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Leipzig. "We've been working towards this for a long time. The fact that we have now received approval from the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices is like an accolade for us," says Benedict Rehbein, Managing Director of the Leipzig-based company eCovery. The start-up has developed a therapy app for the lower back, which can now be prescribed by doctors throughout Germany.
This is a twelve-week digital therapy. "Numerous doctors and health insurance companies have been actively involved in the development of the app in previous years," says Marcus Rehwald, also Managing Director at eCovery.
App adapts to the user's state of health
From now on, it will be reimbursed by all statutory health insurance companies as a "digital health application" (Diga). "Back pain is widespread throughout Europe, with well over half of Germans struggling with it every year," says Alexander Georgi, a doctor of orthopaedics and co-founder of eCovery. The causes are manifold, the treatment options limited - until now.
The new therapy app - available for Android and iOS - adapts to each user's state of health, documents progress and keeps a diary of pain progression. "The app is aimed specifically at people with problems with the lumbar spine and is approved for people aged 18 and over; the costs are covered directly by health insurance," says the doctor.
Back pain is widespread throughout Europe, with well over half of Germans suffering from it every year. - Alexander Georgi, orthopaedist
Digital therapies offer structured programs with exercises, instructions or interactive functions designed to help patients actively improve their health.
However, the hurdles to being listed as a Diga are high, says Benedict Rehbein. For example, the eCovery therapy app was able to prove in a study that both the functional and pain scores of patients improved compared to conventional therapy. According to him, only around 40 companies in Germany have received similar approval. "In the back area, there are only three products available nationwide that doctors are allowed to prescribe - so we are gaining access to a whole new area," says the company boss.
Therapy app from eCovery in Leipzig. Introduction by a medical professional.
Source: eCovery
Incidentally, the founders from Leipzig were brought together by competitive sport. Benedict Rehbein and Alexander Georgi are passionate wrestlers and both had knee problems as a result of their sport. This gave them the idea of developing a therapy app to support the healing process at home. In 2021, they entered their app for Saxony's Entrepreneur Award and came second among the best founders.
