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Market Dynamics

Driver: Rise in Chronic Pain and Aging Population

A significant and expanding global health problem is persistent pain, boost the growth of the non-opioid pain relief device market. It affects more than 1.5 billion individuals around the world, which means that its prevalence rate in adult population is over 20%. For older adults, the prevalence is even higher with about 50% of them having chronic pain conditions like arthritis, neuropathy or lower back pain. This issue is also compounded by the rapidly aging global population. According to the United Nations (UN), the number of people aged 60 years and above will double from 900 million in 2015 to about 2.1 billion by 2050. 

A demographic shift is anticipated to increase demand for non-opioid based treatment modalities for pain control. The economic burden of chronic pain has been substantial resulting to approximately $560 billion worth of annual costs as far as direct medical expenditure and lost productivity are concerned in the US alone. These costs will increase as the population ages into future years. In addition, chronic pain often comes along with other chronic diseases thereby complicating their management and escalating healthcare costs at once in the non-opioid pain relief device market. Chronic kidney disease for example, which affects up to some countries’ populations by around16.5%, usually coexists with chronic pains hence making healthcare systems even more fragile. An increasing incidence of chronic pains combined with an ageing population is leading to a call for non-opioid analgesic devices.

These products offer a potential alternative for traditional methods of ache control that normally rely on opioids and have side effects such as addiction among others. As knowledge of these risks grows so does interest in safer non-opioid alternatives.

Challenge: High Costs and Limited Accessibility

In the United States, opioid crisis still comes out as a critical public health issue. In 70.6% of all drug overdose deaths in the US, opioids were involved in 2023 which has been exemplifying the urgency for alternative pain management solutions, adding fuel to the non-opioid pain relief device market growth. The consequences of opioid dependence include addiction and risk of overdose which have been increasingly acknowledged by healthcare practitioners and public at large following this catastrophe. The huge number of Americans addicted to opioids is a big problem for public health. Consequently, there has been an impetus towards creating non-opioid pain relief devices as a result of this calamity.

Medical device manufacturers in the non-opioid pain relief device market are spending heavily on research and development so that they can come up with effective alternatives through which patients can still be relived from pain without using opioids that may have side effects. This shift is driven by heightened societal and professional knowledge about hazards related to the use of opioids that has resulted in demand for better pain relievers. Opioid crisis is economically expensive, it costs US.5 billion each year due to healthcare-related costs, lost productivity, addiction treatment programs and criminal justice responses among other causes. In addition to these statistics, approximately 168.8 million opioid prescriptions were dispensed in America during 2018 while more than 47,000 emergency department visits caused by opioid overdoes were registered last year. Also, in 2023 naloxone was used by emergency medical services (EMS) providers during resuscitations following approximately 44,000 cases of suspected opioid overdose. Opioid misuse leads to an estimated annual healthcare cost of billions. 

In 2023, the US government allocated US billion to combat the opioid crisis and support non-opioid pain management research. This is highly reflected through a poll that shows that over 80% of Americans acknowledge the existence of opioid crises that risks their lives. Therefore, with increasing awareness about opioid risks of addiction, sales of non-opioid pain relief devices have been rising by fifteen percent each year since then for a period totaling ten years.

Trend: Integration of Digital Health Technologies

Digital health technologies are one of the leading trends in the non-opioid pain relief device market. Under this trend, mobile applications, wearable devices and telemedicine have been employed in achieving better pain control through more personalized healthcare solutions. The global digital health market is forecasted to reach $660 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 28.5% between 2023 and, thereby indicating a fast adoption of these technologies. In fact, the shipment for wearable devices alone is projected to hit 900 million units by 2026 that underscores their increasing significance in managing chronic pain.

As such, it can be seen that an increase in remote care services can be linked to telemedicine usage which grew from zero to about 200% during the coronavirus pandemic according to Maureen Dobbins, Professor at McMaster University, Hamilton. This implies that more than three quarters (75%) of patients would opt for post-surgery follow-ups through telemedicine instead of physical consultations with their physicians because they now prefer digital communication over traditional face-to-face interviews as stated by Fredrick Heilman MD Chief Officer at Medtronic Americas Region. Besides, there was a survey conducted across the non-opioid pain relief device market among physicians where 65% said they would invest more into technologies improving patient outcomes stating that great business value could be generated from implementing these innovations. Still and all mHealth apps attracted 4 billion downloads in 2023 providing users with assisted programs for pain management: physical exercises and remedy schedules among others. 85% among questioned patients reported augmented healthcare experience due to use of digital health technology tools whereas 70% of doctors admitted using the same ones when addressing long-term cases.

Accordingly, it is predicted that wearable pain relief devices will increase by 10.2% annually until 2028 with over a half (55%) people suffering from chronic diseases saying that they felt relieved due to implementation thereof. Through this pattern not only does treating pain become more convenient and effective, but also the patients can be controlled remotely by monitoring their treatment in real-time and developing personalized curing plans. These will most likely become even more prevalent as digital health technologies continue to evolve thereby providing significant impetus for the development of new methods for non-opioid analgesia management.

Segmental Analysis

By Application

In the global non-opioid pain relief device market, the segment on neuromuscular pain commands a significant presence. This segment brought in sizable revenue, accounting for almost 38% of the market share. Such dominance can be explained by increasingly sedentary lifestyles and more jobs that involve sitting over long periods leading to a surging number of cases of chronic back pain. According to WHO data, around 60-70% of adults in developed countries have had low back pain. The American Chiropractic Association has further emphasized this point by estimating that it is the major cause of disability among people resulting into many people unable to work or perform other daily activities. Nonetheless, there will be a marked change in the future outlook for the non-opioid pain relief device market. For instance, diabetic neuropathy-related pains are expected to increase significantly by 10%. This assumption is based on higher incidence rates of diabetes globally. International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated that about 463 million adults aged between 20 and 79 years were living with diabetes in 2019 and this figure is projected to reach 700 million by 2045. 

Similarly, an increase in prediabetic population supports this trend as well. In relation to data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over one-third (1/3) or approximately eighty-eight million American adults were identified with prediabetes as at year-end last year”. As such, it can be argued that; future performance for the part which deals with diabetic neuropathy suffering will influence broad future development within the market space strongly. This necessitates precise interventions and product offerings tailored towards addressing this new but increasing requirement.

By Technology

Based on technology, implantable device technology, a subset of electroanalgesia, held a dominant share of 90% in the non-opioid pain relief device market. These devices, e.g., spinal cord stimulators and peripheral nerve stimulators have been found efficient against failed back surgery syndrome and complex regional pain syndromes and severe nerve-related pain or numbness. The number of patients opting for implantable devices for pain management is projected to increase with a CAGR of 12% through 2032. Spinal cord stimulator has an efficacy rate of about 70% among patients having chronic pain which is one of the most commonly used products in this market segment whereas peripheral nerve stimulator will develop at CAGR of approximately 8.3% through to 2032 as predicted by latest market research studies. In 2023, investment into R&D for implantable devices went up by 15%, showing increased interest and innovation within this field.

By End Users

Hospitals dominate the global non-opioid pain relief device market with revenue share of 62%. Moreover, during 2024-2032, Pain management center as an end user is expected to be a leading segment with CAGR of 9.5% for faster growth due to public awareness about specialized pain treatment centers.  By the year 2032, hospitals would still be the primary beneficiaries in the non-opioid pain relief device. This supremacy has been attributed to widespread diffusion of sophisticated implanted devices such as spinal cord stimulators and peripheral nerve stimulators. Similarly, due to inventions made in pain management technologies for hospitals, there has been an increase of 15% on next generation neuro modulation therapies which have better results for patients having several chronic pains disorders. These advances not only underscore the importance of hospitals in non-opioid pain alleviation but also their commitment to incorporating state-of-the-art solutions to effective management of pains.

Additionally, the homecare segment of the non-opioid pain relief device market constitutes 14.3% of end-users and is projected to reach $1,336.5 million in 2029 at a CAGR of 8.8%. According to a study published in the journal Neuromodulation, about 50-80% of patients experienced significant pain relieve from spinal cord stimulation. At this time, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation was deemed effective in only 60-80%, Says study in British Journal of Anesthesia. The second benefit is that these implants are able to provide a long-lasting reduction in suffering without causing the general systematic negative effects associated with opioids thus making them better suited for both providers and patients who wish to sustain their ease from agony safely.

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Regional Analysis

In 2023, North America remains the leader of global non-opioid pain relief device market, now contributing over 37% of the total market size. Various factors underpin this sustained leadership. There is still a high prevalence of chronic pain disorders with CDC reporting that almost a fifth (22%) of adults experienced chronic pain in 2023. This demand for non-opioid pain relief devices is driven by this huge customer base. In addition to this, there has been an ongoing opioid crisis in the region. According to statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), about 68% of drug overdose deaths in the country last year were caused by opioids. Thus, creating more need for safer non-opioid solutions to pain management.

North American’s developed healthcare infrastructure, significant health spending and quick adoption rate towards innovative medical technologies continue cementing its position as a dominant market player. Healthcare spending in the US reached $4.8 trillion in 2023 representing 17.8% GDP which makes it possible to integrate advanced non-opioid analgesic devices quickly. Moreover, it has a supportive regulatory environment with institutions such as FDA that support development and approval of new medical devices within it. The present focus on personalized medicine and increasing use wearable technology for managing pain will also contribute significantly to future growth.

Europe, being the second biggest non-opioid pain relief device market continues to have strong growth dynamics. Europe's market CAGR is projected at 8.6% between 2024 and 2032. Its growth drivers are similar to those found in Northern America: aging population and increased cases related to chronically ill patients. According to Eurostat around one-fifth (21%) EU citizens were aged over 65 years. This demographic shift highlights growing demand for effective pain management options. Also, the EU healthcare expenditure has been rising steadily, with Germany and France leading the way dedicating 11.2% and 11.0% respectively of their GDP to health in 2022. Besides, European health systems are highly investing into adoption of innovative medical technologies. Non-opioid pain relief device market in Europe has experienced significant growth following favorable governmental regulations and increased public awareness about the dangers of opioids use. In the same year, European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) started being fully applicable advocating for higher safety and performance standards on medical devices that should further push up the market. By these indicators, it is promising to say that non-opioid pain relief device market futures North America and Europe have brighter future with advancement in technology continuous acceptance among end users driving incessant increase.

Recent Developments:

• In October 2023, Hyloris Pharmaceuticals, a Belgium-based pharmaceutical company, received approval in the United States for a powerful non-opioid pain relief medication.
• In November 2023, BioWave®, a leading innovator in pain management technology, was honored as the top Pain Management Device Provider of 2023 by MedTech Outlook.

Top Players in the Global Non-Opioid Pain Relief Device Market 

• Abbott Laboratories
• Bayer AG
• Bioelectronics Corporation
• Boston Scientific Corporation
• Medtronic plc
• Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Neurometrix Inc.
• Nuvectra Corporation
• Omron Corporation
• Stryker Corporation
• SPR Therapeutics, LLC
• Stimwave LLC
• Thermotek Inc.
• Zynex Medical
• Other Prominent Players

Market Segmentation Overview:

By Application

• Neuromuscular
• Musculoskeletal
• Injuries
• Diabetic Neuropathy
• Others

By Technology

• Electroanalgesia
  • Implantable Device
  • Non-Implantable Device
    • Traditional TENS
    • Wearable TENS
    • Others
• Radiofrequency Ablation
• Other Emerging Technologies

By End User

• Pain Management Centers
• Hospitals
• Homecare

By Region

• North America
  • The U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • Western Europe
    • The UK
    • Germany
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Rest of Western Europe
  • Eastern Europe
    • Poland
    • Russia
    • Rest of Eastern Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia & New Zealand
  • South Korea
  • ASEAN
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Middle East & Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • UAE
  • Rest of MEA
• South America
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Rest of South America