May 16, 2025 • min read
Sword Thrive: Take control of pain and recover from home
Written by

Sword Editorial Team
Experts in pain, movement, and digital health

Pain has a way of taking over.
It shows up in your routines, your workday, your sleep. It makes you move differently or stop moving altogether. And the longer it lingers, the harder it is to know what to do next.
Sword’s Thrive is for the people who’ve tried to push through.
For the people who’ve been told to wait it out. For the ones who’ve sat through appointments, bounced between referrals, or started physical therapy only to feel forgotten.
Thrive gives you a better path.
Created by Doctors of Physical Therapy and powered by motion sensors and AI, it’s a clinically proven recovery program you can do from home. Every session is guided. Every plan is built for you. And the person overseeing your progress is a licensed expert who monitors your care, supports your recovery, and helps you stay on track.
What is Sword Thrive?
Sword Thrive is digital physical therapy designed to support you when pain gets in the way and to help you heal. If you’ve been waiting for a referral, stuck in a cycle of missed follow-ups, or told to just live with it, Thrive offers a better way forward.
This is not one-size-fits-all care. A licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy gets to know your pain, your lifestyle, and your goals. From there, you’ll follow a personalized recovery plan with guided sessions at home, using motion sensors and real-time feedback. Your plan adapts as you progress, so your care stays effective at every step.
No crowded clinics. No confusing instructions. Just expert care built around you, designed to help you move freely and feel like yourself again.
I battled a shoulder injury for years and even had surgery in 2017 but I was still in pain. With Sword, I am pain free with a full range of movement that I didn’t have before!
Getting started with Sword Thrive
1. Tell us about you
Share where you’re feeling pain, your medical history, and your lifestyle so we can tailor your care from the start.
2. Choose your clinician
Pick your dedicated Doctor of Physical Therapy. They will guide your recovery and adjust your plan as you progress.
3. Receive your Thrive kit
We’ll send you a tablet, motion sensors, and everything you need to get started at home.
4. Recover at home
Follow guided sessions at home with real-time feedback and support from your Doctor of Physical Therapy.
How can Thrive help you?
Pain shows up in all kinds of ways. Maybe it’s a specific condition like sciatica or a rotator cuff injury. Or maybe it’s that slow, constant ache that has started interfering with your workouts, sleep, or even just standing at your desk. Whatever it looks like for you, Sword Thrive can help you recover with confidence.
- Targeted support for common conditions: Back pain, joint pain, sciatica, herniated discs, tendinitis, and more.
- Relief for daily aches and strains: Long days on your feet, uncomfortable chairs, or old injuries that keep flaring up.
- Guided recovery after flare-ups: Whether it started last week or a few months ago, you’ll get a plan to help you heal.
- Support if you’ve “tried everything”: If physical therapy hasn’t worked in the past, Thrive offers expert care that adapts with you.
- Help staying active through pain: We meet you where you are so you can move, strengthen, and feel like yourself again.
How does Thrive work?
Digital physical therapy guided by experts: Every Thrive member is matched with a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy. Your DPT builds a personalized recovery plan and checks in regularly to make sure your care is working. They monitor your progress, adjust your plan when needed, and help you overcome any setbacks along the way.
Motion sensors and AI for real-time recovery: You’ll receive wearable sensors that track your movement in real time. Powered by AI, the system ensures each rep is done safely and effectively. Your DPT reviews the data to fine-tune your plan and accelerate your progress. No setup or charging is required.
At-home sessions built around your schedule: Your plan includes guided exercises you can complete from home, on your own time. Every session is designed to reduce pain, restore function, and improve strength without needing clinic visits. As you recover, your plan evolves to keep you moving forward.
Still have questions? We’ve got answers.
Thrive FAQs: before you get started
Who is Thrive for?
Thrive is designed for people dealing with pain, recovering from injury, or managing a musculoskeletal condition. If pain is getting in the way of your life, Thrive can help.
Do I need a referral to join?
No referral is needed. If you’re eligible through your employer or health plan, you can enroll directly.
How much does it cost?
If your employer or health plan covers Sword Health, you may be eligible to use Thrive at no cost. In some cases, a small copay may apply.
What equipment will I need?
Just a smartphone or tablet, a bit of space to move, and the motion sensors we send you. Everything else is included.
Can I do this on my schedule?
Yes. Thrive is designed to fit into your life. You can complete your sessions at home, at any time that works for you.
Join 500,000+ people who trust Sword to end their pain
Recover from the comfort of home with clinically-proven care