We had a chance to speak to Rogier Keemink from Hocoma about Valedo, the award winning app for back health and pain reduction.

Could you share a challenging factor of the development or marketing process?

With any kind of software development, the most challenging factor is the compatibility of the software with the hardware/operating system. Especially when you want to connect sensors with a device (tablet,smartphone) etc.

Due to our astonishing team, we overcame these hurdles and successfully launched the Valedo for iPad (3rd generation +) and iPhone (5+).

Do you plan on releasing your app to other platforms as well?

Yes, we will release soon an Android version of Valedo.

If you could describe your app in ONE word, what would it be and why?

Groundbreaking

Were there any unexpected surprises post-release of your app?

No, there were no negative surprises. We are positively overwhelmed with the positive reactions of patients, physical therapists, doctors and the press.

What features do you hope to roll out to your app in the future?

We plan to release even more engaging exercises and much more...

What is the coolest or most innovative feature of your app?

That Valedo is the first personal digital back coach for guided exercising of the lower back with detailed information on your performance during and the exercises. There is finally a system that can inform a user if they are performing the exercise correctly.

What is your favorite mobile app to date and which have inspired you?

Our inspiration came from our professional product called ValedoMotion. ValedoMotion also uses sensor technology and includes assessments and exercises for the back. We got so many request from patients to continue their engaging back training which they experienced with ValedoMotion at their physical therapist, that we decided to develop a home version of ValedoMotion. The Valedo for home use was born.

What was your main objective or motivation for creating your mobile app?

Many people with back pain correctly seek help from doctors, therapists etc. who often recommend exercises to be performed at home or at work. However, these exercises are often not performed: i) They are boring and repetitive; ii) without external experts people lack accurate performance feedback; iii) doubt increases about performing the exercises correctly; iv) there is no mechanism to show/prove how often and how well the exercises were performed, etc. Ultimately people suffer from a lack of motivation to be compliant with their therapy. With Valedo people can continue their back therapy at home or train their back to prevent back pain. Valedo provides motivating exercises, monitor their progress and retrieve information if you are performing the exercise correctly. Valedo is an innovation because it directly meets the needs of people who wish to treat their back pain with the latest sensor technology.

By placing one sensor on the chest-bone and one on your pelvis with double-sided medical tape, the system can monitor all movements of your upper body and pelvis.

Valedo is:

• First purpose-driven wearable solution for personal back exercising
• Digital back coach to motivate and guide an individualized therapy
• Specialized lower back training for deep muscle redevelopment and joint mobility
• Performance feedback and progress tracking
• Increases engagement and therapy compliance (for patients and therapists)
• Certified and FDA listed medical device developed by medical experts and therapists

With this new innovative form of self-guided therapy Valedo can help people around the world better deal and treat their low back pain. Imagine lifting your child without the fear of pain, performing sports with a healthier back, sitting in the office for a long period behind the computer with a better posture and might even reduce medical bills! We believe that Valedo can contribute to such improvements in the quality of life of Valedo users.

You can view Valedo here