Articular Cartilage Repair & Return-to-Play Strategies in Elite Athletes | Dr. Riley Williams

Join ESPN’s Stephania Bell, PT, OCS Emeritus, CSCS, as she sits down at AOSSM 2025 with Dr. Riley J. Williams — Chief of the Sports Medicine Institute at Hospital for Special Surgery, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Head Team Orthopedic Surgeon for the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, and New York Red Bulls.In this conversation, Dr. Williams discusses the evolution of cartilage repair in high-level athletes, innovations in minimally invasive procedures, and strategies to optimize return-to-play while protecting long-term joint health.Physical therapists will learn about:- Surgical options for articular cartilage repair and their long-term outcomes- How recovery timelines and return-to-play expectations have evolved for elite athletes- The role of less invasive interventions like subchondroplasty and blood flow restriction- Early detection and management of wear-and-tear cartilage injuries in high-load sports- How cumulative training loads and year-round play affect joint health in basketball and other sportsTarget Audience:Orthopedic physical therapists, sports physical therapists, athletic trainers, sports medicine surgeons, sports performance clinicians, strength and conditioning coaches, rehab directors, PT students, sports science professionals