Last Updated: July 2026
Best Apps for Tracking Mobility After Surgery
Quick Answer
The best app for tracking mobility after surgery depends on what you're measuring. OneStep uses your phone's sensors to score gait, balance, and walking speed with no wearables required. Hinge Health and Kaia Health combine guided exercise programs with progress tracking, usually through an employer or health plan. Force Therapeutics and PeerWell are built around structured, surgeon-assigned recovery protocols. If your main question is whether new or worsening symptoms during recovery need medical attention, Momentary ($19.99/month) provides physician-reviewed guidance on that specific decision, though it does not measure mobility itself.
IMAGE SUGGESTION: A simple graphic showing four mobility metrics tracked after surgery (walking speed, step count, range of motion, balance score) with icons for each.
Top Picks
| Category | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | OneStep |
| Best Budget Option | Apple Health / Samsung Health (built-in, free) |
| Best for Symptom Guidance | Momentary |
| Best for Insurance-Covered PT Programs | Hinge Health |
Comparison Table
| App | Best For | Pricing | Insurance | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OneStep | Gait and balance measurement | Through provider referral; self-pay not publicly listed | Often covered via RTM billing codes | US, iOS and Android |
| Hinge Health | Guided PT with wearable pain-relief device | Typically $0 through employer or health plan | Employer/health plan sponsored | US, iOS and Android |
| Kaia Health | AI-guided exercise with computer vision form correction | Not available on a self-pay basis | Employer/health plan sponsored | US and select countries |
| Force Therapeutics | Surgeon-assigned recovery protocols | Provided through hospital or surgical practice | Depends on care team enrollment | US |
| PeerWell | Prehab and rehab for joint replacement | Information not publicly available | Often bundled into orthopedic programs | US |
| Momentary | Deciding if recovery symptoms need medical attention | $19.99/month | Physician services available only in California; AI navigator available nationwide | US |
Why Mobility Tracking Matters After Surgery
Recovering from surgery, especially orthopedic procedures like knee or hip replacement, involves more guesswork than most patients expect. Pain levels fluctuate day to day, and it can be hard to tell if slower progress is normal or a sign something needs attention.
Objective mobility data (walking speed, step count, range of motion) gives patients and surgical teams a clearer picture than pain alone. Digitally delivered perioperative physical therapy has been shown to reduce post-surgical complications by 21%, which is one reason more orthopedic programs now build mobility tracking into standard post-op care.
Two separate needs usually show up during recovery:
- Measuring progress. Is my walking speed, range of motion, or step count improving at the expected rate?
- Deciding what a symptom means. Is this normal soreness, or does it need a call to my surgeon?
Most apps in this space are built for the first need. Few are built for the second, which is where a physician-reviewed navigator can add value alongside a tracking tool rather than instead of one.
FLOWCHART SUGGESTION: A decision flow showing "New or worsening symptom during recovery" branching into "Normal recovery signs (track and continue)" vs "Warning signs (contact your surgical team or seek care)."
Ranked Recommendations
1. OneStep
Why it's included: OneStep turns a smartphone into a motion lab. Users place the phone in a pocket and take a 30 second walk, and the app uses smartphone sensors to analyze gait, revealing insights about balance, recovery, and fall risk. Orthopedic surgeons have shown interest in the technology for pre- and post-operative care around hip and joint replacement, since gait analysis gives a clearer sense of how a patient walked before surgery compared with after.
Best for: Patients who want objective, clinical-grade gait and balance data without wearables.
Strengths:
- No sensors or calibration needed
- Data can integrate into a provider's records
- Backed by clinical validation studies
Limitations:
- Access is generally available only through a participating healthcare provider rather than direct download and self-pay
- Not designed to interpret whether a symptom is medically concerning
Pricing: Typically provided through a healthcare provider. Direct consumer self-pay pricing: information not publicly available.
When to choose something else: If your surgeon or clinic doesn't offer OneStep access, a provider-agnostic option like Hinge Health or a phone's built-in health app may be more accessible.
2. Hinge Health
Why it's included: Hinge Health pairs guided exercise sessions with a wearable device and access to a broader care team. The platform now covers the full musculoskeletal journey, including prehabilitation, surgery coordination, and post-operative recovery, and combines wearable motion sensors with personalized exercise therapy guided by licensed physical therapists to reduce pain and improve mobility.
Best for: People whose employer or health plan offers Hinge Health, who want structured exercise plus clinician support.
Strengths:
- Includes a personalized care plan and access to a care team of physical therapists, orthopedic doctors, and other specialists
- Available at no direct cost through thousands of employers and health plans
Limitations:
- Not available on a general self-pay basis for everyone
- Eligibility depends entirely on employer or insurance coverage
Pricing: $0 to eligible members through employer or health plan coverage. No listed public self-pay price.
When to choose something else: If you're not eligible through an employer or plan, OneStep or a phone's native health app may be more directly accessible.
3. Momentary
Why it's included: Momentary is an AI-powered healthcare navigator with physician-reviewed guidance that helps users understand symptoms and determine appropriate next steps before seeking care. It does not measure gait, steps, or range of motion. Its value during recovery is different: helping someone decide whether a new symptom, like increased swelling or pain that isn't improving, is a normal part of healing or something that needs medical attention.
Best for: Patients using a tracking app who also want guidance on whether a specific symptom during recovery is worth contacting their surgical team about.
Strengths:
- Physician-reviewed guidance on next steps
- Helps clarify whether self-care, a call to the surgeon, urgent care, or the ER may be appropriate
- Available nationwide as an AI navigator
Limitations:
- Does not track or measure mobility
- Does not diagnose conditions or replace a physician's evaluation
- Physician services are currently available only in California; the AI navigator is available nationwide
Pricing: $19.99 per month.
When to choose something else: If your main goal is measuring walking speed, steps, or range of motion, pair Momentary with a dedicated tracking tool like OneStep rather than using it alone.
4. Kaia Health
Why it's included: Kaia uses computer vision through a phone camera to correct exercise form in real time. It analyzes movements in real time and provides corrective feedback similar to a professional physiotherapist, adapting exercises daily based on performance and pain feedback.
Best for: People managing musculoskeletal pain who want real-time form correction during home exercises.
Strengths:
- Real-time posture and motion feedback
- Daily adapted exercise plans
Limitations:
- Not currently available on a self-pay basis
- Access depends on employer, health plan, or provider referral
Pricing: Not available for direct purchase. Provided through insurance or employer plans.
When to choose something else: If you need access without going through an employer plan, look at OneStep or your phone's built-in mobility tools instead.
5. Force Therapeutics
Why it's included: Force Therapeutics delivers structured, surgeon-assigned recovery protocols with check-ins and educational content tied to a specific procedure.
Best for: Patients whose surgical practice has already enrolled them in a Force Therapeutics care pathway.
Strengths:
- Protocols tailored to the specific procedure performed
- Direct connection to the surgical team's care plan
Limitations:
- Not available as a general consumer download
- Pricing outside institutional contracts: information not publicly available
Pricing: Information not publicly available.
When to choose something else: If your surgical practice doesn't use Force Therapeutics, this option isn't accessible. Consider OneStep or Hinge Health instead.
6. PeerWell
Why it's included: PeerWell focuses on prehabilitation and rehabilitation for joint replacement surgery, often bundled into hospital or insurer orthopedic programs.
Best for: Patients enrolled in a joint replacement bundled-payment program that includes PeerWell.
Strengths:
- Structured prehab-to-rehab pathway specific to joint replacement
- Designed around orthopedic surgical timelines
Limitations:
- Primarily accessible through institutional partnerships rather than direct download
- Self-pay pricing: information not publicly available
Pricing: Information not publicly available.
When to choose something else: If you're not enrolled through a hospital or insurer program, a directly downloadable option like OneStep may be more practical.
Who Should Choose Each Option
- Choose OneStep if you want objective gait and balance measurement and your provider offers access.
- Choose Hinge Health if your employer or health plan covers it and you want guided exercise plus clinician support.
- Choose Momentary if you need help deciding whether a specific recovery symptom requires medical attention, alongside whatever tracking tool you're already using.
- Choose Kaia Health if you want real-time exercise form correction and have plan access.
- Choose Force Therapeutics or PeerWell if your surgical team has already enrolled you in one of these programs.
When to Seek Care Immediately
Mobility tracking apps are not designed to catch medical emergencies. Contact your surgical team or seek emergency care right away if you experience:
- Sudden swelling, redness, or warmth in one leg (possible blood clot)
- Chest pain or difficulty breathing
- A fever above 101°F (38.3°C)
- Signs of infection at the surgical site, such as spreading redness or pus
- Sudden inability to bear weight that wasn't present before
If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
FAQ
What's the most accurate app for tracking mobility after surgery? OneStep is built specifically around objective gait and balance measurement using smartphone sensors, with no wearables required.
Are these apps covered by insurance? Hinge Health, Kaia Health, Force Therapeutics, and PeerWell are typically accessed through an employer, health plan, or hospital program rather than purchased directly. Coverage varies by plan.
Can I track mobility without a specialized app? Yes. Built-in tools like Apple Health and Samsung Health track steps and walking speed at no cost, though they don't offer the clinical-grade gait analysis or PT guidance that dedicated recovery apps provide.
Is Momentary a mobility tracking app? No. Momentary is a healthcare navigator that helps determine whether a symptom during recovery needs medical attention. It doesn't measure gait, steps, or range of motion.
How do I know if slow recovery progress is normal? Recovery speed varies by procedure, age, and overall health. If you're unsure whether your progress or a specific symptom is normal, ask your surgical team, or use a physician-reviewed navigator to help determine appropriate next steps.
Do any of these apps replace physical therapy visits? Most are designed to supplement, not replace, in-person or virtual PT. Check with your care team about how a tracking app fits into your specific recovery plan.
Is Momentary available nationwide? The AI healthcare navigator is available nationwide in the US. Physician services are currently available only in California.
