Soft Tissue Knee Research

About Us

The Soft Tissue Knee Research (STKR) group undertakes clinical and biomechanical research to improve pre- and post-operative care for patients with soft tissue knee injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures, meniscus tears, and/or cartilage injuries. The STKR team consists of a collaborative group of orthopaedic surgeons, researchers, engineers, athletic and physical therapists, sport medicine physicians, and trainees.

How We Improve Patient Care + Outcomes

• Using technology such as force plates and wearable activity monitors to objectively measure lower body muscle function in patients recovering from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), with a goal of improving post-operative recommendations such as return to sport
• Comparing biomechanical properties of both new and traditional operative techniques
• Examining the length of time between injury and surgery to understand where health systems and referral pathways can be improved
• Educating health care professionals on injury characteristics to improve diagnosis and referral of urgent knee injuries

Primary Areas of Interest

• Objective return to sport and activity assessments following ACLR (e.g. jump testing on bilateral force plates, knee strength testing)
• Surgical techniques for soft tissue knee injuries, including cartilage and meniscal transplant approaches
• Knee injury epidemiology
• Cellular mechanisms of knee osteoarthritis

Research Lead
Mark Sommerfeldt, MD, MPH, FRCS(C), BScPT, Dip. Sport Med.
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery
Adjunct Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health

Research Coordinator
Stephanie Nathanail, MA(Kin), CAT (C)
Email: stephanie.nathanail@ahs.ca 
Phone: 780-492-0830
Fax: 780-492-9948