Please refer to the following guidebooks and videos for helpful information related to orthopaedic conditions and treatments.
ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery
- ACL Reconstruction Guidebook (PDF): This guidebook provides information on how to prepare for ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Throughout this guidebook, you will see tips from one of our ACL patients, Sarah Fittro. We hope you will find inspiration and helpful guidance from someone who has been through this surgery and recovery.
- ACL Surgery (4 videos): This four-part video series describes the ACL surgical experience, including how to prepare yourself and your home prior to surgery and what to expect after surgery, especially in regards to rehabilitation. Please note that your experience may differ slightly depending on which orthopaedic team you see. However, the process is largely the same for all ACL reconstruction patients.
Cast care
- Living with an Aircast® Boot (PDF): This guide provides information on how to adjust to wearing an Aircast Boot to protect your injured leg from further injury.
- Cast Care Tips (PDF): This guide provides general cast care tips after you've been given a cast made of plaster or fiberglass to help your injured bone heal.
Hand
- Distal radius fractures: Watch this video to learn about treatment options for this common type of break. Plus, learn about advancements in using the plating/screw approach that allows you to immediately use your hand.
- Scaphoid fractures: Watch this video to see what a scaphoid fracture looks like and learn about a procedure that does not require casting.
Nutrition
- Nutritional Guide for Adolescent Athletes (PDF): This guide provides dietary recommendations for adolescents from our dietitians.
Physical therapy instructions after Orthopaedic surgery
- ACL Reconstruction - Physical Therapy Protocol (PDF): This worksheet includes goals and exercises to guide your 6-12 week recovery from ACL Reconstruction.
- Advanced Rotator Cuff Repair - Physical Therapy Protocol (PDF): This worksheet includes goals and exercises to guide your 6-12 week recovery from Advanced Rotator Cuff Repair.
- Anatomic Shoulder replacement - Physical Therapy Protocol (PDF): This worksheet includes goals and exercises to guide your 10-12 week recovery from Anatomic Shoulder Replacement.
- Delayed Rotator Cuff Repair - Physical Therapy Protocol (PDF): This worksheet includes goals and exercises to guide your 16+ week recovery from Delayed Rotator Cuff Repair.
- Hip Arthroscopy - Physical Therapy Protocol (PDF): This worksheet includes goals and exercises to guide your 12+ week recovery from Hip Arthroscopy.
- Isolated Meniscus Repair - Physical Therapy Protocol (PDF): This worksheet includes goals and exercises to guide your 12+ week recovery from Isolated Meniscus Repair.
- MPFL Reconstruction - Physical Therapy Guide (PDF): This worksheet includes goals and exercises to guide your 12-16 week recovery from MPFL Reconstruction.
- Patellar Realignment - Physical Therapy Protocol (PDF): This worksheet includes goals and exercises to guide your 12-24 week recovery from Patellar Realignment.
Shoulder
- Fundamental Exercises for the Overhead Athlete (PDF): This guidebook provides exercises to help an athlete who is prone to injury due to the motion performed in overhead sports, such as baseball, javelin throwing, tennis, and volleyball.
- Self-Help for Rotator Cuff Injuries: This video provides information about self-help treatments for rotator cuff injuries.
- Shoulder Injuries 101: Prevention and Treatment (8 videos): This video is part of our "Performance Plus" Lecture Series for coaches, parents of athletes, athletes, emergency personnel, and anyone who works with athletes.
- Shoulder Replacement Guidebook (PDF): This guidebook prepares you for shoulder replacement surgery at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. It includes helpful information, such as preparing your body for surgery, what to pack for the hospital, and making changes in your home to prepare for your limited mobility after surgery.
- Adhesive Capsulitis (PDF): This presentation describes the treatment options for adhesive capsulitis.
- Bankart Lesion (PDF): This presentation defines a Bankart lesion and describes treatment options.
- Reverse Shoulder Replacement (PDF): This presentation describes the reverse shoulder replacement surgery and post-operative rehabilitation.
- Rotator Cuff Tears (PDF): This presentation defines a rotator cuff tear and describes the steps to treat it.
- Shoulder Replacement (PDF): This presentation describes the shoulder replacement surgery and post-operative rehabilitation and lists some possible complications.
Sports medicine
- The Benefits of Physical Therapy: This video describes how physical therapists help the sports patient.
- Handling Recovery After a Sports Injury: This video discusses how to handle recovery after a sports injury.
- Stretching Exercises for Athletes (PDF): This guidebook provides stretching exercises for athletes of all ages to improve flexibility and strength.
- When Should You See a Specialist?: This video discusses when it's the right time to see a sports medicine specialist.