Grant Awarded For Groundbreaking Ligament And Tendon Repair Research

Dr. Robert C. Bray of the University of Calgary was recently selected as the winner of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) $250,000 Ligament and Tendon Repair and Regeneration Grant for his project, "Biological Augmentation of Ligament and Tendon Healing: Role of Neuropeptides."

Dr. Bray and his colleagues (Paul Salo, University of Calgary, and Per Renstrom and Paul Ackermann, both with the Karolinska Institutet) will conduct a series of experiments designed first to define the cellular, physiological, mechanical and structural changes in healing chronically injured tendons and ligaments and then assess the impact of blocking the action of a specific inflammatory neuropeptide, or augmenting the action of an anti-inflammatory neuropeptide.

"We are grateful to AOSSM and RTI Biologics for selecting our project and allowing us to continue to study such an important piece of the ligament and tendon repair puzzle," said Bray.

In 2006, the Society launched the first of a series of three-year research initiatives intended to highlight important issues in orthopaedic sports medicine and to promote high-level research in the selected topics. The first initiative focused on articular cartilage followed by the current initiative on ligament and tendon repair and regeneration. Following a think tank meeting in January 2009, and a grant workshop in July 2009, the Society solicited formal grant applications from workshop participants. This research initiative is sponsored by RTI Biologics Inc.

"We are proud to provide financial support to AOSSM's research initiatives. The efforts of the AOSSM membership in the field of ligament and tendon repair and regeneration will lead to improved patient care. Continued research in this field is central to both the mission of RTI Biologics and the ongoing scientific leadership of the AOSSM," said Rod Allen, Vice President of Sports Medicine Distribution, RTI Biologics Inc.

Source:
Lisa Weisenberger
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine

Bike Fit using Video Motion Analysis Dartfish

Many injuries that occur as a result of ridding a bike can be traced back to poor bike positioning.

The first step to correcting a problem or gaining some watts on the bike is with a proper bike fit. There are many schools of thought and methods but I feel that SICI ( Serotta International Cycling Institute) has the best methods, training staff and the ability to know its reproducible. Using Video to analyze motion has been around for years the first exposure I had was working with Dr. Robert Roe a chiropractor that had worked at the Olympic training center in Colorado in the early 90 using a much more cumbersome and primitive form of analysis. At that time we were using it to evaluate work loads on patients. Now I have been using Dart fish to analyze bio-mechanics of all types of athletes. At SICI we trained using there fitting principles and High Def cameras to evaluate motion down to the smallest detail. It is a more dynamic fitting process that can breakdown movement to a much higher degree. When you add power and HR data things get even more interesting. The amount of information and precision is really remarkable. I have added a video of a fit I did in Northern Virginia of a Pro cyclist that is having a few problems even after several Bike fits by other professionals.

This is an example of a marker that was placed on his right leg that is short when compared to the left and is not tracking properly. The patient feels like his right leg is wobbly and dives in medialy on the power stoke. He notes hitting the top tube. I will also let you know that after the exam I also found very specific weak core strength that needed to be address. Using this software and combining that my physical exam finding I am able to find a new starting point to make small adjustments until the correct fit is obtained.

Dr. Rick Rosa

Fairfax & Alexandria VA

703-876-5600