All Episodes
The ACL Athlete Podcast — 293 episodes
293 | The Comparison Trap Every ACL Athlete Falls Into
292 | The One Skill That Separates Good ACL PTs From Great Ones
291 | Twenty ACL Athletes Later, Complicated Might Be Normal In ACL Rehab
290 | The Fear Of Damaging Your New Graft After ACL Surgery
289 | Why Your Surgeon's Favorite Graft Might Not Be Right For Your ACL Surgery
288 | Should You Let Your PT Crank On Your Knee In ACL Rehab?
287 | 9 Lessons I Learned After Tearing My ACL Twice
286 | 5 Signs It's Time to Switch Your PT
285 | The Mental Toll of ACL Rehab Nobody Talks About
284 | Why Hamstring Co-Activation Might Be Blocking Your Knee Extension
283 | 10 Common NMES Mistakes in ACL Rehab - Part 2
282 | 10 Common NMES Mistakes in ACL Rehab - Part 1
281 | Is Knee Soreness Normal in ACL Rehab?
280 | Further Out and Still Not There: Why Your ACL Recovery Is Taking Longer Than You Expected
279 | Bone Bruise After an ACL Injury: What It Means for Your Rehab and Recovery
278 | How to Navigate a Second ACL Opinion: Before Surgery, After Surgery, and Complex Cases
277 | The Sympathy Gap: When the Visible Markers of ACL Rehab Disappear
276 | Two-Stage Revision ACL Reconstruction Part 2: The Surgery, the Research, and the Road Back
275 | Two-Stage Revision ACL Reconstruction Part 1: What It Is and Why It Happens
274 | Structure Outside of PT Is Not Optional in ACL Rehab
273 | Using AI in ACL Rehab: Where AI Gets Dangerous in ACL Rehab and What It Should Never Replace - Part 2
272 | Using AI in ACL Rehab: What It Can Actually Do For You (And Where It Starts to Break Down) - Part 1
271 | You Don't Fail Your Strength Test - You Learn From It
270 | The Challenging Dynamic When Friends or Family Help With Your ACL Rehab
269 | Feed the Rebuild: What ACL Athletes Get Wrong About Nutrition
268 | From ACL Adversity to Comeback: The Mindset Shift You Need Right Now
267 | The ACL Decision No One Talks About: Should You Even Return to Your Sport?
266 | Complex ACL Cases: The More Complicated, The More Opinions You May Need
265 | Five Years of The ACL Athlete Podcast + Five Lessons Learned
264 | Your ACL Rehab Is Hard… But Is It Actually Helping?
263 | Quad Size Still Smaller? The Science Behind Persistent Quad Atrophy after ACLR
262 | The Human Body Is Resilient: Redefining ACL Limits Through Lindsey Vonn's Story
261 | The ACL Is a Seatbelt: You Don’t Know You Need It Until You Do
260 | Arthrofibrosis After ACLR: Trusting Your Gut When Rehab Isn’t Adding Up
259 | Why Your ACL Rehab Needs a Guide, Not Just a Protocol
258 | The 24-Hour Rule: The ACL Rehab Mindset You Need in the New Year
257 | Stuck in ACL Rehab: Why So Many ACLers Fall Through the Cracks
256 | Proactive > Reactive: The ACL Surgery Prep That Separates Successful Recoveries
255 | ACL Injuries Happen - Re-Injuries Don’t Have To: Where Your Focus Actually Matters
254 | An Orthopedic Surgeon's Perspective on What Matters More: Surgery vs. Rehab
253 | The Most Underrated Load Management Tool After ACL Surgery
252 | AnnKNEEversary - It Takes A Village
251 | Knee Flexion Truths in ACL Rehab: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and What Actually Matters
250 | From Hopeless to Hopeful: The Mindset Shift After Another ACL Tear
249 | The Sweet Spot Debate: Can You Return to Sport in Less than 9 Months in ACL Rehab?
248 | Stop “Easing Into It”: The Framework to Make Return to Sport Less Scary in ACL Rehab
247 | 7 Key Considerations for Strength Testing in ACL Rehab
246 | Two Cars, Two Lanes: Undershooting Training in ACL Rehab
245 | The Rehab Gap No One Talks About (But Every ACLer Feels)
244 | Why Junk Volume Is Holding Back Your ACL Progress
243 | Inside the OR: Important Lessons I Took From Watching ACL Surgery Firsthand - Part 3
242 | Inside the OR: Important Lessons I Took From Watching ACL Surgery Firsthand - Part 2
241 | Inside the OR: Important Lessons I Took From Watching ACL Surgery Firsthand - Part 1
240 | A Hidden Factor in ACL Strength Testing – Familiarization
239 | Normalize the Setback: Why Never Having One Can Be A Problem in ACL Rehab
238 | Pro Athletes vs. The Rest of Us: The Truth About ACL Surgery Timing
237 | The $200 Lesson That Could Save Your ACL Rehab
236 | Running Optional: Redefining Milestones in ACL Rehab
235 | The Bracing Illusion: Why Your Knee Isn’t as Straight as You Think
234 | When Sh*t Happens in ACL Rehab: What to Do (and What NOT to Do)
233 | Stuck, Lost, and Piecing It Together: The ACL Rehab No One Talks About
232 | You Had a Cyclops Lesion Removed - Now What?
231 | Regression ≠ Failure: Reframing Setbacks in ACL Rehab
230 | Undercooked > Overcooked: The Golden Rule of ACL Rehab
229 | From Stuck to Seen: How Advocating Changed This ACL Rehab Trajectory
228 | The One ACL Exercise Everyone’s Told to Do—That I Rarely Prescribe
227 | Why The Best Surgeon Can’t Save You From Bad ACL Rehab
226 | The #1 Mistake After ACL Surgery That Keeps Swelling Around
225 | Vacation or Setback? Navigating Travel During ACL Rehab
224 | The Real Price of Waiting: Opportunity Cost in ACL Rehab
223 | Rehab Realities vs. The Reel: The Social Media Illusion of ACL Recovery
222 | Your Built-In Benchmark: Why the Uninvolved Side Can Be Your ACL Rehab Guide
221 | How to Build Your ACL Athlete Dashboard - Measure What Matters
220 | The One Question Every ACL Athlete Must Ask Their PT
219 | I'm Having Surgery: Pulling Back the Curtain - Part 2
218 | I'm Having Surgery: Pulling Back the Curtain - Part 1
217 | 8 Ways to Finally Get Rid of Swelling After ACL Surgery - Part 2
216 | 8 Ways to Finally Get Rid of Swelling After ACL Surgery - Part 1
215 | The 0-100% Assessment: A Simple Tool for Addressing Gaps + Confidence in ACL Rehab
214 | When Should You Schedule ACL Surgery?
213 | Keeping Your "Floor" High: Maintaining Fitness During ACL Rehab
212 | Can You Prevent A Cyclops Lesion in ACL Rehab?
211 | Breaking Down the 3-Step Return to Performance Continuum After ACL Injury
210 | Four Whole Years + Four Lessons Learned
209 | Torn ACL? How to Process Your ACL Injury
208 | Should You Get A Second Opinion For ACL Surgery?
207 | 10 Key Strategies For Better Sleep After ACL Surgery
206 | The .300 Mindset: Embracing Progress Over Perfection in ACL Rehab
205 | Never Zero: Building Momentum in ACL Rehab
204 | Gains Over Gaps: Shifting Your Mindset in ACL Rehab
203 | How to Design Effective ACL Programs Using the 80/20 Rule
202 | The KPI-Driven ACL Athlete: Anchoring Your Process to Criteria, Not Time
201 | Redefining the Older ACL Athlete: Does Age Matter?
200 | AnnKNEEversary - The Little Moments
199 | Avoiding the Range of Motion Regression in ACL Rehab: Key Self-Tests for Maintenance
198 | Changing Seasons, Changing Goals: How to Adapt in ACL Rehab
197 | "How Are You (Really) Doing?" Navigating the Emotional Check-Ins During ACL Rehab
196 | This Too Shall Pass: Embracing the Journey of ACL Rehab
195 | One Common Mistake ACLers Make When Working on Knee Extension
194 | Should You Go to Your Surgeon’s Recommended Physical Therapy Clinic for ACL Rehab?
193 | Navigating Hyperextension in ACL Rehab: When Equal Isn't the Goal
192 | Cleared But Not Ready: Understanding the Difference in Medical vs. Physical Clearance in ACL Rehab
191 | Focus on What Matters: The MIT Approach in ACL Rehab
190 | Flexion vs. Extension: What Should You Prioritize Post-ACL Surgery?
189 | The "Honeymoon Phase" of ACL Rehab: Managing Expectations + Momentum
188 | DIY ACL Rehab: The Risks and Realities
187 | Why Your Terminal Knee Extensions Aren't Working: A Common Mistake in ACL Rehab
186 | The Role of the Screw Home Mechanism in Terminal Knee Extension + ACL Rehab
185 | 10 Ways To Improve Your Post-Op ACL Rehab Outcomes
184 | Do You Feel Behind In Your ACL Rehab? - Part 2
183 | Do You Feel Behind In Your ACL Rehab? - Part 1
182 | 15 Timeless Reminders I Wish I Had During My ACL Rehab Process
181 | The #1 Red Flag To Look Out For In Your ACL Rehab
180 | Testing Frequency and Structure in ACL Rehab
179 | What Shin Angles Tell Us About Your ACL Rehab
178 | Is Manual Therapy Needed for ACL Rehab?
177 | Managing Unexpected Challenges in ACL Rehab Using The Reverse Clause
176 | You Need ACL Surgery - How Timing Impacts Your Success
175 | ACL Graft Types - Why You Might Not Have a Choice For Surgery
174 | Can You Accelerate the ACL Rehab Process? - Part 2
173 | Can You Accelerate the ACL Rehab Process? - Part 1
172 | Should Your Knee Feel The Same After An ACL Injury?
171 | How To Navigate Different PT's For Your ACL Rehab
170 | Embracing "The Stall" in ACL Rehab
169 | "It'll Get Better With Time" Illusion in ACL Rehab
168 | The Trade-Off Between Short- and Long-Term Goals in ACL Rehab
167 | DVTs - A Red Flag Often Missed After ACL Surgery
166 | Do You Have to Be a "Gym-Person" For ACL Rehab?
165 | Your Insurance Ran Out. Now What? - Part 2
164 | Your Insurance Ran Out. Now What? - Part 1
163 | Who Should Clear You to Start Running in ACL Rehab?
162 | Should You Push Through Pain in ACL Rehab?
161 | Why the Surgeon's Post-Op Sheet of Paper Is Failing ACLers
160 | Three Whole Years + Three Lessons Learned
159 | The Important Connection Between Newton's 1st Law and ACL Rehab
158 | The Walking Milestone - Is It Slowing Down Your ACL Rehab?
157 | The 4 Guiding Principles For Returning to Sport After ACL Injury - Part 2
156 | The 4 Guiding Principles For Returning to Sport After ACL Injury - Part 1
155 | How to Build and Structure a Dynamic ACL Rehab Session
154 | How to Reduce Overwhelm in Your ACL Rehab - Part 2
153 | How to Reduce Overwhelm in Your ACL Rehab - Part 1
152 | Revisiting Expectations in ACL Rehab
151 | Why Offloading is Important for Post-Op ACL
150 | The High-Low Approach in ACL Rehab
149 | A Simple Shift When Life Gets Busy For ACL Rehab
148 | Breaking Down ACL Graft Types and The Big 3
147 | AnnKNEEversary - Imposter Syndrome
146 | What is EPIC Scoring and How Can It Be Helpful in ACL Rehab?
145 | 20 Red Flags To Consider in Your ACL Rehab - Part 2
144 | 20 Red Flags To Consider in Your ACL Rehab - Part 1
143 | Choosing What's Available vs. What's Needed in Your ACL Rehab
142 | Athlete Wins 8.0
141 | Should You Wait 2 Weeks For PT After ACL Surgery?
140 | Why You Should Know What's Done in Your ACL Surgery
139 | Practical Application of Designing a Gym-Based ACL Rehab Session (Including a Case Study of 3-Month Post-Op ACL - Quad Autograft + Meniscus Repair)
138 | ACL Rehab Principle - Addition By Subtraction
137 | The Value of Using Time in ACL Rehab
136 | Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA) in ACL Rehab
135 | The Moving Goalpost in ACL Rehab
134 | "Graduating PT" for ACL Rehab
133 | Athlete Wins 7.0
132 | Know Your Numbers (KYN) for ACL Rehab
131 | Self-Audit for Movement Compensations in ACL Rehab Without Fancy Tools
130 | Your Uninjured Side Hurts. Why?
129 | Showing Up On the Bad Days - ACL Rehab Edition
128 | Vetting Your Rehab Professional and Clinic for ACL Rehab - Beyond the Certifications and "Sports Clinic"
127 | ACL Rehab Must Do - 1 Prehab Visit
126 | The "Nice" PT
125 | ACL Surgery Essential - Planning your PT Early
124 | Dealing with Fear When Returning to Sport after ACL Injury
123 | 0 Degrees Extension - Good Enough for ACL Rehab?
122 | The "Pro Team" Surgeon
121 | Is 9 Months Good Enough for ACL Rehab?
120 | How To Know If You've Torn Your ACL
119 | Going to the ER/Urgent Care After A Suspected ACL Injury
118 | Why Waiting for ACL Surgery Might Be the Best Decision You Ever Make
117 | How Important Is Knee Status Going Into ACL Surgery?
116 | One Key Factor That Sets Good vs. Great ACLers Apart
115 | How Does a Meniscus Injury Impact Your ACL Rehab and Recovery?
114 | The Most Important Phase of ACL Rehab
113 | Athlete Wins 6.0
112 | Breaking Down Compound vs. Isolated Movements in ACL Rehab
111 | Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) - Is It Helpful for ACL Rehab and Return to Sport?
110 | Answering the Question - When Can You ______ In ACL Rehab?
109 | You're Multiple Years Post-Op ACL. Is It Too Late to Rehab?
108 | One Simple Strategy to Improve Consistency in Your ACL Rehab
107 | Two Whole Years
106 | ACL Rehab Principle - KISS
105 | Taking Action in ACL Rehab
104 | ACL Rehab Considerations for the Older Athlete
103 | Managing Your ACL Graft Donor Site after ACLR
102 | Picking the Right Professional For Your ACL Team
101 | Overcoming Barriers in ACL Rehab
100 | Forward Thinking & Backwards Planning for ACL Rehab
099 | Looking Back in Your ACL Rehab
098 | Health Insurance 101 for ACL Rehab
097 | Athlete Wins 5.0
096 | Pain with Kneeling in ACL Rehab
095 | AnnKNEEversary - Your Support System
094 | Is Numbness Normal after ACL Surgery? Part 2
093 | Is Numbness Normal after ACL Surgery? Part 1
092 | Showing Up in ACL Rehab
091 | When Can You Return to the Gym after ACLR?
090 | Top 3 Non-Negotiables in Your ACL Rehab
089 | How Often Should ACLers Get Tested?
088 | Should You Fire Your PT?
087 | Athlete Wins 4.0
086 | The #1 Question to Ask Yourself in ACL Rehab
085 | The Cross Education Effect in ACL Rehab
084 | ACL Return to Sport - Who Should Clear You?
083 | Playing the Long Game in ACL Rehab
082 | When To Ditch Your Crutches Post-Op ACLR
081 | Is Your ACL Rehab Challenging You?
080 | Are You An "Athlete"?
079 | Subjective vs. Objective Wins in ACL Rehab
078 | Movement Compensations in ACL Rehab
077 | The Major Key to ACL Rehab - Quadriceps Performance
076 | Explaining to Friends & Family About Your ACL Journey
075 | Do You Need to Apply the Gas, Brakes, or Coast in Your ACL Rehab?
074 | Using Your "Dial" in ACL Rehab
073 | Mechanics, Consistency, Intensity in ACL Rehab
072 | Nutrition + ACL Rehab with Emily Barnhart, Sports RD - Part 2
071 | Nutrition + ACL Rehab with Emily Barnhart, Sports RD - Part 1
070 | Athlete Wins 3.0
069 | UVALDE
068 | Kelsey Griffith - Mental Skills Specialist and Fellow ACL Athlete - Part 2
067 | Kelsey Griffith - Mental Skills Specialist and Fellow ACL Athlete - Part 1
066 | How Important is Post-Op ACL Rehab?
065 | Essential Feedback Loops for Your Grumpy Knee - Part 2
064 | How to Navigate Your Grumpy Knee in ACL Rehab - Part 1
063 | Finding Your Signal Within the Noise
062 | Wound Management and Healing after ACLR
061 | When Can You Shower after ACLR?
060 | When Can You Walk after ACLR?
059 | When Can You Drive after ACLR?
058 | When Can You Return to Work after ACLR?
057 | Athlete Wins 2.0
056 | Setting Expectations in ACL Rehab
055 | Time at PT vs. Home for ACL Rehab
054 | Brick by Brick
053 | One Whole Year
052 | When Should You Start Rehab After ACL Surgery?
051 | Test Don't Guess
050 | Cyclops Lesions in ACL Rehab
049 | Why Do I Walk With A Limp?
048 | 2022 - What Story Do You Want To Write?
047 | Strength Testing in ACL Rehab - Part 2: The Solution
046 | Strength Testing in ACL Rehab - Part 1: The Problem
045 | Choosing the Right Environment for ACL Rehab
044 | Early Conditioning Options in ACL Rehab
043 | AnnKNEEversary - Then and Now
042 | Preparing for ACL Surgery - Part 3
041 | Preparing for ACL Surgery - Part 2
040 | Preparing for ACL Surgery - Part 1
039 | The A-B-Z Framework for ACL Rehab
038 | 40 Milliseconds - An Opportunity
037 | Get the Most Out of Your Quads with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)
036 | Top 5 Priorities Right After ACL Injury or Surgery
035 | The ACL Athlete Self-Assessment
034 | Remember Your Why
033 | Choosing the Right PT for ACL Rehab - Part 2
032 | Choosing the Right PT for ACL Rehab - Part 1
031 | Small Wins
030 | Clicking in Your Knee - Should You Be Worried?
029 | ACL Mindset - Quit Tomorrow
028 | The ACL Injury Journey - Part 2
027 | The ACL Injury Journey - Part 1
026 | The Most Important Principle in ACL Rehab
025 | Building Your ACL Team
024 | A Simple Lesson from my ACL Rehab
023 | Expectations vs. Reality in ACL Rehab
022 | Should You Have ACL Surgery Immediately or Wait?
021 | A Simple Tactic for Burnout in ACL Rehab
020 | Run Your Own Race
019 | Patient and PT Perspectives - Live Q&A
018 | Ibrahim Ugradar - Semi-Professional Soccer Player and 5-Months Post-Op ACL Reconstruction
017 | The Most Important Muscle in ACL Rehab
016 | Evaluating Your ACL Rehab Options
015 | Dealing with Pain in ACL Rehab - Part 2
014 | Dealing with Pain in ACL Rehab - Part 1
013 | Why Is Your Knee Swelling
012 | The Importance of Regaining Knee Extension After ACL Injury or Surgery
011 | What is a "Quiet Knee" and Why It's Important in ACL Rehab
010 | Top 9 Reasons Why You Should Do Prehab/Physical Therapy Before ACL Surgery
009 | 40 Visits - Using My Own Insurance to Plan Out ACL Rehab
008 | 8 Questions You Should Ask Your Surgeon Before ACL Surgery - Part 2
007 | 8 Questions You Should Ask Your Surgeon Before ACL Surgery - Part 1
006 | Jordan Angeli - Founder of The ACL Club, Former Professional Soccer Player, and 3x ACL Athlete
005 | Athlete Wins 1.0
004 | Back to the Basics
003 | Why Insurance and Healthcare Fall Short for ACL Rehab
002 | My ACL Story
001 | Welcome to The ACL Athlete Podcast with Ravi Patel