Department of Physiotherapy at the College of Health Sciences, Gulf Medical University, held a well-received Continuing Professional Development (CPD) webinar titled “Rethinking ACL Rehab: Non-Operative Strategies, Post-Surgical Challenges, and the Road to Return to Sport” on November 28, 2025. The session drew close to two hundred participants from across the UAE and abroad, including physiotherapists, sports rehabilitation professionals, clinicians, students, and academicians.
The event brought together leading specialists who presented current, evidence- based perspectives on non-operative management, post-surgical rehabilitation challenges, and strategies to ACL rehabilitation:
- Padmanabhan Sekaran – Lead, Movementology Academy, India.
Topic: Bridging the Gap: Load Management in ACL Rehabilitation - Rajasekar S – Asst. Professor, CoHS, GMU, UAE.
Topic: Non-Operative Management Following Isolated ACL Injury: A Contemporary Update - Earnest Paul – HOD, Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance, India.
Topic: Return to Play After ACL Reconstruction: Bridging the Gap Between Rehab and Performance - Ramprasad M – Prof / Associate Dean, CoHS, GMU, UAE.
Role: Moderator & Critical Insights
Dr. Ramprasad M opened the event with a welcome address and guided the discussions with key reflections on clinical practice and sports performance integration. Following this the speakers shared practical insights on non-operative management, load-based rehabilitation, and practical frameworks for return-to-sport decision-making, focusing on performance testing, psychological readiness, and risk-mitigation strategies.
Their sessions highlighted the shift toward individualized, progressive, and functionally driven rehabilitation strategies, including the control-to-chaos approach and performance-based return-to-sport readiness.
Participants remained highly engaged through case discussions, polls, and Q&A interactions making the event highly dynamic and informative. The session received strong positive feedback for its relevance and clarity, and it was officially awarded 2.25 CPD credit points by the Ministry of Education, UAE. The webinar also marked another milestone in the CPD Series on Current Trends in Rehabilitation led by the Department of Physiotherapy.
“I am pleased to see the department consistently bringing meaningful learning opportunities to the rehab community. Sessions like this strengthen clinical thinking and help our professionals stay aligned with global best practices.” commented Dr. Praveen Kumar, Dean, College of Health Sciences.