By Jordana Bieze Foster

If the last 10 years have been the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) decade, the next 10 just might be the decade of patellofemoral pain (PFP). As described by Lower Extremity Review magazine researchers have identified key predictive variables and verified the effectiveness of several training interventions for prevention. Perhaps as important, ACL injuries and the associated gender issues are now part of the sports world’s collective consciousness – something that was not the case a decade ago.

Sports medicine experts are hoping to similarly raise PFP’s profile. PFP spends far less time in the spotlight but is just as devastating to an athlete.

“It’s been a very big problem,” said Professor Irene Davis, director of the Spaulding National Running Center at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.

PFP experts will tackle this problem when they meet for the third annual Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat and Clinical Symposium, Sept 18-20, 2013, in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. Researchers and clinicians have gathered twice since 2009 for an intimate and intense conference. Each gathering culminated in a consensus statement that summarized the current state of the science and suggested future directions.

The Patellofemoral Research Retreat (September 18-20) provides researchers and clinicians an opportunity to learn, network, and present. Keynote speakers will include Professor Irene Davis, a world expert in patellofemoral pain and running biomechanics, and Professor Paul Hodges, Director of the NHMRC Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury, and Health at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Abstracts for presentation at the research retreat will be accepted until April 30.

Clinicians will get the latest news by attending the first one-day International Patellofemoral Pain Clinical Symposium (September 21) at the same location. Speakers include renowned experts such as Irene Davis, Paul Hodges, Jenny McConnell, Kay Crossley, Chris Powers, and Erik Witvrouw. Topics will include innovations in the understanding of PFP, proximal vs distal contributions to PFP, and specific or local exercises for management of PFP.

Early bird registration for both events ends June 30.

Abstracts for presentation at the research retreat will be accepted until April 30.

Submit an abstract here

For more information, visit www.ipfrr.com or contact Erin Macri at erin.macri@hiphealth.ca.

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Jordana Bieze Foster is the Editor of Lower Extremity Review magazine