Research

Dr. Tanaka's primary research focus is on the biomechanics, imaging and anatomy of the knee and patellofemoral joint as it relates to patellar instability. She has produced more than 100 articles, book chapters and presentations primarily focusing on this topic, and she and her colleagues were awarded the Patellofemoral Surgical Anatomy Excellence Award by the Patellofemoral Foundation and Arthroscopy Association of North America in 2014 and 2021. She was inducted into the International Patellofemoral Study Group in 2017 and was the recipient of the 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021 grant awards from the Arthroscopy Association of North America.

Dr. Tanaka additionally has interest in improving the understanding of treatment outcomes and injury prevention in female athletes. She directs the Mass General Women's Sports Medicine Program and was previously the founding director of the program at Johns Hopkins, created to promote multidisciplinary research, clinical care and outreach/education focused on female athletes. She aims to bridge clinical gaps for female athletes through collaborations with experts in multiple fields, while promoting educational outreach to prevent injuries in women. She was awarded the Community Partnership Grant by the Eileen Fisher Foundation in 2015-2016 for her work in organizing educational programs for injury prevention in local girls' schools. Dr. Tanaka currently serves as Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Women's Sports Medicine.

§  Elias JJ, Kirkpatrick MS, Saranathan A, Mani S, Smith LG, Tanaka MJ. Hamstrings loading contributes to lateral patellofemoral malalignment and elevated cartilage pressures: an in vitro study. Clin Biomech. 2011 Oct;26(8):841-6.

§  McFarland EG, Tanaka MJ, Papp DF: Examination of the shoulder in the overhead throwing athlete.  Clinics in Sports Medicine.  2008 Oct;27(4):553-78.

§  McFarland EG, Tanaka MJ, Garzon-Muvdi J, Jia X, Petersen SA. Clinical and imaging assessment for superior labrum anterior & posterior lesions. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2009;8(5):234-239

§  ME Bollier, Fulkerson JP, Cosgarea AJ, Tanaka M, Technical failure of medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction: A report of five cases. Journal of Arthroscopy, 2011 Aug;27(8):1153-9.

§  Tanaka M, Vyas D, Moloney G, Bedi A, Pearle AD, Musahl V. What does it take to have a high-grade pivot shift? Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2012Apr;20(4):737-42

§  Tanaka MJ, Bollier MJ, Andrish JT, Fulkerson JP, Cosgarea AJ. Complications in medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction. Common technical errors & factors for success. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012;94(12):e8-e11

§  Tanaka MJ, Gargiulo G, Jones K, Delos D, Wickiewicz T, Potter HG, Pearle AD. Passive anterior tibial subluxation in ACL deficient knees. Am J Sports Med, 2013, Oct: 41 (10):2347-52

§  Mall NA, Tanaka MJ, Choi LS, Paletta GA Jr. Factors affecting rotator cuff healing. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2014 May 7;96(9):778-88.

§  Mall NA, Chalmers PN, Moric M, Tanaka MJ, Cole BJ, Bach BR Jr, Paletta GA Jr. Incidence and trends of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the United States. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Oct;42(10):2363-70.

§  Tanaka MJ, Munch J, Slater A, Shubin Stein BE. Incidence of deep venous thrombosis after tibial tubercle osteotomy: A single case series study. Orthop J Sports Med. 2014 Aug; 2(8).

§  Elias JJ, Carrino JA, Saranathan A, Guseila LM, Tanaka MJ, Cosgarea AJ. Variations in kinematics and function following patellar stabilization including tibial tuberosity realignment. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2014 Oct;22(10):2350-6.

§  Tanaka MJ, Elias JJ, Williams AA, Carrino JA, Cosgarea AJ. Correlation between changes in tibial tuberosity— trochlear groove distance and patellar position during active knee extension on dynamic kinematic computed tomography imaging. Arthroscopy 2015; May 1.

§  Williams AA, Elias JJ, Tanaka MJ, Thawait GK, Demehri S, Carrino JA, Cosgarea AJ. The relationship between TT-TG distance and abnormal patellar tracking in patients with unilateral patellar instability. Arthroscopy. 2015; Oct 2.

§  Tanaka MJ. Variability in the patellar attachment of the medial patellofemoral ligament. Arthroscopy. 2016;32(8):1667-1670.

§  Tanaka MJ, Elias JJ, Williams AA, Demehri S, Cosgarea AJ. Characterization of patellar maltracking using dynamic kinematic CT imaging in patients with patellar instability. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2016; Jun 29

§  Tanaka MJ, Voss A, Fulkerson JP. The anatomic midpoint of the medial patellofemoral complex. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2016;98(14):1199-1205. 

§  D’amore T, Tanaka MJ, Cosgarea AJ. When and how far to move the tuberosity in patients with patellar instability. Sports Med Arthrosc. 2017 Jun;25(2):78-84

§  Haj-Mirzaian A, Thawait GK, Tanaka MJ, Demehri S. Diagnosis and Characterization of Patellofemoral Instability: Review of Available Imaging Modalities. Sports Med Arthrosc. 2017 Jun;25(2):64-71.

§  McGee TG, Cosgarea AJ, McLaughlin K, Tanaka M, Johnson K. Rehabilitation After Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction. Sports Med Arthrosc. 2017 Jun;25(2):105-113

§  Miller EK, Tanaka MJ, LaPorte DM, Humbyrd CJ. Pregnancy-Related Ligamentous Laxity Mimicking Dynamic Scapholunate Instability: A Case Report. JBJS Case Connect. 2017 Jul-Sep;7(3):e54

§  Loeb AE, Tanaka MJ. The medial patellofemoral complex. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2018 Jun;11(2):201-208

§  Best MJ, Tanaka MJ. Multidirectional Instability of the Shoulder: Treatment Options and Considerations. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2018 Sep;26(3):113-119

§  Gans I, Retzky JS, Jones LC, Tanaka MJ. Epidemiology of recurrent anterior cruciate ligament injury in NCAA sports. The injury surveillance program, 2004-2014. Orthop J Sports Med. 2018; Jun 13;6(6)

§  Haj-Mirzain A, Guermazi A; Hakky M; Sereni C; Zikria B; Roemer F; Tanaka MJ; Cosgarea A; Demehri S. Tibial Tuberosity to Tibial Tuberosity to Trochlear Groove Distance and its Association with MRI-based Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis Worsening: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative: Trochlear Groove Distance and its Association with MRI-based Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis Worsening: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, European Radiology. 2018, Nov;28(11):4669-4680

§  Tanaka MJ. Editorial Commentary: Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction for Knee Patellar Instability: When Are Soft Tissue Procedures Not Enough? Arthroscopy. 2018 Feb;34(2):511-512.

§  Tanaka MJ. Editorial Commentary. Which came first? The patella or the trochlea? Morphological relationships in patients with patellar instability. Arthroscopy. 2018 Jun;34(6):1929-1930

§  Tanaka MJ. Editorial Commentary/ Socket or knock it? Consideration in patellar fixation during MPFL reconstruction. Arthroscopy, 2019

§  Tanaka MJ. Farr, II. Foreword. Sports Med Arthrosc 2019, Dec;27(4):129

§  Tanaka MJ, Tompkins MA, Fulkerson JP. Radiographic landmarks for the attachment of the medical patellofemoral complex. Arthroscopy. 2019 Apr;35(4):1141-1146

§  Brehler M, Thawait G, Kaplan J, Ramsay J, Tanaka MJ, Demehri S, Siewerdsen JH, Zbijewski W. Atlas-based algorithm for automated anatomical measurments in the knee. J Med Imaging (Bellingham). 2019 Apr;6(2):026002

§  Tanaka MJ, Chahla JA, Farr J, II., Laprade RF, Arendt EA, Sanchis-Alfonso V, Post WR, P. Fulkerson. Recognition of evolving medical patellofemoral anatomy provides sight for resconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2019; Aug;27(8)2537-2550

§  Tanaka MJ, Jones LC, Forman J. Awareness of anterior cruciate ligament injury preventive training programs among female collegiate athletes. J Athl Train. 2020; Mar 11

§  Tanaka MJ, D'Amore T, Elias JJ, Thawait G, Demehri S, Cosgarea AJ. Anteroposterior distance between the tibial tuberosity and trochlear groove in patients with patellar instability. Knee. 2019;,26(6):1278-1285.

§  Pringle LC, Tanaka MJ, Fayad LM. Lady or Gentleman? Sex differences in osseous and cartilaginous structures of the knee. Int J Sports Exerc Med 5:153.

§  Tanaka MJ, Szymanski LM, Dale J, Dixit S, Jones LC. Team approach to the female athlete: multidisciplinary considerations for women’s sports medicine programs. J Bone Joint Surg Reviews 2019 Jan;7(1):e7.

§  Tanaka MJ. Current Topics in Women’s Sports Medicine: Evaluation and Treatment of the Female Athlete. Current Orthopaedic Practice 2019 Jan/Feb; 30(1):11-15

§  Tanaka MJ, Farr J, II. The ribbon shaped femoral footprint of the medial patellofemoral ligament: Implications for reconstruction. Sports Med Arthrosc 2019, Dec;27(4):150-153

§  Bauman CA, Hinckel BB, Tanaka MJ. Update on patellofemoral anatomy & biomechanics. Op Tech Sports Medicine, 2019.

§  Tanaka MJ. Editorial Commentary: Repair or reconstruct? Addressing MPFL insufficiency in the absence of morphological risk factors. Arthroscopy, 2020 Jun;36(6):1735-1737

§  Best MJ, Tanaka MJ, Demehri S, Cosgarea AJ. Accuracy and reliability of the visual assessment of patellar tracking. Am J Sports Med. 2020, Feb;48(2):370-375

§  Tanaka MJ, Cosgarea AJ, Forman JM, Elias JJ. Factors Influencing Graft Function Following MPFL Reconstruction: A Dynamic Simulation Study. Knee. 2020; Mar 6.

§  Elias JJ, Tanaka MJ, Jones K, Cosgarea AJ. Tibial Tuberosity Anteriomedialization vs. MPFL reconstruction for treatment of patellar instability related to malalignment: Computational simulation. Clinic Biomechanics. 2020 Jan 30;74:111-117

§  Tanaka MJ, Oh LS, Martin SD, Berkson EM. Telemedicine in the Era of COVID-19. The Virtual Orthopaedic Examination. J Bone Joint Surg, 2020, Apr 24:10.2106/JBJS.20.00609

§  Tanaka MJ. Femoral origin anatomy of the medial patellofemoral complex. Arthroscopy. 2020, in press.

§  Hinckel BB, Baumann CA, Ejnisman L, Cavinatto L, Martusiewicz A, Tanaka MJ, Tompkins M, Sherman SL, Chahla J, Frank R, Yamamoto G, Bicos J, Arendt EA, Fithian D, Farr J. Evidence based risk stratification for sports medicine procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAAOS Global, 2020, In press.

§  Tanaka MJ, LiBrizzi CL, Rivenburgh DW, Jones LC. Changes in U.S. girls’ participation in high school sports: Implications for injury awareness. Physician and Sports Medicine, 2020.

§  Tanaka MJ, Forman JM, Otwell AG, Frischmann LD, Jones LC, Szymanski LM. Characterization of knee pain and related risk factors during pregnancy. Physician and Sports Medicine, 2021.

§  Levy B, Tanaka MJ, Fulkerson JP. Current concepts in trochlear dysplasia. Am J Sports Med, 2020

§  Tanaka MJ. Editorial Commentary: Trochlear dysplasia is difficult to measure, no matter how you slice it. Arthroscopy, 2021.

§  O’Sullivan L, Tanaka MJ. Sex-based differences in hamstring injury risk factors. Journal of Women’s Sports Medicine, 2021; 1(1), 20-29.

§  Keegan C, Cosgarea AJ, Tanaka MJ, Elias JJ. Influence of Tibial Tuberosity Position and Trochlear Depth on Patellar Tracking in Patellar Instability: Variations with Patella Alta. Clin Biomechanics, 2021.

§  Tanaka MJ, Mirochnik K, Esfahani SA, Lubberts B, Waryasz G, Bhimani R. Arthroscopic patellofemoral measurements can reliably assess patellar instability. Arthroscopy, 202.

§  Lampros R, Wiater A, Tanaka MJ. Rehabilitation and return to sport after medial patellofemoral complex reconstruction. Accepted to Arthrsocopy Sports Med Rehab, 2021.

§  Tanaka MJ. From the Editor. Journal of Women’s Sports Medicine, 2021; 1(1), 1–2.

§  Tanaka MJ. Editorial Commentary. Handling the (contact) pressure in patellofemoral surgery: The role of lateral retinacular release. Arthroscopy, 2021.

§  Tanaka MJ, Guarda AD, Jones LC. Dixit S. Prevalence of Disordered Eating in a Sports Medicine Clinic Population: Implications for Multidisciplinary Care. Orthopaedic Journal of Harvard Medical School, 2021.

§  Tang C, Guss D, Tanaka MJ, Lubberts B. Portable ultrasound devices: A method to improve access to medical imaging, barriers to implementation, and the need for future advancements. Clin Imaging, 2021.

§  Grisdela P, Paschos N, Tanaka MJ. Congenital (fixed) patellar dislocation. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 2021.

§  Oganesyan R, Anderson MA, Simeone FJ, Chang CY, Tanaka MJ. Sex differences in posterior cruciate ligament injuries. Journal of Women’s Sports Medicine, 2022.

§  Bhimani R, Ashkani-Esfahani S, Mirochnik K, Lubberts B, Digiovanni CW, Tanaka MJ. Radiographic landmarks for the femoral attachment of the medial patellofemoral complex: A cadaveric study. Arthroscopy J, 2022.

§  Bhimani R, Ashkani-Esfahani S, Mirochnik K, Lubberts B, Digiovanni CW, Tanaka MJ. Utility of diagnostic ultrasound in the assessment of patellar instability. OJSM, 2022.

§  Tobert D, Karhade AV, Bernstein D, Bedair H, O’Donnell E, Tanaka MJ, Bono CM, Harris HB, Schwab J. What is the clinical benefit of common orthopaedic procedures as assessed by PROMIS versus historical assessments? CORR, 2022.

§  Lampros R, Tanaka MJ. Return to play considerations after patellar dislocation. Curr Rev Musc Med, 2022.

§  Preszler J, McInnis KC, Baute L, Tanaka MJ. Rehabilitation of anterior knee pain in the pregnant athlete: Considerations and modifications by trimester. Physical Therapy in Sport, 2022. 60:34-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.01.001

§  Bhimani R, Lubberts B, DiGiovanni CW, Tanaka MJ. Dynamic ultrasound can accurately quantify severity of medial knee injury: A cadaveric study. Arthroscopy Sports Med Rehab, 2022.

§  O’Sullivan L, Preszler J, Tanaka MJ. Hamstring Injury Rehabilitation and Prevention in the Female Athlete. Int J Sports Phys Therapy, 2022.

§  Tanaka MJ. Editorial Commentary. Knee Medial Patellofemoral Complex (MPFC) Reconstruction is Composed of the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament and the Medial Quadriceps Tendon Femoral Ligament: MPFC Reconstruction is Evolving. Arthroscopy J, 2022.

§  Lampros, R. E., & Tanaka, M. (2022). Foreword: Rehabilitation in Women’s Sports. Journal of Women’s Sports Medicine, 2(2), 41. https://doi.org/10.53646/jwsm.v2i2.32.

§  Velasquez MV, Tanaka MJ. Medial Patellofemoral Reconstruction Techniques for Patellar Instability, accepted to Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery.

§  Tanaka MJ, Sodhi A, Wadhavkar I, Kane K, Velasquez Hammerle MV, Varadarajan KM, Tornetta P III. Redefining trochlear dysplasia: Normal thresholds vary by measurement type, landmarks, and sex. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023.

§  Tanaka MJ, Mirochnik K, Simeone FJ, Berkson EM, Doornberg JN, Varadarajan KM, In-vivo length changes between the attachments of the medial patellofemoral complex fibers in knees with anatomic risk factors for patellar instability. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023.

§  Tanaka MJ, Laporte Z, Perry NP, Velasquez Hammerle MV, Nukala V, Liu F. Abnormal trochlear length on sagittal magnetic resonance imaging relates to trochlear dysplasia in knees with patellar instability. Accepted to Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023, in press.

§  Rogers, DL, Tanaka MJ, Cosgarea AJ, Ginsburg R, Dreher GM. How mental health affects injury risk and outcomes in athletes. Sports Health, 2023.

§  Elias JJ, Cosgarea AJ, Tanaka MJ, Adding Tibial Tuberosity Medialization to Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction Reduces Lateral Patellar Maltracking during Multi-Directional Motion in a Computational Simulation Model. ASMAR, 2023.

§  Velasquez Hammerle MV, Doolan-Roy E, Gerber A, Tanaka MJ. Patellofemoral Disorders in Winter Sports. Accepted to Journal of Cartilage and Joint Preservation, 2023.

§  Tanaka MJ, Prasad R, Miller LA, Fleck MM, Stils B, Boyne CJ, Nguyen TE. Team approach to improving orthopaedic operating room efficiency. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 2023.

§  Kreulen RT, Anderson G, Yalcin S, Hart JM, Shank K, Fury MS, Elias JJ, Tanaka MJ, Farrow LD, Diduch DR, Cosgarea AJ. Evaluation of Differences in Patellar Height After Patellar Stabilization Procedures Not Intended to Address Patella Alta: A Multicenter Study. Orthop J Sports Med. 2024 Mar 20;12(3):23259671241235597. doi: 10.1177/23259671241235597. PMID: 38515605; PMCID: PMC10956155.

§  Nukala V, Baute L, Velasquez MV, Neimark S, Galetta M, Tanaka MJ. Factors Influencing Attitudes Toward Physical Activity and Exercise Education in Pregnant Women. (2023). Journal of Women’s Sports Medicine, 3(2), 44-57.

§  Hurley ET, Hughes AJ, Savage-Elliott I, Dejour D, Campbell KA, Mulcahey MK, Wittstein JR, Jazrawi LM; Patellar Instability International Consensus Group; Alaia MJ, Arendt EA, Ayeni OR, Bassett AJ, Bonner KF, Camp CL, Carter CW, Chahla J, Ciccotti MG, Cosgarea AJ, Edgar CM, Erickson BJ, Espregueira-Mendes J, Farr J, Farrow LD, Frank RM, Freedman KB, Fulkerson JP, Getgood A, Gomoll AH, Grant JA, Gursoy S, Gwathmey FW, Haddad FS, Hiemstra LA, Hinckel BB, Koh JL, Krych AJ, LaPrade RF, Li ZI, Logan CA, Gonzalez-Lomas G, Mannino BJ, Lind M, Matache BA, Matzkin E, McCarthy TF, Mandelbaum B, Musahl V, Neyret P, Nuelle CW, Oussedik S, Pace JL, Verdonk P, Rodeo SA, Rowan FE, Salzler MJ, Schottel PC, Shannon FJ, Sheean AJ, Sherman SL, Strickland SM, Tanaka MJ, Waterman BR, Zacchilli M, Zaffagnini S. A modified Delphi consensus statement on patellar instability: part I. Bone Joint J. 2023 Dec 1;105-B(12):1259-1264. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.105B12.BJJ-2023-0109.R1. PMID: 38037678.

§  Hurley ET, Sherman SL, Chahla J, Gursoy S, Alaia MJ, Tanaka MJ, Pace JL, Jazrawi LM; Patellar Instability International Consensus Group; Hughes AJ, Arendt EA, Ayeni OR, Bassett AJ, Bonner KF, Camp CL, Campbell KA, Carter CW, Ciccotti MG, Cosgarea AJ, Dejour D, Edgar CM, Erickson BJ, Espregueira-Mendes J, Farr J, Farrow LD, Frank RM, Freedman KB, Fulkerson JP, Getgood A, Gomoll AH, Grant JA, Gwathmey FW, Haddad FS, Hiemstra LA, Hinckel BB, Savage-Elliott I, Koh JL, Krych AJ, LaPrade RF, Li ZI, Logan CA, Gonzalez-Lomas G, Mannino BJ, Lind M, Matache BA, Matzkin E, Mandelbaum B, McCarthy TF, Mulcahey M, Musahl V, Neyret P, Nuelle CW, Oussedik S, Verdonk P, Rodeo SA, Rowan FE, Salzler MJ, Schottel PC, Shannon FJ, Sheean AJ, Strickland SM, Waterman BR, Wittstein JR, Zacchilli M, Zaffagnini S. A modified Delphi consensus statement on patellar instability: part II. Bone Joint J. 2023 Dec 1;105-B(12):1265-1270. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.105B12.BJJ-2023-0110.R1. PMID: 38035602.

§  Tanaka MJ, Routt ML, Ireland ML, Bono CM. When the physician becomes the patient: Considerations for work, life and leadership. Instr Course Lect. 2023;72:11-15.

§  Lavoie-Gagne O, Tanaka MJ. ACL and patellofemoral injuries in female athletes. OTSM, 2023.

§  Smith R, Hanrahan M, Gerber A, Tanaka MJ. Patellofemoral injuries in soccer. Sports Med Arthrosc Review.

§  Lavoie-Gagne O, Berkson EM, Nukala V, Asnis P, Price MD, Oh LS, Tanaka MJ. “Hemoglobin A1c levels >6.6% are Associated with Higher Postoperative Complications after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction”. Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. Nov 202

§  Bhimani R, Ashkani-Esfahani S, Mirochnik K, Lubberts B, Waryasz G, Tanaka MJ. Radiographic landmark measurements for the femoral footprint of the medial patellofemoral complex may be affected by the visible femoral shaft length on lateral knee radiographs. Arthroscopy J. 2023, in press.

§  Cote M, Kearney G, McKay M, Tanaka MJ. Location and progression of chondral injuries at the time of revision ACL surgery varies by sex. Arthroscopy J. 2023, in press

§  Tanaka MJ, Gallo R. Telemedicine after COVID-19: Incorporating Virtual Visits into Practice. Instr Course Lect. 2024;73:67-75.

§  Zheng E, Powers C, Tanaka MJ. Update on patellofemoral anatomy and biomechanics. OP TECH SP MED, 2024.