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PORTLAND, Maine

51ƷPhysical Therapy faculty, student share expertise on knee health on “Love Maine Radio”

Kirsten Buchanan, Ph.D., P.T., A.T.C., assistant clinical professor and Matt Kraft, D.P.T. 2016, were featured as guests on the program, “Love Maine Radio,” which is produced by Maine Magazine. The episode, titled, “Keeping Knees Healthy” focused on the prevalence of knee injuries and how to prevent them.

Buchanan developed a program to prevent ACL injury in young female athletes. D.P.T. students like Kraft take U13 and high school athletes through a warm-up routine before their practices to teach the girls better biomechanics. Research has shown that a 20-30 minute exercise program aimed at strengthening specific muscles and proper alignment can help prevent ACL injuries. The D.P.T. students also measure the athletes’ movement and progress in UNE’s Motion Analysis Lab.

Buchanan started the program in response to the alarming statistics about girls and women and ACL injuries. 1 in 100 high school age female athletes will tear their ACLs. That number jumps to 1 in 10 in college.

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The 51Ʒ is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.