When a patient completes a course of physical therapy, the goal is simple: return to sport or life safely and fully healed. Unfortunately, under-rehabilitation is common, and reinjury remains a persistent risk. Reports have shown that between 9% and 29% of post-primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) patients reinjure their ACL after rehabilitation.
According to Dr. Adam Ruszkowski, a physical therapist, orthopedic clinical specialist, performance consultant, and founder of AR Physical Therapy (ARPT), reinjury isn’t just a physical setback – it’s also a “mental catastrophe.” Over his 16 years in the field, he has seen recurring injury and persistent pain create a cycle of doubt and fear that keeps patients from enjoying the activities they love.
The Problem: Subjective Care Increases Risk of Reinjury
Most physical therapy clinics Dr. Ruszkowski has encountered are built around a “transactional” model of care, where patients are treated according to established protocols and general timelines rather than individual benchmarks. Providers often rely on qualitative data, patient self-reporting, and imprecise tests to guide treatment. That lack of objectivity can keep underlying deficits hidden.
“Physical therapists and strength and conditioning coaches are supposed to be movement experts,” Dr. Ruszkowski said. “But we’re not really measuring movement very well. Subjective assessment dominates in most clinics.”
Because many PTs lack hard data, reduced pain often becomes the proxy for progress. If a patient says they feel better or has completed the prescribed number of visits, they may be discharged even if they aren’t fully healed. According to Dr. Ruszkowski, clearing individuals prematurely is “one of the most dangerous things” PTs can: under rehabilitation leaves patients vulnerable to physical reinjury – and the mental anguish that comes with it.
The Solution: A Data-Driven Approach to Rehabilitation
In his own clinic, ARPT, Dr. Ruszkowski helps patients avoid the cycle of reinjury by taking an objective, technology-first approach. Quantitative data is central to his philosophy of care.
“Technology allows us to measure muscular strength and [gives us] kinematic data so we can really have a clear picture of the way somebody moves, how they organize their movement, as well as how they produce force,” he said.
Finding the right technology was a journey. After trialing other vendors, Dr. Ruszkowski settled on Kinvent. “I’ve come to the conclusion that the ecosystem that fits best in my clinic is the Kinvent system,” he said. “It’s encompassed in one application, and I can track data over time.”
Today, he uses several sensors in the Kinvent ecosystem and the connected Kinvent App. In daily practice, he relies heavily on the K-Deltas Force Plates and K-Myo EMG.
Use Cases
A long-distance runner with right calf pain and suspected Achilles tendonitis.
A basketball player recovering from an ACL and lateral meniscus repair. His coach was eager to get him back on the court.
An 80-year-old with spinal stenosis and a history of vertigo experienced severe pain in his left leg while walking.
The runner performed CMJ tests on the K-Deltas. The Kinvent App graphed the five phases of each jump: unweighing, braking, propulsion, flight, and landing.
The athlete performed CMJ asymmetry tests on the K-Deltas. The tests revealed a 53.7% braking asymmetry that put unnecessary load on the athlete’s patellofemoral joint.
The patient performed 30-second sit-to-stand tests on the K-Deltas with the K-Myo strapped to his thigh. He had 18.5% asymmetry between his right and left sides.
The data revealed a capacity problem in the runner’s right calf, which led to a compensation pattern. Dr. Ruszkowski used the data to develop a custom treatment plan.
The data showed the athlete was not ready to safely return to sport. After four weeks of training, the athlete reduced his braking asymmetry to 22.3% and was cleared to train.
After two months of rehab, the patient’s left-right asymmetry was reduced to 4.6%. Dr. Ruszkowski submitted the data to Medicare to request additional sessions, which were approved.
The Results: Improved Care, Better Business
All of Dr. Ruszkowski’s rehab, training, and discharge decisions are based on individual benchmarks instead of arbitrary timelines and self-reporting. Because of that, ARPT patients return to sport or life when the data says they are ready, not when they report feeling “good enough.”
In addition to improving outcomes for his patients, Kinvent data has also eased administrative burdens for ARPT. Instead of haggling with insurers, Dr. Ruszkowski submits data alongside his notes to support additional treatment.
“We spend less time on the phone dealing with insurance companies,” he said. “We can have better, more meaningful conversations with doctors and patients, and allow them to stay in treatment when it matters most.”
That quality of care has translated into growth. Since fully integrating objective assessments into ARPT in 2022, Dr. Ruszkowski’s business has grown 40% year-on-year. “The reward for good work is more work,” he said. “If you’re providing quality data and quality interventions, you’re going to get more referrals from doctors and patients.”
As biofeedback technology becomes more accessible, Dr. Ruszkowski believes more PTs will recognize the value of quantitative data. “We should shift to having baseline measurements that are tangible, pure, objective data,” he said. “Then we can move into transformational care, where people can fully return to the activities they love and not come back for similar issues.”
