Registration is closed. Please email us at info@anatomytrains.com if you would like to join.
Anatomy Trains, in partnership with Fascia Training Academy, presents ACL Injury and Repair Live Online with Tom Myers, Dr. Matthew Varacallo, and Dr. Samantha Morgan
“The knee,” Dr. Ida Rolf used to say, ‘is an elbow designed by committee.” The poor knees sits between the two longest levers in the body, with the entire weight of the upper body bearing down in them. Compelled to rotate as well as flex and extend, the knee is a compromise that works pretty well until we either strain it through postural malalignment or through some athletic extreme. Easy to hurt and hard to fix.
Please join us for this overview and deep dive into the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) with an innovative approach to anatomy, injuries, surgical intervention, rehab, and ‘pre-hab’ for all manual and movement therapists.
Tom Myers starts with an anatomical tour of the knee from a holistic approach, including properties of fascia, principal ligaments, and muscle balance. See all the cartilage structures, and understand their relationship to synovial fluid movement. Tom reviews common postural patterns, injuries, and therapeutic approaches to restore function
ACL injuries account for half of the knee injuries in the US, affecting females 5:1 over males. Dr. Matthew Varacallo has attained a high standard for ACL repairs, with athletes returning to their sports within 3-6 weeks of injury, through surgical intervention and advanced rehabilitation procedures.
Dr. Matt Varacallo will review the history of ACL repairs and present this novel approach. Dr. Samantha Morgan will share prehab and rehab strategies for optimal return to play for athletes.
Key take-aways are the insights into postural relationships that affect the knee, what contributes to endurance and strengthens the joint. Once injury has occurred, learn about the critical importance of the rehab team, and the whole body approach to integrate kinematic dysfunctions before and after either injury or surgery.
This course will be provided over Zoom webinar with live chat and Q&A.
Course schedule
Saturday, March 1, 2025
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST
Recordings will be provided via password protected streaming access for 45 days.
Dr. Matthew A. Varacallo, MD, MBA, FAAOS
Dr. Matthew Varacallo serves as the Director of Orthopedic Robotic Surgery and the Chief of Sports Medicine at Penn Highlands Healthcare in Western Pennsylvania. He earned his Medical Degree from the Penn State College of Medicine and completed his Orthopedic Surgery residency at Drexel College of Medicine / Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Following his residency, he pursued a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
With a dedicated focus on advanced orthopedic interventions, biologics, and accelerated rehabilitation surgical treatment techniques, Dr. Varacallo specializes in knee ligament reconstructions, robotic-assisted partial and total joint replacements, as well as complex shoulder, hip, and knee procedures. His expertise has established him as a sought-after surgeon, attracting a diverse, national patient population.
In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Varacallo is an active contributor to the field of orthopedic surgery with an emphasis on research and mentorship. He also holds an MBA from the University of Delaware, underscoring his commitment to integrating clinical excellence with innovative business practices. He is also a contributing editor and a member of the AAOS Mentorship Consortium, and he co-founded Orthomentor, further demonstrating his leadership and dedication to advancing the practice of sports medicine.
Dr. Varacallo’s work continues to drive advancements in robotic-assisted surgery and sports medicine, reinforcing his position as a leader in the field.
Dr. Samantha Morgan, ATC, LAT, PES
Dr. Samantha Morgan, ATC, LAT, PES has been an athletic trainer for 16.5 years. She is from Clearfield, PA. She attended William Paterson University (undergrad) where she was a 4 year starter in volleyball, California University of Pennsylvania (masters), and A.T. Still University (doctorate). She also is the current Head volleyball coach for Penn State University Dubois. Finally, she has been a part of the Parisi Speed school family as a franchise owner for the last 11 years. She currently works in tandem with Dr. Matthew Varacallo in his orthopedic practice.
She has trained and rehabilitated athletes from 4 years old to professional and Olympic level throughout her career to the present. She has an out of the box perspective and drive that has brought her great success a report with all that she works with. She left her position at the high school a year and a half ago to dedicate her time with her continued development and implementation of her rehabilitation techniques geared to ACL rehabilitation. She has spent the last 5 years creating a programming and protocol that embodies injury prevention, enhanced rehabilitation physically and mentally, and sports performance enhancement. It is a whole body approach. She developed it from the ground up in a park throughout COVID.
Her programming is geared for the understanding, implementation, and increased compliance of any who are in need. It facilitates the mastery of foundational movements and concepts. Then it transitions to a person specific program to enhance their individual goals. She has facilitated in the research and development of re-writing the gold standard of sports medicine care and return to play.
