This course is available as part of the AAOS Access Plus subscription. Get access to 200+ online learning experiences, including self-assessment examinations, with one annual subscription. Learn more about AAOS Access Plus.

CME expires May 31, 2029

A practical, evidence-based guide to diagnosing and managing common overuse injuries in active patients.

Overuse Injuries Playbook: Knee and Leg is a practical, evidence-based guide to the diagnosis and management of common knee and leg overuse injuries in active patients. Overuse injuries of the knee and leg are among the most frequent and frustrating problems encountered in sports medicine. They may be deceptively complex, with overlapping diagnoses, contributing biomechanical and training factors, and treatment decisions that must balance recovery with return to sports activity. Clinicians need guidance that is current and usable in practice.

Overuse Injuries Playbook: Knee and Leg is designed to meet that need. Developed for sports medicine physicians, general orthopaedic surgeons, team physicians, physical therapists, physician assistants, and other clinicians who care for athletes and active individuals, this course provides a focused, high-yield review of the most common knee and leg overuse conditions observed in practice. Built as a practical handbook, the course is ideal for clinicians who want meaningful, evidence-based guidance they can absorb quickly and apply immediately.

Each module follows the full clinical pathway so learners can move efficiently from patient presentation to treatment planning. Content covers epidemiology and risk factors; pathophysiology and biomechanics; focused patient history and physical examination; imaging indications; and treatment strategies ranging from patient education and load governance to exercise progression, adjunct treatment options, and surgical procedures if indicated. Modules also review return-to-play decision making, with objective criteria discussed if appropriate; considerations for specific patient populations, such as pediatric and adolescent athletes; and sex-specific factors if relevant.

Learners also have access to a detailed infographic, a downloadable clinical job aid, and a brief case-based quiz to reinforce essential concepts. These tools make the course easy to review, easy to apply, and highly practical for busy clinicians. Whether used as a rapid clinical refresher or for a structured review of common conditions, Overuse Injuries Playbook: Knee and Leg is designed to help clinicians make more confident decisions, streamline evaluation, and deliver better-informed treatment for active patients with knee and leg overuse injuries.

Included Topics

• Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome
• Iliotibial Band Syndrome
• Knee Bursitis
• Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
• Patellar Tendinopathy

Editor

Dustin Greenhill, MD

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the clinical presentation of common knee and leg overuse injuries in athletes and active individuals.
• Distinguish among overlapping diagnoses via a focused patient history, physical examination, and imaging if indicated.
• Apply practical, evidence-based treatment strategies, including activity modifications, load governance, rehabilitation principles, and select surgical procedures.
• Identify if symptoms, physical examination findings, or imaging study findings suggest a high-risk condition requiring closer protection, additional workup, or referral.
• Use return-to-play criteria more confidently, and communicate clear progression benchmarks to patients, families, coaches, and care teams.
• Account for population-specific variables that may influence diagnosis, treatment tolerance, and recovery timelines.

Earn up to 6 AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits™.