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New Study: Major New Jersey Provider Cuts Musculoskeletal Costs by 81% With Non-Surgical Intervention for Chronic Knee and Back Pain

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A new peer-reviewed study analyzed real-world data from patients of a large, risk-bearing provider, who were also covered by one of New Jersey’s largest health plans. It found that a non-invasive, home-based treatment for knee and back pain reduced musculoskeletal (MSK) healthcare costs by 81%. Total savings: nearly $9 million in just 20 months.

The study, published in the Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research, offers more than a promising data point…it demonstrates a clinically proven, economically validated alternative to the rising cost and complexity of MSK care.

That alternative is Apos®, a biomechanical, foot-worn medical device that was shown to help patients significantly reduce pain and improve function. It’s a home-based protocol designed to retrain gait, redistribute joint pressure, and activate neuromuscular control to relieve chronic knee and back pain.

With more than 128 million Americans suffering from MSK conditions and annual costs exceeding $400 billion, these disorders are quietly but steadily eroding plan sustainability.

For benefits leaders, plan executives, and insurers, Apos® represents a scalable answer to the status quo that improves outcomes, enhances patient experience, and meaningfully reduces spend. 

Cost-Saving Impact from a Scalable, Patient-Centric Model

The study evaluated over 4,000 patients; 616 treated with Apos® and 3,576 with standard care. 

The outcomes were striking:

  • An 81% reduction in total healthcare costs over 20 months for the Apos group (approx. $9 million saved)
  • Zero major or minor knee surgeries in the Apos group
  • Substantial reductions in back surgeries, injections, and physical therapy
  • Pain reduced by up to 57% after six months
  • Improved patient function and mobility
  • High patient satisfaction, averaging 8.3 out of 10, with 73% using it 4-7 times per week

“This is real-world, peer-reviewed evidence from a risk-bearing provider managing a commercially insured population,” said Dr. Cliff Bleustein, CEO of Apos. “It shows that innovation in care delivery, not just new procedures, can drive measurable savings and improve outcomes at scale.”

The MSK Challenge That Won’t Go Away 

MSK care has become one of the most expensive and persistent pain points in health plan management. Even as more procedures move to ACS settings, the net result is often more surgeries, not less. And they’re increasingly performed on younger populations.

For benefits leaders, payors, and providers, the question is no longer whether MSK care needs to evolve…it’s how, how fast and whether it delivers on the Triple Aim: better outcomes, lower cost, and improved experience. 

This study offers the answer. By avoiding high-cost procedures and delivering measurable clinical improvements, Apos® strengthens not just individual outcomes, but the financial health of providers and plans looking to manage chronic MSK pain at scale.

Apos® delivers: 

  • Clinical efficacy with proven outcomes in pain, function, and patient-reported satisfaction 
  • Economic impact validated in peer-reviewed HEOR studies 
  • Experience excellence with home-based, non-invasive treatment and high adherence 

Apos is also FDA-cleared and FDA-registered, used across multiple U.S. markets, and supported by international guidelines for knee OA and chronic lower back pain.

Beyond the Study: A Growing Body of Evidence

This isn’t an isolated result. The study joins more than 75 peer-reviewed publications, including multiple randomized controlled trials, supporting the clinical and economic impact of Apos®. For payors and benefits executives under pressure to produce results, it offers three things that rarely coexist in MSK care:

  • A validated path to material cost savings
  • A surgery-sparing alternative grounded in real-world results
  • A patient-first experience with high adherence and satisfaction

At a time when every care decision is weighed against both clinical impact and fiscal responsibility, this isn’t just another MSK solution. It’s a strategic lever. One that’s evidence-backed, patient-centered, and financially grounded.

To learn more about Apos, please visit their website.

See the full study in the Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research.

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