Blog Science Therabody’s Commitment to Women’s Health & Wellness 
Therabody’s Commitment to Women’s Health & Wellness 
Science
Therabody’s Commitment to Women’s Health & Wellness 
January 24, 2025

Authors: Therabody Scientists: Tim Roberts, MSc; Rachelle Reed, PhD, MS, ACSM-EP; Kyle Silvey, PhD, CSCS; Michelle Darian, MS, MPH, RD, LDN 

At Therabody ®, we believe everybody deserves to feel better and live a life they love. Over the last decade, we’ve worked to bridge the gap between technology and wellness to create at-home solutions that address your most pressing concerns — pain management, peak athletic performance, and even improving overall healthspan. Now, we’re excited to solidify our commitment to improving women’s wellness. Introducing: Therabody for Her.

Our mission is to develop and provide comprehensive education, evidence-based protocols, innovative studies, and supportive spaces dedicated to improving women’s well-being and addressing their unique needs at various stages of life.  

Here’s how we’re putting this into practice.  

Innovative Technologies That Help Women 

First and foremost, Therabody develops innovative technologies that help women. While these devices benefit all bodies, many have applications that can address sex-specific concerns women face — cue PMS and hot flashes and an increased susceptibility and severity of sleep disturbances, stress, and anxiety. Not only are these symptoms driven by hormonal changes (like menstruation and menopause), but they also result from life events that occur during various life stages.  

Women dominate most medical diagnoses related to chronic pain: migraines, rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis, pelvic pain syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome, to name a few. Therabody provides technology that is uniquely primed to offer some much-needed relief. [1] 

PowerDot ®  

The Therabody PowerDot is a device that uses transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) technology to deliver mild electrical current across the skin to reduce pain. TENS treatment reduces menstrual pain by 25% and can help reduce NSAID use (e.g., ibuprofen) by 38%. The PowerDot delivers TENS through pre-programmed treatments, including the Period Pain Relief program — preset 30- to 90-second protocols designed to alleviate period pain. A 2024 study found that 30 minutes of Period Pain Relief program treatment significantly reduced period pain and NSAID use. [2, 3, 4] 

RecoveryTherm ® Back 

This wearable device provides targeted, temperature-controlled heat and vibration therapy to your entire lower back or lower abdomen (depending on how you wear it). Both heat and vibration are effective therapies for easing pain — as they increase blood flow (and oxygen) to the treated areas to relax muscles and reduce feelings of pain. Lower back pain is most often perceived as something that only affects older men, but 2018 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that over 31% of women over the age of 18 reported having lower back pain in the last three months. Heat therapy is also an effective (and often a first-line treatment) for period pain. [5, 6, 7, 8] 

RecoveryTherm ® Cube 

RecoveryTherm Cube is a powerful handheld device that delivers heat and cold therapy for targeted pain relief. You can place it directly on the part of your body that requires treatment (and can secure it with the adjustable band). It’s a great option for heat therapy on the go and can act as a consistent ice pack (without the condensation from any melting) whenever a hot flash strikes.  

SmartGoggles ® 

Therabody’s SmartGoggles provide therapeutic benefits to the eyes and temples. The device simultaneously delivers a gentle eye and temple massage through vibrating motors and gentle heat to soothe and relax the body and mind during a headache or times of stress. These therapeutic benefits extend beyond feeling good on the face. A study found that using SmartGoggles before bed helped participants feel 19% more relaxed, with 82% of participants feeling less stressed and 71% less anxious.  

The study also found SmartGoggles can help with sleep quality. Participants using SmartGoggles before bed (on average) slept an average of 4% more, got six more minutes of deep sleep a night, and had 7% fewer wakings.  

While a sleep duration that increases by 4% may not sound like a lot more sleep per night — this equates to more than six additional hours of sleep per month. Additions, albeit incremental, can add up to notable improvements in wellness.   

Considering women are more likely to experience sleep disturbances at every stage of life compared to men and are 41% more likely to experience insomnia, incremental improvements to sleep can have profound health impacts. [9]  

Investing in Scientific Research to Understand the Impact of Therabody Technology on and for Women  

Women have been historically underrepresented or excluded altogether in clinical trials.  Exercise studies, in particular, predominately include males and then generalize findings to females. While improvements have been made in the last 40 years, more research on women’s unique biology is required. Many important questions remain unanswered, like, Do sex hormones influence pain perception? If so, which ones? Do hormones impact the effectiveness of certain treatments?   

Therabody is actively working to close the research gap by investing in clinical studies on women. Beginning this commitment in 2022, Therabody invested in researching PowerDot for period pain relief. Continuing this commitment, Therabody is investing over a quarter of a million dollars in scientific research in 2025 alone. Here are examples of research conducted so far and projects on the horizon.   

Period Pain  

PowerDot’s Period Pain Relief program is based on decades worth of research on TENS. The next step was to invest in a clinical trial examining the program’s impact. In July 2024, the first study of PowerDot’s Period Pain Relief program was published. The principal investigator — Ph.D. student Bailey McLagan, MS — showed that PowerDot significantly reduced period pain and decreased NSAID use. [4, 10]    

Continued Support for Female Researchers  

Women account for around 33% of researchers globally. Research shows that women investigators are more likely to ensure an equitable enrollment of male-to-female participants and are more likely to account for sex and gender bias in their work than their male counterparts. Given McLagan’s dedication to women’s health research, Therabody continues empowering her and financially supporting her PhD. [11, 12] 

Next, she’s studying the impact of intermittent pneumatic compression therapy (using Therabody’s JetBoots) on markers of inflammation and recovery during certain phases of the menstrual cycle.  

Research Grant Program  

Therabody also launched its inaugural research grant program. Grants have been awarded to research groups aiming to address symptoms that women (including older women and Black women) commonly experience.   

Women Experience Changes Throughout the Lifespan — Therabody is Committed to Addressing Them 

Therabody’s women’s wellness initiatives (technology, research, and education) will focus on one or more of these areas: menstruation, motherhood, menopause, and mental well-being. Here’s why Therabody focuses on these key aspects of a woman’s life. 

Stay up to date on Therabody for Her

Menstruation   

On average, a woman will menstruate until she is fifty years old, for an average total of 37.5 years (that’s nearly 500 cycles). Around 80% of women experience period pain at some stage in their lifetime, from their early teens right up to menopause. [13, 14]  

Period pain can be debilitating. It’s linked to a loss of productivity, poor sleep quality, and an overall decreased quality of life. And it’s not something women can or should have to always “power through". [15, 16, 17]  

Many menstruating women also have conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) that are linked to generalized chronic pain. Having the right arsenal of tools can help manage this pain. [18] 

Products to watch: PowerDot, RecoveryTherm Back/Core, RecoveryTherm Cube 

Motherhood   

The title of “mom" often brings a lot of joy. That said, motherhood can also take a toll on a woman’s health, negatively impacting sleep, stress, and anxiety.  

Up to 85% of new mothers experience postpartum depression, and studies show that mothers bear the brunt of sleeplessness — with an average loss of five hours each night compared to fathers (who typically miss about three and a half hours). [19, 20]  

The sleep disturbances and anxiety don’t stop as babies start to sleep through the night — they can continue for decades to come.   

To support mothers, Therabody offers solutions that support restful relaxation and sleep, even amid what can feel like chaos. These effective therapies are designed to not take much of your time. For example, SmartGoogles has a 15-minute treatment that can be completed alongside a guided meditation. Practicing mindfulness during pregnancy and postpartum can help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. [21]  

Products to watch: SmartGoggles, Theragun, SleepMask  

Menopause    

More than one million women in the United States experience menopause each year. While menopause is technically just one day of a woman’s life (it occurs exactly one year after menstruation ceases), perimenopause may begin up to 14 years prior. Postmenopause now comprises one-third to one-half of a woman’s life. [22, 23] 

One in four women grapple with severe menopause symptoms that can encompass everything from hot flashes to night sweats, sleep disturbances, and mood imbalances. “Science now shows that during perimenopause, women’s baseline levels of anxiety increase. This is another contributor to sleep disruption," says Dr. Pamela Peeke, Therabody Scientific Advisory Board Member. [24] 

While these symptoms aren’t always avoidable, they shouldn’t have to be suffered through.  

“Technology can play a valuable role here by providing tools to enhance rest and decrease anxiety," notes Dr. Pamela Peeke. She also emphasizes that, “A portable cooling unit is a terrific intervention for a woman who is suddenly breaking out in hot flashes. Who needs the mess of ice in a bag when technology can provide an accessible cooling device?"  

Products to watch: SmartGoggles, RecoveryTherm Cube, SleepMask 

Mental Well-Being   

There are also numerous sex differences in mental well-being. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from anxiety and depression. Hormonal changes (such as those associated with pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause) contribute to the mental health struggles that women experience. So can carrying the majority of the mental load (remembering everyone’s schedule, birthday, and appointments, not to mention anticipating their needs), navigating a chronic illness, and caregiving for younger and/or older family members. It’s a lot to handle. [25] 

Remember that mental health is physical health — each impacts the other. The state of your physical body impacts the brain, and the brain influences the choices you make about your body (i.e., your exercises, food choices, and even posture).  

Many of Therabody’s products integrate both physical and mental therapies. For example, SmartGoogles combines a warming temple massage (relaxing) with meditation routines.  

Theragun Sense and Theragun PRO Plus combine percussive massage therapy with breathwork to relieve physical and mental tension. 

Research shows having a daily meditation practice can improve mood, attention, and memory. [26] 

Products to watch: SmartGoggles, Theragun 

The Future of Women’s Wellness  

Women’s wellness is taking on a new form.  

Women are speaking up more loudly than ever to demand support and representation from the doctors, experts, and researchers who have long not paid them adequate attention. They are inquisitive and want to know how their bodies work, using this knowledge to live healthy and fulfilled lives. They are acknowledging their mental health struggles — no longer wondering if they’re the only ones trying to find a doctor to listen to their symptoms or if their baby blues are a shade too dark.  

Women’s voices are so loud that there’s no choice but to listen. 

We believe our role in the future of women’s wellness is threefold: increasing access to science-backed technology that enhances women’s quality of life, educating women on their unique biology, and leading scientific research that addresses women’s unique needs.  

We see a future where women are encouraged and enabled to take a proactive approach to their well-being.  

References: 

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5845507/ 
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28885348/ 
  3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2179780/ 
  4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17455057241266455 
  5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25526231/ 
  6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37752526/ 
  7. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm685152a5.htm  
  8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30389956/ 
  9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7840832/ 
  10. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/ 
  11. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/ 
  12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8561742/ 
  13. https://www.ahpma.co.uk/menstruation_facts_and_figures/ 
  14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10178419/ 
  15. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/6/e026186 
  16. https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/full/10.5664/jcsm.8238 
  17. https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/21/6/762/628858? 
  18. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis 
  19. https://womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics/. 
  20. https://www.earth.com/news/  
  21. https://journals.lww.com/clinicalobgyn/abstract/2021/09000/ 
  22. https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/ 
  23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4441780/ 
  24. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507826/ 
  25. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/womens-health-topics/