Arthroscopic hip surgery rates have dramatically increased in the last decade due in part to increased MRI imaging. MRIs are very sensitive, but lack specificity in many musculoskeletal disorders with high rates of false positives among asymptomatic populations. Hip pathologies such as impingement (cam or pincer) and labral tears can be found in up to...
The first total knee replacement was performed in the late 1960s and the surgery has become one of the most successful procedures in orthopedics. Authors estimate up to 600,000 total knee replacements are performed each year to reduce pain and improve function in patients with knee arthritis. Many of these patients will undergo both pre...
ACL injuries continue to rise among our high school and collegiate athletes. In particular, among female athletes who are 6-8 times more likely to injure their ACL compared to a male in the same sport. The vast majority of these athletes will elect to undergo surgical repair of their injured ligaments, but current research suggests...
The acronym R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) has been utilized for decades in the clinical and self management of acute injuries. Clinicians have updated RICE to PRICE adding in protection of the injured area, but this acronym needs further updating. In general, the 4 of the components of this self treatment approach have merit...
At this point in the year, many of our Boulder endurance athletes have completed their respective seasons of running, cycling, and triathlon competitions. Upon reflection, few of these athletes reached the end of their seasons without a missed training day or competition due to injury. This is a very common occurrence as athletes push their...
Authors estimate over 100,000 ACL reconstructions are performed in our country each year. With equal incidence of early arthritis in both conservatively treated and surgically repaired ACLs the main reason for these surgeries would be to improve an athlete’s ability to return to their prior levels of sport. In prior decades, professional athletes who benefited...
ACL tears are one of the most common sports injuries with over 100,000 ACL surgeries performed each year. In a given sport, females remain at a higher risk of injury than their male peers secondary to both non modifiable and non modifiable risk factors. Although Physical Therapy and conservative care have shown equivalent outcomes to...
Injuries mainly fall into the “when” not “if” category for a majority of Americans. These injuries could be the result of traumas (fracture, sprains, or strains), over use injury, and at times without a known cause. Thankfully our bodies are remarkable in their ability to heal from these injuries as we move through the 3...
Post operatively, I am normally concerned with two presentations in patients. Patient’s with significant post operative range of motion and those with minimal to no pain have the highest risk of tearing their repaired tissues due to the lack of protection from either stiffness or post operative pain. Patients may incorrectly assume the absence of...
A recent article in the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy (Deering et al, June 2020) discusses the research currently available to guide a return to exercise (including competitive sport) after pregnancy and childbirth. The short answer is, there’s not much. The article proposes a 3 phase approach to postpartum recovery in athletes. Phases...
