Research Proposal
Research Proposal
Kayla Scott
Independent research program Period 6
2018
Introduction
The topic of ACL recovery time is being researched in this project, specifically what
methods of surgery and other factors in the recovery process allow for the most success in
recovery but in the fastest time frame. This research problem will be solved throughout
analyzation of interviews and academic journals. In the end, the researcher hopes to prove that
patellar tendon grafts followed by epidural pain relief then followed by an accelerated path of
physical therapy is the best option for any patient suffering ann ACL tear, contributing to the
professional medical world with a new series of treatment.
Background
Over the past few years, ACL tears have increased dramatically. There are many things
that may have contributed to this rise. Dr. J. Todd Lawrence states that “the rise in knee injuries
is attributed, in part, to the growing intensity of youth sports and the year-round practice model
that more youth-sports teams are adopting.” (Toporek 2011). Today's youth are pushed to
perform at 100%, in one specific sport, all year round. This is mostly due to the desire to go
professional and be the best of the best. Parents and coaches increasingly push their youth to the
point where their bodies are tired and cannot handle full-force contact. To prevent this, coaches
and parents need to intervene as suggested in the following: “Kids need to cross train a little bit.
So in that off season, they're doing a little bit more to kind of address those things that we had
talked about in terms of mechanics with landing, lateral drills, etc..” (Anderson, 2017). Cross
training leads to a well-rounded athlete whose body is prepared for the worst while playing a
sport.
Another attributing factor leading to the increase in ACL tears is the increasing number
of female athletes. According to Renstrom, “the incidence of non-contact ACL tears is much
higher in female athletes participating in sports such as basketball and team handball than in
male athletes.” (Renstrom and Ljungqvist, 2008). This susceptibility to ACL tears in women is
due to the differences in their bodies, bone structure, muscle size, joint stability and strength to
counter this, drills as described above must also be completed.
This topic was chosen for research because the researcher has always been in physical
therapy herself for bad knees ankles and hips. She wants to help kids like her get back to doing
what they love, sports, faster and stay healthier.
Research Methodology
Research Question
The research question being asked is how can I create a surgical and therapeutical
recovery process that allows for the fastest recovery time while producing the best results in
terms of knee health.
Research Thesis
The hypothesis behind the research question is that newer, updated surgery methods, like a
patellar graft implant, followed by a method of reducing pain, specifically epidural pain relief,
and then using an accelerated physical therapy track allows for the fastest, most successful
recovery. Patellar grafts have proves the most stabilizing, but also the most painful, results,
requiring pain relief. Epidural pain relief allows the patient to feel the least amount of pain and
have less fear of pain, which lets them start an accelerated physical therapy track earlier than any
other method. This track which allows for the same results as a non-accelerated path but much
faster.
Research Design Model
To prove this hypothesis, the researcher used a quantitative research method, completed
using a correlational approach. Using this method seemed to prove the best option because the
researcher was able to speak to working professionals first hand, and tailor perfect questions that
specifically answered the research question provided. Then, the researcher was able to dive
deeper into professional answers using meta-analysis and prove their points even more. This
combination allowed for broad answers that were narrowed down through the literature review,
answering how different methods of surgery and recovery effect speed of recovery time.
Data Collection
To complete the research, the researcher interviewed Dr. John Tis, an orthopaedic
surgeon, and Megan Bish, a certified physical therapist. After the series of interviews, the
researcher elaborated on the interviewees answers using professional academic journals by S.
Church and J. F. Keating, and Donald K. Shelbourne and Tinker Gray. Through these sources, it
was learned what was the best option for surgery and recovery for young athletes who want to
get back into their sports fast and still be pain free after an ACL tear. This allows professionals to
know how they can meet their patients needs the fastest but still the safest in one paper. This
effects the overall product by creating a very professional audience, allowing for prior
knowledge to be assumed and the focus to be on what new knowledge was learned about ACL
tears and the whole recovery process.
By researching separate processes of the recovery of a patient with an ACL tear and
concluding by putting the processes together, the researcher is creating a whole new method that
is proved to be the best based on separate outcomes that are the fastest but also the most
successful. The literature review elaborates on this method by making it more specific. The
literature review ads in specific methods, like epidural pain relief and patellar graft surgery,
rather than being broad like the data analysis is.
Product Objectives
The overall product will be a brochure that displays all of the information and data
collected and evaluated throughout the whole year. This allows for easy access and an
aesthetically pleasing look to the information that makes it interesting. A brochure was chosen
due to the easy way of distribution, sending a copy or placing it in doctoral offices, and an easy,
aesthetically pleasing view. Anyone can view the brochure when it is placed in an office,
allowing the research to be put into the world easily and stay out there.
The audience of the researcher brochure is professional doctors, physical therapists and
any other doctors or surgeons involved in ACL tears and the recovery process of the injury. The
research benefits these doctors as well as the patients because their surgeons and physical
therapists are more knowledgeable about the most successful method of surgery and physical
therapy that allows the patient to get back to their sport fastest.
Logistical Considerations
Overall, I will need a processor that has templates for brochures, but no costs are
predicted and no supervisors or permissions to present anything are required. A timeline will be
added that outlines the data collection, product development, and audience distribution.
Approval: