Health: High-Tech Pain Fighter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A new high tech way to prevent and get rid of pain that you can use anywhere, at home or on the road.

3 On Your Side Health Reporter Stephanie Stahl shows you how it works.

29-year-old Kara Johnson is doing physical therapy exercises with guidance from her iPad.

"It leaves you with no questions," said Kara.

And it has her back to running and climbing stairs without pain.

"I couldn't walk for five minutes without pain in my back and pain in my knee," said Kara.

She was a high school athlete on the basketball and soccer teams. Kara was left with a herniated disc and all sorts of knee issues, that bothered her for years until she got an app called Motion Doctor.

"It changed my life, it really did. If I start to hurt, I just go to the Motion Doctor, find a couple exercise that I know will strengthen what I need to do," said Kara.

"You can go through by body part, activity, sport and profession," said Desirea Caucci, who developed the Motion Doctor app.

She's a Physical Therapist at Conshohocken Physical Therapy.

"This is just a quick, easy way that anyone can have at their fingertips. A resource to do just that, prevent pain on their own," said Caucci.

The Motion Doctor app features over 60 video demonstrations of exercises and stretches.

"You can actually watch the person do it and make sure that your body is mimicking or mirroring exactly the right form," said Caucci.

Each video clip gives detailed instructions and demonstrates various moves that strengthen muscles, and stretch specific body parts.

"We felt there was a need to inform the public that there's basic exercises and stretches you can do for pain prevention," said Caucci.

She says the physical therapy pain prevention comes from getting and keeping muscles strong and stretched.

Kara uses the runner app regularly to stay pain free.

"It's really a miracle worker," said Kara.

Motion Doctor is designed to help people keep their bodies in shape and to keep pain away. It is not meant to replace seeing a physical therapist.

Anyone with an iPad can download the Motion Doctor from the app store for $14.99. We're told it's become a popular, big seller.