Sword Health contracted to provide AI-supported physical therapy for an entire country

June 29, 2026 - 11:07

Portugal's public health system has entered into a contract with Sword Health, a digital health company, to provide AI-assisted physical therapy services across the entire country. The agreement makes Sword the exclusive provider of virtual musculoskeletal care for the nation's National Health Service, covering millions of citizens.

The program will use Sword's platform, which combines artificial intelligence with real-time feedback from physical therapists. Patients will perform prescribed exercises at home while an AI system monitors their movements through a camera or sensor, correcting form and adjusting difficulty as needed. Human clinicians remain involved for assessments and complex cases, but the AI handles routine monitoring and data analysis.

Portugal's health authorities hope the arrangement will cut waiting times for physical therapy, which can stretch for months in some regions. The system also aims to reduce costs by keeping patients out of hospitals and clinics for routine rehabilitation. Sword has already deployed similar programs in the United States and other European markets, but this is the first time a national health service has adopted the technology at such a scale.

The rollout will begin in select regions before expanding nationwide. Officials expect the AI-driven approach to improve patient outcomes by providing more consistent, data-backed care while freeing up human therapists to focus on severe injuries and post-surgical recovery.