Shows / The ACL Athlete Podcast
The ACL Athlete Podcast
The ACL Athlete Podcast brings you everything you need to know about ACL injuries. This podcast creates discussion around the ACL injury itself, research, rehab, performance, return to sport, mindset, you name it. I'm your host, Dr. Ravi Patel, Performance Physical Therapist, Coach, and 2x ACL athlete. I invite you to join me as we explore insights, expertise, personal stories, and experiences - from the athlete to the healthcare professional to the coach, so that we, together, can raise the…
Episodes
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
300 | Losing Your Outlet After An ACL Injury
In this episode, we start with the time of day you used to move, whether that was early morning, lunch, after work, or after school. Now your leg is up, the…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
299 | More Than Exercises: Inside Our Team Meetings at The ACL Athlete
In this episode, we pull back the curtain on something we do from our side here at The ACL Athlete. Multiple times a week, our whole team sits down and goes…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
298 | Why “Keep Working On It” Might Not Be Enough in ACL Rehab
In this episode, we start with a handful of words almost every ACL athlete hears at some point, usually right after raising a concern that will not go away…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
297 | Audit Your Knee Extension: A Simple Assessment for ACL Rehab
In this episode we start with a sentence we hear far too often: your knee extension is "normal", it'll come back with time, or just keep working on it. One…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
296 | The Trust Problem in ACL Rehab and Healthcare
In this episode, we sit with an ACLer who told us he would almost rather hear that it was over so he could stop fighting it. He wasn't being dramatic. He was…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
295 | Two NFL Players, Two Very Different Paths Back From ACL Surgery
In this episode we look at two NFL quarterbacks, two knees, and one label stamped on both of them. One walked out under the lights on Monday night in week one…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
294 | The Collateral Damage Consideration of Going Nonoperative in ACL Rehab
In this episode we follow one athlete who had done everything right in recovery. Strong knee, no giving way, nothing to suggest a problem, until one ordinary…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
293 | The Comparison Trap Every ACL Athlete Falls Into
In this episode, we get into something that quietly shapes how almost every ACL athlete feels on any given day, even when their knee is doing exactly what it…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
292 | The One Skill That Separates Good ACL PTs From Great Ones
In this episode, we go back to a mistake made early in a career, one that quietly cost someone months they never got back. We talk about the feeling that…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
291 | Twenty ACL Athletes Later, Complicated Might Be Normal In ACL Rehab
In this episode, we open up our actual caseload and walk you through what a normal week of ACL rehab really looks like behind the scenes and the variety of…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
290 | The Fear Of Damaging Your New Graft After ACL Surgery
In this episode we get into the fear that hits almost every ACLer in the weeks after surgery, the quiet worry that one wrong step, one weird zing, one slip in…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
289 | Why Your Surgeon's Favorite Graft Might Not Be Right For Your ACL Surgery
In this episode, we tackle one of the most repeated pieces of advice in the ACL space, the idea that the best graft is simply the one your surgeon is best at…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
288 | Should You Let Your PT Crank On Your Knee In ACL Rehab?
In this episode, we walk through a real case that has us fired up. An ACL athlete four and a half months post op, 40 physical therapy sessions in, finally hit…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
287 | 9 Lessons I Learned After Tearing My ACL Twice
In this episode we get personal. We are pulling back the curtain on two ACL tears in two completely different chapters of life, and the nine lessons that came…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
286 | 5 Signs It's Time to Switch Your PT
In this episode we walk through the quiet signs that your ACL recovery might not be on the track it should be. We get into what actually separates a provider…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
285 | The Mental Toll of ACL Rehab Nobody Talks About
In this episode, we open up about the side of ACL rehab that almost no one prepares you for, the mental toll that runs right alongside the physical recovery…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
284 | Why Hamstring Co-Activation Might Be Blocking Your Knee Extension
In this episode, we break down why your knee extension might feel stuck after ACL surgery, and it is not about weakness or effort. We walk through arthrogenic…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
283 | 10 Common NMES Mistakes in ACL Rehab - Part 2
In this episode, we close out our two-part NMES series by getting into the setup and execution details that make or break every individual session. We cover…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
282 | 10 Common NMES Mistakes in ACL Rehab - Part 1
In this episode we kick off a two-part series on one of the most valuable tools in ACL rehab: neuromuscular electrical stimulation, or NMES. We break down why…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
281 | Is Knee Soreness Normal in ACL Rehab?
Is knee soreness in ACL rehab normal, or a sign something is wrong? In this episode we break down the real difference between soreness and pain, why soreness…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
280 | Further Out and Still Not There: Why Your ACL Recovery Is Taking Longer Than You Expected
In this episode, we dig into one of the most common and quietly painful experiences in ACL recovery: being months or even years out from surgery and still not…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
279 | Bone Bruise After an ACL Injury: What It Means for Your Rehab and Recovery
In this episode, we take a deep dive into one of the most overlooked pieces of the ACL injury: bone bruising. Present in roughly 85% of ACL tears, bone bruises…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
278 | How to Navigate a Second ACL Opinion: Before Surgery, After Surgery, and Complex Cases
In this episode, we break down how to actually navigate second (or third) opinions in ACL care without getting overwhelmed or stuck in decision paralysis. From…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
277 | The Sympathy Gap: When the Visible Markers of ACL Rehab Disappear
In this episode, we talk about one of the quietest and most underrated phases of ACL recovery: the window after the crutches and brace are gone, but the real…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
276 | Two-Stage Revision ACL Reconstruction Part 2: The Surgery, the Research, and the Road Back
In this episode, we go deeper into the two-stage revision ACL reconstruction process, starting with what actually happens during Stage 1 and why understanding…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
275 | Two-Stage Revision ACL Reconstruction Part 1: What It Is and Why It Happens
In this episode, we open with the story of an athlete who did everything right after her ACL reconstruction and still knew something was off. Her surgeon told…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
274 | Structure Outside of PT Is Not Optional in ACL Rehab
In this episode, we dig into one of the most common and costly gaps in ACL rehab: the absence of structure outside of physical therapy sessions. We start with…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
273 | Using AI in ACL Rehab: Where AI Gets Dangerous in ACL Rehab and What It Should Never Replace - Part 2
In this episode, we close out the two-part series on AI in ACL rehab with the territory that matters most. We open with a use case we did not cover in part…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
272 | Using AI in ACL Rehab: What It Can Actually Do For You (And Where It Starts to Break Down) - Part 1
In this episode, we open a two-part series on one of the most important and underaddressed conversations in ACL rehab right now: how ACL athletes, parents, and…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
271 | You Don't Fail Your Strength Test - You Learn From It
In this episode, we break down one of the most misunderstood parts of ACL rehab: testing. We cover what testing actually means beyond a single number, why the…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
270 | The Challenging Dynamic When Friends or Family Help With Your ACL Rehab
In this episode, we dive into one of the most common and least talked about situations in ACL rehab: what happens when the person guiding your recovery is…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
269 | Feed the Rebuild: What ACL Athletes Get Wrong About Nutrition
In this episode, we dig into one of the most overlooked mistakes in ACL recovery: undereating. It sounds logical on the surface: you are moving less, so you…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
268 | From ACL Adversity to Comeback: The Mindset Shift You Need Right Now
In this episode, we sit with a quote from Duke Women's Basketball coach Kara Lawson that stopped me in my tracks and immediately made me think of every ACL…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
267 | The ACL Decision No One Talks About: Should You Even Return to Your Sport?
In this episode, we dig into one of the most important and least talked about conversations in ACL rehab: the decision of whether or not to go back to your…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
266 | Complex ACL Cases: The More Complicated, The More Opinions You May Need
In this episode, we break down what it actually means to have a complicated ACL/knee case, from multi-ligament involvement and cartilage damage to post-op…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
265 | Five Years of The ACL Athlete Podcast + Five Lessons Learned
In this episode, we mark five years of The ACL Athlete Podcast by doing something I almost let pass entirely: sitting down with no agenda, and saying the…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
264 | Your ACL Rehab Is Hard… But Is It Actually Helping?
In this episode, we unpack a big misconception in ACL rehab: the belief that if PT feels hard, it must be working. We break down why sweat, fatigue, and high…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
263 | Quad Size Still Smaller? The Science Behind Persistent Quad Atrophy after ACLR
In this episode, we tackle one of the most frustrating and under-discussed parts of ACL rehab: your quad is still smaller months later, and you’re wondering if…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
262 | The Human Body Is Resilient: Redefining ACL Limits Through Lindsey Vonn's Story
In this episode, we take a deeper, more grounded look at resilience through the lens of Lindsey Vonn's ACL journey. Not as motivation, but as a real, physical…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
261 | The ACL Is a Seatbelt: You Don’t Know You Need It Until You Do
In this episode, we unpack why “feeling good” late in ACL rehab can be one of the most misleading signals an athlete can rely on. Using the ACL-as-a-seatbelt…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
260 | Arthrofibrosis After ACLR: Trusting Your Gut When Rehab Isn’t Adding Up
In this episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked and misunderstood aspects of ACL rehab: what to do when your knee just doesn’t feel right. You can be…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
259 | Why Your ACL Rehab Needs a Guide, Not Just a Protocol
In this episode, we tackle one of the most common (and costly) questions in ACL rehab: when you should bring in an ACL specialist: right away, or “later when…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
258 | The 24-Hour Rule: The ACL Rehab Mindset You Need in the New Year
In this episode, we kick off the new year with one of the most important conversations in ACL rehab: your mindset. Drawing inspiration from performance coach…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
257 | Stuck in ACL Rehab: Why So Many ACLers Fall Through the Cracks
In this episode, we break down the most common and frustrating path that ACL athletes take as they move through rehab and quietly fall through the cracks. From…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
256 | Proactive > Reactive: The ACL Surgery Prep That Separates Successful Recoveries
In this episode, we breaks down one of the most underestimated factors in ACL recovery: what happens before surgery even begins. As the end of the year…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
255 | ACL Injuries Happen - Re-Injuries Don’t Have To: Where Your Focus Actually Matters
In this episode, we break down the recent wave of high-profile NFL ACL injuries, including Patrick Mahomes and Micah Parsons, and use them as a powerful lens…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
254 | An Orthopedic Surgeon's Perspective on What Matters More: Surgery vs. Rehab
In this episode, we break down a powerful message from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Howard Luks - a message every ACL athlete needs to hear. After more than 30 years…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
253 | The Most Underrated Load Management Tool After ACL Surgery
In this episode, we break down one of the most underrated, yet most influential parts of ACL rehab: step count. While most athletes focus on rehab, graft…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
252 | AnnKNEEversary - It Takes A Village
In this episode, we celebrate another “AnnKNEEversary” of my ACL surgery and use it as a checkpoint to zoom out on life, rehab, and the people who carry us…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
251 | Knee Flexion Truths in ACL Rehab: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and What Actually Matters
In this episode, we unpack the real truth about knee flexion after ACL surgery — what’s normal, what’s not, and how much it actually matters in your recovery…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
250 | From Hopeless to Hopeful: The Mindset Shift After Another ACL Tear
In this episode, you’ll hear a fired-up deep dive on answering an ACLers question after another ACL injury. We dive into why they happen more than they should…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
249 | The Sweet Spot Debate: Can You Return to Sport in Less than 9 Months in ACL Rehab?
In this episode, we unpack the Tucker Kraft ACL news to zoom out on what “typical” return timelines really look like, even for pros with round-the-clock…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
248 | Stop “Easing Into It”: The Framework to Make Return to Sport Less Scary in ACL Rehab
In this episode, we unpack why “you’re cleared—just ease into it” isn’t a plan. Using an ACLer's real check-in, I break down the dimmer-switch approach to fear…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
247 | 7 Key Considerations for Strength Testing in ACL Rehab
In this episode, we dig into seven must-know considerations for strength testing in ACL rehab—from why your first test is rarely the full story, to how pain…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
246 | Two Cars, Two Lanes: Undershooting Training in ACL Rehab
In this episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked mistakes ACL athletes make in their strength training — undershooting effort. We share a real example…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
245 | The Rehab Gap No One Talks About (But Every ACLer Feels)
In this episode, we tackle a widespread problem in the ACL rehab space: the drop-off in support and structure between the early stages and mid-late stages. We…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
244 | Why Junk Volume Is Holding Back Your ACL Progress
In this episode, we dive into a very common issue many ACLers are unknowingly dealing with - junk volume. It's something that is preventing progress. If you’ve…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
243 | Inside the OR: Important Lessons I Took From Watching ACL Surgery Firsthand - Part 3
In this episode, we wrap up a powerful 3-part series diving into what happens inside the operating room during ACL surgery—and how it directly impacts…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
242 | Inside the OR: Important Lessons I Took From Watching ACL Surgery Firsthand - Part 2
In this part 2 of the 3-part podcast episode series, we dive into my OR experience with an orthopedic surgeon to uncover the real-world nuances of ACL surgery…
- The ACL Athlete Podcast
241 | Inside the OR: Important Lessons I Took From Watching ACL Surgery Firsthand - Part 1
In this part 1 of the 3-part podcast episode series, I take you inside the OR to share fresh, front-row takeaways from watching multiple ACL surgeries—BPTB…