After living with nagging lower back pain for seven years, Strategic Operations Manager (TPA+) Jen Friend decided to do something about it. The slight twinge she felt in her lower back was enough to cause discomfort, but not serious enough to prompt her to seek professional help.

From text messages and phone calls to video check-ins, establishing and maintaining a connection with her coach helped her stay on track. Sure, the program was easily accessible through HealthJoy’s connected care platform, but the human interactions she experienced throughout the 12 weeks conveyed something else: a sense of care.

“Jeremy was a true champion throughout the whole process,” Jen said. “Every step of the way, he would check in on me, making sure things were going well and offering his support. It really made the program feel like HealthJoy cared about me. It’s almost like having a friend do it with you. He kept me motivated and I could tell he wanted me to succeed doing this program.”

The video calls were especially helpful because they enabled her to ask her coach questions in real time and demonstrate any exercises she was unsure about while he provided feedback. It was during these interactions that Jeremy would also provide alternative movements and offer up other tips to try.

A Different Level of Care

Eventually, the virtual MSK care program became part of Jen’s regular routine. In fact, by the end of the 12th week, though she’d found relief, she was sad to see it end.

“The first week was really about remembering to go into the app and getting into the habit of checking off whether I did the stretches or not,” she said.