Privacy Policy
Last updated: 17 October 2026
BackPain helps you look after your back. Some of what you tell the app, like where it hurts and how much, is sensitive. This policy explains, in plain language, what we collect, why, who we share it with, and the choices you have.
- Most of your data stays on your phone. You can use the core app without an account.
- If you sign in, we back up your progress to your account so you don't lose it.
- On iPhones with Apple Intelligence, Coach runs entirely on your device, so your messages never leave it. On other iPhones, your messages and a short summary of your plan are sent to our server and answered by an AI model on Cloudflare's network. They aren't used to train AI models.
- We never sell your data, never use it for advertising, and don't use tracking or analytics tools.
- You can delete your account and data at any time from Profile → Delete account.
1. Who we are
The BackPain app ("BackPain", "the app") is provided by Vellix Ventures LLC ("we", "us"), 444 Alaska Avenue, Suite CJI007, Torrance, CA 90503, USA. We are responsible (the "controller") for the personal information described in this policy. You can reach us at support@vellixventures.com.
2. What we collect
Information you give us when you set up the app
Your name or nickname (optional), the areas where you have pain, your pain level, how long you've had it, your answers to the safety questions, your goals, how active you are, and your preferred workout days and reminder time. This is stored on your device. It's only copied to our servers if you sign in (see "Cloud backup") or use Coach.
Your activity in the app
Workouts you complete, your pain before and after each session, how each session felt, your weekly check-ins (pain, how much pain affected your daily life, your mood and any note you add), and the articles you save or read. Stored on your device, and backed up to your account if you sign in.
Account information (only if you sign in)
You can sign in with Apple. We receive a unique account identifier and an email address. If you use Apple's "Hide My Email", we only see a private relay address. Apple may also share your first name the first time you sign in. We only use it to suggest a community display name, and only keep it if you choose to use it.
Cloud backup (only if you sign in)
When you're signed in, a copy of your plan, workouts, check-ins and saved articles is stored in your account so you can restore it on a new phone. Your Coach conversations are not included in the backup. They stay on your device.
Community content (only if you join the Community)
Your display name, chosen emoji avatar, and the posts, replies and likes you create are visible to other signed-in members. Reports you file and members you block are private and only visible to you and our moderators.
Coach messages (only if you use Coach)
On iPhones with Apple Intelligence, Coach uses Apple's on-device language model. Your messages and plan summary are processed on your iPhone and are not sent to us or anyone else.
On other iPhones, when you send a message, we send the recent conversation and a short summary of your plan to our server, where an AI model running on Cloudflare's network generates the reply. The summary contains your first name if you gave one, pain areas, latest pain level, how long you've had pain, activity level, goals, whether Flare-up mode is on, and how many sessions you've done this week. We don't store your Coach conversations on our servers, and they aren't used to train AI models. We keep a daily count of messages to apply fair-use limits. Before your first message on these iPhones, the app asks for your permission to process this information this way.
If you report a Coach reply, we store that reply and the reason you chose so we can review it. You can stop using Coach at any time.
Purchases
Subscriptions are processed by Apple. We never receive your payment card details. Your phone checks your subscription status directly with Apple.
Technical information
When the app contacts our servers (for example to load exercise videos, sign in, sync or use Coach), our hosting providers automatically process your IP address and basic request information to deliver the service and protect it from abuse. We do not use analytics, advertising or tracking tools, and we don't track you across other apps or websites. If you've chosen to share crash data and analytics with app developers in your iPhone settings, Apple may give us anonymous crash reports and usage statistics.
Reminders
Workout, check-in and affirmation reminders are scheduled on your device. We don't collect a push notification token.
3. How we use your information
- To provide the app: building your personalised sessions, tracking your progress, backing up your data, running Coach and the Community.
- To keep people safe: showing urgent-care guidance when you describe serious symptoms, moderating the Community, preventing spam and abuse, and enforcing fair-use limits.
- To support you: answering your questions and requests.
- To meet legal obligations: for example tax records for purchases, or responding to lawful requests.
We do not sell your personal information, share it for targeted advertising, use your health information for marketing, or make decisions about you that have legal or similarly significant effects based solely on automated processing.
4. Legal bases (UK, EU and similar laws)
- Contract: to provide the features you ask for (your plan, account, backup, Community, Coach).
- Explicit consent: for health information, which you give when you choose to enter it, sign in to back it up, or agree to have it processed by our server-side AI for Coach. You can withdraw consent at any time by deleting the information, deleting your account, or no longer using the feature.
- Legitimate interests: to keep the service secure, prevent abuse and moderate the Community.
- Legal obligation: where the law requires us to keep or disclose information.
5. Who we share it with
We share information only with service providers who help us run BackPain. They're contractually required to protect it and use it only to provide their service to us.
| Provider | What they do | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare, Inc. | Hosts our server, database and website, and runs the AI model for Coach on iPhones without Apple Intelligence | Account details, cloud backup, Community content, Coach usage counts and reports. Coach messages from those iPhones are processed to generate a reply and are not used to train AI models |
| Apple | Sign in with Apple, in-app purchases, app distribution | Information needed to sign you in and process purchases. On-device Coach replies are generated on your iPhone and are not sent to Apple |
| Our podcast host | Streams podcast episodes (when available) | Your IP address when you play an episode |
Other members can see your Community display name, avatar, posts and replies.
Shop links: products in the Shop link to Amazon. When you tap one, you leave the app and Amazon's privacy policy applies. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon tells us about sales in aggregate, not who bought what.
Legal reasons and business changes: we may disclose information if required by law, to protect someone's safety, or as part of a merger or acquisition. In the last case this policy will continue to apply.
6. Your health information
We treat pain levels, symptoms, check-ins, safety-question answers and anything health-related you write as sensitive. We use it only to provide and personalise the app and keep you safe. We never use it for advertising or marketing, never sell it, and never share it with data brokers. BackPain does not connect to Apple Health.
BackPain is a wellness and education app, not a medical device, and it doesn't diagnose or treat any condition.
7. How long we keep it
- On your device: until you delete it, delete the app, or use Profile → "Erase all data on this device" / "Delete account".
- Account, cloud backup and Coach usage counts: for as long as your account exists. They are deleted from our live systems as soon as you delete your account. Copies in our providers' encrypted backups are removed within 30 days.
- Community content: until you delete it or your account. Moderators may remove content that breaks the rules sooner.
- Reports: until a moderator has resolved them, or until the reporting account is deleted.
- Coach conversations: on your device only, until you clear the chat or delete your data. Our server doesn't keep the messages it processes for Coach after the reply is sent.
- Server logs: kept by our hosting providers for a short period for security.
8. Your rights and choices
Depending on where you live, you have the right to access, correct, delete or receive a copy of your personal information, to object to or restrict how we use it, and to withdraw consent. You can:
- Delete everything: in the app, go to Profile → Delete account. This deletes your account, cloud backup and Community content, and erases data on your device. If you aren't signed in, use Profile → Erase all data on this device.
- Get a copy, correct something, or ask a question: email support@vellixventures.com. We'll respond within 30 days (or sooner where the law requires).
- Control reminders: in Profile or in your iPhone's Settings.
We won't treat you differently for exercising your rights. If you're in the UK or EU and unhappy with how we've handled your data, you can complain to your local data protection authority (in the UK, the Information Commissioner's Office).
California residents: we do not sell or share personal information (as those terms are defined in California law), and we use sensitive personal information only to provide the services you request.
9. Consumer Health Data Privacy Policy (US states)
This section applies to residents of Washington, Nevada and other US states with consumer health data laws.
- Consumer health data we collect: pain areas and levels, pain duration, safety-question answers, workout pain ratings, check-ins (pain, impact on daily life, mood, notes), goals and activity level, and health information you include in Coach messages or Community posts.
- Sources: directly from you, in the app.
- Purpose: to provide and personalise the app, back up your progress, generate Coach replies, and keep you safe.
- Sharing: with the service providers listed in section 5, only to provide the app. We collect and share this data only with your consent or as necessary to provide the service you request.
- Your rights: you can confirm whether we hold your consumer health data, access it, delete it, and withdraw your consent, using the options in section 8. If we deny a request, you can appeal by replying to our response. If you're not satisfied with the appeal, you can contact your state Attorney General.
We do not sell consumer health data.
10. Security
Data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS) and protected on your iPhone by iOS data protection. In our database, access rules make sure each person can only read and change their own private data. No system is perfectly secure, but we work hard to protect your information and will notify you and the authorities of a breach where the law requires.
11. International transfers
Our providers may process data in the United States and other countries. Where the law requires, transfers are protected by safeguards such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses and the UK's International Data Transfer Addendum.
12. Children
BackPain is not intended for anyone under 16, and we don't knowingly collect information from children under 16. If you believe a child has given us information, contact us and we'll delete it.
13. Changes to this policy
If we make important changes, we'll update the date above and let you know (for example, with a notice in the app) before they take effect. If a change affects how we use your health information, we'll ask for your consent again.
14. Contact us
Vellix Ventures LLC
444 Alaska Avenue, Suite CJI007, Torrance, CA 90503, USA
Email: support@vellixventures.com