Associate Professor Michelle Smith discusses her background and journey from Canada to Australia. She specializes in sports physiotherapy and focuses on lower limb musculoskeletal injuries. The conversation explores the differences between physiotherapy practices in Canada and Australia, as well as the biases and limitations in each country. The main focus of Michelle's research is chronic ankle instability and its continuum, including acute ankle injuries and ankle osteoarthritis. The discussion also touches on the definition and causes of chronic ankle instability, biomechanical deficits, and the role of proximal muscle strength. The conversation explores the topics of kinematics, assessment, and treatment of chronic ankle instability. It discusses the importance of balance, proprioception, and hip and knee strength in managing chronic ankle instability. The conversation also delves into the role of skill and specific sport-related activities in predicting match performance in soccer players. It emphasizes the need to progress beyond physiological measures and focus on skill-specific training to enhance performance. Additionally, the conversation touches on the relationship between ankle osteoarthritis and systemic factors, as well as the limitations in research comparing surgical and non-surgical treatments for chronic ankle instability.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

06:36 Interest in Lower Limb Injuries

07:39 Research Focus on Chronic Ankle Instability

13:15 Causes of Chronic Ankle Instability

19:13 Structural Damage and Chronic Ankle Instability

25:07 Biomechanical Deficits and Proximal Muscle Strength

28:20 Kinematic Changes in Chronic Ankle Instability

28:28 Understanding Kinematics and Mechanics

29:19 Assessment and Treatment of Chronic Ankle Instability

31:29 The Complexity of Balance and Dynamic Tasks

35:36 Exploring the Role of Foot and Ankle Muscles

46:15 Skill-Specific Training and Match Performance

53:19 Progressing Beyond Physiological Measures

56:46 Outdoor Activities and Nature Exploration

Melbourne Athletic Development is a sports and injury management clinic based in Melbourne, Australia. To maximise your performance or optimise your injury management contact the team at www.melbourneathleticdevelopment.com.au