Session Description: 

Friday April 22, 2022
2:30-3:50 pm EDT

Dr. Brian Pietrosimone - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Walk this Way: How Gait Biomechanics Impact Outcomes Following ACL Injury and Treatment Options"

Abstract: Individuals with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction are at high risk of developing osteoarthritis which leads to chronic disability and eventually joint replacement early in life. Changes in the way patients move early after injury impacts biological changes to the joint that hasten the development of osteoarthritis. This lecture explains how movement biomechanics influence biological changes at the joint and how we can modify movement biomechanics to maximize long term joint health following injury.

Bio: Brian Pietrosimone is an Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sports Science and the Director of the MOTION Science Institute and the Co-Director of the Sports Medicine Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds adjunct appointments in both the Departments of Orthopaedics and Allied Health Sciences in the School of Medicine. His research focuses on comprehensively evaluating the biomechanical and neuromuscular consequences of knee injury and the link between acute injury and the development of posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Dr. Pietrosimone has published over 175 peer-reviewed scientific papers related to lower extremity joint injury and osteoarthritis. His work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, as well as other foundations including the Arthritis Foundation, National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, and the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association.

Dr. Irene S Davis, PhD, PT, FAPTA, FACSM, FASB

University of South Florida

"Movement Matters: Gait Retraining for Patellofemoral Pain"

Abstract: Patellofemoral pain is extremely common in runners.  While its etiology is multifactorial, running mechanics have been shown to play an important role. For example, cross-sectional, retrospective and prospective studies have reported that runners with PFP have greater hip adduction than runners without PFP.  PFP has also been associated with high vertical loadrates associated with early impact transients, most notably in rearfoot strike runners.  Therefore both alignment and loading are related to PFP.  While strengthening can increase a runner's muscle capacity, it has not been shown to influence running mechanics.  This requires retraining the movement pattern using motor learning principles.  To do this, one must 1. identify the mechanics to be altered, 2. prepare the muscles for a new pattern, 3. provide feedback on the new pattern, 4. fade the feedback over time, and 5. practice to reinforce the learning.  The purpose of this presentation is to describe each of these components of gait retraining in the context of treating a runner with PFP. 

BIO: Dr. Irene Davis is a Professor in the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science in the Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida.  Prior to this, she was  the founding Director of the Spaulding National Running Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School.  Dr. Davis received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Massachusetts, and in Physical Therapy from the University of Florida.  She earned her Masters degree in Biomechanics from the University of Virginia, and her PhD in Biomechanics from Pennsylvania State University.  She is a Professor Emeritus in Physical Therapy at the University of Delaware where she served on the faculty for over 20 years.  Her research is focused on the relationship between lower extremity structure, mechanics and injury. Her research also extends to the development of interventions to alter faulty mechanics through gait retraining. She has been studying the use of wearable sensors in both the evaluation and treatment of injured runners. Her interests also include the effect of minimal footwear on mechanics and injury.   Dr. Davis has received funding from the Department of Defense, and National Institutes of Health to support her research.  She has given over 350 lectures both nationally and internationally and authored 160 publications on the topic of lower extremity mechanics during walking and running gait. She has been named one of the 50 Most Influential People in Running.  She is a Fellow and Past President of the American Society of Biomechanics, and the 2019 ASB Borelli award winner.  She is also a Fellow, past Vice President  and current President-Elect of the American College of Sports Medicine.  Finally, she is a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association. 

Virtual Posters for the following talks will be made available online 

Jenna Schulz

“Changes In Biological Markers Of Knee Inflammation After High Tibial Osteotomy”

Harry Battersby

“Influence of sex on gait and cartilage thickness after ACL reconstruction”

Jacquelyn Maciukiewicz

“Strengthening Improves Muscle Capacity Utilization in Women with Painful Knee Osteoarthritis”