The Acutely Injured Knee: Advanced Assessment and Care
The Acutely Injured Knee: Advanced Assessment and Care
This is a hands-on, practical training designed for clinicians who regularly assess and manage knee injuries and want to elevate their diagnostic accuracy, clinical reasoning, and confidence. Unlike courses that focus solely on rehabilitation tools or injury prevention, this course dives deep into the foundation of effective patient care: Assessment, diagnosis, and primary management.
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Venue
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Toronto, ON
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Portland, OR
The knee is one of the most commonly injured joints you will see as a clinician.
Do you feel confident diagnosing acute knee injuries?
The Acutely Injured Knee Course isn’t about adding another ‘tool’ to your toolbox. It’s about mastering the foundation of care: strong clinical reasoning and accurate diagnosis.
Get better at assessing & managing acute knee injuries.
Through a combination of probabilistic clinical reasoning, structured physical examination, and real-world case studies, participants will learn to efficiently identify, diagnose, and manage a wide range of acute knee injuries. Emphasis is placed on building a systematic, expert-level approach that improves patient outcomes and strengthens every aspect of clinical decision-making.
Whether working with adults or pediatric patients, this course equips clinicians with the skills and confidence to make accurate diagnoses, recognize red flags, determine appropriate investigations and referrals, and implement evidence-informed management strategies, ensuring every patient receives timely, effective, and high-quality care.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Collect and interpret key patient history cues to guide physical examination and strengthen clinical reasoning for accurate diagnosis of acute knee injuries.
- Understand how anatomical factors and patient demographics influence diagnosis and management.
- Apply a refined, systematic, and efficient approach to performing focused physical examinations.
- Accurately perform and interpret translational, rotational, and other relevant knee special tests.
- Recognize red flags and atypical presentations, including tibial plateau fractures, tendon ruptures, and multi-ligament injuries.
- Determine appropriate indications for diagnostic investigations, imaging, and surgical or specialist referrals.
- Implement evidence-informed management strategies, including bracing, timelines, expected outcomes, and patient education (addressing myths and misconceptions).
- Appreciate the unique challenges of pediatric knee assessment, including developmental anatomy, communication strategies, and age-appropriate evaluation techniques.
- Apply knowledge and skills immediately in practice to improve patient outcomes through accurate diagnosis and timely management.
Note: This course does not cover rehabilitation or exercise protocols for patients with acute knee injuries.
Who is this course for?
This course is for chiropractors, athletic therapists, physiotherapists, physicians, and osteopaths.
Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting out, if you regularly encounter acutely injured knees in your clinical practice, this course is specifically tailored to meet your needs.
The Outline
8 CEU Hours
Collapsible content
Day 1
8:00 - 8:30 Introductions, Pre-Quiz, Course Context
8:30 - 10:30 History, Clinical Reasoning, & Case Discussion
10:30 - 10:45 Break
10:45 - 12:30 Physical Exam & Skills
12:30 - 1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 2:00 Physical Exam Skills & Case Discussion
2:00 - 3:15 Diagnosis & Management
3:15 - 3:30 Break
3:30 - 4:30 Connecting the Dots (Case-Based Skill Application)
4:30 - 5:00 Post-Quiz & Wrap-Up Questions
Instructor
Meryl Wheeler
MEd, BKin, CAT(Ret.), NPE
Meryl Wheeler is the Clinical Manager of the Specialty Clinics and Non-Physician Expert Lead at the University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre, where she oversees programs including the Acute Knee Injury Clinic, Acute Sport Injury Clinic, Acute Sport Concussion Clinic, Rapid Access Shoulder Clinic. With over 20 years of clinical and academic experience, Meryl has been instrumental in the design, implementation, and leadership of innovative multidisciplinary care pathways that optimize access and outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal injuries.
A former Athletic Therapist with a Master of Education in Adult, Community, and Higher Education, Meryl combines clinical expertise with a passion for teaching. Through her continuing education platform, MSK Masterclass, she equips clinicians with practical, evidence-informed skills to confidently assess and manage acute knee injuries. Drawing on over two decades of experience in sport medicine and mentoring clinicians, her courses blend hands-on practice, case-based learning, and rigorous clinical reasoning, fostering both skill development and professional growth, and giving participants the confidence to apply advanced diagnostic skills in real-world practice.
When she’s not teaching or mentoring clinicians, Meryl enjoys traveling with her husband, golfing, and hunting down the best local bakeries.
