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 standard of care and revolutionize the field of ACL injuries and rehab.
Episodes
259 episodes
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 it really matters.” Using analogies like hiring an expert consultant or building your ...
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28:36
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 and author Steve Magness, this episode introduces the 24-Hour Rule: a simple but power...
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15:33
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 early progress that masks deeper problems, to reduced PT frequency, insurance visits...
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35:43
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 approaches and more athletes rush into ACL surgery due to holidays, insurance deductibles, a...
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29:06
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 to challenge how we think about why ACL injuries happen. Instead of chasing simple ans...
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17:29
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 in the operating room, Dr. Luks says something surprising: "surgery is often the...
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16:13
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 types, or protocol milestones, the real day-to-day needle-mover early on is often the simp...
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45:53
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 through both. I share stories from my own journey - missing my senior-year UGA game for ...
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25:53
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. We break down the key milestones you should hit, why extension still reigns supreme e...
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12:07
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, what actually moves the needle on reducing them, and how to navigate the emotional w...
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36:06
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 resources. We walk through why nine months remains a common benchmark across elite sport, t...
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30:53
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 and confidence: gradually dosing exposure so sport feels less scary week by week. Yo...
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27:38
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 can cap output, to the nitty-gritty of setup, padding, and eliminating compensations. Y...
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26:55
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 from an athlete who realized she’d been training too light and matching her stronger ...
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16:01
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 unpack why this happens—from insurance visit limits to gaps in clinic skillsets and f...
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21:24
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 ever felt stuck, having a swollen or painful knee, or just burnt out from doing ...
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43:27
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 everything that follows in rehab. I share final takeaways after shadowing a respected orthope...
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41:23
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. From patellar tendon grafts vs. quad tendons, to the impact of graft harvest sites a...
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29:04
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 autografts, meniscectomies vs repairs, and lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET). You’...
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29:52
240 | A Hidden Factor in ACL Strength Testing – Familiarization
In this episode, we break down a rarely talked-about but crucial concept in ACL rehab: familiarization with strength testing. From isometric quad tests to full testing protocols, we talk through how unfamiliarity with machines, cues, and even t...
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20:25
239 | Normalize the Setback: Why Never Having One Can Be A Problem in ACL Rehab
In this episode, we break down why flare-ups and setbacks in ACL rehab are not only normal but expected when you’re pushing your limits. Using simple analogies like “bandwidth” and the “cup”, we explain how setbacks are data points, not failure...
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19:06
238 | Pro Athletes vs. The Rest of Us: The Truth About ACL Surgery Timing
In this episode, we break down why professional athletes often have ACL surgery within days of injury while most people are advised to wait. I share five key differences—from the role of prehab and long-term outcomes to the massive resources, c...
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22:41
237 | The $200 Lesson That Could Save Your ACL Rehab
In this episode, I share a personal story about repeatedly trying—and failing—to fix my broken AC, and how it parallels ACL rehab. We dive into why even those with fitness or rehab backgrounds can miss critical blind spots, the hidden costs of ...
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26:25
236 | Running Optional: Redefining Milestones in ACL Rehab
In this episode, we dive into the role of running as a milestone in ACL rehab—why it matters, when it should be introduced, and whether it’s even necessary for every athlete. We break down the difference between blindly following time-based pro...
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19:51
235 | The Bracing Illusion: Why Your Knee Isn’t as Straight as You Think
In this episode, we dive into the “bracing illusion” many ACL athletes face after surgery. We break down why relying on a locked brace can give a false sense of security around knee extension — and why zero degrees is not good enough. You’ll le...
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17:31