Therabody is investing over $10 million in scientific research initiatives, forming a Scientific Advisory Board and partnering with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the wellness tech brand announced.

The $10 million investment will be allocated toward conducting scientific and clinical research studies across various domains including beauty, wellness and athletic performance over the coming years. Therabody’s Scientific Advisory Board will also be comprised of four experts in their respective fields to guide research strategy, initiatives and product development.

The board is comprised of Dr. Pamela Peeke, a physician and scientist specializing in integrative medicine and women’s health; Dr. Daniel Giordano, a Doctor of Physical Therapy who focuses on performance health and longevity; Dr. Robin Thorpe, a global leader in recovery science; and Dr. Neera Nathan, a Harvard-trained dermatologist and Mohs micrographic surgeon specializing in dermatologic surgery and laser medicine.

Together, the board will advise on research strategy, related initiatives and content, and co-develop new Therabody products related to their areas of expertise. 

“I am thrilled to welcome this caliber of scientific leadership to Therabody,” said Monty Sharma, president and CEO of Therabody. “Our Scientific Advisory Board, along with our significant investment in scientific research and partnerships, will ensure we remain at the forefront of our industry and dedicated to developing the most effective, scientifically validated products available today and in the future.”

Therabody x ACSM

Therabody is also committed to working with ACSM on the sponsorship and exhibition of new therapies at the ACSM Annual Meeting in May 2024. The organization is made up of over 40,000 physicians, scientists, educators and health fitness professionals, and is considered a leader in sports medicine and exercise science. 

Therabody has long been dedicated to scientific research, demonstrated by an extensive research portfolio with 21 scientific studies completed to date and an additional 26 in progress. Therabody Labs is the company’s in-house team of scientists and engineers to test and optimize their products. 

Expanding Access to Wellness

The new announcements come as Therabody has been focusing its efforts on expanding the accessibility of its products, including its new beauty line. Therabody released the TheraFace Vibration Mask, which is a light therapy mask clinically proven to reduce signs of aging. The mask is a complement to the TheraFace Pro, which has different attachments for various skin concerns, such as aging, acne, tension relief, and more.

Therabody founder and chief wellness officer Dr. Jason Wersland spoke with Athletech News last year about the new beauty line and the company’s mission to democratize access to wellness and beauty through its products.

Last year, the wellness tech brand also launched three new massage guns in a push to target everyday wellness consumers: the Theragun Relief, Theragun Sense and Theragun Pro Plus.

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In an escalating legal battle in the wellness tech industry, Therabody has filed a lawsuit against rival Hyperice for defamation, trade libel and related causes of action, the company announced. Therabody filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Friday.

Therabody’s lawsuit is not one of intellectual property, but of defamation, injury to reputation and trade libel, which is the publication of a false statement of fact that results in monetary damages, and other related claims.

The wellness tech company alleges that Hyperice made defamatory statements to an athletics store that carries Therabody products, as well as at a trade show. Therabody also asserted false advertising and unfair competition in violation of the California Business and Professions Code, in addition to the common law claims of defamation and trade libel.

Wellness Tech Wars

Therabody’s defamation suit comes after Hyperice filed lawsuits for patent infringement against Therabody and several other brands earlier this year. Friday’s filing demonstrates that Therabody will go beyond merely defending itself in the patent infringement case.

“Dr. Jason Wersland invented the Theragun in February 2008. Therabody has always been a leader in wellness technology and has secured over 600 global patents,” said Therabody CEO Monty Sharma. “As a response to the statements that Hyperice made referring to us as imitators after it filed its lawsuit against us in January 2024, today we filed suit against them for defamation, trade libel and related causes of action.”

In a statement provided to Athletech News, Hyperice CEO Jim Huether said he believes the defamation suit is an attempt by Therabody to shift the focus away from the patent-infringement litigation involving the two brands.

“As we have previously stated, we firmly believe that almost all of Therabody’s percussion devices infringe on our IP, including the Theragun PRO, Theragun Sense, Theragun Elite, Theragun Prime, Theragun Mini, Theragun Relief, TheraFace PRO, and TheraFace LED,” Huether said. “We believe today’s actions by Therabody are a baseless attempt to shift the focus away from their infringing activity. We will continue to move aggressively against infringing parties to enforce and protect our IP.”

The massage gun market is valued at $542.6 million and will likely reach over $1 billion in the coming years. Earlier this year, Hyperice filed a suit against Therabody and other wellness tech companies for infringing U.S. Patent No. 11,857482, which claims technology dating back to 2013 that is used in products like the Hypervolt 2 and Hypervolt Go 2 massage guns.

In 2019 and early 2020, Therabody filed patent infringement lawsuits against Hyperice and Achedaway, which resulted in Achedaway agreeing to a cease and desist and Hyperice agreeing to stop selling one of its massage devices.  

This story has been updated to include comments from Hyperice CEO Jim Huether.

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Therabody has added Michael Giordano and Peter Noverr to its executive team as chief revenue officer and chief operations officer, respectively, as the wellness tech company gears up for what it calls “ambitious growth plans.”

Giordano has a background in consumer electronics and will drive Therabody’s market expansion, online and offline. Noverr has experience driving global supply chains and growth engines. 

Before Therabody, Giordano was chief commercial officer at Progressive Leasing, and spent 14 years at Samsung Electronics America. Noverr previously worked at The Better Being Co., where he was chief operating officer for three years. He also served as chief operating officer at Jenny Craig and was CEO and co-founder at Level Life Foods, a company that specializes in diabetes management products. 

“Mike and Peter bring years of experience, success, and outsized value creation in sales and operations across multiple industries, including Consumer electronics,” said Monty Sharma, CEO and president of Therabody. “We are excited to have them join our excellent Therabody team and supercharge the pursuit of our purpose.”

Therabody Eyes Consumer Wellness

As it gears up for more growth, Therabody will look to build on a big 2023. The wellness tech company unveiled several new products, including the Theragun Pro Plus, the Theragun Sense, and Theragun Relief, in the hopes of increasing product accessibility to new audiences and demographics.

“We’ve become so accustomed to living with pain and it doesn’t have to be that way,” Dr. Jason Wersland, founder and chief wellness officer of Therabody recently told Athletech News, teasing the company’s plans to release more wellness and beauty products. “We started with the pro athletes and have flipped the script to deliver the most effective and innovative therapies to everybody.”

Therabody also partnered with United Airlines to promote wellness travel. United customers flying via United Polaris international business class are provided a Therabody amenity kit with TheraFace eye serum, face spray, hand cream and cleansing towlette. In the United Polaris lounges, travelers will have access to Therabody products like the Lounger, Theragun and RecoveryAir JetBoots.

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Therabody was founded in 2008 by Dr. Jason Wersland, who was inspired to create the company after a painful motorcycle accident. Over the past decade and a half, Therabody has emerged as a leading recovery technology company, expanding from percussive therapy into areas like skincare, sleep therapy and muscle-stimulating devices. 

The Theragun Pro Plus, which was launched in October as part of Therabdoy’s new lineup of massage guns, kept the same as its predecessor, at $599. But at such a steep price tag, is the Pro Plus worth it?

Athletech News put Therabody’s premium massage gun to the test. 

Pros

The Theragun Pro Plus really is all-in-one. It offers everything from infrared light therapy to vibration therapy, heat therapy, cold therapy and breathwork.

One of the best new features of the Theragun Pro Plus is that it uses both hot and cold therapy for recovery. In addition to its usual attachments (the standard ball, dampener, thumb, micro-point, and wedge), it includes a heated attachment that warms up to three temperatures: 113, 122, and 131 degrees Fahrenheit in less than 10 seconds. The cold attachment, which can be purchased for another $89, cools to 59, 50, and 41 degrees Fahrenheit in the same amount of time. The heat attachment, in particular, is a game-changer for muscle recovery.   

The Theragun Pro Plus also includes near-infrared light therapy, which has been increasing in popularity for recovery. It has been shown to improve muscle recovery and reduce inflammation. The light therapy is delivered through 13 LED lights on the bottom of the handle, and can be turned on and off. 

One of the Theragun Pro Plus’ great new features compared to the Pro (fifth Gen) model is the addition of vibration therapy. For sensitive areas or joint pain, vibration therapy may be more manageable compared to percussive therapy. This was an incredibly helpful tool for areas like the knees. 

The Therabody app has also undergone huge improvements in the last year. The TheraMind sound therapy feature is relaxing and soothing, and uses engaging animated visuals, unlike many guided meditations. It connects to the Pro Plus through the biometric sensors, which makes the device a more holistic tool for wellness. The app quickly connects to the Pro Plus and can switch between Therabody devices if you have multiple. 

Lastly, a simple but effective change for the Pro Plus was clearer labeling on the device’s carrying case. Now, the cases have accompanying images and text to clearly explain how best to use each attachment to optimize recovery. As education is important with such a complex tool, this change was incredibly helpful for day-to-day use. 

Cons

Although the Theragun Pro Plus is likely one of the most advanced massage guns on the market, its steep price might be hard to stomach for many consumers. In addition, that the cold attachment is sold separately adds to the already-high cost for those wanting contrast therapy. 

The massage gun is also a fair amount heavier than its alternatives, at 3.63 pounds. The Pro is 2.86 pounds, while the Elite and Prime are only 2.20. For those who plan to use the massage gun on the go, this might be a potential downside. 

Final Thoughts

The Theragun Pro Plus might not be the best investment for massage-gun novices due to its price point. However, if you’re ready to bring your recovery game to the next level with breathwork, vibration therapy and contrast therapy, consider the splurge.

Read more reviews from ATN’s Product of the Week series here

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Therabody has been a hit with A-listers and pro athletes, quickly amassing a who’s who list of over 100 investors since debuting its Theragun in 2016. Now, the wellness technology company is ready for its next act, targeting everyday consumers and reminding them that through Therabody products, pain relief and wellness can become a reality as opposed to a wish. 

As part of its ongoing push to the everyday consumer, Therabody recently launched three new massage guns: Theragun Relief, Theragun Sense, and Theragun PRO Plus.

“I think we’ve become so accustomed to living with pain and it doesn’t have to be that way,” Dr. Jason Wersland, founder and chief wellness officer of Therabody, tells Athletech News. “We started with the pro athletes and have flipped the script to deliver the most effective and innovative therapies to everybody.”

Inspiration Through Pain

For Dr. Wersland, his own experience with pain had been a motivation for the formation of the wellness technology brand. After a motorcycle accident that resulted in a disc bulge injury, Dr. Wersland created the Theragun, finding relief and hope in the percussive therapy device. 

Knowing all too well that you don’t have to be a pro athlete to experience pain and discomfort, Therabody continues to create products that alleviate physical and mental challenges.

“It’s true that the sports and fitness community was among the first to adopt recovery as a regular part of wellness, but everyone can relate to having pain and soreness, wanting to improve sleep or lower stress levels,” Dr. Wersland said,

Serving those who spend their days sitting at desks or standing on their feet has long been a goal of the company, driven in tandem by the recent surge in holistic wellness modalities. 

“It’s important for people to know that Theragun — and all our products — are for everybody,” Dr. Wersland said. “Ultimately, Therabody is trying to help each individual live a healthier life.“

Pandemic Drives Demand

The pandemic was a wake-up call for some, with consumers inspired to make beneficial changes in their lifestyles, Dr. Wersland believes. Since his company is centered on encouraging consumers to take control of their health and bodies through its products, he notes that it’s been rewarding to see Therabody’s impact — which continues to this day.

“The pandemic changed the way we think about health and wellness. All of a sudden, the entire world was interested in how healthy they are and wanting to take control of their wellness into their own hands,” Dr. Wersland said. “Consumers want to be able to have the best of the best therapies available to them at hand.”

Without access to physical therapy, massages, gyms or fitness studios, at-home solutions became not only great options but essentials.

“We’ve continued to see that sustained growth,” Dr. Wersland notes. “At Therabody, we had been spreading the message of owning your own health and well-being for many years, but that time in lockdown became an unexpected catalyst for reaching people on a larger scale.” 

Wellness Is Here To Stay

The timing couldn’t be more perfect for Therabody: even with the pandemic in the rearview mirror, consumers are still keen on at-home fitness and wellness while seeking ways to feel better and look younger.

Even more encouraging for Therabody and the industry as a whole, Dr. Wersland is assured this new wellness wave isn’t a trend — but is here to stay.

“From what we’ve seen, people are looking for ways to take care of themselves in a more holistic way without medicine or prescriptions – I don’t expect this to slow down anytime soon,” he predicts.

Recognizing that consumers are still busy with their daily commitments, Dr. Wersland anticipates that the health and wellness industry will adopt a more “on the go” approach, which he says will make it even more accessible to the everyday person. Nodding to a fast-paced lifestyle, Therabody recently announced a partnership with United Airlines to promote wellness in the skies and bring rest and relaxation to travelers. 

As for health and wellness in 2024 and beyond, Dr. Wersland predicts that we will see the rise of biometric measurement capability so people can tune into their bodies more than ever before. 

Beauty & Anti-Aging

For now, Therabody is focusing on its beauty branch. It’s an area that the brand is fully embracing, as seen with a dedicated business segment just for beauty and anti-aging technology.

“We’re not stopping with the announcement of TheraFace Mask,” Dr. Wersland promises, referencing the new at-home anti-aging mask that uses LED light therapy and Therabody’s signature vibration therapy for relaxation, and was based on consumer demand and feedback.

“After the blockbuster 2022 launch of our inaugural beauty device TheraFace PRO, we plan on continuing to grow the Therabody Beauty business division,” Dr. Wersland confirmed to ATN, pointing out that the TheraFace PRO catapulted Therbaody into the beauty space with over 14 awards and sales second only to its flagship product family, Theragun.

“With the announcement of the Therabody Beauty division, we are dedicated to innovating in the facial health space by bringing tech to beauty to deliver non-invasive, effectual solutions that are easy to do at home,” he added.

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From cold water plunges to peptides, consumers are increasingly seeking non-invasive treatments that promote wellness and longevity — and industry leaders are taking note. 

Boutique wellness studios and spas are booming, and the addition of technology is allowing consumers to quickly book a non-invasive appointment leaving them feeling refreshed. Consumers also have the option of purchasing their own devices for wellness on the go or at home.

Here are four companies creating and disrupting the future of the wellness industry, winning over everyday consumers with therapies once reserved for celebrities.

Therabody & High-Tech Self-Care

Therabody, a wellness technology company renowned for its Theragun massage gun and other high-tech solutions, offers science-backed products that reduce stress and pain, and encourage wellness habits.

The company has partnered with top athletes including James Harden, Cristiano Ronaldo and DeAndre Hopkins, and closed a $165 million growth equity round last year.

Dr. Jason Wersland, Therabody’s founder and chief wellness officer, has seen consumers shift their priorities towards wellness, citing the pandemic as one challenge that empowered people to take charge of their health. 

“Wellness is definitely in the greater conversation, culturally,” Dr. Wersland said. “People are exercising more and looking for ways to care for themselves, which is where Therabody comes in. We’re always working on science-backed ways to deliver well-being to as many people as we can.”

Recognizing that Therabody customers lead busy lifestyles, the company has developed wearable product lines such as RecoveryTherm and RecoveryPulse, offering an on-the-go option so people can continue their daily routines while receiving recovery benefits.

“In terms of active recovery, products like the Theragun and TheraCup are really beneficial as well,” Dr. Wersland said. “We also like to make our innovations easy to use, so we have developed a wide range of routines that people can use in the Therabody App. Protocols are tailored to address specific needs and target treatment areas so you can feel better, faster.”

Most importantly, Therabody’s products are suitable for a wide range of consumers and have helped shape the narrative around recovery and self-care.

“While our devices are pro-grade, they’re used by everyone from professional athletes, parents and grandparents, people who work on their feet all day or at a desk,” Dr. Wersland explained. “We have made products that are simple, effective, and convenient so you can easily add self-care into your routine.”

As for the future, Therabody is focused beyond the body and to the mind, Dr. Wersland shared. 

“TheraMind content in our app pairs with several of our devices to help ease the body into the ideal state to relax and receive maximum benefit from our therapies,” he said. “Our focus is to consistently provide cutting-edge, best-in-class products, content and services that support both mind and body.”

The Covery Brings Spa Experience to the Masses

The Covery Wellness Spa, an immersive boutique wellness experience, is poised for significant expansion across the Northeast as the demand for comprehensive recovery services continues to surge.

The rapidly developing spa, projected to launch 100 additional locations by year’s end, provides an extensive range of therapeutic services, including cryotherapy, facials, body sculpting, IV therapy, red light therapy and more. All of the therapies at The Covery boast an impressive array of benefits aimed at supporting overall health and wellness, improving recovery and performance, and improving overall aesthetics to help clients live, glow and perform in their everyday lives.

Ryan Ensmann, director of marketing and operations at The Covery, reports a significant upswing in interest for non-invasive aesthetic therapies and peptides. It appears that an increasing number of consumers are exploring beauty and aesthetic treatments that provide viable alternatives to invasive procedures.

Peptides, particularly, are garnering increased attention from consumers. 

“Peptides have surged in awareness owing to the rise in popularity of Semaglutide,” Ensmann asserts. “The Covery offers an array of available peptides to help support various health and wellness benefits!”

According to Ensmann, oxygen therapy, IV therapy, and peptides currently rank as some of the most sought-after therapies at The Covery.

The wellness spa employs a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for oxygen therapy, a modality that involves inhaling oxygen at pressures exceeding normal atmospheric levels. This treatment promotes enhanced oxygen distribution throughout the body, especially in areas requiring an energy boost. The result is increased stamina and cognitive function, robust lung health support and expedited recovery from physical exertion.

“Every therapy we offer leverages cutting-edge technology,” Ensmann said. “The Covery serves as an ideal hub for health and wellness, offering these and numerous other therapies under one roof, coupled with a convenient membership model that provides easy access to our therapies for all of our members.”

SweatHouz & The Rise of Sauna, Cold Plunge 

SweatHouz, a rapidly growing chain of infrared sauna and cold plunge studios, plans to open 25 to 30 locations by the end of the year. The boutique wellness business began franchising last summer, quickly gaining steam with over 100 licenses sold in territories nationwide. 

“We hope to get 100 studios opened by the end of 2024,” Jamie Weeks, SweatHouz founder, has told Athletech News. “In 2024 and 2025, you’re going to start seeing SweatHouz locations pop up everywhere.”

The company also teamed up with Hyperice, a global wellness brand, in a deal where SweatHouz clients will find Hyperice’s tech-based recovery products as additional studio therapies in all SweatHouz locations. 

Stefani Rizzi, SweatHouz’s head of marketing and design, says the rising popularity of boutique wellness can be attributed to several factors.

“First and foremost, people are increasingly prioritizing their health and well-being — and they are looking for offerings that make it simple to achieve their goals,” Rizzi said, adding that boutique wellness studios like SweatHouz attract consumers looking to build a wellness routine with ease and comfort in mind. 

It’s also SweatHouz’s focus on creating a welcoming and high-end atmosphere that allows for a more personalized client experience, where guests develop a sense of community, ultimately creating client loyalty. 

“Over the last few years (SweatHouz) has fully immersed ourselves in the client experience and continues to outperform competitors when it comes to servicing our members and providing a next-level experience for everyone,” Rizzi said. “Service aside — it’s what we do behind the scenes that sets us apart.”

Overall, Rizzi says the boutique wellness industry is just heating up. 

“You’ve seen it with brands like Orangetheory, Barry’s, SoulCycle, and other like-minded fitness brands — but the recovery space is full of untapped potential,” she said. “There are plenty of fitness concepts and more are emerging almost daily but you are not seeing that in the recovery and mental health space. At SweatHouz, we target it all — from cardiovascular health to injury prevention, muscle recovery, and just a simple escape from the noise of the world. It’s not just about your physical well-being — your mental health has to be a priority too.”

Icebox Cryotherapy Spreads the Gospel of Cold 

While being exposed to ultra-low temperatures may not sound like an enjoyable time, cryotherapy is one of the coolest trends in wellness. With just three minutes, cold therapy can be an effective way to assist in athletic recovery, pain management, beauty and wellness.  

It’s also a treatment that changed the life of Icebox Cryotherapy Studios founder and CEO Alia Alston. 

After being involved in a serious car accident, Alston was left with chronic pain and a debilitating neck injury. Her father, a chiropractor, caught wind of the first cryotherapy sauna in the U.S. and encouraged Alston to give it a try. 

Within just a few sessions, she soon discovered the therapeutic abilities of cryotherapy, eventually relieving the numbness in her arm and leg and experiencing a major reduction in pain.

Wanting to help others, Alston developed Icebox as a spa-like wellness studio offering cryotherapy and other services. The cryotherapy company has sold 36 locations through organic sales, with most franchisees being former Icebox members or guests. 

By the close of the year, Icebox Therapy will have 20 studios open and more planned for 2024, demonstrating the recent surge in interest in recovery, particularly cold therapy.

“People are using various practices and techniques to promote physical and mental healing,” Alston said. “Of course, one of the most popular methods is cold therapy, known for its ability to reduce inflammation and speed up healing.”

Alston explains that cold therapy has additional benefits, such as improving circulation and boosting endorphin production for pain relief and an improved mood.

“This trend towards holistic health shows a shift away from relying solely on medication or invasive procedures,” she said. “People are now seeking natural and non-invasive methods to improve their well-being.”

As consumers continue to seek out non-invasive wellness treatments like cryotherapy, Icebox is ready to implement a robust franchise development sales strategy that will allow the company to rapidly expand into communities.

“We’ve dedicated the past four years to building a solid foundation of systems, applications, technology and policies to support our studios,” Alston said. “It’s important to me that we have a plan and the capability to open all these studios. Franchising is my way of empowering others to have their own business and positively impact their communities.”

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Therabody, the wellness tech company behind the Theragun, has a solid track record of serving tech-forward devices to combat everyday aches and pains for average consumers, fitness enthusiasts and professional athletes, but consumers are demanding to look good, too — and Therabody is listening.

The company has just launched an innovative LED face mask that fights aging along with a new business branch, Therabody Beauty.

The TheraFace Mask, a $599 FDA-cleared LED light therapy mask that employs 648 medical-grade infrared LED lights to minimize the symptoms of aging while firming skin and promoting a healthy glow, includes Therabody’s signature vibration therapy for added relaxation. 

The wellness tech company says the latest device was inspired by consumer demand and feedback and was designed for convenience but has been on the mind of its founder from the start.

“From the time we developed our first Theragun, I wanted to use LED therapy,” said Dr. Jason Wersland, Therabody founder and chief wellness officer. “LED can help heal and repair tissue, which is why we were exploring LED in the first place.”

Therabody’s Science team paired with Media Lab Science to engage in an independent clinical study that included 31 test subjects between the ages of 39 to 64, where each participant used the mask for nine minutes a day for six days a week. Upon completing the 12-week study, TheraFace Mask was shown to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, smoothed texture, firmed skin, reduced sagging, boosted radiance and lightened dark spots.

The TheraFace Mask offers nine-minute preset cycles using Red, Red + Infrared and Blue light therapies for maximum results. Users can also opt for a quick three-minute cycle or a longer 15-minute vibration-only massage session for stress reduction. The device comes with removable protective eye shields and adjustable straps.

As customers continue to seek new and tech-driven methods to optimal living, Therabody is expanding with a dedicated business segment just for beauty, the result of its continuous success with its first beauty gadget, TheraFace Pro. TheraFace Pro garnered the company over 14 awards and sales that nearly rivaled Theragun, its flagship product.

The company closed a $165 million growth equity round last year.

The new TheraFace Mask is available at Therabody’s website, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and Best Buy.

In addition to Therabody’s at-home beauty push, the company has recently partnered with Barry’s to promote its recovery devices. Earlier this year, Therabody announced it would move into the garment sector, with compression wearables that offer vibration.

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Therabody says it’s time to play fair, announcing that it has joined forces with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) to better understand the unique needs of female athletes. 

The deal will see Therabody become the NWSL’s official wellness technology partner, making its signature recovery devices, such as Theragun Pro, WaveRoller and RecoveryAir JetBoots, available on the sidelines at NWSL games.

The collaboration aims to give all NWSL athletes equal access to wellness technologies and education as men’s teams. As part of the partnership, Therabody is providing other recovery products to all league players, including the FDA-cleared PowerDot, which aids in alleviating period-related pain, RecoveryTherm Knee and RecoveryTherm Back and Core.

The wellness tech company recently named Emily Cole, a Duke University track and field star and sports nutrition author, as its first female NIL partner.

Although Therabody’s tech-forward recovery and support products support consumers both on and off the field, the company points to a startling stat that it hopes to change — that a mere 6% of athletic performance research focuses on women, despite women making up 40% of professional athletes.

“Our goal is to support women athletes on and off the field and to be a voice for equality around sports recovery,” said Dr. Jason Wersland, Therabody founder and chief wellness officer. “Women’s soccer is as big a world stage as there is. We are proud to be an official partner of the NWSL to help bolster the players’ self care.”

The NWSL commented that it’s excited to partner with Therabody, as both strive toward the common goal of advancing player health and safety while providing athletes with the necessary tools to succeed.

“This partnership will not only provide our players with access to the cutting-edge wellness and recovery technology they deserve as world-class athletes, but will also help to support our mission to conduct the crucially important research needed to better address our approaches to player healthcare needs, including injury prevention and recovery,” said NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. 

The collaboration also sees NWSL chief medical officer Dr. Cindy Chang join Therabody as a medical advisor. In addition, NWSL fans will receive education and special offers on Therabody products.

Last fall, Therabody closed a growth equity round with a total financial backing of $165 million, launching eight new products designed to support whole-body recovery. The round, led by North Castle Partners, included existing investors Kevin Hart’s HartBeat Ventures and Aaron Rodgers’ RX3 Growth Partners.

More recently, Therabody announced it would provide recovery stations in all Barry’s fitness locations.

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Wellness technology company Therabody has named Jim Allwein as its chief financial officer.

The appointment comes as Therabody expands its product offerings past recovery into everyday health and wellness and a few months after Therabody announced Monty Sharma as president and CEO.

With over 25 years of experience in financial management and extensive experience in finance, technology and health and wellness, Allwein has held leadership positions at Atkins (now Simply Good Foods), Great Brands of Europe/Danone International Brands, Acirca-Walnut Acres, Hitachi America and Vital Nutrients.

For the last four years, Allwein has been a functional advisor at North Castle Partners, a private equity firm that focuses on fitness, health and wellness companies.

During his time as CFO of Atkins from 2006 to 2015, Allwein led the company’s financial turnaround, resulting in double sales, tripled earnings and an eventual sale.

“We are excited to have a proven and experienced executive like Jim join our great team,” Sharma, Therabody’s CEO, said in a statement. “Being an avid user of our products including Theragun, Jim shares our passion to help millions of consumers across the world recover faster, reduce their pain and improve their mobility, sleep and stress.”

The wellness technology company closed a $165 million growth equity round last September as it launched eight new products to broaden its brand to include whole-body health. North Castle Partners led the venture, and existing investors HartBeat Ventures LLC and Aaron Rodgers’ Rx3 Growth Partners also participated.

In April, Therabody and Emily Cole, a Duke University track and field athlete, announced an NIL partnership. As Therabody’s first female NIL athlete, Cole joins an impressive list, as the wellness brand has partnered with other notable athletes such as James Harden, Cristiano Ronaldo and DeAndre Hopkins. 

The wellness company’s healing technology has also recently expanded into the garment market with a new offering, RecoveryPulse. The new product was developed after two years of research at Therabody’s laboratory in Los Angeles, where scientists and engineers worked to better understand the benefits of incorporating vibration into compression therapy. 

Dr. Jason Wersland, founder of Therabody, told Athletech News last summer that the wellness technology company planned to lean into the mind-body connection, explaining that when examining Therabody’s science, there are frequencies that run through its products that access the mind.

The brand recently received a ringing endorsement from model Karlie Kloss, who prepped for the 2023 Met Gala by using Therabody’s RecoveryAir Jet Boots.

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Therabody is unwavering in its commitment to helping pro athletes and everyday consumers live pain-free and recovery-focused lives, and it is now expanding its healing technology into the garment market.

RecoveryPulse, a new product from the wellness technology company, combines graduated compression with vibration therapy. The treatment is woven into a germanium-infused wearable sleeve and is intended to provide supportive therapy while on the go or relaxing.

Scientists and engineers at Therabody’s laboratory in Los Angeles, California, spent over two years conducting research and development to better understand the benefits of incorporating vibration into compression therapy. According to the wellness tech company, adding vibration helped people recover faster.

“As we use science and technology to innovate products, services and content that shifts the way people think about and take charge of their health, we believe one of the best ways to help consumers is to provide solutions that integrate into their daily lives,” said Benjamin Nazarian, co-founder and Executive Chairman. “RecoveryPulse wearable technology offers people the freedom they like with the recovery they need.”

Last fall, Therabody announced the completion of a $165 million growth equity round led by private equity firm North Castle Partners, LLC, with existing investors including Aaron Rodgers’ Rx3 Ventures and Kevin Hart’s HartBeat Ventures, LLC.

Therabody, which pioneered percussive therapy with Theragun, facial health with TheraFace, and sleep-assistance SmartGoggles, says that its compression wearables elevate compression therapy, which is widely used for recovery, circulatory issues, edema, and pain.

With the addition of vibration, Therabody’s latest wellness offering can accelerate circulation, reduce tension, improve range of motion, and relieve soreness and pain.

According to Therabody, its new RecoveryPulse sleeves can be a game changer for fitness enthusiasts who enjoy running, cycling, tennis, and golf, but they are also useful for use during and after travel, for those who work on their feet or stand for long periods of time, and for those who sit or work at a computer.

The new vibrating wearables can also help with chronic conditions like golfer’s and tennis elbow, circulatory problems, sore muscles, and general aches and pains. There are three vibration modes available, allowing users to tailor their therapy to their specific needs and level of comfort.

“We developed Recovery Pulse to make pain relief as convenient as possible,” said Therabody co-founder and Chief Wellness Officer Dr. Jason Wersland. “We hope that if people can use a device that is convenient and comfortable enough to wear under their clothes, they will use it more frequently, even wear it to work. Whether people use it between sets in a workout or someone like a nurse wears it under their scrubs, we really don’t want people to think pain and discomfort have to be normal or accepted.”

The co-founder, who started his own chiropractic practice in 2006, was involved in a motorcycle accident in 2007 that resulted in a 9-millimeter disc bulge injury, which changed the course of his life, leading to the creation and patenting of Theragun as a result of his own pain experiences.

At the start of 2023, Therabody appointed health and wellness industry veteran Monty Sharma as president and CEO.

Last year, Therabody filed six lawsuits to prevent unauthorized e-commerce sales from Amazon Marketplace and made a move to protect its intellectual property. The wellness tech company also accused T.J. Maxx for attempting to imitate its Theragun smart percussive therapy devices.

The post Pain Relief On-the-Go: Therabody Moves into Garments with First-Ever Compression Wearables with Vibration, RecoveryPulse appeared first on Athletech News.

For some, especially his employees and patients, Dr. Jason Wersland is simply known as Dr. J. But the Therabody Founder and Chief Wellness Officer’s career journey thus far has been anything but simple. As the oldest of seven, Dr. Wersland grew up on a farm and at a young age learned how to become self-sufficient, particularly with his hands.  

As time went on, so did many destined events throughout Dr. Wersland’s youth, including having a neighbor who was a chiropractor for the Utah Jazz. At this moment Dr. Wersland knew “he wanted to do that,” “that” being a chiropractor himself. By the age of 17, he tells Athletech News, he was certain his life’s calling was that of chiropractic medicine. While he started his own chiropractic practice in 2006, it was a motorcycle accident, which resulted in a 9-millimeter disc bulge injury in 2007, that ushered in a life-changing chapter in Dr. Wersland’s life.  

Initially seeking something that would take away his pain from the accident, Dr. Wersland took his physical pain and the advice from a patient to create and patent what is now famously known as the Theragun. The enterprising doctor, who touts Therabody as the “only massage gun company that has science,” went on to create the only tech wellness brand founded by a professional chiropractor that’s “rooted in the desire to help people feel better naturally.” Currently on the fourth generation model of his widely celebrated percussive therapy tool, along with the creation of other devices such as the TheraFace and PowerDot, Dr. Wersland continues to sustain the support of over 250 sports teams worldwide, peers, celebrities, athletes, patients and Therabody consumers, to name a few. For the latest installment of Athletech News’ CEO Corner series, the painstaking path to Therabody’s success and Dr. Wersland’s viewpoints on fitness and the resiliency of the human body are analyzed. 

Athletech News (ATN): Tell us about your background

Dr. Jason Wersland: This idea of becoming resourceful and being able to create was something I learned when I was really young. You don’t go to Home Depot, you go to the barn and figure it out. Like most kids, I didn’t appreciate it until I got a little bit older. I decided to go to chiropractic school a bit later in life. I had a flooring business of my own [in my 20s]. I installed floors at schools and construction buildings, and new construction retail. I worked with my hands a lot. 

When I went to chiropractic school in 2000, I was expecting it to take me about three and a half to four years. But I had two kids, so I had to work at the same time while I was going to school. What was supposed to be four ended up being almost eight years because I didn’t pass National Boards and there were just a lot of situations that I had to get through. When I finally got my degree to practice chiropractic it was like the best finish line I’d ever been through.  

I started a chiropractic practice in 2006 in Los Angeles. I was doing that until I had the motorcycle accident, which triggered a lot of this, in October of 2007. From January 2006 to October 2007, I was building a practice and then suddenly I got injured and I couldn’t practice anymore. It was the first time in my life that I’d really been a patient. [I was] just trying to find something that I could use on myself when I wasn’t in my clinic was really the driving motivation behind this [Therabody]. 

ATN: What was your journey like to get to this point?

Dr. Jason Wersland: My brother is a chiropractor as well and he’d been in a water skiing accident. He shared with me a tool that vibrated. We actually had one in our practice [but] I’d never seen it. It was my business partner’s. I asked him, “Hey, have you seen one of these?” [He said] “Yeah, we actually have one in my closet.” So I go grab [it] and I pull it out, and now I’ve got this cylinder that is about the size of a Coke can and it has an adjustable speed of vibration on the bottom of it and it’s wrapped with neoprene. I put it underneath my armpit and I would just hold that against my body expecting it to last longer. Meaning make the pain stay away longer. But it didn’t. It was the same thing as the table. Now I have a problem — I know I can relieve the pain, but this thing isn’t working. 

What ended up happening is I started realizing vibration never leaves the body. Our bodies are so amazing [because] they [can] accommodate to anything. That’s our main goal in life — is to accomodate to things. I started understanding what this accomodation was and I thought, “How can I have something that my body can’t accommodate? What if I had something that was stronger?”  

I went to my garage, I grabbed a tool and I started making what I thought was possibly going to help me. I took a jigsaw, I bent the blade, I wrapped a dish towel around the blade and I wrapped electrical tape around that and I started using it on my body just to see what it would do. As I was doing that, I found myself two, three minutes [later], and my pain wasn’t coming back. I refined it and refined it and got to the point where I could use this thing on my body all day long if I wanted to, and the pain would always be [gone]. Your body’s pain that you go through is usually what prolongs your injury. But if you can get your body out of pain then you can work on the injury sooner. A lot of time pain causes inflammation, it causes more tenderness, and I was just looking for something to take the pain away not realizing that this thing had a lot of other benefits.  

ATN: Please tell us about your current company and how either your role or the company (if you are the founder) came to fruition.

Dr. Jason Wersland: The first one [Theragun] I made was in January of 2008. By July of 2008, I was better. With the soft tissue damage that I had, that [usually] takes 18 months. The fact that I did it in six months [made] people say, “What?” That’s when I started realizing, “Wow, there’s something to this.” I never thought about bringing this power tool to my office. So I just left it at home and used it on myself.  

[By the] end of 2008, a patient comes into my practice who had been in a head-on bus collision. I thought, “I wonder if I could use this thing on him? I wonder if it’d work on him?” I had him and his wife come back the day after I took his X-rays, [and I] brought this tool in. I sat down on the table and I started showing them that process of how to use it to take away pain, how to use it to increase his range of motion, and how to use it to increase blood flow. Those were the things that I started understanding he needed to have when he wasn’t with me.

After that experience, I realized, “I gotta figure this out.” That patient actually told me, “You need to figure this out, ’cause this changed my life.” From that moment, late 2008 until 2016, that’s what I did. I figured it out.  

I bought 250 jigsaws from Kawasaki in early 2009. [I] took them apart, retrofitted them, put some pieces in, and sold them as fast as I could sell them, [while] learning what percussive therapy was, learning what it could do for the body, understanding the attachments, the mechanism of how you put them on and off, how loud the Theragun was, [and] whether it needed to be battery-operated or a plug-in. I took a lot of advice from a lot of therapists. From 2008 to 2015, I made five different versions.

In 2015, I finally had a final version that we were able to patent and we got a patent on the science of what that was. We launched our G1 in June of 2016. We’re on our Gen 4 model now. 4 different versions in 5 years? That’s not common. People don’t do that unless you’re making cars.  

For us, it’s this story of constantly innovating. That never left me.   

ATN: What else goes into the process of creating a device of this nature?

Dr. Jason Wersland: It’s never a straight line. They say success is a lot of pit stops along the way. What started the idea was I was using a vibrating table at my office. What they taught us, and I learned this first hand, is that vibration makes the body relax. So it actually causes this relaxation in a certain part of our anatomy which is called our Golgi tendon. The Golgi tendon is when you wake up in the morning and you’re really stiff, you can’t lean over. It’s not your muscles. The white tissue is not warm, doesn’t have blood flow. So you feel stiff. If you use something like vibration, it actually activates that Golgi tendon and you take away the stiffness.  

We would put people on this table and do traction on them, cervical traction, lumbar traction, and when you’re pulling the body apart, the body’s natural response is to splint and guard. If you can put vibration there, the body doesn’t want to do that. It just lets it happen. I’m thinking, “why don’t I just lay on that thing? Maybe it takes my pain away, the tension I’m feeling in my shoulder.” So I did —[I]  laid on the table and I [thought], “Oh my God, this is amazing.” But then it would only last for 30 seconds. So [then] I thought, “Maybe I’m not doing it right.” I shift around and… it was literally me being in the pain that I was in that was my driving motivator. 

ATN: How is Therabody leaning into this new era of health & wellness as the world attempts to navigate life post-COVID-quarantine?

Dr. Jason Wersland: That first patient that I used this [Theragun] on? I was empowering him. When you empower someone, they have faith suddenly. They suddenly gain strength. If I told this guy, “The only time you’re going to get relief is if you come in and see me and you can only do that 12 times,” he’s gonna have to suffer a lot. So this idea, for us, of empowering people to feel a certain way and understanding that they can do that? As a chiropractor, I gotta tell you there’s people that come in that all I need to do is touch them and that’s how strongly they believe that they will get better, and there’s others that don’t! They don’t believe that. So it takes a lot of modalities and services and all these different things. But, it’s empowerment and that’s been our story. 

What could I do to empower you? What I can do is create an app. So now when you get on the app, you can look up whatever ailments you want and you now can customize your experience using the app. That didn’t change. We were trying to empower more people, give them trust & faith that they could treat themselves. Now, take that same messaging that wasn’t really popular before the pandemic and now all of a sudden plug it into the pandemic. It just suddenly made sense. People were like, “I can do this on my own? I don’t have to go see a therapist?” 

Then we got into refining our messaging — this doesn’t replace your therapist, doesn’t replace your chiropractor, doesn’t replace your physio. But it bridges the gap between your visits. That messaging is what’s really helped us as we’ve stepped into the pandemic. Our products are for you. We grew like crazy because people couldn’t go see their massage therapist. They couldn’t leave their house half the time.    

If you dig a little deeper into our [Therabody’s] science and you look at the frequencies that we run through our products, they actually access the mind. Now, you have the body and mind connection and we’re going to lean into that more as a company [in the future].  

ATN: Where do you accomplish your best work?

Dr. Jason Wersland: I perform under pressure pretty good, so when there’s high stress and I’ve got to figure out whether it’s travel, or a meeting, or something, I’ve learned how to perform through that. But my best innovation work is after I meditate. Meditation is a practice that I’ve done a lot over the years. It just puts me into this space where I can just free flow. I work really good under pressure and I also work good when [there’s] no pressure and I can meditate and just be in a zone.     

ATN: When did you know you had something of sustainable value?

Dr. Jason Wersland: It was actually the first patient that I had. That was the first time I was like, “Wow! This worked on him like it did me.” I’d come to my practice and there were many times where I put Theragun on someone for the first time and I was kind of nervous. I didn’t know how they were going to react. But over the years I started seeing that every single person reacted the same way. Knowing that it was sustainable was because people would say, “I want to buy one of these. How do I get that? That’s amazing.” People would say all the time, “Oh my God!” and “Wow!” I heard that so many times I then [thought], “OK, this is sustainable. This is scalable because it works for everybody.”  

ATN: What did you want to be when you grew up?

Dr. Jason Wersland: I remember my brother when he was young, he wanted to be a veterinarian, and that was all he talked about. Another one of my brothers wanted to be a chiropractor long before I really thought about that. I wanted to be wise. My grandpa, when I was 10, was asking us, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I couldn’t think of a role, but I wanted to be wise. I feel like if you look at my life, I’ve exposed myself to so many different things that I’ve become wise about a lot of different things.  

ATN: What makes you stressed? How do you manage stress?

Dr. Jason Wersland: My children. I have two kids and, just inherently, they cause you stress. The success of the company really stresses me out. I want everyone that works with the company to experience success. We have a thing at the company called “Hump Day with Dr. J” and I do a little meditation twice a day… and it’s really giving you permission to focus on what’s important to you.  

Our life is consumed with what everyone else wants it to be…The more you can stay focused on what’s important to you, the more fulfilled your life will be. The way I deal with stress is I take a moment several times throughout the day and I stop, focus and breathe on the things that are important to me.   

ATN: Where do you see the future of fitness going?

Dr. Jason Wersland: When I work with some of the best athletes in the world, if they’re up in their head about something — their girlfriend, the coach, the last game — it doesn’t matter what tools I bring. If they’re in their head about stuff, I can’t fix that.  

This idea of true fitness and being fit doesn’t exclude the mind. You have to have a balance between your mind and your body. If your body’s in pain, then you probably have this voice in your head that, and we all have it, questions you sometimes. If [people are] still stressed out in their mind and they’re in their head about things, they’re not really fit. They’re not truly healthy. I think where it’s going is people are gonna start being able to measure what’s happening with their body. With biometrics, it’s going to be much more customizable.  

In my mind I see one day that I could walk up to you as your doctor, could take your phone, and look at all of your measurements if you have an Oura ring or a Whoop or something [else like those health trackers]. I can hold my phone up to you like an X-ray machine and my phone will read to me what’s going on with your body. That’s how I see things going right now with the leading technology and the way we’re able to capture a lot of this information.

The post CEO Corner: Therabody Founder Dr. Jason Wersland Used His Own Pain To Fulfill The Dreams of His Youth appeared first on Athletech News.