Return to Play in Football, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2018
An Evidence-based Approach

In this book, leading experts employ an evidence-based approach to provide clear practical guidance on the important question of when and how to facilitate return to play after some of the most common injuries encountered in football. Detailed attention is paid to biomechanics, the female athlete, risk factors, injury prevention, current strategies and criteria for safe return to play, and future developments. Specific topics discussed in depth include concussion, anterior cruciate ligament and other knee injuries, back pathology, rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability, hip arthroscopy, and foot and ankle injuries. The chapter authors include renowned clinicians and scientists from across the world who work in the field of orthopaedics and sports medicine. Furthermore, experiences from team physicians involved in the Olympics, National Football League (NFL), Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) are shared with the reader.  All who are involved in the care of injured footballers will find this book, published in cooperation with ESSKA, to be an invaluable, comprehensive, and up-to-date reference that casts light on a range of controversial issues.

Introduction.- ACL - Criteria based return to play.- ACL - Time based return to play.-Joint specific return to play recommendations.- Return to play after complex knee injuries.- Concussion.- Medical issues and doping.- Ethical issues in return to play.- Injury- and Reinjury prevention.

Volker Musahl, MD, is Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Associate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering, Program Director of the Sports Medicine fellowship program, and Medical Director of the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine. In addition to his work as a University of Pittsburgh Associate Professor and a leading orthopaedic surgeon, he is co-head team physician for the University of Pittsburgh football team. Dr. Musahl has received various honors and awards and in 2015 was appointed Assistant Editor-in-Chief of Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy (KSSTA). His research interests include knee and shoulder biomechanics. He is a member of ESSKA ISAKOS, AAOS, ORS, AOSSM, AANA, and AGA.

Jon Karlsson, MD, PhD, is Professor of Orthopaedics and Sports Traumatology at Sahlgrenska Academy, mainly related to knee and foot and ankle injuries, including tendon injuries. Dr. Karlsson graduated from Medical School in Reykjavik, Iceland. He then moved to Sweden for orthopaedic training, becoming a specialist in Orthopaedics in 1986. He has worked at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital ever since, and is currently Senior Consultant and full-time Professor. He has been Clinical Head of the Orthopaedic Department and is now its Academic Head. He than 300 papers and 30 textbooks in Orthopaedics and Sports Traumatology. He has held important positions in both ESSKA and ISAKOS and is currently Editor-in-Chief of Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy (KSSTA), the official, clinical journal of ESSKA.

João Espregueira-Mendes, MD, PhD, has been Professor of Orthopaedic Traumatology and Chairman of the Orthopaedic Department at Minho University, Portugal, since 2005. In addition, he is Director of Clínica do Dragão - Espregueira-Mendes Sports Centre - FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, FC Porto Dragão Stadium, Porto, Portugal.

Provides guidance on when and how to facilitate return to play after common football injuries Addresses a range of current controversial issues Written by expert clinicians and scientists in orthopaedics and sports medicine from across the world Includes experiences of team physicians involved in leading football organizations