Since its founding in Montreal, Canada in 1974, the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) has been providing orthopaedic and manual therapists from around the world with the highest-quality learning opportunities through a conference held every 4 years. In 2012, IFOMPT is partnering with The International Private Practitioners Association (IPPA) to host this prestigious event in Quebec City, Canada. As more than 51% of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association membership is working in private practice, this adds even greater value to this quadrennial event. This conference emulates best-evidence practice in the marriage of research and clinical excellence by pulling together some of the best and brightest hands and minds in orthopaedic physiotherapy. Through a call for proposals that equally emphasized research, clinical excellence, and the knowledge translation link between the two, the IFOMPT mandate of clinical and academic excellence has been kept at the forefront of this year’s conference. Included in this supplement are the IFOMPT 2012 keynote addresses, schedule, and abstracts.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(10):A1-A83. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.0302

KEY WORDS: International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists, manual therapy

The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the following outcome measures in a group of 18 patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: the visual analog pain scale (VAS), a functional index questionnaire (FIQ), selected temporal components of gait on level walking and ascending stairs, knee joint angle on downhill walking, and electromyographic activity of the quadriceps during stair climbing. Subjects were tested at initial assessment (time 0), after 24 hours (time 1), and after clinically significant improvement, following a course of treatment (time 2). Using the intraclass correlation coefficient (r₁), the VAS (r₁ = 0.603) and FIQ (r₁ = 0.483) exhibited poor day-to-day reliability (time 0 versus time 1). However an ANOVA between time 0 and time 2 showed them to be valid measures for detection of clinical change (p < 0.01). No differences in the gait variables were observed from time 0 to time 1 or time 2, suggesting that gait analysis may not be sensitive enough to detect changes in pain and function in this patient population.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1989;10(8):302-308.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1992;16(1):6-11.

Key Words: alar ligament laxity, biomechanics, motor vehicle accident

Study Design: A within-subject experimental design was used to measure the effect of calf-stretching exercises on the resistive torque during passive ankle dorsiflexion in a group of 20 healthy men (aged 21 to 40). Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if the performance of calf-stretching exercises would produce a decrease in resistive torque during passive ankle dorsiflexion. Background: Calf-stretching exercises are widely used in sporting, fitness, and rehabilitation settings, yet the effects of stretching on the passive mechanics of the ankle joint are not well understood. Methods and Measures: A KIN-COM isokinetic dynamometer was used to measure the passive resistive torque of the ankle while the joint complex was moved through return cycles from 10° plantarflexion to 10° dorsiflexion at a constant velocity of 6°/s. Each subject's right or left ankle was randomly assigned to either a control or an experimental condition. The latter underwent a total of 4 static stretches, each lasting 30 seconds. Results: The main findings of the study were that the calf-stretching exercises did not produce a significant reduction in the resistive torque during ankle dorsiflexion, as measured by the peak-to-peak torque at 10° of ankle dorsiflexion or in the center range of the hysteresis loop at 0° dorsiflexion. Conclusion: Static calf-stretching exercises of short duration did not reduce the passive resistance of the connective tissue within the surrounding muscle and joint structures in the ankles of healthy young men.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1999;29(2):106-115.

Key Words: connective tissue, mechanical properties, warm-up

Although a number of mechanical and neuromuscular processes have been identified, the primary mechanisms underlying residual functional instability of the ankle remain unclear. Understanding such mechanisms will help physical therapists identify where to focus treatment efforts, ultimately leading to more effective rehabilitation. In the present investigation, resistive torque at maximum ankle inversion was evaluated to determine if lateral ankle structures demonstrated mechanical laxity. Thirty subjects with a history of unilateral recurrent inversion sprains were tested bilaterally. A custom-made apparatus provided a stress to the lateral ankle in a method that was similar to the inversion stress test. Two measures of laxity were used: maximum passive inversion range of motion and peak passive resistive torque. Differences between the involved and uninvolved ankles were determined using analysis of covariance procedures. There were no significant differences between involved and uninvolved ankles for maximum inversion range of motion and for peak passive resistive torque. Post hoc testing confirmed adequate statistical power. The results support previous investigations, which suggest that functional instability can exist in the absence of mechanical lateral ankle laxity.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1997;25(5):342-348.

Key Words: ankle, instability, laxity