JOSPT open.·2026
Researchers surveyed clinicians worldwide about their practices for deciding when athletes can return to running after ACL reconstruction surgery. They found substantial variation in how professionals assess readiness, what they recommend for a first run back, and whether they use running-specific evaluations during recovery.
>for runners
Runners recovering from ACL surgery may encounter different professional approaches to return-to-running decisions, reflecting the current lack of standardized protocols. The variation in professional practices suggests that individual assessment and communication with your healthcare team becomes particularly important during this transition.
// AI summary · not medical advice
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy·2026
Researchers examined whether applying compression bands around the lower leg (fascial flossing) would affect flexibility and performance in collegiate distance runners. They used ultrasound imaging to observe how the tissue layers beneath the skin moved relative to each other during this intervention.
>for runners
This research highlights how compression techniques may influence the mechanical behavior of tissues beneath the skin in ways that runners can't directly feel. The ultrasound findings suggest that what happens at the tissue level during recovery interventions might be more complex than the immediate sensations runners experience.
// AI summary · not medical advice
Physical Activity and Nutrition·2026
Researchers examined how skin temperature and sleep patterns changed after intensive training days compared to rest days in female distance runners. They tracked temperature at the groin area and sleep metrics during the night following either three training sessions or no training.
>for runners
Runners might notice their body temperature feels different during the first couple hours of sleep after hard training days. The observation that training days led to longer sleep duration suggests the body may naturally extend rest time following intensive sessions.
// AI summary · not medical advice
Bioengineering·2026
Researchers examined how quadriceps muscle strength imbalances relate to running movement patterns in people who had undergone ACL reconstruction surgery. They found that the previously injured leg showed persistent weakness and altered knee and hip mechanics during running, with moderate correlations between strength deficits and movement changes.
>for runners
Runners recovering from ACL reconstruction might notice that strength imbalances between legs can persist and influence how they move during running. The relationship between muscle strength deficits and running mechanics appears to vary depending on the speed at which strength is measured.
// AI summary · not medical advice