FPZ GmbH

What FPZ GmbH does

FPZ GmbH (Forschungs- und Präventionszentrum), founded in 1993 in Cologne, Germany, develops and licenses evidence-based exercise-therapy programs targeting the five major chronic widespread diseases in Germany: back pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Programs are delivered through a network of 200+ licensed FPZ therapy centers across Germany, prescribed by 800+ contract physicians, and reimbursed by 90+ statutory and private health insurers using extra-budgetary billing codes recognized by the German Medical Association since 2002. The therapeutic methodology is grounded in 30+ years of research, 178+ scientific publications, and a proprietary FPZ Profile Database that powers individualized spinal-analysis and therapy protocols; clinical outcomes reported include 93% significant improvement in non-specific back pain patients after 3 months and 30-40% pain reduction in osteoarthritis patients.

The core product portfolio comprises five therapy programs (FPZ Back Therapy, FPZ Osteoarthritis/HipKnee Therapy, FPZ/DVGS Osteoporosis Therapy, FPZ Cancer Therapy launched 2023, and FPZ NeuroTherapy launched 2024), layered with three platforms: the My FPZ patient platform offering free BackFit/BoneFit/BalanceFit courses, the GRACE AI-driven operating system that automates patient acquisition, billing, and referral management exclusively for FPZ licensees, and the FPZ Campus training and compliance platform. Distribution combines a tiered therapy-center licensing model (Starter free; Silver €461.68/mo; Gold €1,273.68/mo; Platinum €4,163.24/mo, all on 3-year terms) with a 2024 partnership delivering FPZ programs on EGYM Smart Strength devices in commercial fitness facilities. The company has approximately 12 employees and is led by Managing Director Dr. Frank Schifferdecker-Hoch.

Name

FPZ GmbH

Legal name

FPZ GmbH

Website

https://fpz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FPZ GmbH, founded in 1993 in Cologne, develops and licenses evidence-based exercise-therapy programs for back pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases, delivered through 200+ licensed therapy centers, 800+ prescribing doctors, and 90+ German health-insurance contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Exercise Therapy and Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual PT/OT/MSK & Rehab Programs (Payer-Sponsored) (HLALACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) & Digital Rehabilitation Platforms (HLALABAK)

Keywords

• Evidence-based exercise therapy
• Musculoskeletal therapy programs
• Physical therapy licensing
• Digital health platform
• Chronic disease rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Therapy Center Licensing: FPZ licenses its therapy programs to physiotherapy practices through tiered packages (Starter free, Silver €461.68/mo, Gold €1,273.68/mo, Platinum €4,163.24/mo plus VAT). Licensees receive access to therapy programs, training, software, billing portals, and marketing support.
2. Per-Therapy Revenue: Therapy centers generate €1,096-1,500 per patient per therapy program. Initial and final assessments are compensated at €128 each. Doctors receive minimum €35 per prescription for extra-budgetary fees, with some contracts paying up to €110.
3. Health Insurance Reimbursement: FPZ therapy programs are covered by statutory and private health insurance companies. Over 90 health insurance companies have contracts with FPZ, enabling patient access through insurance-funded therapy sessions.
4. FPZ Campus Training Platform: Online training and compliance platform for therapy centers. Pricing: €498 one-time or €149/month subscription (12-month minimum commitment) for Flatrate FPZ Campus.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

FPZ GmbH develops and licenses evidence-based, scientifically validated exercise therapy programs (FPZ Back Therapy, Osteoarthritis/HipKnee Therapy, Osteoporosis Therapy, Cancer Therapy, NeuroTherapy) for major chronic conditions. It delivers these programs through a licensed network of 200+ therapy centers, prescription by 800+ contract doctors, and reimbursement via 90+ health insurance companies, supported by the My FPZ patient digital platform and the GRACE proprietary AI operating system for therapy center operations.

Product overview

FPZ GmbH is a Research and Prevention Center founded in 1993, offering a portfolio of five evidence-based therapy programs targeting major chronic widespread diseases: FPZ Back Therapy (for back pain), FPZ Osteoarthritis Therapy / FPZ HipKnee Therapy (for hip and knee osteoarthritis), FPZ/DVGS Osteoporosis Therapy (for bone health), FPZ Cancer Therapy (for cancer rehabilitation), and FPZ NeuroTherapy (for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's). These therapies are delivered through a network of over 200 certified FPZ therapy centers across Germany, prescribed extra-budgetary by contract doctors, and reimbursed by approximately 90 statutory and private health insurers. The product ecosystem includes the My FPZ (Mein FPZ) patient platform — a free digital health platform offering personalized online courses (FPZ BackFit, FPZ BoneFit, FPZ BalanceFit) and hybrid therapy program access. GRACE is the proprietary AI-powered digital operating system for therapy centers, automating patient acquisition, billing, and referral management. FPZ Campus provides online GDPR/data protection training and compliance tools for licensees. The licensing model offers four tiers (Starter, Silver, Gold, Platinum) providing access to different therapy programs, software features, and support levels. A partnership with EGYM enables FPZ therapy delivery on EGYM Smart Strength devices, with billing via FPZ health insurance contracts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• My FPZ: Patient health platform offering free access to digital health courses including FPZ BackFit, FPZ BoneFit, and FPZ BalanceFit courses. The platform provides personalized recommendations and progress tracking.
• GRACE

Products and services

• FPZ Back Therapy Sustainable, evidence-based training therapy for chronic back pain based on over 30 years of FPZ research. Combines spinal muscle analysis, 24 to 48 supervised training sessions, and a final analysis. Prescribed extra-budgetary outside the remedy budget; reimbursed by 90+ statutory and private health insurers.
• FPZ Osteoarthritis Therapy (FPZ HipKnee Therapy) Exercise-based training therapy for hip and knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis and coxarthrosis). Reported outcomes include 30–40% pain reduction, with 50% of participants exceeding their own therapy goals; positioned to help patients avoid surgical intervention.
• FPZ/DVGS Osteoporosis Therapy Sustainable exercise therapy for the treatment and strengthening of bones, developed jointly with the German Association for Health Sports and Sport Therapy (DVGS). Targets bone density improvement and osteoporosis management through high-intensity strength training.
• FPZ Cancer Therapy Support and rehabilitation therapy for cancer patients covering lung, colon, blood, breast, and prostate cancers. Developed in collaboration with DVGS, OnkoAktiv, and PhysioMeetsScience. Delivered as a hybrid program combining in-center sessions with online home training modules.
• FPZ NeuroTherapy Evidence-based training program for support and rehabilitation of neurodegenerative and neurological diseases including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and dementia. Combines motor and cognitive activation via 32 in-person sessions plus 12 months of online home training, covering strength, coordination, dual-task, mindfulness, and self-management modules.
• My FPZ Digital Patient Platform Free digital health platform for patients offering personalized online courses (FPZ BackFit, FPZ BoneFit, FPZ BalanceFit), progress tracking, and hybrid therapy program content. Generates customized course recommendations from a health questionnaire and is accessible via smartphone, tablet, or PC.
• GRACE — AI Operating System for Therapy Centers Proprietary AI-driven digital operating system exclusively for FPZ-licensed therapy centers. Autonomously handles patient acquisition, physician referral management, corporate B2B partnerships, billing automation, and referral management, enabling therapists to focus on therapy delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of patients show significant improvement in non-specific back pain symptoms after 3 months
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DVGS (Deutscher Verband für Gesundheitssport und Sporttherapie e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Joint development of FPZ/DVGS Osteoporosis Therapy program and FPZ Cancer Therapy. DVGS provides oncology and health sports expertise, while FPZ contributes therapy methodology and health insurance network.
• OnkoAktivminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration partner in FPZ Cancer Therapy program development for lung cancer, colon cancer, blood cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer treatment.
• PhysioMeetsScienceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration partner in FPZ Cancer Therapy program development, bringing scientific expertise to oncology therapy programs.
• EGYMcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership allowing facilities with EGYM Smart Strength devices to access FPZ therapy programs and bill through health insurance contracts. EGYM provides intelligent training systems while FPZ contributes medical expertise and health insurance contracts. Smart Strength devices were scientifically evaluated by FPZ in 2024 and approved for FPZ therapy.
• Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V.minorOthersMedical association that supports and recommends My FPZ platform, providing credibility for digital health courses.
• DVGS (Deutscher Verband für Gesundheitssport und Sporttherapie e.V.)minorOthersMedical association that supports My FPZ platform with professional endorsement for health courses.
• Health Insurance Companies (90+)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 90 statutory and private health insurance companies have contracts with FPZ to cover therapy costs. Examples include Debeka, AXA, DKV, KKH, BKK Linde, Gothaer, pronova BKK, and many others. These partnerships enable patient access through insurance-funded therapy.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hinge Health: Hinge Health is a US-headquartered digital MSK platform offering app-delivered exercise therapy and 1:1 coaching reimbursed by employers and health plans. It is the best-funded direct competitor to FPZ's payer-sponsored MSK therapy model and is expanding into European payer markets that overlap with FPZ's German footprint.
• Sword Health: Sword Health is a digital MSK platform combining AI-guided exercise with licensed clinician oversight and has signed multiple major payer and employer contracts. Like FPZ, it monetizes evidence-based rehab programs reimbursed by health plans, but competes in the digital-first end of the same category.
• AposHealth: AposHealth (formerly Apos Therapy) delivers a clinician-prescribed MSK gait and biomechanics therapy program with published clinical evidence and payer reimbursement. It is comparable to FPZ because both monetize an evidence-based, prescribed, in-clinic MSK therapy reimbursed by health plans rather than fee-for-service fitness.
• Kaia Health: Kaia Health is a digital MSK therapy platform with payer and employer partnerships across Europe. Like FPZ, it delivers evidence-based exercise therapy for back pain and musculoskeletal conditions through app-based coaching, making it a direct competitor in the digital MSK category that FPZ's My FPZ platform targets.
• Lin (formerly Lin Health): Lin is a digital chronic-pain therapy platform combining behavioral and exercise-based interventions with payer reimbursement. It overlaps with FPZ in chronic back-pain therapy delivery and competes for the same payer budgets targeting MSK-related claims.
• MoveUP: MoveUP is a Belgian digital physical therapy platform reimbursed by multiple European health systems and integrated with orthopedic surgeons' prescribing workflows. Its hybrid clinician+app model and insurer reimbursement parallels FPZ's therapy-center-plus-My-FPZ approach.
• Physitrack: Physitrack is a Swedish-listed digital physical therapy platform that licenses exercise prescription and outcome tracking tools to physiotherapy clinics and enterprises. Its SaaS-style licensing model to therapy clinics parallels FPZ's tiered licensee subscription approach (Starter/Silver/Gold/Platinum) and targets the same physiotherapy practitioner base.
• CASPAR Health: CASPAR Health is a Berlin-based digital rehabilitation platform that delivers prescribed therapeutic exercises via app with clinician oversight and is reimbursed by German statutory insurers. It is a German-market direct competitor to FPZ's My FPZ digital therapy offering and targets the same orthopedic and rehab use cases.

Others

• EGYM: EGYM is a Munich-based connected fitness technology provider that integrates with FPZ therapy programs through a 2024 strategic partnership. It is adjacent rather than competing — EGYM provides the Smart Strength hardware used to deliver FPZ therapy programs, opening fitness-facility channels for FPZ.

Emerging players

• WizeCare: WizeCare is a digital physical therapy platform delivering video-guided therapeutic exercise programs prescribed by clinicians and reimbursed by insurers. It targets a similar payer-sponsored rehab use case to FPZ, though with a narrower therapy focus and smaller installed base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3PBmKFfLv55ig0QdmEdXwQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/fpzgmbh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fpz-deutschland-den-rücken-stärken-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/fpzgmbh
• Xx.com/FpzGmbh

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FPZ GmbH