ACL Rehab Live Patient Case Series: Early Management and Challenges
Presented by Phil Plisky and Kyle Matsel
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Nonfinancial: Phil Plisky has no competing nonfinancial interests or relationships with regard to the content presented in this course.
Financial: Kyle Matsel receives compensation from MedBridge for this course. He is a Functional Movement Systems instructor.
Nonfinancial: Kyle Matsel has no competing nonfinancial interests or relationships with regard to the content presented in this course.
This comprehensive course is designed for healthcare professionals seeking expertise in the critical early postoperative phase following Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. Participants will gain the knowledge and skills required for effective patient management during this period with a focus on recognizing, preventing, and managing common complications that can impact the rehabilitation process.
Join Drs. Kyle Matsel and Phil Plisky in this educational journey as they navigate postoperative rehabilitation on a high school athlete recovering from ACL surgery in real time. Learn how to problem-solve and make clinic decisions like a master clinician by excelling in early postoperative management following ACL reconstruction and becoming proficient in handling complications that often develop after surgery.
Learning Objectives
- Link the evidence regarding the complications from not achieving full knee extension ROM after ACLR
- Determine strategies for clinically improving full knee extension and flexion ROM
- Execute manual therapy techniques specific to post-op healing time to improve knee extension and flexion ROM based on the findings of the clinical examination
- Organize a therapeutic exercise progression to improve quad function, ROM, and movement for athletes in the early postoperative phase of ACL reconstruction surgery
- Determine strategies for clinically improving quad activation
Meet your instructors
Phil Plisky
Dr. Phil Plisky is a professor in the University of Evansville’s Doctor of Physical Therapy and PhD in Health Professions Education programs. He is the host of the MedBridge Rehab and Performance Lab podcast and founder of the Coaches Club at
Kyle Matsel
Dr. Matsel is a tenured associate professor at the University of Evansville, where he teaches in the musculoskeletal content areas of the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum. He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Evansville in 2011 and his PhD in rehabilitation sciences from the University…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Key Solutions to Common Complications
During the immediate post-op period, complications such as poor quad function, limited knee ROM, and excessive swelling can delay functional progress. This chapter will include skilled techniques and key educational tactics for mitigating these common complications. The learner will gain confidence when managing these complications to continue to achieve the rehabilitation milestones and biomarkers required for progression.
2. Phase II (Days 7-21): Incorporating Basic Movement
After completion of this chapter, the learner will understand the importance of incorporating basic movement assessment and interventions to aid functional recovery. Assessment interverntion for breathing and basic movement patterns are discussed.
3. Phase III (Weeks 3-6): Systemizing Basic Movement
As knee ROM and swelling begin to normalize, the focus begins to shift to incorporating knee function into more global movement patterns. Systematic evaluation, using the SFMA, guides the learner toward the potential impairments and risk factors which may have contributed to the initial ACL injury. After completion of this chapter, the learner will understand how to use movement to guide intervention decisions to create a foundation for higher-level strength and performance gains.
More courses in this series
ACL Rehab Live Patient Case Series: Setting Up Success
Kyle Matsel and Phil Plisky
ACL Rehab Live Patient Case Series: Early Management and Challenges
Kyle Matsel and Phil Plisky
ACL Rehab Live Patient Case Series: Strengthening and Complex Movement
Kyle Matsel and Phil Plisky