Can a torn ACL heal — and can you do anything to improve the chances of it happening?

In this episode of The Knee Gurus Podcast, we sit down with Patrick to hear his experience of tearing his ACL and choosing the Cross Bracing Protocol in an attempt to allow the ligament to heal.

Patrick had an excellent healing result, but what makes his story particularly interesting is the way he approached the process. Rather than simply following the bracing protocol, he looked at every aspect of his health and recovery that he could control — from rehabilitation and nutrition to sleep, recovery and lifestyle — to create the best possible environment for his body to heal.

We discuss:

• Patrick's ACL injury and initial diagnosis
• Why he chose Cross Bracing rather than immediately pursuing ACL reconstruction
• What the Cross Bracing Protocol was actually like as a patient
• The physical and psychological challenges of the early weeks
• What Patrick did to optimise his health and recovery
• Sleep, nutrition, training and lifestyle during ACL healing
• Seeing his healed ACL on follow-up imaging
• Rebuilding strength and confidence after bracing
• What his knee is capable of today
• What he'd do differently if he had his time again
• His advice for someone who has just torn their ACL

Patrick's story is a fascinating example of the emerging conversation around the healing potential of the ACL and how we might think more broadly about creating an environment that supports recovery.

Important: This episode shares one person's experience and is not medical advice. Cross Bracing is not appropriate for every ACL injury. If you've injured your ACL, seek assessment from a healthcare professional experienced in ACL management to discuss the options appropriate for you.

The Knee Gurus Podcast — conversations about ACLs, knees, rehabilitation and the evolving science of helping people get back to doing what they love.

In Episode 24 of the Knee Gurus Podcast, we are joined by Dr Tom Cross and physiotherapist Ryan Kerr for an in-depth discussion on one of the most common and significant injuries in skiing: the ACL tear.

Dr Tom Cross, co-founder of the Cross Bracing Protocol and one of Australia's leading voices in ACL management, brings decades of experience in sports medicine and knee injury treatment. Alongside him is Ryan Kerr, a physiotherapist with over 10 years of experience working in ski resorts and helping injured skiers safely return to the slopes.

Together, we explore why ACL injuries are so common in skiing, what to do if you suffer an ACL injury while on a ski trip, rehabilitation strategies, return-to-sport considerations, and practical ways to reduce your risk on the mountain.

Whether you're a skier, physiotherapist, sports medicine professional, or someone recovering from an ACL injury, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice.

Topics covered:
Why ACL injuries happen in skiing
Immediate management after a ski injury
The Cross Bracing Protocol and ACL healing
Rehabilitation and recovery timelines
Returning safely to skiing and sport
Injury prevention strategies for skiers

Tune in for an expert conversation on ACL injuries and how to get back to doing what you love.

In Episode 23 of the Knee Gurus Podcast, we are joined by Dr Tom Cross and physiotherapist Ryan Kerr for an in-depth discussion on one of the most common and significant injuries in skiing: the ACL tear.

Dr Tom Cross, co-founder of the Cross Bracing Protocol and one of Australia's leading voices in ACL management, brings decades of experience in sports medicine and knee injury treatment. Alongside him is Ryan Kerr, a physiotherapist with over 10 years of experience working in ski resorts and helping injured skiers safely return to the slopes.

Together, we explore why ACL injuries are so common in skiing, what to do if you suffer an ACL injury while on a ski trip, rehabilitation strategies, return-to-sport considerations, and practical ways to reduce your risk on the mountain.

Whether you're a skier, physiotherapist, sports medicine professional, or someone recovering from an ACL injury, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice.

Topics covered:
Why ACL injuries happen in skiing
Immediate management after a ski injury
The Cross Bracing Protocol and ACL healing
Rehabilitation and recovery timelines
Returning safely to skiing and sport
Injury prevention strategies for skiers

Tune in for an expert conversation on ACL injuries and how to get back to doing what you love.

In this educational episode of The Knee Gurus, we break down the full recovery journey after an ACL tear. From the moment of diagnosis through surgery, rehab, strength training and return to sport, we explain what to do at every stage to protect your knee, reduce setbacks and achieve the best long-term outcome.

Kate Ryan is an avid skier from New Zealand who unfortunately sustained an ACL tear in Niseko in January this year. We discuss her journey from injury through to choosing the right treatment pathway for her

Stephanie Peterson is a physiotherapist and ex-professional snowboarder who sustained ACL tears on both her knees. One side she had surgery and the other she did the Cross Bracing Protocol. We hope you find her story as interesting as we did!

Isabelle suffered an ACL tear when landing from a jump while snowboarding in Niseko in March 2025. She details her journey from the early phase post-injury through the decision-making phase that resulted in her deciding to opt for non-surgical care until today, where she has had a Type III ACL heal (bronze medal heal). This episode is a great listen for anyone who has injured their ACL and is deciding on a treatment pathway.

Nigel Hartnett is an orthopaedic surgeon and knee specialist who has a reputation as a non-surgical surgeon. Nigel studied in New Zealand before completing his surgical training in Melbourne and staying to establish his consulting rooms. We discuss several topics on knee injury management, including ACLs, osteoarthritis, evidence-based practice, osteotomies, knee replacements and more. To book a consultation with Nigel, see his website: https://www.melbournekneeortho.com.au

Jun Matsumoto is an early adopter of ACL healing. Using the teachings of Iihara on the intrinsic healing ability of the ACL together with an interest in human evolution he has created an ACL healing protocol that has seen a 90% success rate. This podcast delves into his protocol and we compare and contrast it’s difference with the Cross Bracing Protocol. We hope you enjoy this episode:

ACL Natural Healing Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2607330746205491

In this episode of the Knee Gurus, we speak with one of Australia’s top knee surgeons, Justin Roe. Justin works at North Sydney Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine, which is well known as the top knee specialist clinic in the southern hemisphere. Just has performed nearly 5,000 ACL reconstructions and many knee replacements and knee surgeries of all types.

In this episode we go in-depth into knee osteoarthritis (cartilage degeneration) and discuss the different phases of the condition, various treatment options and when to opt for a knee replacement. We also discuss various ligament tears and the role of surgery and range of motion restriction in optimising healing. 

I hope you enjoy this discussion with Justin Roe