Physical Preparation Podcast · Mike Robertson

The ACL Comeback: Rehab, Reconditioning & Return to Play with Dan Lorenz

·1 hr 4 min·4 clips

Dan separates medical clearance from physical clearance for ACL return to sport.

Mike Robertson sets the frame by talking about how common ACL tears seem across sport. He points out that the goal is not to pretend these injuries can always be prevented. The better target is improving the comeback after they happen. Dan Lorenz brings a sports medicine background and a clinician's eye to the problem. He works through what good ACL rehab actually looks like when discharge and return to play are the finish line. The discussion starts with the idea that lower loads can still drive muscle size gains. That matters because post-op athletes do not always need heavy loading to keep moving forward. Lorenz then explains when he likes to first test an ACL, usually around the 12-week point. Quad strength comes up early and often. He treats the quadriceps as the main issue, even while acknowledging that hamstrings matter too. He describes using isokinetic testing when the equipment is available. He also notes that dynamometry is a useful, validated option when that gold-standard setup is out of reach. The emphasis stays on serial testing instead of one-off numbers. That approach gives the staff a clearer picture of progress over time. From there the conversation moves into field-friendly movement checks. A single-leg pistol squat becomes one of the preferred end-stage tests. Lorenz likes to see an athlete get to a 12-inch box and compare sides. He argues that lower flexion ranges hide deficits better than a shallow step-down. He also mentions the one-legged rise test as a validated option. Balance tests like the star excursion and wide balance test stay in the mix. The vertical jump gets special attention because it shows what the hip and ankle can no longer hide. Hop tests still have a place. Even so, the episode makes the case that they can mask knee deficits through compensation. The whole conversation keeps returning to a simple point: the right test is the one that tells the truth about readiness.

As heard by us

A clear, coach-friendly guide to ACL rehab testing without guesswork.

This episode offers a practical look at ACL rehab and the work of getting an athlete back well after injury. Dan Lorenz and Mike Robertson spend most of the discussion on testing and progression, from a first quad test around the 12-week mark to isokinetic or dynamometry…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want a grounded ACL rehab checkpoint around the 12-week mark?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Physical Preparation Podcast