DarioHealth, a digital chronic condition management company, announced today the launch of the Upright GO S, a wearable posture-correcting sensor from Upright by Dario.

The new device uses biofeedback to track the user’s posture and vibrates when they begin to slouch, signaling them to straighten up. It is placed on the upper back either by a hypoallergenic adhesive strip or using a silicone necklace.

Designed for all-day wear, the Upright GO S connects to a corresponding smartphone app to give users a view of how their posture has changed over time.

The Upright GO S offers a more cost-efficient option to its predecessor, the Upright GO 2. Coming in at a price of about $60, compared to $100, the Upright GO S includes many of the same features of the Upright GO 2, with a lesser selection of features.

For example, the new device only has one movement sensor, doesn’t include advanced movement detection and has half the battery life of the Upright GO 2.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Back pain is a common condition that affects about 80% of the population at some point in their lives, according to the American Chiropractic Association. The ACA notes that it is the leading cause of disability and accounts for more than 264 million lost workdays per year.

Chronic back and neck pain are on the rise, according to research from Demography. Between 2002 and 2018, the prevalence of back and neck pain increased by 15% and 16%, respectively.

These increases are disproportionately affecting lower socioeconomic populations, according to the research. Adults with income levels well above the poverty level saw their pain levels increase by 14%, meanwhile, those below the poverty level had increases close to 40%.

"One of the strengths of Upright's sensor-based solutions is the successful track record of consumer adoption. The Upright GO S continues that legacy by offering a more affordable option to make digital health solutions accessible to a larger number of people in support of our mission and membership growth strategy," Erez Raphael, CEO of DarioHealth, said in a statement.

THE LARGER TREND

DarioHealth got its start focusing on diabetes management, but has since expanded into other chronic conditions. It acquired Upright Technologies earlier this year to move into the musculoskeletal (MSK) health space. Last month, the company expanded its behavioral health capabilities with its wayForward acquisition.

Omada Health, a competitor of Dario’s, also recently added MSK care to its platform by purchasing Physera.

Others focused on MSK health include Hinge Health, SpineZone, SWORD Health and Kaia Health.