Research & Projects

Project Lead:
DDr. Elisabeth Abermann (Gelenkpunkt) & A.o. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Fink (Research Unit for Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Injury Prevention)

Project Duration:
January 2024 - December 2025

Funding Agencies:
Tyrolean Innovation Support - Collaborative Projects

Collaboration Partners:
Gelenkpunkt; Privatklinik Hochrum; CC Innovation GmbH; Management Center Innsbruck (MCI)

Project Description:
A tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a very common knee joint injury. Such an injury significantly impairs the correct motion of the knee. In most cases, an ACL reconstruction is performed to restore stability. However, 25% of the patients experience a re-injury. An additional surgical procedure called lateral tenodesis can reduce the risk of re-injury by distributing the load between the graft and the repositioned tendon. On the other hand, this procedure involves additional surgery time, implant costs, and morbidity (additional incision, increased pain).

Project Objectives: This project aims to enhance and automate decision-making processes in ACL surgeries through modern AI-based algorithms. The system primarily focuses on optimizing the decision of whether tenodesis is necessary or not.

Methodology: Specifically, an improved version of the tenodesis score will be determined from input patient data. This will involve training a program based on Artificial Neural Networks, which, when provided with data from new patients, evaluates and weighs risk factors, ultimately leading to a more informed assessment.

Project Lead:
Dr. Katja Osterwald (Research Unit for Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Injury Prevention)

Project Duration:
January 2023 - December 2025

Collaboration Partners:
MOTUM, Gelenkpunkt

Project Description:
Extended Reality (XR), which includes Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality, has expanded beyond the realm of entertainment and gaming, finding applications in healthcare and rehabilitation. XR has the ability to significantly enhance the motivation, participation, and self-perceived efficacy of patients during their therapy. This technology directs the patients' focus towards the outcome rather than the movements themselves, making therapeutic exercises more functional and effective. Although the potential of XR in neurological rehabilitation is well-documented, further investigations are needed to clarify its role in ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) rehabilitation and among healthy individuals.

Project Objectives: Our aim is to explore the potential of XR in revolutionizing functional recovery, readiness for a return to sports (Return-to-Sport), and biomechanical outcomes, particularly within the context of ACL rehabilitation.

Methodology: Within this framework, we are developing XR scenarios that simulate real sports conditions, including both planned and spontaneous movements. Additionally, we will examine how XR can be utilized to assess the biomechanics of athletes, their reaction times, and factors influencing the risk of injury during dynamic sporting activities. Throughout this process, we will compare the results of performance tests based on XR with traditional methods to validate the accuracy and reliability of XR evaluations.

Project Lead:
Dr. Philipp Baumert (Research Unit for Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Injury Prevention) & Dr Robert Erskine (Liverpool John Moores University)

Project Duration:
January 2021 - December 2025

Collaboration Partners:
Liverpool John Moores University, St Mary’s University, Twickenham, the Universidad del País Vasco, Liverpool FC Women, Liverpool Feds Women's Football Club and the Technical University of Munich. Further associated partners are varying female football clubs

Project Description:
The popularity of women’s soccer in Europe has increased markedly in recent years, which has helped increase participation at grassroots level. However, soccer is associated with various injuries that can lead to non-participation in sport and increased risk of sedentary lifestyle-associated diseases. Limited information exists on injury risk in female soccer players, particularly young players. The identification of novel female-specific injury risk factors would increase our understanding of why injury risk appears to be higher in female compared to male athletes. This knowledge would enable players/practitioners to individualise exercise-training to optimize performance, while simultaneously reducing injury risk.       

Project Objectives: The aims of this ‘Female soccer players regarding Genetics, Menstrual Cycle and Injury risk (FEGEMI)’ project are to investigate novel injury risk factors in female soccer players, and to educate athletes and coaches (at elite and grassroots level) in effective management of those risks.

Methods: In five work packages (WPs), the project will investigate the impact of the menstrual cycle (WP1), genetic variation (WP2), maturation (WP3), and strength training (WP4) on injury risk in female soccer players. The results will inform workshops designed to educate coaches, athletes and other stakeholders of women’s grassroots and elite soccer clubs on female-specific injury risk factors and how they can be effectively managed (WP5).