prescribe an app for you!
Swing Therapeutics Launched Stanza in May 2023 as the first FDA-approved digital treatment that treats fibromyalgia. The app offers a daily 15-minute lesson with simple, practical exercises, such as mindfulness and journaling, that are proven to work. reduce pain caused by fibromyalgia. In fact, one study found that 9 in 10 people said they preferred using Stanza to medications alone and that chronic pain relief was still effective one year after participating in the three-month program. Although Stanza is currently only available for prescription in Texas, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, the company says it will be coming to more states soon.
Sword Health: Home Physiotherapy to Predict, Prevent and Treat Pain
Sword Digital Physiotherapy The program brings clinical-quality treatment to your home. Members wear sensors while following a physical therapist’s personalized plan. Sensors track, detect and correct motion errors in real time. The physical therapist reviews the program data and adjusts the exercises accordingly to optimize them for the level of effort, performance, and difficulty of the exercise. This makes the program customizable rather than one-size-fits-all.
A recent study showed that participants were twice as likely to complete their digital program as those who attended in-person physical therapy with equally strong clinical outcomes. Sword even showed that 50% of its members They completed their prescribed programs on Christmas Day!
Movement is important for reducing pain, but poor form can slow or reverse progress. You can say that Sword has your back… and your front and all the joints in between when it comes to reducing pain.
The information about products and/or services in this column does not constitute any type of endorsement or recommendation by HealthyWomen. Links are provided for your convenience and for informational purposes only. On occasion, this column may cover companies in which Brittany Barreto is an investor.
