Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Cureus

Abstract

Introduction

Hinge Health (Hinge Health, Inc., San Francisco, CA) and similar musculoskeletal (MSK) telehealth platforms have grown rapidly in recent years, offering a new avenue for accessible, at-home care. As digital health further integrates into routine clinical practice, understanding public interest in these services can provide insight into shifting care-seeking behaviors and potential disparities in healthcare access. This study aims to analyze Google Trends (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA) data to evaluate temporal and geographic patterns of public search interest in Hinge Health in the United States, comparing upper and lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries, with the hypothesis that interest has increased over time.

Methods

Google Trends was used to extract relative search volume (RSV) data for the term “Hinge Health” and related MSK keywords (e.g., “chronic pain,” “knee pain”) between January 2020 and April 2025. RSV data was analyzed between two intervals (January 2020-August 2022) and (September 2022-April 2025) using independent t-tests to evaluate changes over time. Geographic patterns were analyzed and visualized using heat maps to identify regions with elevated interest.

Results

Search trends for “Hinge Health” increased from January 2020 to April 2025. The median RSV rose from 23.5 in the first interval to 54.5 in the second, indicating a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). States with the highest RSV included Minnesota, California, Oregon, and Colorado, while the lowest were Mississippi, Nebraska, Louisiana, and West Virginia. Public interest in upper and lower body MSK pain also increased across most terms. Conditions like chronic neck (P = 0.043), shoulder (P < 0.001), back (P < 0.001), knee (P < 0.001), and pelvic pain (P < 0.001) showed significant growth in RSV between intervals. Chronic shin pain was the only category that did not change significantly (P = 0.055). Geographic differences were also notable. States such as Kentucky, Connecticut, and Arkansas showed the greatest increases in RSV over time, while states like Montana, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia saw declines.

Conclusion

Digital public interest in Hinge Health has increased significantly from 2020 to 2025, reflecting broader changes in healthcare delivery and access during the post-COVID period. However, the geographic and socioeconomic disparities in engagement reveal ongoing inequalities in digital healthcare access. Future efforts to expand digital access to MSK care may focus on building socioeconomic infrastructure, improving digital literacy in rural regions, community education, and establishing clearer policy frameworks to promote equitable integration of telehealth services nationwide.

DOI

10.7759/cureus.91136

Publication Date

8-27-2025

Keywords

chronic pain, healthcare access disparity, hinge health, infodemiology, musculoskeletal disorders, telemedicine

ISSN

2168-8184

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