5 Players We Could See At The Philadelphia Eagles in 2020

Gloucestercitynews.net (February 7, 2020)–Last season wasn’t terrible for the Philadelphia Eagles. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible. The joy of winning the Super Bowl in 2018 still looms large in the memory of many of the team’s younger fans, and sometimes obscures the fact that prior to that, the Eagles had never won the competition before, and had in fact only made it to two previous finals in their entire existence. Reaching the playoffs is still an acceptable result for a team of the Eagles’ standing, even if the

loss to the Seattle Seahawks

was a disappointing one.

As with every team in the NFL at the moment, the upper management and coaching team of the Eagles will be taking stock of what they have, what they need to improve on, and who\’ll soon be available to acquire both in terms of April\’s draft and in terms of free agency. There are places in which the team could definitely be improved, and conversations about making those improvements will already be happening as you read this article. It\’s probably safe to assume that we\’ll see some significant movement in and out of the Eagles before the first game of the new season arrives.

Making major changes to a settled lineup is never easy, and always comes with an element of risk involved. It’s as if the popular

online slots

‘Gridiron Glory’ has come to life. In exactly the same way an online slots player puts their money into a game and hopes for the best, Doug Pederson will be placing the club’s money into players and hoping that luck is on his side. Neither the online slots player nor the coach can change their selection after they’ve made it – they just have to trust the Gods of fate and hope that everything goes his way. But who might Pederson be looking at, and who can we realistically expect to see at Lincoln Financial Field when the new season kicks off? Let’s take a look.

Darron Lee

In the run-up to the Super Bowl, the New York Post ran an article about

Darron Lee’s ‘crazy’ journey

to the biggest game in the sport. We guess they must have a different definition of \’crazy\’ to us, because Lee barely even featured in the build-up to the final, and didn\’t see the field in the final game at all. Lee is, without a shadow of a doubt, a talented player, but he appears to be surplus to requirements at Kansas City. If he is, he will make an excellent addition to the Eagles, who could do with more strength and competition in the squad when it comes to linebackers. His statistics from last season are misleading. The numbers will tell you that he played every game of the regular season without making a single interception or sack, but that\’s not fair. Lee only started two of those games. At the age of 25, the prime of his career is still ahead of him, and there\’s the potential for him to come and play through it at Philadelphia.

Arik Armstead

You might think that this suggestion belongs in the realms of fantasy, but there are whispers that Armstead may be interested in a move when free agency comes around. The defensive end knows how good he\’s been this season, and he\’ll expect his level of performance to be reflected in any new contract he signs. It may be the case that the San Francisco 49ers simply can\’t pay him what he\’s looking for, but the Philadelphia Eagles can. The Eagles wouldn\’t be the only team in the hunt for him if he decides to test the market – we suspect every single ambitious team in the NFL does – but the Eagles make for an attractive package, and stand as good a chance as anybody else. All they would have to worry about is whether his form holds up. He was excellent last season as we\’ve already said, but for the four seasons prior to that, he was mostly anonymous.

Bryce Hall

This kid should be a priority for the Eagles when it comes to the draft. He was born locally, and he looks like the real deal. Bryce Hall has stood out in an exceptional Virginia team in the past, but due to an unfortunate injury, he\’s slipped under the radar during 2019 while he\’s focused on getting healthy again. Teams worry about rookies who\’ve already had breakages or dislocations, and Hall has had both, but the opinion of his doctors is that he\’ll be fully fit in time to start the season. This gives the Eagles the chance to pick up a naturally gifted outside corner that nobody else has on their shortlist – and given his connections with the area, he could stay with the team for the next ten years or more if the move works out.

Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson is not the best wide receiver who\’ll be available in this year\’s draft, but he\’s the best wide receiver likely to remain available when picking 21 rolls around, and the Philadelphia Eagles desperately need a new wide receiver. We suspect that he might even be a first-round pick for the team if nobody else picks him up first. In 2019 he picked up 111 catches – that\’s more than any other player at his level in the country. He also ranked second for TD catches and third for receiving yards. As the old saying goes, the numbers don\’t like – and the numbers all look very good where Jefferson is concerned.

Justin Madubuike

We think it might be a tale of two Justins when it comes to the NFL Draft in 2020. Justin Jefferson will almost certainly appear high on the list, and we think Justin Madubuike will, too. At 6’3 and over three hundred pounds, Madubuike is a big, big man, and he’s becoming available at the right time when we look at the current DT options within the Eagles squad. Malik Jackson is about to turn 30, and nobody knows whether he’ll ever fully recover from his foot injury or not. Fletcher Cox is also nudging on 30. Ridgeway and Jernigan, the only other options, haven’t developed as well as the Eagles hoped, and will likely be leaving as free agents. That will leave the Eagles with a big hole in the DT position – and to us, it looks like a Justin Madubuike-sized hole.

This is just our take on the matter, though – the Eagles could end up with all of these players, some of them, or none of them. That’s the risk you take when you try to make sporting predictions! From now until the first day of next season, we’ll be watching and waiting to see if we were right.

images courtesy of unsplash.com

TCNJ tops Rutgers-Camden in NJAC men’s basketball

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. (Feb. 5, 2020) – The College of New Jersey men’s basketball team grabbed a 35-21 halftime lead and held off Rutgers University-Camden, 77-64, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Wednesday night.

The Lions improve to 13-8 overall and 10-4 in the NJAC with their 11th straight win over the Scarlet Raptors. They lead the all-time series, 68-18.

Rutgers-Camden falls to 7-14 overall and 4-10 in the NJAC.

The Scarlet Raptors held a few early leads, with the last coming at 12-11 before the Lions took the lead for good on a three-pointer from freshman guard Anthony DiCaro. Leading 23-19, the Lions rattled off nine straight points on the way to their 35-21 halftime lead.

The Scarlet Raptors sliced the margin to eight points (55-47) midway through the second half on a layup by junior guard

Arian Azemi,

but the Lions padded their lead back to 17 points 64-47 before Rutgers-Camden made a late-game run. A 17-7 spurt, capped by a three-pointer from freshman forward

Dylan Trow,

cut the gap to 71-64 with 3:26 remaining, but that was as close as the Raptors could get. TCNJ scored the final six points of the game, with the final four scored by senior guard Randall Walko, who was named the NJAC Player of the Week on Monday.

Walko and junior forward Travis Jocelyn finished with 17 points apiece for the Lions, while senior forward Ryan Jensen added 15 points. Jenson also led the Lions with nine rebounds, helping TCNJ take a 44-31 advantage off the boards.

Despite the loss, the Scarlet Raptors accomplished a few individual milestones in the game. Senior forward

Isaac Destin

notched a game-high 29 points and 13 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. The 29 points moved him into seventh place on the career scoring list with 1,219, passing Ray Pace, who had 1,201 points in two seasons from 1975-77.

Azemi, meanwhile, collected two steals to hike his season mark to 72, setting a new single-season program record. He passed the previous mark of 71, shared by Joshua Askew (2009-10) and Marvin Young (1980-81).

Azemi also added 18 points and a game-high five assists, while sophomore forward

Jake Petrik

scored 13 points.

Rutgers-Camden plays an 8 p.m. NJAC game at Rutgers-Newark Saturday.

Letters to the Editor: Luck of NJ Lottery Retailers May Be Running Out

The new Jack pocket lottery app allowing consumers to purchase tickets on their phones isn’t a win for everyone. With the app’s availability, the luck of New Jersey’s lottery retailers may be running out.

The NJ lottery helps almost 7,500 lottery retailers keep their small businesses afloat. Responsible for $189 million in lottery ticket sales commissions for retail chains and many small family-owned businesses across the state, the survival of these retailers is heavily dependent on lottery income. On average, stores receive $25,600 in commissions annually and for many who already running on tight margins, that income means the difference between surviving and closing the business doors.

But all is not lost for these retailers.

A bill allowing draw lottery tickets and scratch off tickets to be paid with a mobile phone, similar to buying coffee at Starbucks, and using a payment method called decoupled debit, was passed and is awaiting implementation. This method debits your checking account when purchasing lottery products at a vending machine or sales counter. Implementing that law would help these retailers by providing consumers with in-store options they don’t currently have while protecting the retailer’s commission and likely bring additional lottery sales to the State.

With regards to the decoupled debit method of payment, this is a technology that has been used safely and repeatedly in the c-store industry for more than 15 years in 30,000 locations nationwide. Leading retailers such as Target, Cumberland Farms, Circle K have embraced its use.

There is an urgent need to help NJ’s small business owners and similarly a solution to their lottery ticket dilemma. It’s a story that deserves attention if these fragile businesses and jobs are to be saved. I hope you are interested in this challenge facing NJ retailers and if you are, I can help connect you with several organizations that represent these business owners. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance of your kind consideration.

Regards,

Shep Doniger

Rutgers-Camden’s Pitts earns NJAC Rookie of the Week Honor

CAMDEN, N.J. (Feb. 3, 2020) –

Jalissa Pitts

has been one of the top freshmen in the New Jersey Athletic Conference throughout her maiden season.

The Rutgers University-Camden guard/forward was rewarded for her talents Monday when she was named the NJAC Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week. She becomes the Scarlet Raptors’ first NJAC Rookie of the Week since Wykira Johnson-Kelly captured a trio of the conference honors last season (Nov. 12, Dec. 10 and Jan. 21).

Pitts earned her honor after averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds in a pair of conference games as the Scarlet Raptors went 1-1 last week. Rutgers-Camden lost at game at Stockton University Wednesday and posted a big road win Saturday against one of the NJAC’s top teams, Kean University.

Against Stockton, Pitts collected her second career double-double, producing a game-high 19 points, while tying for game-high honors with 11 rebounds. She nearly added another double-double against Kean, once again scoring 19 points and adding nine rebounds. She also collected two assists and two steals in that game.

For the season, Pitts is second on the Scarlet Raptors with a scoring average of 11.6, while leading the team in rebounding with a 7.3 average. She has played in all 20 Rutgers-Camden games, starting 19, including the last 16 contests. She also has added 31 steals (fourth on the team), 21 assists (fourth) and six blocked shots (tied for third).

Pitts notched her first career double-double against Ramapo College on Jan. 8, notching 20 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Her career scoring high of 25 points came in her first collegiate game, Nov. 12 at Penn State-Schuylkill. She added 24 points in her first meeting against Kean on Dec. 14.

Overall, Pitts has scored in double figures on 10 occasions, including three times with 20 or more points. She also has three double-figure games in rebounds.

Pitts, who also earned honors Monday as Rutgers-Camden’s Raptor of the Week, becomes the second Scarlet Raptor to earn NJAC honors this season. On November 18, senior guard

Fatimah Williams

was named the NJAC Player of the Week.

A graduate of Winslow Township High School, Pitts was a two-time All-Olympic Conference First Team player during her scholastic career. She earned 10 varsity letters at Winslow Township, including four apiece in basketball and soccer and two for outdoor track.

A Nursing major at Rutgers-Camden, Pitts captured Dean’s List recognition and a berth on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll during her first semester on campus in the fall.

*Albert Carino Boys Basketball Club Feb. Theme Will Be Unsung Heroes

Ben Cerrato (Haddonfield), Gavin Gibson (Cherokee), Giamarco Arletti (Holy Cross), MJ Iraldi (West Deptford), Josh Randle (GCIT) and Tyrese Myrick (Westampton Tech) to be honored.

University of Delaware Coach Martin Ingelsby featured speaker.

Martin Ingelsby University of Delaware

The Albert Carino Boys Basketball Club has announced that Unsung Heroes will be the theme of the next meeting Wednesday, FEBRUARY 5

at the Crowne Plaza, Route 70 and Cuthbert Blvd., Cherry Hill starting at 11:30 A.M. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED and may be made by calling

Jason Lewer

(609-706-7063) or Jack Mongulla (856-461-8800), or emailing the Club at

Martin Ingelsby is currently in his fourth season as University of Delaware men’s basketball head coach. On June 20, Ingelsby signed a two-year extension through the 2023-24 season.

After spending the previous 13 years on the Notre Dame coaching staff from 2003-16, Ingelsby led the Blue Hens to 13 victories during his first season in Newark, including a win over Hofstra in the CAA Tournament.

Last season the Blue Hens finished 17-16 and were fifth in the CAA standings, posting their highest win total and highest CAA finish in five years. UD increased its win total for the third straight season, and advanced to the CAA Tournament Semifinals for the first since since 2013-14. Delaware erased a 14-point halftime deficit in the 85-79 win over William & Mary in the quarterfinals, the largest halftime comeback in CAA Tournament history.

Ingelsby, the 24th head coach in UD men’s basketball history, is a native of Berwyn, Pa., and was a standout point guard for Notre Dame from 1997-2001. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Wagner College during the 2002-03 campaign before returning t

HSI at Super Bowl LIV

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has been a constant presence at the Super Bowl for many years, having built and maintained a successful partnership with the National Football League. This year, HSI personnel in Miami will work with a range of federal, state and local law enforcement partners throughout Super Bowl week to provide essential public safety measures in and around the city to help combat many of the criminal threats the league and host city might face leading up to and throughout the big game February 2, 2020.

Why is HSI involved in preventing the sale of counterfeit products?

The illegal manufacture and sale of counterfeit goods is one of the primary concerns of HSI, as it is for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the HSI-led

National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center)

, which includes many additional federal and international partners. It is criminal activity that endangers public health, harms the economy and restricts the competitiveness of U.S. products in the global market.

As part of those efforts, Operation Team Player, an ongoing effort developed by the IPR Center to crack down on the illegal importation of counterfeit sports apparel and merchandise, has worked through the year to identify warehouses, stores, flea markets, online vendors and street vendors selling counterfeit and game-related sportswear and tickets throughout the country. The IPR Center leads coordinated efforts with many of the United States’ major sporting leagues to target contraband that negatively impacts the economy, enables additional criminality and poses health and safety hazards to the public.

As in years past, effective teamwork will be the key to success on and off the field during Super Bowl LIV. For HSI, the size and scope of the task will again be met with personnel who are prepared to successfully execute the agency’s game plan and safeguard the city and everyone traveling to and from the Super Bowl.

With Super Bowl week winding down, the men and women of HSI remain hard at work, focused on ensuring the safety and security of everyone who has come to Miami for the game itself and all of the surrounding festivities.

As the Chiefs and the 49ers are finalizing their game plans with an eye on bringing home the coveted Lombardi trophy, members of HSI’s elite Special Response Teams are standing by at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, ready to move out at a moment’s notice and join their law enforcement partners throughout the region to provide whatever assistance may be needed.

Special agents and investigators with HSI’s IPR unit will also be busy until the opening kickoff, protecting fans by looking out for and arresting counterfeit ticket sellers and continuing to confiscate phony, sub-standard team merchandise in the parking lots and other areas around the stadium.

As the pre-game festivities wrap up Sunday afternoon, all that’s left are the words of country music legend Hank Williams, Jr. hanging in the air – “are you ready for some football?!”

At a Thursday morning press conference, federal agents with ICE HSI announced the seizure of more than 176,000 counterfeit sports-related items, worth an estimated $123 million manufacturer\’s suggested retail price (MSRP), through a collaborative enforcement operation with CBP targeting international shipments of counterfeit merchandise into the United States. The National Football League and Miami-Dade Police department joined ICE and CBP for the announcement just days before Super Bowl LIV.

Through the ongoing initiative known as Operation Team Player, developed by the HSI-led IPR Center, ICE and CBP join with state and local law enforcement partners across the country, targeting the illegal manufacture, import, and distribution of counterfeit sports merchandise.

“Every day, cargo containers containing billions of dollars’ worth of counterfeit goods enter the United States through its land, sea and air ports of entry. This year’s record-breaking ‘Operation Team Player’ results affirm HSI’s commitment to protecting American consumers, the economy, and legitimate business, by ensuring the Super Bowl is not compromised by transnational criminal networks exploiting fan enthusiasm for illicit profits,” said HSI-led IPR Center Director Steve Francis.

Special agents from HSI teamed with industry partners, CBP, Miami-Dade police officers and other agencies to identify flea markets, retail outlets and street vendors selling counterfeit goods during the week leading up to Super Bowl LIV. They seized fake jerseys, jewelry, hats, cell-phone accessories and thousands of other bogus items prepared to be sold to unsuspecting consumers.

The IPR Center – formally codified in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 – is one of the U.S. government\’s key weapons in the fight against criminal counterfeiting and piracy. The center uses the expertise of its 25 member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions, and conduct investigations related to intellectual property theft and its enforcement of international trade laws.

Isaac Destin’s 40-point Game Lifts Scarlet Raptor Men

UNION, N.J. (Feb. 1, 2020) – Senior forward

Isaac Destin

notched a career-high 40 points and added 12 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season to power the Rutgers University-Camden men’s basketball team over Kean University, 79-75, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, the Scarlet Raptors improve to 7-13 overall and 4-9 in the NJAC under first-year Head Coach

Stuart Pradia.

It is the most overall and conference wins for the program since going 14-12 overall and 8-10 in the NJAC during the 2014-15 season.

Kean falls to 5-15 overall and 2-11 in the NJAC with its second loss against Rutgers-Camden this season. The Cougars lost in Camden, 68-63, on Dec. 14. Kean still leads the all-time series, 59-27.

Rutgers-Camden led by as many as 12 points in the first half (16-4 and 19-7) and was ahead, 23-12, before Kean went on a 20-7 run to grab its first lead of the day, 32-30. A pair of foul shots apiece

by sophomore forward

Jake Petrik

and junior guard

Arian Azemi

put the Raptors back in front, 34-32, but Kean took the lead right before half on a three-point play by sophomore guard Jared Latane.

Sophomore guard Jailen Jamison paced Kean with eight first-half points, while senior forward

Isaac Destin

had 10 points and Petrik added eight on the opening half for Rutgers-Camden.

Kean opened the second half with a 12-6 run to grab seven-point leads of 45-38 and 47-40, but a 10-point Raptor run was fueled by six points from Destin, giving the Raptors a 50-47 lead. After the teams swapped leads for a stretch, the Scarlet Raptors build their lead to as many as eight points, 72-64, on a trey by Petrik with 2:58 remaining and a layup by Destin with 2:20 left.

Although the Cougars closed within 75-72 with 38 seconds remaining, Destin hit four foul shots down the stretch to clinch the victory and end his career-high performance with 40 points. His previous high was 33 against Rosemont College on Nov. 10, 2019. With his 40 points, he became only the 12th Scarlet Raptor to reach the 40-point plateau. The program record is 46 by Dan Rucker against Southeastern on Feb. 4, 1978. Destin is the first Raptor to hit 40 since Dane Nicholson also reached that total on Jan. 6, 2005 against Arcadia.

The 40 points hiked Destin’s career total to 1,190, allowing him to move past Pete Vearling (1,151 from 1964-68) and into eighth place on the program’s all-time list. Seventh place belongs to Ray Pace (1975-77) with 1,201 points.

For the game, Destin went 14-for-23 from the floor and 12-for-14 from the foul line. He added 12 rebounds for his double-double and also collected three assists, two steals and two blocked shots. His points, rebounds and blocks were all game-high totals.

Azemi added 12 points, six rebounds and game-high totals of 10 assists and seven steals. The 10 assists tied his Raptor career high set in the same game against Rosemont where Destin had his previous high point total.

Petrik finished with 11 points for the Scarlet Raptors.

Jamison and Latane led Kean with 28 and 21 points, respectively. Jamison added seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals to lead the Cougars.

Rutgers-Camden shot 26-for-52 (50 percent) from the floor and 21-for-30 (70.0) from the foul line to overcome a 20-19 deficit in turnovers. The Raptors held a 32-31 edge off the boards.

Kean went 29-for-61 (47.5) from the floor and 11-for-16 (68.8) from the foul line.

Rutgers-Camden returns to NJAC action Wednesday when it hosts The College of New Jersey at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Philadelphia Union II Announce 2020 Home Opener

Union II to play first game of 2020 campaign at Talen Energy Stadium against Loudoun United FC on Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m.

CHESTER, Pa. (Jan. 2020)

– Entering the 2020 season as the newly rebranded Philadelphia Union II, the club, in conjunction with USL Championship, today announced that Union II will host rival Loudoun United FC in the club’s 2020 home opener. The match is set for Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. The ESPN Linear Broadcast schedule, as well as the complete 2020 regular-season schedule, will be announced in the near future.

Entering their second season playing at Talen Energy Stadium, Union II went 1-0-1 against Loudoun last season. The Union earned a 5-2 victory at home against the expansion-side and DC United affiliate, including goals contributed by returning 2019 team assist-leader, Zach Zandi and rookie midfielder Issa Rayyan.

The club is also set to travel to Charleston Battery for the inaugural home match at Patriot Point on Saturday, March 28.

Union II supporters can secure their seats in Talen Energy Stadium for the home opener as well as purchase season tickets, partial plans, group tickets and single season game when they go on sale Friday, Jan. 10 at PhiladelphiaUnion.com/2. Additionally, Philadelphia Union Season Ticket Members will receive general admission for all Union II matches with their plans, with the option of upgrading to reserved seating at a discounted rate.

Philadelphia Union II rebranded in late 2019 to further cultivate and streamline the player pathway from the academy to the first team. The club will play its home games at Talen Energy Stadium while also offering the chance to train alongside the first team at the Power Training Complex.   For a full list of the 2020 USL Championship home openers

click here.

CNB Hunting/Fishing NJ: Scoping Hearings for Summer Flounder/Scup/Black Sea Bass and Bluefish

DOWN THE SHORE

–Don’t miss the opportunity to provide comment on management for summer flounder/scup/black sea bass and bluefish during several public scoping hearings in February held by the Mid-Atlantic

Fisheries Management Council. Please note that these hearings will not address recreational bag, season, or size limits. See below and attached for additional information.

Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment

The Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment will consider potential modifications to the allocations of catch or landings between the commercial and recreational sectors for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. Members of the public are encouraged to attend a scoping hearing or submit written comments on potential changes to the commercial/recreational allocations for these three species.

Scoping hearings

will be held on

February 24 (Belmar) and February 25 (Galloway)

. A schedule of dates and locations is available

here

Written comments

may be submitted using the

online comment form

through

March 17, 2020

Additional information

is available in the

Scoping and Public Information Document

Please note that this amendment

will not

address recreational bag, size, or season limits for any species.

Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment

The Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment is being developed in order to (1) update the goals and objectives of the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan; (2) perform a comprehensive review of the bluefish sector allocations, commercial allocations to the states, and transfer processes; and (3) initiate a bluefish rebuilding plan. Members of the public are encouraged to attend a scoping hearing or submit written comments on any of these issues.

Scoping hearings

will be held on

February 18 (Toms River)

. A schedule of dates and locations is available

here

Written comments

may be submitted using the

online comment form

through

March 17, 2020

Additional information

is available in the

Scoping and Public Information Document

Please note that this amendment

will not

address recreational bluefish management measures, including the 3-fish private/shore bag limit and 5 fish for-hire bag limit recommended for 2020.

Press Release-Bluefish-Supplemental-Scoping.pdf

News Release-Summer Flounder-Scup-BlackSeaBass-Allocation-Scoping-Hearings.pdf

ACL tears cause harmful changes in our brain structure

Newswise — ANN ARBOR—It\’s known that some joint function is often permanently lost after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, and re-injury is common even with intensive physical therapy, but it\’s unclear why.

New research from the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology shows structural changes in the brains of patients who underwent ACL reconstruction. These changes hinder recovery and may contribute to performance deficits and re-injury, says study co-author Lindsey Lepley, U-M assistant professor of athletic training.

Lindsey Lepley and colleague Adam Lepley, clinical assistant professor of athletic training, took MRI brain scans of 10 ACL-reconstructed patients. The scans showed that part of the corticospinal tract—the pathway that scuttles messages from brain to muscles—had atrophied in the patients.

The corticospinal tract runs from front to back through both hemispheres of the brain. The side of the tract that controls the ACL-reconstructed knee was about 15% smaller than on the uninjured side, the researchers say.

Think of the altered corticospinal tract as a traffic tunnel that narrows, letting fewer cars pass through, they say. In the ACL reconstructed patients, less information gets from the brain to the muscle because less information can travel along the smaller tract.

\”In essence, the brain not only alters the way it communicates with the rest of the body, joints, muscles, etc., but the structural makeup of the basic building blocks of the brain are also changed after ACL injury,\” Adam Lepley said. \”We think that this is a protective mechanism, in which our body is trying to limit unwanted movement around a joint injury … and can be applied to not just ACL injuries, but other musculoskeletal injuries as well.\”

Another recent study shows that downstream neural activity in the quadriceps is impaired during sport-like movements after ACL surgery, which suggests that poor brain structure and communication can lead to reduced functioning, the researchers say.

The bottom line for patients and clinicians is that a knee injury is not just about knees––other areas, like the brain structure, are negatively impacted, too.

\”It means that during treatment, a systemic approach should be taken not just to improve range of motion or swelling at the injured joint, but also consider other impairments like poor movement patterns and muscle activation in order to get better outcomes,\” Lindsey Lepley said. \”There is evidence of using visual retraining, different motor learning modalities like external focus of attention and biofeedback, which can help \’rewire\’ the brain to help the body adapt to a new normal.\”

Study:

Corticospinal tract structure and excitability in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A DTI and TMS study

Related research:

Protracted alterations in muscle activation strategies and knee mechanics in patients after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Lindsey Lepley

Adam Lepley