Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries - Latest Evidence & Clinical Use

Overview

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries: Latest Evidence and Clinical Use is an on-demand continuing education course presented through the Canadian Physiotherapy Association – Orthopaedic Division. This evidence-informed course critically examines current research on ACL injury management and translates it into clinically relevant insights for everyday practice.

The course explores key topics including epidemiology, surgical and non-surgical management considerations, long-term outcomes such as osteoarthritis risk, and return-to-sport decision-making. Emphasis is placed on interpreting the literature with a pragmatic lens, helping clinicians move beyond commonly held assumptions and apply evidence thoughtfully within real-world clinical settings.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Summarize current evidence related to ACL injury management and outcomes.

2. Critically evaluate common assumptions surrounding ACL reconstruction, rehabilitation, and long-term knee health.

3. Apply research findings to clinical decision-making for patients with ACL injury.

4. Discuss considerations and risks associated with return to high-risk sport following ACL injury.

5. Reflect on long-term sequelae, including osteoarthritis risk, following ACL rupture and treatment.

Audience

This course is intended for:

• Physiotherapists managing patients with ACL injuries across sport, orthopaedic, and general practice settings.

• Orthopaedic and sports rehabilitation clinicians seeking evidence-based updates.

• Clinicians involved in return-to-sport decision-making.

• Students and early-career practitioners looking to strengthen their understanding of ACL research and clinical application.

• Healthcare professionals completing continuing professional development requirements.

Why This Course Matters

ACL injuries are among the most common and impactful knee injuries seen in clinical practice, particularly in athletic populations. Despite a growing body of research, misconceptions persist around surgical outcomes, graft loading, osteoarthritis prevention, and return-to-sport safety.

This course helps bridge the gap between research and practice by:

• Challenging outdated or oversimplified narratives around ACL surgery and rehabilitation.

• Highlighting the strengths and limitations of current evidence.

• Supporting informed, individualized clinical decision-making rather than protocol-driven care.

• Encouraging clinicians to consider long-term knee health, not just short-term return to activity.

About the Presenter

Evangelos Pappas

Evangelos Pappas is currently a Professor and Associate Dean (intoHealth) at the University of Wollongong, Australia working on the university’s developing Health and Wellbeing Precinct. He has previously held positions at the Discipline of Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney and Long Island University-Brooklyn. 

His research has focused on utilizing biomechanical, epidemiological and clinical methodology to investigate the etiology, prevention and treatment of anterior cruciate ligament injuries of the knee. He has published >120 peer-reviewed articles and his work has been funded by government agencies and private foundations. He has been interviewed on radio and in newspaper articles about sports injury prevention. 

What Participants Are Saying

“I liked that he interpreted the literature to a real-world view to apply the knowledge. He was very good at highlighting the important things and the pros/cons of each study.” 

“Fantastic job covering a lot of key points in a short presentation. I especially liked the discussion around dispelling commonly heard thoughts, such as surgery preventing knee OA.”

“Very useful information. I appreciated all the research discussion and would love an additional lecture on return to sport post-ACL.” 

“Great information and new insights for me.” 

Participant feedback consistently highlights the clarity of evidence interpretation, clinical relevance, and value of challenging common assumptions, while also noting strong interest in deeper dives on treatment protocols and return-to-sport considerations.