The issue

Musculoskeletal pain is a huge socioeconomic burden accounting for over 50% of all long-term disabilities. Treatment in the private sector is expensive while waiting times in public hospitals are typically over a year.

Solution

Musculoskeletal exercises can be an effective means to alleviate musculoskeletal pain. The CUHK team has the expertise to provide accurate and evidence-based educational materials that teach home exercises and stretching. They are creating an integrated smartphone application with a series of bite-sized, region-specific exercises to empower patients to regain their quality of life.

Impact

“Relieve pain, Restore function, Renew hope”

Relieve Pain:
Many patients are tortured by long-standing pain. Muscle exercises are an effective tool to reduce musculoskeletal pain but access to reliable and proper training is limited. The app provides verified information to kick-start the rehabilitation process in these patients.

Restore function:
Musculoskeletal problems cause over 50% of disabilities in the adult population. The app restores certain functions in patients, allowing more to return to the workforce or reassume their functional roles in the community, such as caring for their children or grandchildren.

Renew hope:
The psychological aspects of pain should not be overlooked, sufferers of chronic pain are often dysphoric and depressed. Their pain limits physical activity which can potentiate their psychological distress. The app can alleviate their physical limitations, and break the cycle of psychological misery.

Beneficiaries

Patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain

Project Team

Funder