2026-01-19 – Weekly Sports Medicine News : Moonwalking on anti-gravity treadmills

Last week, our discussions spanned a range of practical and research-focused topics in sports medicine. Members delved into effective strategies for ACL reconstruction in teens, debated the prevalence of Buford complexes in athletes, and shared insights on optimizing recovery with nutrition tweaks midseason. The community also explored innovative tools for on-field spinal alignment and discussed the nuances of maintaining rehabilitation momentum post-surgery.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Quadriceps vs hamstring in teen ACLs
This thread is buzzing with insights on choosing between quadriceps and hamstring grafts for ACL reconstruction in teenagers. The discussion weighs the pros and cons, emphasizing long-term athletic outcomes.
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Moonwalking on the anti-gravity treadmill
A fascinating discussion on the benefits of using anti-gravity treadmills for rehabilitation, with members sharing experiences and unexpected outcomes.
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Buford complex in throwers — how common
This topic examines the occurrence of Buford complexes in throwers, a condition that can impact shoulder stability and performance.
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Quick spinal alignment toolkit for sideline use
Explore the latest tools and techniques for quick spinal assessments and alignments during games, a hot topic for those working in on-field sports settings.
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Fueling tweaks for midseason recovery
Nutrition tweaks can make or break midseason recovery. This thread offers practical advice on modifying diets to enhance athlete performance and recovery.
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Your go-to prehab habit
Members share their favorite prehab routines, discussing exercises and habits that have proven effective in preventing injuries.
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Keeping rehab on track after surgery
A practical discussion on maintaining motivation and progress in rehabilitation programs following surgical interventions.
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Lower SSIs after TKA with small changes
Explore how minor adjustments in surgical and post-operative protocols can significantly reduce surgical site infections after total knee arthroplasty.
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Preseason screens that actually help
This thread dives into preseason screening protocols that genuinely aid in identifying at-risk athletes, ensuring they’re ready for the season ahead.
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In-season patellar tendon load tweaks
Athletes and clinicians discuss strategies for adjusting patellar tendon loads during the season to prevent injuries and improve performance.
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Thanks for staying engaged with our community. Your contributions and curiosity drive these discussions forward. Looking forward to another week of shared learning and support.

For teen ACLs, I’ve had success reintroducing running on the anti-gravity treadmill at about 65–70% BW with a metronome to curb asymmetry; kids love the “moonwalk” feel, but it can mask quad lag. @ATC_Jones, midseason we’ve used a simple casein-before-bed add (20–25 g) to protect lean mass, though I switch to whey pre-morning lifts.

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Quick example: with teen ACLs, I’ll bump cadence about 5–7% on the AlterG “moonwalk” runs to tame trunk sway/knee valgus, then shift to overground once they’re at about 80% BW and pain-free. If the AlterG’s booked or too pricey, shallow-water strides plus BFR quads 2–3x/wk has been a solid stand‑in — just watch the DOMS, . @JessLee this overview has been a good checkpoint for return-to-running benchmarks: https://journal.aspetar.com/en/archive/volume-7-targeted-topic-rehabilitation-after-acl-injury/return-to-running-after-acl-reconstruction.

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I’ve had good luck using the AlterG for patellofemoral pain: 1–2% incline, 70–75% BW, and the cue ‘quiet feet’; I’ll add 10–15 s ball-toss intervals to keep cadence honest, hat tip to @RileySportsPT. If soreness lingers past 24 hours or pain pops above 2/10, I switch to deep-water running that day — no sense moonwalking into a flare.

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