Institute for Musculoskeletal Advancement

09/03/2025

Join iMSKA and ATI Physical Therapy for a 1-hour Journal Club on Return-to-Sport After ACL Injury: Surgery vs. Rehab – What the Evidence Really Says

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, at 8 PM EST with Garrett Bullock

Explore evidence from 15 studies, biases favoring surgery, and how research can guide ACL rehab, counseling, and return-to-sport decisions. Interactive Q&A included.

Seats are limited, use the QR code below to register now!

08/25/2025

Over the last two weeks, we have highlighted studies published in JOSPT regarding Achilles tendinopathy and heel pain. Now those insights just got bigger.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) continues its push to show third-party payers the real value of Physical Therapy. Christopher Bise PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, Adam Lutz PT, DPT, PhD, MBA, and RobRoy Martin, PT, PhD, CSCS debut Perspectives for Payers, addressing gaps in knowledge by linking large-scale patient data to CPGs to guide value-based physical therapy.

Key Takeaways:
♦ Set clear timelines
♦ Predict visits & costs
♦ Reward high-quality care
♦ Improve patient access

Value-based PT isn’t a someday idea, it’s here.

Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/esR2HdT3

08/19/2025

This past weekend, Residents in ATI Physical Therapyhysical Therapy's Sports Residency Program joined North Greenville University’s football camp for hands-on training in on-field coverage, pre-season prep, and emergency care.

We want to recognize Avery Epstein, Cade Harris, Josee Brunault, Colleen Gaffney, Sara Labadorf, and Caleb Barr for putting their skills into action!

Follow iMSKA to see how the next generation of sports medicine clinicians are leading on and off the field.

08/14/2025

How long does plantar fasciitis really take to resolve? What outcomes can you expect and what does the data say about costs?

A study published in JOSPT of 10,500+ patients gives us real-world answers, breaking down episode length, recovery patterns, and billing trends.

Led by Chris Bise PT, DPT PhD, OCS, Adam Lutz, PT, DPT, PhD, MBA of ATI Physical Therapy, and RobRoy Martin, PhD, PT, CSCS, this research points to evidence-based care pathways that work for both clinics and payers.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Most patients recovered in 12–13 visits about 60 days
✅ FAAM-ADL scores improved from 63.9 → 78.1 on average
✅ Reinforces smarter, value-based care and reimbursement

Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2025.0502

08/13/2025

We’re excited to welcome our new cohort of Research Fellows who joined iMSKA in July 2025!

As practicing clinicians with ATI Physical TherapyATI Physical Therapy, they bring expertise from across the country and in all areas including PT, OT and ATC and they are already contributing to innovative research and collaboration.

Join us in celebrating the newest members of the iMSKA community!

07/31/2025

Burnout is real and it is reshaping the physical therapy profession. Tom Denninger, PT, DPT, Executive Director, shares powerful insights on why more clinicians are exploring non-clinical paths and how it might be time to rethink what a sustainable career in physical therapy really looks like. A must-read if you are questioning your next steps!

Burnout is real and it's reshaping the future of physical therapy! In this thought-provoking blog EIM expert, Tom Denninger, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, dives into why more clinicians are stepping beyond the treatment table and exploring non-clinical career paths. Don’t miss his perspective on what this shift means to reassess your values, realign your strengths, and redesign a career that is sustainable for the long haul!

📖 Read the full blog: https://bit.ly/44Dh59h

07/22/2025

iMSKA Welcomes New Director of Research

“We are thrilled to welcome Natalie Myers to IMSKA as our new Director of Research," said Executive Director, Thomas Denninger. "Natalie brings a rare blend of academic rigor and clinical insight that aligns perfectly with our mission to advance musculoskeletal care through meaningful research. Her leadership will be instrumental in expanding our impact and deepening our collaborations across the field.”

With Natalie’s arrival, we look forward to building on our momentum and pushing MSK research forward in bold, collaborative ways.

Want to learn more about what the iMSKA team has been up to? 🔗 i-mska.org

07/21/2025

With the MLB All-Star break upon us, conversations around performance, recovery, and injury prevention are front and center.

That’s why we’re excited to share the newly published study in International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
🔗 https://ijspt.scholasticahq.com/article/140886-professional-baseball-pitchers-use-of-weighted-ball-training-injury-incidence-and-time-loss-a-preliminary-study

Originally highlighted during a conference presentation last fall, this research dives into the potential links between weighted ball training and injury rates in professional pitchers—critical insights as players, coaches, and clinicians navigate the balance between velocity gains and long-term health.

Congrats to the research team for contributing timely, evidence-based guidance to the field of baseball performance and rehab!

07/18/2025

We’re excited to celebrate our six outstanding Research Fellows who joined iMSKA last fall! Since October, they’ve contributed meaningfully to both new and ongoing projects advancing research through innovation, collaboration, and clinical insight.

These fellows, also practicing clinicians at ATI Physical Therapy, represent Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Their commitment to bridging research and real-world practice continues to strengthen the future of health.

We will be welcoming 6 additional research fellows later this month, stay tuned!

07/16/2025

10 for 10. 100% FIRST-TIME PASS RATE on both the SCS and OCS Board Exams!!!

We're thrilled to celebrate the ATI Physical Therapy Sports & Ortho residency graduates. Every single one crushed their board exam on their first attempt!

Meet the graduates behind the milestone:
Will Byrd (Current UE Fellow), Marissa McCarthy (Current UE Fellow), Zack McCarthy, Patrick Deleonibus, Marisa Ferguson, Alyssa Zeringue, Mandy Marsh, Chase Parks, Kyle Harvey and Dakota Beane

This incredible achievement highlights the power of hard work, clinical mentorship, and elite-level training through our residency programs!

#100%PassRate

07/15/2025

Earlier this year Jackie Davenport, PT, DPT, OCS, Clinical Development Program Lead and Residency Director at ATI Physical Therapy, gave an insightful presentation at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)’s Combined Section's Meeting on post-professional development.

Traditionally, continuing education hasn't always translated into better patient outcomes, but our MSK Certificate program is changing the game. This self-paced, long-form, multi-modal track resulted in a 14% greater value to patients, improving outcomes and reducing visits in in providers who completed the program.

To learn more, make sure to check us out at i-mska.org

07/14/2025

Meet Tom Denninger: Executive Director at iMSKA.

We are proud to spotlight Tom Denninger, who serves as Executive Director at iMSKA. With a rich background in orthopedic and musculoskeletal health, Tom plays a pivotal role in advancing our mission.

About Tom:
- Experience: A key member of ATI Physical Therapy since 2015, he has held various patient care and corporate leadership roles.
- Education: Doctorate of Physical Therapy and Orthopedic Residency from Sacred Heart University; fellowship in manual physical therapy through Evidence In Motion (EIM)
- Contributions: A respected speaker at national conferences and author of multiple peer-reviewed articles.

Stay connected with us to gain valuable insights from Tom and the iMSKA team as we continue our work in advancing MSK health. For more information, visit our website: i-MSKA.org