Jane Rooney – Cross Bracing and Non-Operative ACL Management

Physio Foundations

In this episode, Associate Professor Jane Rooney explains the latest evidence for non-operative management of ACL injuries, including the Cross Bracing Protocol and associated research.

This discussion is intended for health professionals and health professional students. Always seek guidance from a qualified health professional regarding any questions about your health or medical condition.

Jane Rooney is a Specialist Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2009) and a facilitator and examiner for physiotherapists completing their specialisation through the College. She has extensive experience in sports physiotherapy, working with athletes of all levels, and is widely respected for her contributions to university and clinical teaching, including through the Physio Educators platform. In 2016, Jane was awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to investigate how knee injuries are managed around the world. She is now part of the research team investigating the effectiveness of the Cross-Bracing Protocol for non-operative ACL injury management.

Thanks to Jane for a fantastic conversation. Use the timestamps below to jump to key sections of the episode:

In this episode:
0:00 About this episode and welcome Jane
4:10 Findings from Jane’s Churchill Fellowship: global ACL management and societal costs
7:16 Operative vs non-operative ACL management and patient decision aids
10:15 Case study: decision-making in ACL injury management
15:45 Bracing for native ACL healing: history of the Cross-Bracing Protocol
23:19 Non-operative management is not suitable for everyone
25:30 Bracing at 90 degrees: mechanisms and anatomical rationale
27:40 “ACL first aid”: preserving the option of non-operative management
30:30 Important! Bracing must involve a doctor, surgeon, and patient
33:36 Eligibility criteria, timeframes, and factors influencing ACL healing
37:05 Understanding the anatomy of ACL healing
41:45 Risks and medical considerations for referring patients for bracing
47:30 Future directions: non-operative care and evolving bracing protocols
59:50 Shared decision-making: pros and cons of bracing vs surgical care

Jane referenced this study on treatment decision-making for ACL injuries:
https://academic.oup.com/ptj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ptj/pzaf030/8075093

Find out more about the Cross Bracing workshop at physioeducators.com.au

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This discussion is intended for health professionals and health professional students. Always seek guidance from a qualified health professional regarding any health concerns or medical conditions.