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 are almost always mentioned in the MRI report and almost always glossed over in the clinical conversation. We break down what a bone bruise actually is at the tissue level, why the classic "kissing contusion" pattern shows up on the lateral side of the knee, and how the Costa-Paz grading system helps us understand severity. We walk through three key research findings on healing timelines, cartilage risk, and long term outcomes. We also get into the practical rehab implications: why bone bruising is one of the strongest arguments for not rushing into surgery, how it contributes to slower swelling resolution and quad activation in prehab, what it means for early post-op loading, and how to use symptoms and criteria rather than the calendar to guide progressions. Whether you are an athlete trying to make sense of what your knee is telling you or a clinician looking to factor this into your clinical reasoning, this episode gives the bone bruise the airtime it deserves._________Want a clear plan for your ACL rehab?1 on 1 Remote ACL Coaching is for ACLers who are tired of guessing. Objective testing so you know you are actually ready, a custom + structured program built around your goals, and an expert ACL coach in your corner from anywhere in the world. You will always know where you are, where you are going, and what to do next.Start with a free consult call: www.theaclathlete.com/coaching_________Free weekly newsletterThe ACL Athlete VALUE Newsletter. ACL advice, go-to exercises, research breakdowns, and the frameworks we use._________More from The ACL AthleteWebsite: www.theaclathlete.comSubmit a topic or question for a future podcast episodeInstagram: www.instagram.com/ravipatel.dptEmail: [email protected]