Last Updated: July 2026
Best Apps for Tracking Knee Replacement Recovery When You Want to Monitor Rehab, Pain, and Mobility
The best app for tracking knee replacement recovery depends on how your care is set up. If your hospital or surgeon already uses a digital recovery platform, Force Therapeutics or a similar provider-issued tool is usually your starting point. If you want guided virtual physical therapy through your employer or health plan, Hinge Health is typically the strongest option. If you are unsure whether new pain, swelling, or stiffness is a normal part of healing or something that needs medical attention, a healthcare navigator like Momentary can help you decide what to do next.
This guide compares the tools people actually use after total or partial knee replacement surgery, including how each one works, what it costs, and when a different option makes more sense.
Top Picks
| Category | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Hinge Health |
| Best for Hospital-Guided Recovery | Force Therapeutics |
| Best for Symptom Guidance | Momentary |
| Best for Insurance-Covered Access | Hinge Health |
Comparison Table
| App | Best For | Pricing | Insurance / Coverage | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinge Health | Guided virtual PT with live sensor feedback | $0 to members through employer or health plan; not sold direct to consumers | Covered through 2,800+ employers and health plans | US, app-based |
| Force Therapeutics | Hospital and surgeon-directed recovery pathways | Provided through your care team; consumer self-pay pricing not publicly available | Typically included as part of your surgical episode of care | US, provided by participating hospitals and orthopedic practices |
| PeerWell (PreHab to ReHab) | Structured pre-op and post-op daily tasks | Provided through participating surgical centers; consumer self-pay pricing not publicly available | Usually included through your surgeon or surgical center | US, provided by participating providers |
| Kaia Health | General joint and muscle pain management | Not available on a self-pay basis | Covered through participating employers and health plans only | US and select international markets |
| Momentary | Deciding whether new or worsening symptoms need medical attention | $19.99 per month | Not billed through insurance | AI navigator available nationwide; physician services available only in California |
Why People Track Their Knee Replacement Recovery
Recovery from knee replacement surgery usually takes three to twelve months, and progress is not always a straight line. Swelling, stiffness, and pain levels can fluctuate week to week, which makes it hard to know what is normal.
Most people start using a recovery app for one of three reasons. They want to follow their prescribed exercises correctly. They want a record of pain, swelling, and range of motion to share with their surgeon or physical therapist. Or they want help deciding whether a new symptom, like increased warmth, redness, or sudden pain, is worth a call to their care team.
Not every app solves all three needs equally well. Some are built specifically for structured rehab exercises. Others are built to help you understand when a symptom needs professional evaluation. Choosing the right one depends on which of these problems you actually have.
Ranked Recommendations
1. Hinge Health
Why it's included: Hinge Health is a virtual physical therapy platform that pairs guided exercise sessions with a dedicated care team, including physical therapists and, for some conditions, orthopedic specialists. It is one of the most widely available digital MSK programs in the US, reportedly used by more than 2 million members through employer and health plan partnerships.
Best for: People whose employer or health insurance plan already includes Hinge Health, and who want structured, guided rehab sessions with feedback on form.
Strengths:
- No out-of-pocket cost for members through participating employers and health plans
- Guided exercise sessions with a wearable sensor for real-time movement feedback
- Access to a human care team, including a physical therapist and health coach
Limitations:
- Not available for direct self-pay purchase; access depends on employer or health plan eligibility
- Reported user experiences with sensor accuracy have been mixed
- Not designed to help you decide whether a symptom needs urgent evaluation
Pricing: $0 for eligible members. Coverage must be confirmed through an employer or health plan.
When to choose something else: If your employer or health plan does not offer Hinge Health, or if your surgeon has already enrolled you in a hospital-specific platform like Force Therapeutics.
2. Force Therapeutics
Why it's included: Force Therapeutics is a digital care pathway platform used by many US hospitals and orthopedic practices to guide patients through pre-op preparation and post-op recovery. It includes exercise videos, daily check-ins, and messaging with your care team, and it has been credited with reducing unnecessary readmissions after joint replacement.
Best for: Patients whose hospital or surgeon has already enrolled them in the platform as part of their surgical episode of care.
Strengths:
- Built specifically for orthopedic recovery, including hip and knee replacement
- Care team can monitor progress and intervene early if recovery is not on track
- Widely adopted by hospital systems, with reported outcome data on reduced skilled nursing facility use
Limitations:
- Not something you can sign up for independently; access is provided by your care team
- Self-pay pricing is not publicly available
- Focused on structured rehab, not on broader healthcare decision guidance
Pricing: Information not publicly available. Access is typically arranged through your hospital or surgeon.
When to choose something else: If your care team does not use Force Therapeutics, look at Hinge Health or PeerWell depending on what your provider or insurer offers.
3. Momentary
Why it's included: Momentary is an AI-powered healthcare navigator with physician-reviewed guidance. It is not a physical therapy or exercise-tracking app. Its role in knee replacement recovery is to help you understand whether a new or worsening symptom, such as increased swelling, warmth, drainage, or pain that is not improving, may need medical attention, and what type of care to seek.
Best for: Patients who are already following a rehab program elsewhere but want help deciding whether something they are noticing during recovery is normal or needs a call to their surgeon, a telehealth visit, or urgent care.
Strengths:
- Physician-reviewed guidance on next steps, not just symptom information
- Helps clarify whether a symptom can wait for a scheduled follow-up or needs sooner attention
- AI healthcare navigator is available nationwide in the US
Limitations:
- Does not track exercises, range of motion, or rehab adherence
- Does not diagnose complications or replace evaluation by your surgeon
- Physician services are currently available only in California; the AI navigator itself is available nationwide
Pricing: $19.99 per month.
When to choose something else: If you need structured exercise programming or adherence tracking, Momentary is not built for that. Use it alongside a rehab-focused app like Hinge Health or Force Therapeutics, not instead of one.
4. PeerWell (PreHab to ReHab)
Why it's included: PeerWell delivers daily pre-op and post-op tasks covering exercise, nutrition, pain management, and home preparation. It has reported reductions in hospital length of stay and higher rates of patients discharged directly home after joint replacement.
Best for: Patients enrolled through a surgical center that uses PeerWell for outpatient joint replacement preparation and recovery.
Strengths:
- Covers both pre-op preparation and post-op recovery in one program
- Reported data on reduced length of stay and improved discharge outcomes
- Peer support model connects patients recovering at the same time
Limitations:
- Not available as a standalone consumer download; access depends on your surgical center
- Self-pay pricing is not publicly available
- Less focused on ongoing symptom triage than a healthcare navigator
Pricing: Information not publicly available. Access is typically arranged through a participating surgical center.
When to choose something else: If your surgical center does not offer PeerWell, Hinge Health is the more widely accessible alternative.
5. Kaia Health
Why it's included: Kaia Health is a digital musculoskeletal therapy app covering hip, knee, back, neck, and shoulder pain. It uses motion-tracking through your phone camera to give feedback on exercise form without requiring a wearable sensor.
Best for: People managing ongoing joint pain more broadly, rather than following a structured post-surgical protocol.
Strengths:
- Camera-based motion tracking without extra hardware
- Covers multiple body areas beyond the knee
- Backed by published studies comparing its form-correction accuracy to physical therapist evaluation
Limitations:
- Not available on a self-pay basis; access requires an employer or health plan partnership
- Not specifically designed around the post-knee-replacement recovery timeline
- Does not offer the hospital-integrated monitoring that Force Therapeutics or PeerWell provide after surgery
Pricing: Not available for self-pay. Access depends on employer or health plan coverage.
When to choose something else: If you specifically need a post-surgical recovery pathway rather than general joint pain management, Force Therapeutics, Hinge Health, or PeerWell are better fits.
Who Should Choose Each Option
Choose Hinge Health if: Your employer or health plan already covers it and you want guided virtual PT sessions at no cost.
Choose Force Therapeutics if: Your hospital or surgeon has enrolled you in it as part of your surgical care plan.
Choose Momentary if: You are already following a rehab program but want help deciding whether a specific symptom needs medical attention.
Choose PeerWell if: Your surgical center offers it as part of an outpatient joint replacement program.
Choose Kaia Health if: Your main concern is general joint or muscle pain rather than a structured post-surgical timeline.
Pros and Cons Summary
Hinge Health
- Pros: Free through coverage, guided sessions, human care team
- Cons: No self-pay option, mixed sensor accuracy reports
Force Therapeutics
- Pros: Built for orthopedic recovery, hospital-integrated monitoring
- Cons: Access controlled by your care team, pricing not public
Momentary
- Pros: Physician-reviewed next-step guidance, nationwide AI navigator
- Cons: Not a rehab tracking tool, physician services limited to California
PeerWell
- Pros: Combines pre-op and post-op support, reported outcome data
- Cons: Access controlled by surgical center, pricing not public
Kaia Health
- Pros: Camera-based tracking, covers multiple body areas
- Cons: No self-pay option, not surgery-specific
A Note on Emergency Symptoms
Some symptoms after knee replacement surgery need immediate medical attention and should never be evaluated through an app. These include sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of stroke, a leg that becomes suddenly hot, swollen, and painful (a possible sign of blood clot), heavy bleeding, or loss of consciousness. If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
FAQ
Is there an app that tracks knee replacement recovery for free? Hinge Health is available at no cost to members through participating employers and health plans, but it is not sold directly to consumers who lack that coverage.
What app do hospitals use for joint replacement recovery? Many US hospitals and orthopedic practices use Force Therapeutics or PeerWell to guide patients through structured pre-op and post-op recovery pathways.
Can an app tell me if my knee replacement recovery is going normally? Rehab apps like Force Therapeutics and Hinge Health can flag whether you are meeting exercise and mobility milestones. A healthcare navigator like Momentary can help you decide whether a specific symptom needs medical attention, but it is not a substitute for evaluation by your surgeon.
Is Momentary a physical therapy app? No. Momentary is an AI-powered healthcare navigator with physician-reviewed guidance. It helps you understand symptoms and decide on appropriate next steps. It does not provide exercise programming or rehab tracking.
How much does Momentary cost? Momentary costs $19.99 per month. The AI healthcare navigator is available nationwide in the US. Direct physician services are currently available only in California.
What should I do if my knee becomes suddenly hot, swollen, or painful after surgery? This can be a sign of a blood clot or infection and needs prompt medical evaluation. Contact your surgeon's office or seek urgent care right away. If you notice signs of a serious complication such as difficulty breathing or chest pain, call 911.
Do these apps replace physical therapy visits? Some, like Hinge Health and Force Therapeutics, are designed to supplement or partially replace in-person PT for appropriate candidates, under guidance from a care team. They are not designed to replace your surgeon's post-operative evaluations.
