Dr. Giovanni Ferreira, an Emerging Leader Research Fellow at the University of Sydney, dives into the pressing concerns of people suffering from acute low back pain. He critiques clinical practice guidelines, arguing they often miss the mark on addressing patient worries. The conversation highlights the need for personalized education over generic advice and emphasizes the role of effective communication in improving treatment outcomes. Ferreira also discusses the potential for AI chatbots to help patients find reliable information, navigating the complexities of back pain management.

Today's episode takes the spirit of our popular SPORTS CORNER series, and flips it to learning about playing a leading role in the world of sports medicine and rehabilitation. Dr Ciara Burgi has worked across collegiate, professional men's, and professional women's sport, and has a ton of wisdom to share. From building rapport with athletes and patients, to valuing your work in the present without looking too far ahead to what might (or might not) come next, and doing what you can with the resources at your disposal, are among the topics Dr Burgi covers. ------------------------------ RESOURCES The American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy and JOSPT are co-hosting the second Virtual Sports PT Conference on Saturday 2 November. You'll hear from world-leading clinician-scientists including Drs Terri Chmielewski, Lori Michener, Karin Silbernagel, Liz Wellsandt and Rich Willy. Register now to take advantage of the extended early-bird price and the opportunity for up to 13 continuing education contact hours. Registration and information: https://tinyurl.com/3xkcrtu2

Dr. Martin Asker, a shoulder expert from Sophiahemmet University, dives into the world of team handball, revealing its physical demands and the common injuries players face. He discusses the crucial role of position-specific challenges and highlights the prevalence of shoulder issues, especially from overuse. With insights into handball throwing mechanics, Martin emphasizes the need for tailored rehabilitation strategies to keep athletes in the game. Tune in for a mini-masterclass on injury prevention and overall athlete care!

Olivia Barbosa, a sports physiotherapist with over ten years in soccer and rugby, shares her insights on ACL rehabilitation. She emphasizes the often-overlooked importance of measuring both quadriceps and hamstring strength. Olivia critiques the reliance on the Limb Symmetry Index, advocating for comprehensive strength assessments. She discusses the varying outcomes in recovery for professional versus recreational athletes and highlights innovative techniques for tracking strength. Her focus on integrating clinical research with practical applications reveals new strategies for effective rehabilitation.

Ever wondered what a day in the life of a busy sports medicine clinic and research unit looks like? Dr Enda King combines his roles as a sports physiotherapist, strength and conditioning coach, researcher, and educator through his work with individual athletes and elite teams across a spectrum of sports and disciplines. Currently, he is the Head of Elite Performance and Development at the Aspetar Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Hospital in Doha, Qatar. ------------------------------ RESOURCES For more on the Aspetar International Sports Medicine Conference - complete guide to thigh muscle injuries (November 2024): https://www.aspetar.com/en/professionals/our-events/complete-guide-to-thigh-muscle-injuries

Dr. Rasmus Nielsen leads a research group on running injuries at Aarhus University. He dives into the prevalence of running-related injuries and the importance of understanding training loads. The discussion includes common injuries like runner's knee, the limitations of the traditional 10% rule, and the intricacies of tracking training metrics. Nielsen emphasizes the role of proper shoe adaptation and highlights the benefits of strength training for injury prevention, urging runners to rethink their approaches for safer running.

In this engaging discussion, Andrew Mitchell, a specialist from Red Bull Leipzig in athlete rehabilitation, shares his expertise on guiding injured professional football players back to the field. He introduces a comprehensive 11-phase rehabilitation pathway that tailors recovery plans to individual needs. Andrew emphasizes the importance of flexibility in recovery strategies and accessible performance metrics. He also discusses the critical collaboration required during recovery, especially for complex injuries like ACL tears, highlighting the balance between data analysis and personal care.

A thirty-year-old woman, who plays social basketball once each week and goes to the climbing gym at least twice each week, has been diagnosed with a traumatic medial meniscus tear. The woman was told that surgery is the only way to 'fix' her knee so she can get back to basketball and climbing. But is that really what the research evidence says? Professors Jonas Thorlund and Søren Skou (University of Southern Denmark) share the key findings of their DREAM trial, and its clinical implications for managing traumatic meniscal tears. ------------------------------ RESOURCES DREAM trial report: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38319181/ STARR trial report: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35676079/ Comparing treatment strategies for traumatic and non-traumatic meniscus tears: https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2024.12245 Should symptom onset guide treatment choice for meniscus tears? https://www.jospt.org/do/10.2519/jospt.blog.20240415/full/

Dr Kala Flagg of the Washington Mystics answers the classic Sports Corner questions for high-level women's basketball. She covers the demands of the sport, the most common injuries, and key things to plan for during injury rehabilitation. Considering playing style, shoe fit, and physical fitness are all in a day's work when supporting high-level women's basketball athletes to perform at their best.

Today's episode builds on last week's discussion of how changes in the way that the nervous system works after injury can compensate for impairments like joint instability, pain and muscle inhibition. Dr Meredith Chaput (University of Central Florida) extends the 5 phases of the visual-cognitive control chaos continuum, to link the ways to assess for cognitive compensations and how to progressively load the visual-cognitive system during sports injury rehabilitation. ------------------------------ RESOURCES From control to chaos - visual-cognitive progression during recovery: https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2024.12443 The control-chaos continuum adapted to basketball: https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2023.11981