Can the novel Cross Bracing Protocol facilitate healing of ACL rupture?

Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament healing; Cross Bracing Protocol; anterior cruciate ligament injury; non-surgical; patient-reported outcomes Why is this study important? Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture often results in poor long-term outcomes such as decreased sport participation, early onset of knee osteoarthritis, persistent pain, and impaired long term quality of life, irrespective of treatment. Current management […]

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Hip and calf muscle strength after ACL injury

Key words: ACL, muscle strength, rehabilitation, hip This blog summarises the findings from a recent systematic review on hip and lower leg strength after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury) (1). Why is this study important? Muscle weakness is a key target of ACL injury rehabilitation, and strength deficits of the knee muscles (quadriceps and hamstrings) are […]

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Periodization in rehabilitation of the MSK conditions: Plan your rehab

Keyword: anterior cruciate ligament injury, athletic rehabilitation, periodization Of the 250,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries documented each year in the USA, approximately 65% of these injuries require reconstructive surgery. Appropriate rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction can give predictably good outcomes, with return to previous levels of activity and high knee function. Periodization training is used at […]

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Does generalised joint hypermobility impact second ACL injury risk?

Why is this study important?  Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common among athletes, especially those participating in high-intensity sports with cutting and pivoting movements, such as football, basketball, and handball. Knee stability and function after ACL injury can be restored surgically through ACL reconstruction (ACL-R). However, not all patients who undergo ACL-R are able […]

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Which muscle strength tests for knee extensors and flexors should we use after an ACL or meniscal injury?

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament, Muscle function, Psychometric properties Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears and meniscal injuries lead to knee extensor and flexor muscle weakness. If these strength deficits persist, they increase the risk of re-injury and/or early development of knee osteoarthritis. For this reason, it is important to monitor muscle strength after these injuries. Currently, […]

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The ethical dilemma surrounding management of anterior cruciate ligament injuries

By Grayson Harwood @GraysonHarwood I recently had a patient (female, early 20’s) with a full-thickness ACL rupture with no other associated osteochondral, ligamentous, or meniscal injury – A ‘clean’ ACL rupture if you will. The injury occurred in a typical fashion – non-contact, change of direction, valgus/internal rotation mechanism while playing social-level football. At the […]

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Returning to play in 2019 with Dr Clare Ardern. Why not catch this week’s BJSM Podcast?

  On this week’s BJSM podcast, the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT) Editor In Chief (EIC) elect Dr Clare Ardern PhD (T: @clare_ardern) helps clinicians address the difficult questions about return to play (RTP). In this 27-minute podcast Dr Ardern discusses: Tips for clinicians when approaching RTP with athletes (and here is […]

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Keep calm and carry on return to sport testing after an ACL injury: clinician-scientists weigh in on knee injury risk

By Jacob J. Capin, Lynn Snyder-Mackler, May Arna Risberg & Hege Grindem Imagine you are a sports medicine clinician responsible for an athlete with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Her surgery goes well, she completes her rehabilitation meticulously, passes your clinic’s return to sport (RTS) criteria, and starts to progress to full RTS. Now imagine another […]

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I guess that’s positive: soft-embalmed cadavers and a medical student’s journey towards physical exam competency

  By James Ross Bailey During the first two years of medical school, students are taught physical exam maneuvers by either practicing on each other or by using Standardized Patients (SPs). These SPs are paid actors that act out a variety of medical conditions. They play an important role in medical education. But, what SPs […]

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Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries in children and adolescents –a rare occurrence?

By Louise Shaw  Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, particularly in youths, has been the focus of recent media attention and parental concern in Australia 1 2. This is not surprising given that ACL injury causes significant discomfort and disability, and may also result in reduced levels of physical activity and contribute to obesity 3. ACL […]

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