The stinging pain in your back is a horrible reminder of the heavy thing you lifted without bending your knees or of the chubby baby you pick up every now and then. You pop in a few painkillers and even try to stretch. You set up a massage appointment to get some relief, albeit temporarily. But, it never goes away for good.
A new wearable in the market seems like a good solution to your chronic back pain. This device, known as Valedo, has two wireless sensors that stick to your lower back and chest with the help of special stickers that are included. You will have to wear them while you play a corresponding game on your iPhone or iPad. Your physical movements send your game character through an obstacle course, grabbing jewels as it progresses.
In fact, the gaming moves are exercises that are supposed to stretch and strengthen your back muscles and reduce pain.
When you use Valedo, it is easy to forget that you are exercising. It is a lot like being tricked into eating healthier food as a child, when our mothers swapped food with healthier alternatives.
You will have to download the accompanying app and stick the two sensors - one on the lower back and the other on your chest. The app has diagrams to help you through this and a series of tests to measure your range of motion.
The Valedo sensors connect to your iPhone or iPad via Bluetooth. The sensors have a battery charge of two weeks if you use them for 20 minutes a day, as recommended by the company. To charge them again, the whole package has a USB cord that plugs into a computer and charges both sensors up simultaneously in about 90 minutes.
The sensors are lightweight (each weighs just .63 ounces) and are easy to wear. They blink to tell you that they are connected to your device. However, sticking these on and pulling them off can be irritating, especially for those with hairy backs and chests.
The games that come with Valedo can be used while holding an iPhone or an iPad. You can also prop your device up on a shelf in front of you. If you want to play on a bigger screen, you can use a mirroring service like AirPlay on your Mac or TV.
The first few levels of the games are quite easy. However, the difficulty level keeps increasing as you keep playing. The sensors are extremely sensitive and pick up the smallest twists and bends as you go. Also, a representation of your body shows up in the lower right corner. This way, you will be able to see how your posture looks.
The only glitch is — Valedo is expensive ($299). But, the cost of visiting your physical therapist or your masseuse again and again can scale up over time. If your back pain is severe and you are desperately looking for a solution, then Valedo is well worth an investment.
