Matt Denton, an Extended Scope physiotherapist at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, runs a weekly knee clinic from the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre. His work includes the rehabilitation of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in children and young people.
Co-locating at the AWRC has enabled Matt to collaborate with research and technical staff to improve his practice using high-tech facilities and equipment not routinely available in hospital or community settings.
It’s unusual to have access to this kind of equipment in a clinical setting,’ says Matt. ‘Being at the AWRC allows us to take a more accurate, individualised approach to rehab.’
Key technologies include the Biodex isokinetic system, which enables precise tracking of limb strength over time, and the Optojump system, a laser-based tool that analyses movement, jump height, and force profiles. These technologies are commonly used in elite sport but are not yet widely available in NHS physiotherapy.
Taking multiple data points over time - typically at six, nine, and twelve-months post-injury – allows Matt to build a detailed picture of each patient’s recovery. This enables him to move away from time-based estimates of recovery and instead use criteria-based rehabilitation, improving confidence in return to sport, and helping reduce the high rate of reinjury (which can be up to one in three in under 18s).
‘Children can grow by 8cm and gain 12kg during rehab,’ Matt explains. ‘Having access to isokinetic data helps us account for that change and helps to avoid reinjury.’
Matt is also focusing on the specific needs of girls, who are experiencing an increasing number of ACL injuries but often receive less support in terms of strength and conditioning. He is interested in how training and rehabilitation might be adapted around hormonal cycles, and in addressing the fact that many sports and rehab models are still designed around male athletes.
In addition to the benefits for patients, Matt values the proximity to researchers at the AWRC and the supportive environment.
‘The co-location model illustrates the value of embedding NHS services within a research and innovation environment.’ He explains. ‘It enables enhanced patient care through the application of advanced assessment tools and supports a more data-informed, equitable approach to rehabilitation.’
“Delivering my clinic from the AWRC has opened so many opportunities for service improvement. I have had the chance to collaborate with researchers using high quality equipment such as the Biodex, which has been invaluable in assessing the children. Being able to document their strength and growth has allowed me to change the focus of each child’s rehab program ensuring they are precisely designed for each individual. It has also provided the basis for further collaboration which will help to inform future innovative practice. Data is stored for potential evaluation at a later date by the research team and will hopefully inform specifics on paediatric practice and recovery/return to sports.”
