Claim OwnershipThe ACL Athlete Podcast
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© 2026 The ACL Athlete Podcast
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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 standard of care and revolutionize the field of ACL injuries and rehab.
261 Episodes
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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 analogy, we break down why the ligament stays quiet during controlled rehab and daily activities, why clinic exams and timelines often provide a false sense of security, and why symptoms disappearing does not equal readiness for sport. This episode reframes ACL recovery away from confidence and calendar time and toward objective evidence...
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 doing everything “by the book,” checking every rehab box, yet still feel stuck with stiffness, blocked motion, or regression that doesn’t add up. We unpack why blindly pushing through isn’t always the answer, how arthrofibrosis and cyclops lesions can quietly derail progress, and why listening to your gut (and advocating for yourself ea...
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 it really matters.” Using analogies like hiring an expert consultant or building your dream home, we break down why the early phase isn’t just “basic box-checking,” how cookie-cutter rehab quietly creates gaps that show up months later, and why progress early on can falsely convince people their plan is solid. The core message is simple:...
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 and author Steve Magness, this episode introduces the 24-Hour Rule: a simple but powerful framework for handling both wins and setbacks during ACL recovery. Whether you’re riding the high of a milestone or navigating swelling, frustration, or doubt, this episode reframes how long you let any single moment define you. It’s not about contr...
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 early progress that masks deeper problems, to reduced PT frequency, insurance visits/denials, and vague “you’re cleared, just ease back in” guidance, this episode pulls back the curtain on why so many athletes feel stuck months down the road. We share what we consistently see after working and consulting with thousands of ACL athletes ...
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 approaches and more athletes rush into ACL surgery due to holidays, insurance deductibles, and downtime, this episode explores why preparation, not the surgery itself, is often the difference between smooth momentum and months of frustration. Drawing from hundreds of ACL athletes’ experiences, we share the exact themes, systems, and mindset sh...
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 to challenge how we think about why ACL injuries happen. Instead of chasing simple answers or assigning blame, we unpack the reality that ACL injuries are multifactorial, often unpredictable, and not a personal failure, even for athletes with world-class genetics, training, and resources. The conversation shifts from unproductive hindsig...
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 in the operating room, Dr. Luks says something surprising: "surgery is often the least important part of recovery — rehab is what truly shapes your outcome." We unpack this statement, share why even a “perfect surgery” can fail when rehab is inconsistent, and explain how an average procedure paired with great rehab can lead to outstand...
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 types, or protocol milestones, the real day-to-day needle-mover early on is often the simplest: how much time you spend on your feet. I share the exact step-count framework I use with athletes, including how to set realistic baselines, manage swelling, avoid early setbacks, and apply the “dimmer switch” principle to rebuild tolerance week by...
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 through both. I share stories from my own journey - missing my senior-year UGA game for surgery, navigating a hip resurfacing, running a growing business, and raising a toddler with another baby on the way—while highlighting how none of it would be possible without a village: family, friends, medical providers, my own remote coach, our ACL...
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. We break down the key milestones you should hit, why extension still reigns supreme early on, and the single most useful test you can do at home to track your progress. You’ll learn why some athletes regain full flexion quickly while others take months, how swelling and your symptom profile influence the timeline, and why small daily “m...
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, what actually moves the needle on reducing them, and how to navigate the emotional whiplash of “here we go again.” We break down re-injury rates, calling out timeline-based clearances, and making the case for rigorous return-to-sport testing plus truly individualized programming. You’ll also get a candid take on unhelpful medical narra...
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 resources. We walk through why nine months remains a common benchmark across elite sport, then break down new research suggesting earlier returns can be safe when strict, objective criteria are met. You’ll hear what those criteria look like in a world-class, highly supervised setting, plus the key limitations that matter for real-world athlet...
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 and confidence: gradually dosing exposure so sport feels less scary week by week. You’ll learn how to separate medical clearance from true readiness, map your return with participation → sport → performance phases, and manipulate levers like intensity, minutes, contact, reactivity, player numbers, and/or terrain. If you want a practica...
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 can cap output, to the nitty-gritty of setup, padding, and eliminating compensations. You’ll learn how to test in a series (not a one-off), how to progressively earn high outputs, and why every score is a data point, not a verdict. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or clinician, you’ll leave with a clearer roadmap for interpreting results...
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 from an athlete who realized she’d been training too light and matching her stronger leg to her weaker ACL side. Through this story, we unpack why treating each leg as its own individual is critical, how to use anchoring sets and RPE to find your true limits, and why “two half-full tires” don’t equal full recovery. This episode is all a...
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 unpack why this happens—from insurance visit limits to gaps in clinic skillsets and facilities—and how this gray zone aka "the gap" leaves ACLers feeling uncertain, unsupported, and stuck. More importantly, we outline a practical 3-question audit (testing, planning, and expert guidance) to assess whether you’re truly on track or flying ...
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 ever felt stuck, having a swollen or painful knee, or just burnt out from doing too much—this one’s for you. We explain why piling on exercises, reps, and sets without clear purpose isn’t helping (and might be hurting), and share real stories of athletes doing 10-20+ exercises a day and seeing zero progress. You’ll learn how to shift t...
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 everything that follows in rehab. I share final takeaways after shadowing a respected orthopedic surgeon, offering clinical pearls you won’t find in textbooks. From the surprisingly vascular nature of the torn ACL to the nuanced realities of graft fixation and proprioception loss, this episode connects the surgical process with real-world rehab...
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. From patellar tendon grafts vs. quad tendons, to the impact of graft harvest sites and overlooked donor site rehab, this conversation reveals the “unseen” elements that can make or break ACL recovery. You’ll hear candid insights on graft placement, nerve sensitivity, and the decisions surgeons make that aren’t always driven by what’s b...
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very helpful för me as an PT. Thanks a lot.