Sharing Our Research at National PT Conference

Three physical therapists shared Shelbourne Knee Center research results at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting in January. Three of the presentations focused on identifying best practices for rehab after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The fourth presentation was a patellar tendon rupture case study.

Maximizing Recovery and Function

Insurance restrictions can make it difficult for patients to regain optimal function after knee surgery or non-operative treatment for osteoarthritis. Shelbourne Knee Center’s research-backed rehab protocol maximizes recovery and function by focusing on pre-op, post-op (for surgical cases), and home-based therapy, and comprehensive patient education.

Study Shows Knee Exams Underutilized

New patients at Shelbourne Knee Center are often surprised when they're asked to wear shorts to their first visit. They’re even more surprised when K. Donald Shelbourne, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Shelbourne Knee Center, examines both of their knees. “A thorough knee exam on both knees is necessary to evaluate any knee problem or injury,” says Dr. Shelbourne. “When patients have unilateral knee pain, it’s impossible to diagnose the specific problem unless the noninvolved knee is evaluated for comparison.”

Case Study: Orthopedic Surgeon Chooses PT Over Surgery for OA

Life was great for Wade Rademacher, MD, for about the first 10 years of his retirement. The orthopedic surgeon was spending more time with his wife, Phyllis, and working on his 10-acre property in Carmel, Ind. Dr. Rademacher repaired fences and the barn, took care of a horse, and did home maintenance. “My health improved amazingly with hard work and fresh air,” he says. More time to play golf, his lifelong passion, and to travel with Phyllis, were other benefits of retirement.

Improving Patients’ Lives Through Research

Tinker Gray, MA, ELS was a physical education and health teacher and a women’s volleyball, basketball, and track coach when she first met K. Donald Shelbourne, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Shelbourne Knee Center. Gray was working at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, where her husband was also a teacher and the coach of the football team. Dr. Shelbourne was the team physician for the football and basketball teams. When Gray’s athletes injured their knees, she sent them to Dr. Shelbourne.

Sharing ACL Reconstruction Knowledge Internationally

The 2018 Wexham Park Cruciate Ligament Meeting, featuring keynote speaker K. Donald Shelbourne, MD, highlighted the latest techniques to repair or reconstruct injured knees. Held in November in London, the meeting featured an international faculty and drew 250 knee surgeons and aspiring knee surgeons, along with physical therapists. Attendees came from Australia, Asia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and other countries in Europe, and the United States.