PFP is a complex clinical presentation, characterised by insidious onset of pain that can persists for months or even years (1). Up to 11% of both adolescents and adults may experience PFP in their lifetime, with recent evidence questioning the self-limiting nature of the condition (2-3). A number of key findings, that have the potential to improve our understanding and management of this condition, have emerged in the recent literature (1). The aim of this workshop will be to present this new evidence, highlighting the complexity of PFP, and guide clinicians on how to interpret differing patient presentations to deliver an appropriately individualised intervention to optimise prognosis.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop clinically applicable knowledge about the multifactorial presentation of patellofemoral pain (PFP), providing a framework for the application of a reasoned approach to deliver individualised management and promote the adoption of effective self-management.
• Improve the understanding of the psychosocial often associated with PFP and how these factors, e.g. depression, stress, anxiety or kinesophobia needs to be considered when making a treatment plan.
• Enhance clinicians understanding of physical activity levels, muscle function, and movement patterns in both patellofemoral pain development and persistence, and the subsequent role of exercise therapy and foot orthoses in optimal PFP management.
• Be able to use behavioural change techniques to facilitate patient self-management
• Expand clinicians knowledge with respect to the early detection of patellofemoral pain; detailing how adolescents differ from adults and how they often require a unique management strategy.

Michael is a senior researcher and associate professor. He works at the Center for General Practice at Aalborg University and at Aalborg University within the Centre for Sensory-Motor interaction (SMI). Michael is head of the Research Group for optimizing physical health in youth (the OptiYouth research group) at the Center for General Practice in Aalborg.

One day per week he works at Aalborg University hospital where he continues to be closely involved in clinical research and knowledge translation. Michael has published more than 130 peer-reviewed papers within the field of primary care research, physiotherapy and sports medicine.
His primary research area is adolescent musculoskeletal pain. His group aims to understand:

1. Why some adolescents develop long-lasting musculoskeletal pain
2. Identify risk factors for long-lasting severe musculoskeletal pain
3. How to best treat adolescent musculoskeletal pain

A special interest is patellofemoral pain which is one of the most common knee conditions among adolescents.

His overall research focus is on how we, as health-care practitioners, can best support individuals to manage their pain, to improve their health and help them stay active.

Ankle sprains are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries occurring in active individuals. Although ankle sprains are often considered innocuous, 1 in 4 people will develop Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI), which is characterised by recurrent pain, instability and re-injury. There is also increasing evidence that CAI is a risk factor for post traumatic ankle osteoarthritis.

This workshop consists of both lecture and practical sessions focusing on: anatomy, biomechanics, assessment, and rehabilitation of ankle sprains. The workshop will help clinicians advance their management of ankle sprains through the following learning objectives:

• Understand the anatomy and biomechanics of the talocrural, subtalar and midtarsal joints
• Understand the evidence surrounding the risk factors for ankle sprain and common inciting events
• Recognize patients who have developed or at risk of developing chronic ankle instability
• Apply appropriate assessment techniques and acute management strategies for ankle sprain, based on international consensus statements
• Implement appropriate treatment options for common impairments associated with ankle sprain eg. altered ROM, sensori-motor and strength deficits
• Select and implement key clinical outcomes (patient reported outcomes; physical performance tests) informing ankle sprain prognosis, recovery and return to play decisions

Dr Chris Bleakley qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2000 before completing his PhD at Ulster University. He has subsequently held clinical and academic positions at: the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland; High Point University (North Carolina); and Ulster University. Dr Bleakley has participated in 63 academic conference presentations and has published over 100 original research publications (h index 37). He has also published 6 book chapters, 3 international consensus statements on diagnosis and management of acute ankle sprain, and in 2011, was the lead author developing clinical guidelines on acute soft tissue injury management in collaboration with the Physios in Sport UK. He is a Fellow of the Higher Educational Academy, UK and enjoys teaching Research Methods and Musculoskeletal Injury Assessment/Rehabilitation to undergraduate and post graduate students. Dr Bleakley now works in the School of Health Sciences at Ulster University, and his current research projects include: safety in youth Rugby Union; rehabilitation of acute soft tissue injuries; and meta-research involving the Physiotherapy and Sports Science literature.