Healthcare tech company Medbridge announced the acquisition of AI-powered motion capture startup Rehab Boost, which provides real-time body movement analysis and feedback to help patients and providers undergoing rehabilitation treatment.

Medbridge, based in Seattle, will reposition Rehab Boost as Medbridge Motion Capture, which will form a core element of the company’s AI-driven movement analysis.

The Motion Capture tool leverages AI-driven body movement detection to deliver personalized rehabilitation guidance across devices, including smartphones, tablets and laptops.

The system uses a proprietary AI algorithm that tracks body positions and provides step-by-step guidance for patients during their exercises.

A key feature, the "Rehab Score," allows healthcare providers to monitor patient progress through real-time metrics.

An AI engine analyzes movements against ideal models to offer quantitative insights by tracking reps and sets, while qualitative feedback evaluates movement accuracy and helps refine each exercise.

A "Pain Management Rehab Score" allows patients to input pain levels, which are incorporated into their overall rehabilitation score.

The platform accounts for multiple recognition parameters and helps clinicians adjust care plans based on tracked metrics and patient-reported data.

Paul Jaure, Rehab Boost’s founder, will serve as Medbridge’s head of AI, while Rehab’s COO Garth Savidge, a practicing physical therapist at Mass General, joined as director of commercial operations, where he will focus on clinical workflow and process design for Pathways.

Medbridge CEO Donovan Campbell said after assessing more than 30 possible solutions, they landed on Rehab Boost thanks to the superior user experience.

Through extensive user testing, Medbridge found achieving a seamless user experience was essential.

"Early versions were frustrating, with users struggling to position themselves correctly – move back, forward, left, right – it became a real pain point," Campbell said. "No matter how advanced the algorithms, if patients are too frustrated to use the tech, it’s effectively useless."

Rehab Boost’s refined, user-friendly interface, honed through continuous iteration, was a key factor in Medbridge’s decision.

"The technology is only as good as people’s willingness to use it, and Rehab Boost delivered on that front," Campbell said.

He explained Medbridge is leveraging AI to enhance rehab treatment with current applications in triage and clinician support.

"We’re using AI in inpatient triage to assess range of motion for lower back pain pathways, guiding patients quickly to appropriate care," he said.

This capability allows patients to bypass delays often seen in musculoskeletal care, which can take weeks for initial visits.

Through motion capture, patients receive a baseline range of motion score, which helps them monitor their progress and increasing engagement with rehab programs.

On the clinician side, Medbridge uses generative AI to streamline data review by summarizing patient activity and progress for quick, actionable insights.

"Clinicians get a high-level snapshot without scanning multiple data points," Campbell explained.

Medbridge plans to integrate AI-based real-time exercise coaching by Q2 2025, to allow the platform to guide patients through movements remotely.

"In two to three years, we aim to use AI-driven analysis of vast data points to provide truly personalized treatment paths for each patient," Campbell added.

THE LARGER TREND

Among the other digital health startups in the physical therapy space is WebPT, which recently partnered with Intel to integrate the tech giant’s RealSense PT Metrics into its EMR platform.

RealSense PT Metrics, previously utilized in sports for motion tracking, analyzes patient movement, posture and range of motion. It guides patients through their therapy routines while automatically charting data in WebPT’s system.