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Friday, January 9, 2026
HealthFirst Robot Physiotherapist Launches as Over a Third of Mancs Off Work...

First Robot Physiotherapist Launches as Over a Third of Mancs Off Work with Back Pain

BackHug, has recently launched into the UK with a global health-tech first.  Sufferers can now subscribe to have a ‘robot back therapist’ in their homes (or offices) that they can control via their smartphone and comes with new proprietary ‘Spinemap’ back tension data technology. This follows new research revealing 85% of Manchester residents suffer with some form of back problem, contributing to an estimated cost of £10 billion* to the UK economy.  

Almost half (47%) of Mancs feel that they need 1-3 appointments with a physio a week to help manage their back pain, but a third (33%) have said that they can’t afford to have treatment privately. 

BackHug is making back care more accessible and affordable, with a monthly subscription starting at just £89 a month, with free delivery and unlimited usage in the convenience of subscribers’ homes.  

This follows a 31% increase in back and neck problems since the pandemic in the UK, with 60% of Mancs saying they are staying in more due to the cost-of-living crisis, with 39% stating it is causing them more back pain and stiffness. 13% attribute their back pain to working from home. 

Currently, 35% of the Manchester workforce have taken sick leave due to back problems, BackHug’s 26 robotic fingers loosen stiff joints in the back, neck and shoulder blades. Stiff joints are the root cause of most of the pain we experience but cannot be treated by other devices and are too hard for human therapists to treat, making BackHug the first truly effective solution for joint stiffness and the aches and pains it causes.  

BackHug also offers in-app physio consultations to assess users’ needs, with over 2,000+ personalised treatment programme options.  

‘Spinemap’ technology also objectively monitors users’ back tension, which changes over time, to allow the user to see objective confirmation of its outstanding therapeutic benefits after each session.  

Chongsu Lee, Founder of BackHug, comments: “With one in five Manchester residents stuck on health care waiting lists and a third saying they can’t afford multiple private physiotherapy sessions a month, BackHug is the future of back therapy by making it more accessible and affordable to treat back problems.  

“It is the most effective way to loosen stiff joints, which is the most effective way to sustainably fix back aches and related issues (like sore thigh, headache, Achilles tendonitis, tennis elbow etc.) 

Back tension has never been measured on a large scale before and represents a valuable new data category, thanks to our innovative technology”, Mr Lee finishes. 

BackHug’s mission is to help with the rise in back problems, offer an affordable alternative to those on waiting lists / who need regular physio appointments, and to help boost productivity in the workforce. 

News Desk
News Deskhttps://www.businessmanchester.co.uk/
The Business Manchester News Desk team is a collective of experienced journalists and editors dedicated to delivering comprehensive business news and insights from the Manchester area and beyond. With a strong background in finance, technology, property, and innovation, our team ensures that our readers stay well-informed about the latest trends and developments in the business world. Through in-depth reports and insightful analysis, the Business Manchester News Desk team is committed to providing high-quality journalism to its audience.
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