Using clinic videos to spot risk of a second ACL injury after reconstruction
Official title: Predicting second injuries after primary ACL reconstruction using clinically accessible videography
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11261253 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses easy-to-take clinic videos and wearable sensors to find movement patterns that may predict a second ACL injury in people who've had ACL reconstruction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | February 21, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $343,210 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR083709-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11261253 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with a first-time (primary) ACL reconstruction who are being seen at study sites and are at the point of returning to unrestricted physical activity.
✕Less likely to help
People without a recent primary ACL reconstruction, those not yet cleared to return to activity, or those unable to attend the participating clinics are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
You would take part around the time your doctor clears you to return to full activity for a single clinic visit that collects short video recordings and in-shoe sensor data. The research team will apply new markerless motion-capture tools to those standard clinic videos to analyze your knee and leg movement without special markers or lab equipment. After the visit, you would get short monthly electronic surveys for 18 months about your activity, function, and whether you have another ACL injury. The study builds on an ongoing multi-site project at UNC-Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech to combine these videos with existing clinical and sensor data to improve prediction models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a simple clinic video test that identifies people at higher risk of a second ACL tear so they can get targeted rehab or precautions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior motion-analysis and wearable-sensor studies have linked certain movement patterns to ACL injury risk, but using clinic videos with markerless motion capture to predict second ACL tears is newer and has limited clinical validation so far.
Where this research is happening
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Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hart, Joseph M — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Hart, Joseph M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Graft Remodeling and Joint Degeneration after ACL Reconstruction in the Growing Knee Joint
This grant focuses on how ACL reconstruction in growing kids and teens affects knee grafts and long-term joint health.
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Options for a second (revision) ACL surgery
This work looks at how different surgical approaches and patient factors relate to long-term outcomes for people having a second ACL reconstruction.
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Improving quadriceps muscle function after ACL surgery using brain stimulation
This study is looking at how a gentle brain stimulation technique can help improve the strength and function of your thigh muscles as you recover from ACL surgery, making your rehabilitation process easier and more effective.
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How walking and physical activity affect knee health after ACL surgery
This study is looking at how walking and activity levels affect knee health in young adults who have had ACL surgery, aiming to find ways to prevent long-term pain and joint issues during their first year of recovery.
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Predicting second injuries after ACL surgery using video technology
This study is looking at how to help people who have had ACL surgery avoid getting hurt again by tracking their movements and activities for 18 months, so we can learn more about what might lead to a second injury.
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Improving walking patterns after ACL surgery
This study is testing a new walking program to help people recover better after ACL surgery by teaching them a special way to walk that could make their knees feel better and prevent future problems.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.