he 15 Minute Juice | ACL RETURN 2 PLAY Roadmap (10–16 Months)

In this episode, Dr. Mike and I dive into what truly matters once the athlete is back in practice — but not yet at 100%.

Too often, athletes are “released” at 9 months and thrown into full practices without a clear workload progression or communication between coaches and rehab. That’s where mistakes (and setbacks) happen.

We break down:

✅ How to properly progress workload from limited reps → controlled drills → full game scenarios

✅ The detailed handout we provide to coaches so they know exactly what an athlete can and cannot do during practice

✅ How to bridge the gap between PT discharge and true return-to-play readiness

✅ Strategies to monitor fatigue, confidence, and skill reintegration during the 10–16 month phase

This stage is about more than “being cleared.” It’s about building capacity, confidence, and communication so the athlete returns safer, stronger, and fully prepared.