Abstract

Background: Conventional physiotherapy assessments rely heavily on subjective clinical judgment, which may limit patient’s understanding, adherence, and long-term continuity of rehabilitation. Integrating objective movement diagnostics at the initiation of care may enhance patient engagement and service sustainability, and rehabilitation completion rates. Objective: To describe and evaluate a diagnostic-led physiotherapy care model incorporating objective movement assessment, with a focus on patient awareness, adherence, retention, and economic impact. Methods: This single-center, practice-based observational study included 120 patients with orthopaedic, peripheral nerve, geriatric musculoskeletal, and selected stable neurological conditions. All patients underwent a structured diagnostic session consisting of clinical history, record review, and objective movement assessment using the Pheezee medical device, followed by individualized counselling and protocol-driven rehabilitation. Descriptive analyses were conducted for patient distribution, patient retention, and revenue outcomes. Results: The following patient portfolio was observed during the study: Orthopaedic conditions - 51.7%, patients with nerve pathologies (23.3%) and geriatric Musculoskeletal conditions (18.3%). The diagnostic-led model was associated with reduced therapy dropout (10%) compared with conventional practice estimates 10-73%.1 Primary diagnostic assessments generated a revenue of INR 240,000, while improved patient retention contributed an estimated INR 456,000 in additional therapy revenue, yielding a total incremental revenue of INR 696,000 during the observation period. Conclusion: A diagnostic-first physiotherapy model integrating objective movement and muscle function assessment improves patient’s understanding of their clinical ailment, adherence, retention, and clinic’s financial sustainability. This model offers a scalable, evidence-informed framework for outpatient rehabilitation practice.

Keywords

physiotherapy diagnostics, objective movement assessment, muscle function, economic impact, rehabilitation adherence, patient retention, health service delivery, digital devices, artificial intelligence (AI)