- 3-2-1 Health Tech
- Posts
- 3-2-1 Arthritis
3-2-1 Arthritis
Priyanka Vaidya
April 28, 2025
Arthritis is a broad term for conditions that cause joint inflammation and pain. It affects people of all ages and backgrounds. The most common types include osteoarthritis, caused by the breakdown of cartilage in joints, often due to aging, overuse, or injury. It typically affects weight-bearing joints like the knees, hips, and spine, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, resulting in swelling, pain, and stiffness. Psoriatic arthritis is linked to psoriasis, causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, often alongside skin symptoms. Gout is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness, and swelling, often in the big toe, due to the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joint. Ankylosing spondylitis primarily affects the spine, causing inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the back and pelvis.
Arthritis is a leading cause of musculoskeletal pain-related (MSK) disability worldwide, impacting millions and significantly affecting quality of life. Early diagnosis and treatment can help manage symptoms and prevent joint damage.
3 startups making an impact in this space:
Company | |||
Location | US | UK/US | Canada/US |
Modality | Diagnosis/Therapeutics | Therapeutics | Remote Monitoring |
Descriptor | Clinical AI platform that turns motion into actionable insights for precision care. | Precision medicine for musculoskeletal pain. | Real-time, remote medical-grade data, so that healthcare teams can monitor musculoskeletal surgery patients and injured athletes at risk of swelling, and achieve their best recovery. |
Core Problem | An in-person visit with clinicians is required to assess and diagnose musculoskeletal issues. Patients are also required to use wearables or sensors. | Musculoskeletal treatments often involve drugs, injections, or surgery and are not personalized for each individual’s unique anatomy and biomechanics. | Recovery requires multiple in-person visits and isn’t always tailored to the patient’s unique needs. |
Solution | Exer delivers objective, real-time motion assessments from anywhere so clinicians can get a powerful tool to inform treatment plans and monitor patients. | Drug-free, non-surgical foot device that uses a targeted, innovative approach to address knee osteoarthritis, chronic hip pain, and non-specific back pain. | InkWell Health’s Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) tattoo enables orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists to track patient recovery in real time, improving outcomes and clinic efficiencies. |
Product Suite | Exer Scan: Asses and monitor patients for MSK related issues. Exer IQ: Capture outcomes and data for customized patient surveys. Exer Health: AI-based monitoring and guidance tool. Exer Hands: Management of hand and wrist disorders. | The Apos: The foot-worn, custom-calibrated device. Personalized treatment plan with remote follow-ups. Guidance from Apos-trained Physical therapists. | Remote Therapy Monitoring (RTM) is a temporary tattoo applied by surgeons. Inkwell Health app to monitor injury recovery. |
Regulatory Status | FDA registered Class II | FDA cleared | FDA cleared |
Funding Stage | Series A | Series C | Seed |
Team | Veteran entreprenuers. | Physician scientists and leaders with business backgrounds. | The founder is an orthopaedic surgeon, and the CEO has extensive experience in the orthopaedic industry. |
Traction | Collaboration with Mayo Clinic. | Solid traction, including availability with NHS plans. | Traction in the B2BC space targeting Ortho Surgeons and Physical Therapists. |
2 actionable insights to inspire your strategy.
Remote Monitoring/Wearables Widespread use of smartphones, smartwatches, and wearable sensors allows continuous monitoring of symptoms, joint movement, physical activity, and medication adherence. Wearables and mobile platforms can alert both patients and clinicians to early signs of flare-ups or disease progression, facilitating proactive care. mHealth apps empower patients to track their symptoms, receive education, and communicate remotely with providers, supporting self-management and enabling timely interventions. Gamification and motivational tools in apps encourage physical activity and rehabilitation, which are key to managing arthritis and MSK conditions. | AI/ML AI is transforming arthritis and musculoskeletal (MSK) care by enabling earlier, more accurate diagnosis through advanced image analysis (X-rays, MRI, ultrasound) and automating the detection of subtle joint changes. AI models analyze clinical, laboratory, and imaging data to subtype diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, predict treatment responses, and personalize therapy plans, reducing the trial-and-error approach in medication selection. AI-driven decision support tools help clinicians synthesize complex data from electronic health records (EHRs), genomics, and patient-reported outcomes, improving risk stratification and care coordination. |
1 key resource to deepen your understanding.
Take a listen to this episode from the ‘Live Yes! With Arthritis’ Podcast that talks about simple hacks to help patients with little things from everyday tasks to getting out of the car after a long day at work:
And that’s all for today. See you next Monday!
Would love to hear your feedback. If you like the newsletter, please share it with your friends and colleagues!