Physical activity and other health-related outcomes after knee injury in youth and young adults (PhD Academy Award)

Abstract

The overarching aim of my PhD dissertation was to understand attitudes and beliefs about physical activity (PA), examine key health outcomes and objectively examine PA in youth and young adults (hereafter referred to as youth). I examined PA (actigraphy) and other physical and psychological health outcomes in the time period after recovery from acute knee injury and before a diagnosis of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) in individuals who had sustained a previous intra-articular knee injury. Traumatic knee injuries are among the most common sport-related injuries sustained by youth and are associated with significant societal and personal burden, including increased risk of future PTOA.1 Much research has focused on return to sport (RTS) after knee injury.2 3 However, despite the key role of PA in prevention of disease, disability and death, there is a paucity of knowledge surrounding PA participation in youth after …