The Ask Mike Reinold Show

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Health & Fitness
**The Ask Mike Reinold Show**

Answering all your physical therapy, fitness, strength and conditioning, sports performance, and career advice questions. Join me, Lenny Macrina, Dave Tilley, Dan Pope, Mike Scaduto, Lisa Russell, Kevin Coughlin, Diwesh Poudyal, and others from my team at Champion Physical Therapy and Performance in Boston, MA and learn how we help people feel better, move better, and perform better. Ask your questions at http://mikereinold.com/askmikereinold.

Latest Episodes:

Can the ACL Actually Heal Without Surgery? - #AMR387 May 21, 2026

Show notes

Wouldn't it be amazing if an ACL tear can heal on its own without surgery?

For sure, and there have been recent discussions about the Cross-Bracing Protocol and its impact on these injuries.

But is this too good to be true?

In this episode, we discuss the emerging cross-bracing protocol for non-operative ACL treatment, exploring its potential benefits and drawbacks. There is some skepticism about the protocol's effectiveness, but we discuss the importance of patient selection and quality of life considerations in treatment decisions.

Good timing on this episode. I just released my brand new online course, The ACL Rehab Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Criteria-Based Rehabilitation, Testing, and Return to Sport. I teamed up with Dan Pope and Kevin Coughlin to share the exact system we use at Champion.

Click here to learn more about The ACL Rehab Masterclass

To see full show notes and more, head to: https://mikereinold.com/can-the-acl-actually-heal-without-surgery/

Learn our proven system for sports PTs who want to master ACL rehab, confidently progress patients, and guide athletes safely back to high-level sport.

Click here to learn more

Click Here to View My Online Courses
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The New Tommy John: The Rise of the Internal Brace - #AMR386 May 07, 2026

Show notes

Ten weeks to start throwing after UCL surgery sounds like a miracle timeline, until you’re the clinician staring at a stiff elbow, a deconditioned arm, and a protocol that assumes the athlete is further along than reality. We’re seeing more internal brace UCL repairs and fewer “classic” Tommy John reconstructions, and that shift is changing how baseball pitchers, gymnasts, and other overhead athletes move through rehab.
We talk through what’s actually different about the internal brace procedure, why surgeons became so optimistic early on, and why many athletes still aren’t truly ready to throw at week 10 even if they’re technically cleared. Readiness means more than ligament stability. We dig into the practical stuff that decides outcomes: restoring extension early without creating inflammation, building real strength and arm care habits, and using a plyometric progression before a return-to-throwing program. We also share what we’re watching for clinically, including ulnar nerve irritation from prolonged bracing, motion that never quite “settles,” and the unique posterior-medial elbow pain that can show up with deep flexion or forced extension.
Most importantly, we argue for criteria-based rehab over calendar-based rehab. If the athlete has time before the next season, use it to build capacity instead of chasing an artificial milestone. If you work in sports physical therapy, sports medicine, or baseball performance, this conversation will help you spot red flags early and guide internal brace athletes with more confidence.
Subscribe, share this with a coach or clinician who manages throwing programs, and leave a review if it helps. What’s the earliest return-to-throwing timeline you’ve seen that actually held up long term?

To see full show notes and more, head to: https://mikereinold.com/the-new-tommy-john-the-rise-of-the-internal-brace/

Learn our proven system for sports PTs who want to master ACL rehab, confidently progress patients, and guide athletes safely back to high-level sport.

Click here to learn more

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Risk Factors of Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition - #AMR385 Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

We’ve all seen it: the acute ACL patient who drags their leg into the clinic, unable to squeeze their quad to save their life. We call it Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition (AMI), and for years, we’ve treated it as a stubborn, long-term enemy. But a fascinating new study from the American Journal of Sports Medicine suggests we might be overcomplicating it.

Researchers analyzed 300 acute ACL patients and found that while AMI is incredibly common (affecting over half of patients), it’s also surprisingly fragile. In fact, they found that nearly 80% of cases could be fully reversed in a single session with simple exercises. In this episode, we dive into the 'Red Flags' that predict quad shutdown—including one common sleeping habit you need to ban immediately—and how to flip the switch back on for your patients.

To see full show notes and more, head to: https://mikereinold.com/risk-factors-of-arthrogenic-muscle-inhibition

Learn our proven system for sports PTs who want to master ACL rehab, confidently progress patients, and guide athletes safely back to high-level sport.

Click here to learn more

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Ranking the Top Patellar Tendon Exercises by Tendon Load - #AMR384 Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

We all have our favorite "go-to" exercises for patellar tendinopathy. For years, the single-leg decline squat has been the gold standard, often introduced early in rehabilitation to target the tendon. But what if I told you that this specific exercise actually places more load on the patellar tendon than running or double-leg jumping?

A massive new study just analyzed 35 common rehabilitation exercises—from step-ups to plyometrics—and ranked them based on actual biomechanical load. The results turn traditional progression models upside down and might explain why some of your patients flare up during "standard" rehab protocols. In this week's episode, we break down the 3 distinct tiers of tendon loading and give you a data-backed roadmap to build the perfect progression.

To see full show notes and more, head to: https://mikereinold.com/ranking-the-top-patellar-tendon-exercises-by-tendon-load/

Learn our proven system for sports PTs who want to master ACL rehab, confidently progress patients, and guide athletes safely back to high-level sport.

Click here to learn more

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Using ChatGPT and AI in Physical Therapy Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

The use of ChatGPT and other AI models has exploded in recent years, and you're starting to see this in most professions, including the medical profession.

We've been using AI quite a bit at Champion for a variety of things and wanted to share our experiences. We go over some of the use cases as well as different models that we've tried with varying success

We do think you should be using AI. It's an opportunity for growth.

We dig into how AI actually helps us treat, teach, and stay current without drowning in papers. From OpenEvidence to Gemini vs ChatGPT, we share real clinic workflows, movement apps we like, and guardrails to avoid hallucinations.
• why we trust OpenEvidence for fast, linked citations
• how AI reduces bias during eval prep
• when to compare ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok
• prompts that demand sources and confidence levels
• movement analysis apps for golf and bar velocity
• ambient note tools to draft SOAP notes
• ethical guardrails on privacy, consent, and hallucinations
• practical routines for morning research sprints
• using AI to generate screeners, red flags, and alternatives
• model strengths, weaknesses, and staying literate

To see full show notes and more, head to: https://mikereinold.com/using-chatgpt-and-ai-in-physical-therapy/

Learn our proven system for sports PTs who want to master ACL rehab, confidently progress patients, and guide athletes safely back to high-level sport.

Click here to learn more

Support the show

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Want to learn more? Check out my blog, podcasts, and online courses
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Should Adults Lift for Less than 5 Reps Per Set? - #AMR382 Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

Mike Boyle had a great discussion on Instagram several weeks ago about adults lifting to failure and using low rep schemes.

It sparked a lot of arguments among people about which approach is best and whether there's always an answer to this question.

We discuss whether adults should lift to failure on low-rep schemes in this week's episode.

We'll go over what we do at Champion, how we mostly agree with this, and why we may work low reps for a very certain population for a specific reason.

To see full show notes and more, head to: https://mikereinold.com/should-adults-lift-for-less-than-5-reps-per-set/

Learn our proven system for sports PTs who want to master ACL rehab, confidently progress patients, and guide athletes safely back to high-level sport.

Click here to learn more

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ACLR + LET: Overkill or the New Gold Standard? - #AMR381 Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

Surgeons are adding more lateral extra-articular procedures to ACL reconstructions, especially in young cutting and pivoting athletes. On paper, it sounds great—tighten up the anterolateral side, improve stability, protect the graft. But what does that actually mean for clinical outcomes and for how we manage rehab?

A new Level 1 systematic review and meta-analysis just pulled together the randomized trials comparing isolated ACL reconstruction to ACL reconstruction plus a lateral extra-articular procedure. The results raise important questions: Are these athletes truly more stable? Do we see fewer graft ruptures? And are we quietly trading those benefits for more pain, stiffness, or long-term joint issues?

In this week’s podcast, we break down what the data really show, how it should influence your decision-making as a sports physical therapist, and what to watch for when an athlete walks in with a LET on their op note. Check out the full episode to hear how (and when) this should change your rehab approach.

To see full show notes and more, head to: https://mikereinold.com/aclr-let-overkill-or-the-new-gold-standard/

Learn our proven system for sports PTs who want to master ACL rehab, confidently progress patients, and guide athletes safely back to high-level sport.

Click here to learn more

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Want to learn more? Check out my blog, podcasts, and online courses
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10 Year Anniversary Episode - #AMR380 Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

Wow, I can't believe it's been 10 years!

It truly is an honor to be able to host a live episode celebrating the 10-year anniversary of our podcast. Thank you so much for listening all these years!

In this episode, we'll answer live questions from an audience of listeners, reflect on some of our favorite moments of the podcast, and give out some prizes and special discounts to all the listeners!

Special thanks to our amazing friends from Ancore, SmartCuffs, Suji, SportGrips, and mTrigger for donating the prizes!

To see full show notes and more, head to: https://mikereinold.com/10-year-anniversary-episode/

Learn our proven system for sports PTs who want to master ACL rehab, confidently progress patients, and guide athletes safely back to high-level sport.

Click here to learn more

Support the show

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Want to learn more? Check out my blog, podcasts, and online courses
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Should Every ACL Get E-Stim? What the New NMES Meta-Analysis Really Shows - #AMR379 Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

Quadriceps shutdown after ACL reconstruction is one of the biggest barriers we see in the clinic. Even with modern surgical techniques and “aggressive” rehab, too many athletes struggle to get their quad strength back, and that deficit shows up later in gait, loading, and confidence on the field.

A new systematic review and meta-analysis just took a fresh look at neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) as an adjunct to ACL rehab. Does adding NMES actually move the needle on quad strength? Does timing matter? And does any of this translate into better knee function where it counts?

In this week’s podcast, we break down what the authors found, how strong the evidence really is, and how we’re thinking about NMES programming in our own ACL protocols. If you’re working with post-op knees, you’ll want to hear this before you set up your next rehab plan.

To see full show notes and more, head to: https://mikereinold.com/should-every-acl-get-e-stim-what-the-new-nmes-meta-analysis-really-shows/

Learn our proven system for sports PTs who want to master ACL rehab, confidently progress patients, and guide athletes safely back to high-level sport.

Click here to learn more

Support the show

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Want to learn more? Check out my blog, podcasts, and online courses
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Hamstring Exercises after PCL and Meniscus Surgery - #AMR379 Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

There is substantial variability in rehabilitation protocols following PCL and meniscus repair surgery. There is often a conservative period where we minimize or avoid hamstring activity.

Biomechanical studies show that hamstring activity can increase posterior translation of the tibiofemoral joint and potentially put stress on a healing meniscus repair.

In this episode, we discuss the science behind this and how we integrate hamstring exercises into our rehabilitation protocols for these patients.

To see full show notes and more, head to: https://mikereinold.com/hamstring-exercises-after-pcl-and-meniscus-surgery/

Learn our proven system for sports PTs who want to master ACL rehab, confidently progress patients, and guide athletes safely back to high-level sport.

Click here to learn more

Support the show

_____
Want to learn more? Check out my blog, podcasts, and online courses
Follow me: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube

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