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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.
271 Episodes
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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 pass or fail mindset is not only emotionally draining but can literally affect the accuracy of your data, and how to shift your relationship with assessments so they work for you instead of against you. We walk through the difference between an audit and a verdict, why trends over time matter far more than any single data point, and wha...
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 someone you already know. Whether it is a PT friend, a parent who is a clinician, or a spouse who knows movement, the reasons for going this route make complete sense on the surface. But in practice, the dynamic almost always shifts in ways that cost athletes time, progress, and clarity. We break down why this happens, what it looks like in...
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 eat less. But what is actually happening inside your body after surgery tells a completely different story. We break down the surgical stress cascade, what the research says about how fast muscle disappears in that first week post-op, and why inadequate protein intake can quietly sabotage your quad strength, your rehab benchmarks, and you...
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 athlete navigating this process. We don't get to control the length of our adversity. We get to control who we are in it. We unpack why "when will this be over?" is the wrong question to be asking, what it actually means to lock into what's real and true during ACL rehab, and how objective testing, data, and individualized programming are ...
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 sport or activity after an ACL injury. We break down why this decision is not one size fits all and how three key factors change the entire equation: injury severity and surgical history, your actual goals, and your current season of life. We walk through real examples from athletes we work with, from dads and moms with young kids to surge...
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 complications like cyclops lesions, scar tissue, and quad shutdown/AMI that never resolves. We get honest about why surgeons default to "keep working on it," why patients stay too long with providers who are not helping them, and exactly when it is time to go get another opinion, or a third, or a fourth. If you are months out and still not ...
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 things that have never quite been said clearly enough. We open with a message from a listener that stopped me in my tracks, shares what it actually cost me to go through two ACL tears, and then walks through five lessons that apply just as much to your knee as they do to your life. From why consistency in the hard moments is the whole game, ...
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 heart rates don’t automatically equal progress, especially when your knee is swollen or stiff the next day. We dive into the difference between capacity and tolerance, explain why excessive plyometric volume can quietly stall recovery, and outline what intentional, criteria-driven rehab actually looks like. If you’ve ever walked out of a...
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 something is wrong. I break down what the research actually shows about quadriceps muscle mass before surgery, immediately after, and even years down the road. We walk through why atrophy starts earlier than most people realize, why surgery creates a second drop, and why full visual symmetry is not guaranteed within 9–12 months. You’ll...
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, and mental demonstration of what the human body is capable of when given time, intention, and the right environment. From multiple ACL tears and degenerative knee changes to a partial knee replacement and a late-career Olympic push, Lindsey’s story challenges rigid narratives around timelines, imaging, and “what should be possible” aft...
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...
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very helpful för me as an PT. Thanks a lot.