Investigating the therapeutic effects of Neubie Direct Current Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation treatment on pain, range of motion, and biometrics measured by the Biostrap wrist-worn photoplethysmography (PPG) device.

Background: According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 20.4% of adults in the US suffer from chronic pain, with 7.4% reporting high impact chronic pain which is associated with decreased quality of life, opioid dependence, and poor mental health. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a safe and minimally invasive therapy which has been shown to aid in the management or relief of chronic pain, including reducing pain from orthopedic conditions or procedures and improving the associated range of motion. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Neubie Direct Current NMES on self-reported pain and range of motion and biometrics including resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and sleep quality in patients with orthopedic pain. Methods: Participants were recruited from multiple sites with access to the Neubie device. Measurements were collected on 17 participants with current orthopedic pain, ages 22-61, using the Biostrap wrist-worn photoplethysmography (PPG) device with in-application prompts for daily survey responses for seven weeks. Following a two-week baseline, participants underwent a total of eight (8) Neubie sessions over approximately four (4) weeks under the care of a certified Neubie specialist. Participants were followed for one additional week of discontinued therapy to measure the lasting benefits of Neubie Direct Current NMES. Results: A total of 833 days of biometric data were analyzed throughout the 7-week study duration. Analysis of data throughout study phases showed improvements in self-reported pain and range of motion, in addition to decreased resting heart rate (RHR), increased heart rate variability (HRV), and sleep efficiency. Conclusions: Consistent application of Neubie Direct CurrentNMESn under the care of a certified specialist may provide quantitative improvements in pain, range of motion, and physiological biometrics in a population of orthopedic pain without neurological disease. Further research is required to establish the statistical significance of these outcomes