There’s something satisfying about giving pain a name. “Plica syndrome” sounds tidy — a distinct problem with a known structure and a clear fix. But like many orthopedic labels, it may offer more comfort than clarity.

In reality, plica syndrome often represents a mix of diagnostic uncertainty and the human tendency to point to what we can see, even when we don’t fully understand what we feel.

When most people picture a total knee replacement (TKA), they imagine a simple swap of “old parts for new.” In reality, implant designs and surgical choices vary, especially in how the cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL) are handled. These choices affect implant stability, surgical complexity, and—at least theoretically—how “natural” the knee feels after surgery.

Knee pain—whether from traumatic injury, post-operative recovery, sports, or chronic conditions like arthritis—presents a complex challenge for patients and clinicians alike. While the causes may differ, research consistently highlights the role of strengthening, particularly quadriceps-focused exercises, in improving function and quality of life.

Predicting injury or reinjury is a tantalizing prospect for clinicians, coaches, and athletes alike. If we could reliably anticipate injuries, preventative strategies would revolutionize sports and rehabilitation. However, the research suggests that our ability to predict injuries is far from reliable.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) remains a challenging condition for clinicians and researchers, as it often defies straightforward anatomical or biomechanical explanations. Emerging perspectives in pain science suggest that dysfunction in systems beyond the musculoskeletal—such as the vestibular system—could contribute to this pervasive issue.

As fellowship-trained physical therapists, we’ve seen the challenges both patients and clinicians face when navigating through a maze of conflicting advice, outdated practices, and outright myths. That’s why we created this channel—to cut through the noise and bring clarity, backed by science and experience.