EQL

According to Arthritis UK, people living with MSK conditions are 20% less likely to be in work than someone without. MSK conditions are one of the leading causes of disability in the UK, and their impact extends well beyond physical pain. Persistent symptoms affect mobility, energy levels, confidence, and the ability to stay active in the workplace. For many people, this means reduced hours, changes in role, or leaving work altogether. For employers and the wider economy, it means lost productivity, increased absence, and growing pressure on occupational health and healthcare services. At EQL, we believe access to effective MSK care should not be delayed. Through our NHS and corporate partnerships, 3.9 million people across the UK are supported by Phio, helping prevent, assess, and treat pain and injury as soon as it arises. Because when MSK issues are addressed early, the impact on people, workplaces, and health systems changes dramatically. 👉 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eJQA3gmV 

Running is one of the simplest ways to stay active: it's accessible, low-cost and great for both physical and mental health. But, as more people take up running, injuries are becoming increasingly common. In fact, 50% of runners experience an injury each year that stops them from running for a period of time. In our latest blog, we break down what runners should know to reduce injury risk, and stay active for longer: 🏃🏾♀️ The most common running injuries and why they happen 🏃🏾♀️ How small training changes can prevent overload 🏃🏾♀️ Why strength, recovery and nutrition matter just as much as mileage 🏃🏾♀️ Simple ways to support long-term running health A few smart adjustments can make all the difference between a disrupted training plan and consistent progress. Read the full blog 👉 https://lnkd.in/eJBA23_8 

23.4 million working days a year are lost due to MSK conditions. The cause of this is varied: 👉 Ageing populations living longer with chronic conditions 👉 Rising obesity levels  👉 A physiotherapy workforce that simply cannot keep pace with referrals. The result is a healthcare pathway under structural strain. We see the same pattern is playing out across global health systems: patients struggle to get GP appointments, wait months for physiotherapy, then join another queue for surgical referral. Digital-first MSK pathways are an alternative. In NHS Lanarkshire, Phio reduced waiting times from 29 to 17 weeks, freed up 762 clinical hours, and cut GP referrals by up to 7% in the practices using it most – all within six months. So the question now is not CAN digital MSK tools support healthcare systems, but HOW quickly they can be scaled?

We have partnered with Cignpost, to bring our clinically guided digital MSK care and virtual physiotherapy to their users. 🎉 Musculoskeletal conditions remain one of the leading causes of absence across the UK. Too often, people face long waits for care or uncertainty about how to manage pain safely, delaying recovery and return to work. By integrating Phio into the MyCignpost app, users can now access trusted, physiotherapist-designed MSK support directly. From digital triage to personalised recovery programmes, Phio helps people understand their symptoms and take the right next step sooner. Through this partnership, users can: 🟠 Complete a clinically guided MSK assessment 🟠 Access personalised exercise programmes designed by physiotherapists 🟠 Receive practical advice and on demand support 🟠 Begin managing symptoms early, without waiting for appointments We are proud to partner with Cignpost to make high-quality MSK support more accessible, making it easier than ever for users to recover safely, confidently, and sustainably. Read more about the collaboration here: https://lnkd.in/e6j4EMQm

A common frustration for MSK patients is thinking you’re finally recovering, only for the pain to return and the treatment journey to start all over again. But early, structured support can change that trajectory. In our first-year evaluation across South Sefton Primary Care Network and East Staffordshire PCN, 65% of patients required NO additional treatment after using Phio’s self-management support. That means fewer repeat appointments, fewer escalations, and more people recovering without needing to re-enter the system. As MSK demand continues to rise, helping patients resolve issues earlier is one of the most powerful shifts primary care can make. Get in touch with the team to find out how you can change the trajectory of recovery for your patients today ➡️ https://www.eql.ai/contact 

Are you an experienced physiotherapist looking for your next challenge? As more and more people access MSK care through our Phio platform, we’re once again hiring for someone to help us deliver high-quality digital MSK support at scale. This is a chance to take your MSK expertise into a digital-first role – working across care delivery, governance and service improvement, alongside product, engineering and research teams. Applications close in the first week of April, so if you’re an experienced physio ready to help shape the future of MSK care, we’d love to hear from you! Fully remote | £47.5k-£50k Apply here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eVs2FWXT     Any Qs about the role, reach out to Michael Guard 📩 Jason Ward Peter Grinbergs Samantha Medcraft

Australia’s MSK injury crisis is costing more than $55 BILLION each year and driving nearly one in three workers’ compensation claims To help address this growing burden, we’re pleased to welcome David Grant as Executive Advisor, Government & System Partnerships (Australia). David brings deep experience at the intersection of healthcare, policy and system reform. He joins EQL following his role as Director of Health Policy at the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), where he led policy and reform across workers’ compensation and motor accident schemes. His work focused on improving recovery outcomes for injured people while managing rising healthcare utilisation and long-term scheme sustainability. It’s a perfect match! At EQL, David will support engagement with insurers, regulators and government as we work to improve access to evidence-based MSK care and strengthen recovery pathways across compensable injury systems. Welcome to the team, David🚀 Learn more about the work he'll be doing at EQL: https://lnkd.in/e2J3vFCN Sarah O'Connor Jason Ward Peter Grinbergs Samantha Medcraft 

There are 2.6 million new cases of low back pain every year in the UK, and that number is only rising... As highlighted in Arthritis UK's 'State of Musculoskeletal Health 2025' report, MSK conditions are one of the biggest drivers of disability, and most cases are non-specific. While there may be no clear cause of damage or inflammation, the impact to individuals and health systems is persistent and costly. Ongoing back pain affects mental well-being, productivity, and quality of life. It increases pressure on primary care, physiotherapy services, and employers managing absence and long-term health needs. To see a change, we must act earlier and identify issues sooner. We believe that everyone deserves access to best-in-class MSK care. Through our NHS and corporate partnerships, 3.9 MILLION people across the UK now have access to Phio – helping prevent, assess, and treat pain and injury as soon as it arises. No one should have to live with pain. And the longer pain persists, the harder it is to resolve, increasing the impact on individuals and the wider system.

We all know that regular movement is vital in keeping MSK health in check. But did you know that your sleep quality and vitamin D levels are just as important? Pain can make it harder to fall and stay asleep, while decreased sleep quality can increase pain sensitivity and reduce discomfort tolerance. Similarly, low vitamin D levels have been linked to muscle weakness and also increased difficulty in falling asleep. It's a vicious cycle. In our new blog, we break down how these often overlooked factors aid muscle recovery and how to take a more holistic approach to MSK care. 👉 Read the full blog: https://lnkd.in/e6U5qEES  

Thought pain was just a physical sensation? Think again. Historically, scientists thought pain occurred in response to an external stimuli that damaged body tissue (eg, if you burn yourself on a hot pan, it hurts). However, modern research shows that pain occurs when your brain thinks the body may be at risk of damage, and so makes you "feel pain" to protect itself. To do this, the brain weighs up a number of factors, alongside physical sensations, to decide whether something is painful. We call this complex interplay of factors that influence how – and to what degree – someone experiences pain, the biopsychosocial model. Bio → Biological factors, such as genetics, chronic pain history, or medical comorbidities Psycho → Psychological factors, such as personality, anxiety or depression, previous pain experience Social → Social factors, such as familial influence, social support, cultural attitudes, socioeconomic status No two people feel pain in the same way. As such, there is no one way to treat pain. 👉 Hear more from Dr Danny A., Lecturer at UCL, on the fascinating way the body feels and measures pain below. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eGA6fGMC