University Orthopaedic Associates (UOA) is committed to the pursuit of excellence in orthopaedic treatment, medical education and clinical research, which is why it has a research group devoted exclusively to sports medicine.

Here are common FAQs about the UOA Sports Medicine Research Group and how to get involved.

What Is the UOA Sports Medicine Research Group?

Initiated in 2021, the UOA Sports Medicine Research Group is a multidisciplinary team of orthopaedic specialists devoted to improving patient outcomes and injury prevention strategies in the fields of orthopaedic and musculoskeletal medicine. The group meets once a month and broadcasts the meeting on Zoom to brainstorm potential projects, discuss ongoing progress on studies and help one another navigate the waters of research with the goal of producing high-quality work.

Education is one of the central tenets of UOA and part of its mission statement. Many of the orthopaedic specialists at UOA make up the teaching faculty of the Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Orthopaedic Residency Program. They stay heavily involved in science and clinical research, community outreach education, education for for athletic trainers and other healthcare providers. The UOA Sports Medicine Research Group aims to change the future of orthopaedic medicine through its clinical trials, studies and research.

Who Participates in This Group?

The multidisciplinary team of orthopaedic specialists who make up the UOA Sports Medicine Research Group includes orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists, athletic trainers, medical students and orthopaedic residents. Many of the subjects or patients who are evaluated in these studies are sports medicine patients from the high school, collegiate and recreational sports levels.

What Are the Goals of the Group?

The primary goal of the UOA Sports Medicine Research Group is to compare various treatment regimens for particular injuries or recoveries and identify which treatment routes are the best to utilize in certain situations. The group collaborates to identify feasible and viable research projects—many of which are prospective studies. When research projects are completed, they are frequently presented at national meetings and submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication.

What Types of Research Does the Group Do?

The UOA Sports Medicine Group is open to performing any research that can potentially improve patient outcomes in orthopaedic medicine.

For instance, one of its studies involves examining the effects of blood flow restriction therapy (BFR) on recovery following rotator cuff repair. Traditionally, rotator cuff repair recovery involves physical therapy exercises that focus on improving flexibility, range of motion and strength of muscles that surround the shoulder joint. Recent literature has suggested that BFR may improve strength gains during recovery. The group is formally studying whether the use of BFR does have benefits over traditional thereapy.

How Does the Group Advance Research?

The process starts with an idea or hypothesis. The hypothesis is reviewed and discussed by the group to determine it’s potential for research or to optimize it’s scope of focus. 

Rutgers Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology is included in the research process, as it reviews the group’s data collection methods and identifies ways to conduct studies more efficiently. Studies are also reviewed by the Rutgers Institutional Review Board to ensure they will not cause harm to patients or compromise anonymity. Other third parties are also invited to review the data in order to avoid bias and to ensure studies are high in quality so they can be prepared for publication.

Discover Exciting Opportunities!

Are you an athletic trainer interested in research and would like to learn more about the process? Connect with UOA by calling 908-300-5833 to learn more about the Sports Medicine Research Group. Your expertise can make a significant impact—join us and be at the forefront of cutting-edge research in the world of athletics!