MSP093 – ACL Rehabilitation (Online Mini Series)

• Develop solid, evidence-based, rehab protocols tailored to your patient’s needs
• Benefit from Dave’s vast experience and clear communication skills
• Lots of videos to get key points across
• Get 8 Hours of CPD and your personalised CPD Certificate with this course
• AND…you have a whole year’s access to recorded sessions for reviewing key points
• Watch the recordings on your iPad, mobile, PC or tablet
• Superb value for money – you learn without travelling or paying for accommodation, childcare or petcare

Assessment and Diagnosis

The knee joint is a complicated structure to assess due to its anatomical composition. It depends heavily on its muscular and ligamentous make up for its strength and stability as it gains very little from its bony configuration. It is therefore important for the therapist to understand the different mechanisms of the ligamentous structures at the knee joint in order to correctly diagnose the relative knee injury and the subsequent likely consequences.
Within the concept of the ACL injured patient, a complete accurate diagnosis and choice of subsequent surgical procedure is only possible via arthroscopic examination. However in the interim period between assessment/physical diagnosis and surgery, the athlete has the ideal opportunity to utilize this time to commence their ‘prehabilitation’ programme. In the ideal world, the early part of the functional rehabilitation programme should be taught prior to surgery so that the athlete has a full understanding of what is expected of them in that first week following surgery.

The attendees will learn:-
• To recognise some of the mechanisms of ACL injury from video assessment
• Important clinical assessment tools relative to diagnosis of the injured ACL
• Several key manual assessment tests to aid diagnosis
• The value of pre injury screening and isokinetic dynamometry and its role during the rehabilitation programme
• Various practical applications from the lecturers extensive experience from working with ACL patients in non-elite and elite sport
• The importance of pre-operative rehabilitation in success of the long term injury outcome

Rehabilitation in the Maximum/Moderate Protection Phase (0-12 weeks)

Following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), the 0-14 week rehabilitation phase can be further subdivided into maximum and moderate protection phases.
In the first two weeks following surgery (maximum protection), rehabilitation goals are wound healing, full extension, minimize any joint effusion and regain lower limb control. Once these goals have been achieved by the patient, the rehabilitation programme develops into more functional-moderate protection based work with increased weight bearing activity. This creates compressive forces across the knee, which in turn decreases the shear forces across the joint and the ACLR. Close kinetic chain exercise loads and proprioceptive based activity prepare the joint before entering the minimum protection phase at approximately 12 weeks. These time scales are very loose fitting in the patient’s prospective progress. Constant re-assessment and appropriate goal setting adjustments ensures the rehabilitation schedule is more of an outline than a predetermined time scale ‘recipe’

The attendees will learn:-
• The recovery parameters to allow a safe progression for the patient through this maximum/moderate protection phase of rehabilitation
• Various therapeutic techniques utilised to help regain mobility in the maximum protection phase
• Gradual progressive exercise routines to assist a functional recovery
• To recognise contra indications to prevent the patient progressing too quickly through the rehabilitation programme
• How to constantly evolve their own ACL protocols as they gain further clinical experience

Rehabilitation in the Minimum Protection Phase (12 weeks- Return to Play)

As the ACLR patient moves into the final phase of rehabilitation, the minimum protection phase, several clinical goals will already have been attained from the first two phases of the rehabilitation process. Activities now become more functionally based, with various changes in the rehabilitation goals set by the therapist. Joint speed and an ability to absorb force during activity allows the patient to safely move into more occupational or sport specific activities. This functional progression restores physical and psychological confidence in the injury site progressing from static to dynamic activity. An organised progression of rehabilitation is the key to success in returning to pre-injury activities. Adaption of the rehabilitation structure and schedule is dependent on how dynamic the therapist is, yet has an ability to recognise the various pitfalls which may occur if progression is too hasty.

The attendees will learn:-
• To look outside the realms of the standard medical texts to develop their own specific ACLR programme
• To recognise the use of isokinetic dynamometry as an assessment tool in the final stages of rehabilitation
• To utilise various functional assessment markers at the appropriate time of recovery
• To recognise contra indications to prevent the patient progressing too quickly through the rehabilitation programme
• How to address clinical pathologies which may develop in the later stages of rehabilitation
• To determine the appropriate time for the patient to safely return to pre-injury activity

The price includes all 3 sessions, notes and quiz – 8 hours of CPD

*No traffic jams, accommodation hassles, pet or childcare, rota clashes, locum fees ……….. just great CPD and a valuable ongoing resource.