Taking the Guesswork Out of Return-to-Sport Decisions

Premier Pulse     September 2026

By Joe Dudics, PT, DPT, OCS, CLT, board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist

Premier Health's orthopedic rehabilitation team is advancing return-to-sport testing by offering isokinetic strength testing, an objective tool that helps clinicians and physicians evaluate an athlete's readiness to return to sport or activity. 

Isokinetic testing provides an accurate assessment of muscle strength and allows care teams to make standardized, objective decisions regarding rehabilitation progress and return-to-sport readiness.

Who Can Benefit?

  • Athletes and active individuals returning to a high-level sport or activity
  • Individuals recovering from injury or surgery
  • Both upper- and lower-extremity athletes seeking a formal strength assessment

When Should Testing Be Performed?

Strength testing can be safely performed as early as three months after surgery and repeated every six to eight weeks to assist with rehabilitation program development and return-to-sport decision-making.

What Can Patients Expect?

Following the assessment:

  • Patients receive a computerized report of their results.
  • Results are placed in the Media tab in Epic for physician review.
  • Testing may be incorporated into a broader battery of return-to-sport assessments when appropriate.

Testing Locations

Isokinetic testing is available at:

  • Miami Valley Hospital - Beavercreek: 1244 Meadow Bridge Drive, Beavercreek
  • Upper Valley Medical Center for Sports Medicine, Hyatt Center: 450 N. Hyatt St., Suite 102, Tipp City
  • Atrium Medical Center Atrium Family YMCA: 5750 Innovation Drive, Middletown
  • Atrium Medical Center Countryside YMCA: 1697 Deerfield Road, Lebanon
  • Miami Valley Hospital North: 9000 N. Main St., Englewood (opening December 2026)

How to Refer a Patient

For current Premier Health physical therapy patients, physicians can contact therapists directly through Secure Chat to arrange an isokinetic strength assessment.

Therapist Contacts

Miami Valley Hospital RIO Beavercreek

  • Joe Dudics, PT, DPT, OCS, CLT
  • Kellen Kubik, PT, DPT, CSCS, OCS

UVMC Hyatt Center, Tipp City

  • Brian Jans, PT, DPT, SCS

AMC Atrium Family YMCA, Middletown

  • Jean Anderson, PTA

AMC Countryside YMCA, Lebanon

  • Lisa Duncan, PT, ATC

Miami Valley Hospital North

  • Kara Gnau, PT, DPT, sports medicine residency-trained

For new physical therapy patients, ordering providers can place a physical therapy order with special instructions for an "isokinetic testing assessment."

Questions?

For operational questions, contact Jennifer Jones, PT, MHA, manager, UVMC Outpatient Rehabilitation Services, at jenjones@premierhealth.com.

For clinical questions, contact Joe Dudics, PT, DPT, OCS, CLT, board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist, at jwdudics@premierhealth.com.

Back to the September 2026 Premier Pulse