This course is a two-day (14 hour) course that emphasizes putting the latest evidence into practice to provide innovative solutions for the runner with relative overuse injuries.

The typical attendee currently treats runners and has completed running gait evaluations, but is looking to elevate their practice with the latest evaluation and treatment techniques.

Diagnoses to be included will include patellofemoral pain, iliotibial band pain, and the most common lower limb tendinopathies including Achilles, peroneal, posterior tibialis, as well as plantar fasciopathy.

The course will also cover the most common bone stress injuries of the lower limb, including tibia, metatarsal, navicular bone stress injuries.

Clinicians will leave this course feeling comforable screening for RED-S and able to implement the latest in bone and tendon health science. Specific training load prescription and strength and conditioning practices to both prevent and treat various injuries is a foundation of this course. Overall, there will be an emphasis on hands-on, laboratory experiences of the didactic components of this course so that attendees can immediately put into practice newly learned skills.

Case studies will be used throughout the course to provide relevant examples.

Objectives

At the completion of the course, the participant should be able to;

1. Participants will be able to identify key diagnostic criteria for patellofemoral pain.
2. Participants will be able to create an evidence-based treatment program for individuals with patellofemoral pain.
3. Participants will be able to specify the running mechanics that increasing biomechanical loading of the iliotibial band.
4. Participants will be able to specify the most accurate clinical examination techniques to diagnose an individual with Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciopathy.
5. Participants will be able to identify individuals most at-risk for a lower limb bone stress injury.
6. Participants will know the diagnostic criteria for tibial bone stress injuries.
7. Participants will be knowledgeable on the types of biomechanical loads that increase and decrease metatarsal bone stress.
8. Participants will be able to develop a treatment program for individuals with a tibial bone stress injury, from initial injury through return to competition.
9. Participants will be knowledgeable on the biomechanical loads that increase navicular bone stress and how to treat navicular bone stress injuries based on their grade.
   

Saturday

09:00-10:00 Foundational principles of loading of muscle, bone, and tendon

10:00:10:45 Patellofemoral pain

10:45-11:00 Break

11:00-11:45 Iliotibial band pain

11:45-12:45 LAB: Examination of the knee

12:45-13:45 Lunch

13:45-14:45 LAB: Interventions for patellofemoral pain, iliotibial band pain

14:45-15:00 Break

15:00-16:15 Achilles and other foot/ankle tendinopathies and plantar fasciopathy

16:15-16:45 LAB: Foot/ankle tendinopathy and plantar fasciopathy examination

16:45-17:00 Discussion and Day 1 wrap-up

Sunday

09:00-10:00 LAB: Interventions for foot/ankle tendinopathy and plantar fasciopathy

10:00-11:00 Promoting bone health in the runner & risk factors for bone stress injuries

11:00-11:15 Break

11:15-12:15 Treatment of bone stress injuries: High and low risk tibial, metatarsal bone stress injuries

12:15-13:15 Lunch

13:15-14:15 Treatment of bone stress injuries: Navicular, fibular, femoral, sacral bone stress injuries

14:15-15:00 LAB: Bone stress injury lab: Case-based exam and building a rehabiltiation program

15:00-15:15 Break

15:15-16:00 Return to Run: Designing a return to run program; When to employ gait retraining and shoe prescription

16:00-16:45 LAB: Gait Retraining and Case studies for return to run and competition

16:45-17:00 Discussion and Day 2 wrap-up

Citations for the course

1. Van Hooren, Bas, et al. "Is motorized treadmill running biomechanically comparable to overground running? A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-over studies." Sports medicine 50.4 (2020): 785-813.
2. Warden, S. J., Edwards, W. B., & Willy, R. W. (2021). Preventing Bone Stress Injuries in Runners with Optimal Workload. Current osteoporosis reports, 19(3), 298-307.
3. Warden, S. J., Edwards, W. B., & Willy, R. W. (2021). Optimal Load for Managing Low-Risk Tibial and Metatarsal Bone Stress Injuries in Runners: The Science Behind the Clinical Reasoning. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 51(7), 322-330.
4. Willy, R. W., Hoglund, L. T., Barton, C. J., Bolgla, L. A., Scalzitti, D. A., Logerstedt, D. S., ... & Torburn, L. (2019). Patellofemoral pain: clinical practice guidelines linked to the international classification of functioning, disability and health from the academy of orthopaedic physical therapy of the American physical therapy association. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 49(9), CPG1-CPG95.
5. Willy RW, Meira EP. Current Concepts in Biomechanical Interventions for Patellofemoral Pain. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016;11:877-890.
6. Van Der Vlist, A. C., Winters, M., Weir, A., Ardern, C. L., Welton, N. J., Caldwell, D. M., ... & De Vos, R. J. (2021). Which treatment is most effective for patients with Achilles tendinopathy? A living systematic review with network meta-analysis of 29 randomised controlled trials. BJSM, 55(5), 249-256.
7. Tenforde, A. S., & Fredericson, M. (Eds.). (2021). Bone Stress Injuries: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. Foot and Ankle High-Risk Injuries by David E. Oji; Springer Publishing Company;
8. Mandell, Jacob C., Bharti Khurana, and Stacy E. Smith. "Stress fractures of the foot and ankle, part 2: site-specific etiology, imaging, and treatment, and differential diagnosis." Skeletal Radiology 46.9 (2017): 1165-1186;
9. Gross CE, Nunley JA. Navicular stress fractures. Foot Ankle Int. 2015;36(9):1117–22.
10. Hutchinson, L. A., Lichtwark, G. A., Willy, R. W., & Kelly, L. A. (2022). The Iliotibial Band: A Complex Structure with Versatile Functions. Sports Medicine, 1-14.
11. Sancho, I., Malliaras, P., Barton, C., Willy, R. W., & Morrissey, D. (2019). Biomechanical alterations in individuals with Achilles tendinopathy during running and hopping: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Gait & posture, 73, 189-201.
12. Merry, K., Napier, C., Waugh, C. M., & Scott, A. (2022). Foundational Principles and Adaptation of the Healthy and Pathological Achilles Tendon in Response to Resistance Exercise: A Narrative Review and Clinical Implications. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(16), 4722.
13. Martin, R. L., Chimenti, R., Cuddeford, T., Houck, J., Matheson, J. W., McDonough, C. M., ... & Carcia, C. R. (2018). Achilles pain, stiffness, and muscle power deficits: Midportion Achilles tendinopathy revision 2018: Clinical practice guidelines linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 48(5), A1-A38.
14. Martin, Robroy L., et al. "Heel pain—plantar fasciitis: revision 2014." Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 44.11 (2014): A1-A33.
15. Rauh, MJ. (2014). Summer training factors and risk of musculoskeletal injury among high school cross-country runners. JOSPT, 44(10), 793-804.
16. Kardouni, JR., et al. "Timing of Stress Fractures in Soldiers During the First 6 Career Months: A Retrospective Cohort Study." J. Athl Tr 56.12 (2021): 1278-1284
17. Milgrom, C., Zloczower, E., Fleischmann, C., Spitzer, E., Landau, R., Bader, T., & Finestone, A. S. (2021). Medial tibial stress fracture diagnosis and treatment guidelines. J. of Science and Medicine in Sport, 24(6), 526-530.

Tutor:

Dr. Richard Willy

Dr. Rich Willy is an Associate Professor in the School of Physical Therapy, University of Montana (Missoula, MT, USA) and the Director of the Montana Running Lab. He received his PhD in Biomechanics and Movement Science from the University of Delaware and his Master’s of Physical Therapy from Ohio University.

Dr. Willy has been a clinician for over 20 years specializing in the treatment of the injured runner and provides consultation to Olympic sports medicine staffs from around the world as well as to the National Basketball Association.

He has published over 65 peer-reviewed papers primarily on two populations: endurance runners and tactical athletes. His research aims to develop clinically effective treatments for individuals with patellofemoral pain, Achilles tendon injuries, and bone stress injuries. His research has been funded by the United States Department of Defense and the Foundation for Physical Therapy.

His work is regularly featured in Runner’s World and Outside Magazine. Dr. Willy treats runners and athletes of all levels, from the new runner to the elite competitor.

The course venue

How to get there

Link to Pure Sports Medicine website for more info and map and how to get there.