Rick Wagner

I graduated from Nicolet High School and received my physical therapy degree from UW-Madison in 1997. I first worked at a regional health care system treating primarily sports medicine and orthopedic injuries, including working with the Brewers, Admirals and Marquette student athletes. At that time, I had the opportunity to teach at Marquette and UW-Milwaukee’s Physical Therapy Departments.

I founded Body Renovation Physical Therapy in 2001 because I didn’t like the direction big system health care was going. I wanted to create a clinic where outstanding physical therapists are given the education, freedom and support to provide a more personalized, higher level of patient care, at a better price. 

Early in my career, I took every manual therapy medical education course I could find. So, it has been an important part of my practice from the start. I have been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist for as long as I have been a physical therapist. I believe proper exercise performance should be part of everyone’s life. This additional knowledge has been valuable during my time practicing within fitness studios and CrossFit gyms. I’ve been a volleyball player and coach for over 30 years and received my certification as a Volleyball Conditioning Specialist from USA Volleyball. In this sports biomechanics realm, I've studied jumping and running mechanics in lower extremity injuries, as well as hitting, racket and throwing mechanics in upper extremity injuries. I have trained in dry needling and received my certification at a Certified Manual Trigger Point Therapist. I’ve also hd the opportunity to work extensively with law enforcement SWAT teams and tactical athletes, which continues to be both challenging and rewarding.

During the COVID shutdown, I studied Lifestyle Medicine and received my specialist certification through Purdue University and APTA's Evidence in Motion. It is amazing how diet, exercise, sleep and stress can impact not only our overall health, but our orthopedic aches and pains. I enjoy helping people make changes in these important behaviors.

See Me For:  Second opinions on difficult or previously failed rehabilitation, upper and lower extremity orthopedic and sports injuries (surgical or non-surgical), return-to-sport and sport-specific training, custom foot orthotics, lifestyle medicine based changes to improve the way you live.

Why I chose to become a PT: I was always interested in healthcare.  I injured my shoulder playing high school sports.  Physical therapy worked pretty well.  I’m really lucky I got hurt when I did.

Worst Injury I ever suffered: Torn Achilles. Not too painful, but it's a loooooong recovery.

Craziest injury I have ever treated: During the construction of Miller Park a worker fell 50 feet off a beam and landed on my patient.  The guy who fell was fine.  My patient was pretty beat up, injuring his neck, shoulder back and knee.

My favorite food to cook/bake: It's a tie between pork shoulder on my smoker or brewing beer (Belgians and IPAs)

If I could visit anywhere in the world: Any remote island in the South Pacific.

When I am not at work, I am: Relaxing with friends and family (preferrably on a beach or boat), coaching and playing volleyball, running our dogs Gus and Gertie through the woods, discovering the best outdoor dining and beer gardens in the MKE area.

Bucket list confession: I find surfing and golfing similarly frustrating, but somehow feel compelled to master each.

Quote to live by: Success in life is not about what you have, it's about what you have overcome.