Online ACL & knee rehab · Every stage

Your ACL recovery.
Guided from day one
to game day.

Just tore it? Deciding on surgery? Discharged but still don't trust the knee? I'm Dr. John Kahl — a board-certified sports physical therapist and strength coach. I coach you back to cutting, skiing, competing, and keeping up with your kids… not just walking without a limp.

1:1 coaching with John600+ success storiesHSA/FSA eligible
SCS · CSCSBoard-certified sports PT
Dr. John Kahl, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS
Dr. John KahlPT, DPT, SCS, CSCS · Founder, ACLRx
DPT · SCS · CSCSDoctor of PT, sports specialist & strength coach
9 YearsSpecializing in ACL & knee rehab
600+Success stories — athletes back to what they love
13K+Athletes follow @acl.rx on Instagram
5★ ReviewsFrom patients and parents
Where you are right now

Wherever you are, there's a right next step.

ACL tears don't come with a manual. I coach people at every stage — and plenty who aren't dealing with an ACL at all.

Just injured 01

Something happened to your knee

You need clarity fast — what's likely going on, what to do first, and what not to panic about.

Deciding on surgery 02

Do I actually need surgery?

Mixed opinions everywhere. We talk through your options honestly so you can make the call with confidence.

Prehab 03

Preparing for surgery

Walk into the OR strong. A stronger knee going in means a smoother, faster recovery coming out.

Post-op 04

Fresh out of surgery

The early weeks set the tone. Nail motion, swelling, and quad control from day one — guidance, not guesswork.

Return to sport 05

Discharged, but not ready

PT ended and you still don't trust the knee to cut, land, or play. This is the gap I'm known for closing.

Any knee 06

Not an ACL?

Meniscus, MCL, patellar issues, runner's knee, other post-op knees — same smart, progressive approach.

The gap nobody warns you about

“Cleared” isn't the same as ready.

Most rehab ends at “walking without pain.” Clearance comes from the calendar and a signed form. The calendar has no idea whether your knee is ready to cut, land, and sprint.

  • 01You were discharged still limping — or still scared to load the knee.
  • 02Your surgeon cleared you, but nobody actually tested if you're ready.
  • 03You're doing the same three exercises on repeat with no plan to progress.
  • 04You lie awake worried about re-tearing it the first time you plant and turn.
Typical in-person PTStandard rehab
ACLRxBuilt for return to sport
–Ends at “walking without pain”
✓Keeps going through strength, power, and your sport
–Cleared by time since surgery
✓Cleared by data — strength symmetry, hop tests, landing quality
–Shared appointments, generic exercise list
✓A 1:1 plan built around your knee, goals, and schedule
–Tied to a clinic, commutes, limited visits
✓Coached online with weekly adjustments — train anywhere
–Little to no testing of strength, motion, swelling, jumping, or cutting
✓Objective testing at every phase — so you know you're ready
This isn't on you. It's a broken system. Most ACL rehab ends months before your knee is ready for sport — and that gap is exactly what I'm built to close.
How it works

Three steps to start.
Four phases to finish.

Not a PDF of exercises. A plan built around you — from the first conversation to the day you're back in your sport.

01

Free discovery call

We map where you are, what your sport or life demands, and what's missing between the two. No pressure. No jargon.

02

Your custom plan

A phase-based program built for your knee, your sport, and your schedule — with 1:1 video coaching and weekly adjustments.

03

Return with proof

Hit objective return-to-sport criteria, rebuild trust in the knee, and get back to it — with the strength to stay there.

The four phases
PHASE 01

Restore

Full motion, calm swelling, and a quad that fires. The foundation others rush past.

PHASE 02

Rebuild

Close the side-to-side strength gap. Load heavier and smarter until symmetry returns.

PHASE 03

Reload

Power, plyometrics, and landing mechanics — teach the knee to absorb and produce force.

PHASE 04

Return

Cutting, sport-specific drills, and return-to-sport testing. Cleared by data — not the calendar.

1:1 video coachingWeekly plan adjustmentsObjective strength testingHome or gym
Real results, in their words

People who got back to what they love.

No stock photos. No scripts. Athletes and active adults who did the work — and got back to volleyball, skiing, fighting, hiking, and competing.

Featured story · ACL reconstruction

From fearing permanent mobility issues to making her high school varsity volleyball team.

  1. Apr 2025ACL tear
  2. May 2025Surgery
  3. Oct 20255 months post-op: no full extension, progress stalled
  4. Oct 2025 – Jul 202610 months with ACLRx: extension, jogging, the mile, plyos, sprinting & cutting
  5. Aug 2026Makes the varsity volleyball team
★★★★★
“Finding Dr. John Kahl at ACLRX completely turned her trajectory around… He systematically guided Karina through every critical milestone, painstakingly building her back up step by step… His focus was never on the billing cycle; it was entirely on getting our daughter healthy.”
P
The Peboontom familyParents of Karina · Varsity volleyball
Read the family's full letter

From fearing permanent mobility issues to making her high school varsity volleyball team, our daughter's 14-month recovery was made possible by Dr. John Kahl at ACLRX. His unmatched expertise, structured progression, and selfless dedication turned our family’s greatest fear into an incredible victory.

When our daughter, Karina, tore her ACL in April 2025 and underwent surgery that May, we expected a challenging road ahead, but we never anticipated how frightening it would become. By October, five months after surgery, Karina was significantly behind in her rehabilitation. She still lacked full leg extension, her progress had completely stalled, and our primary concern had shifted from ever seeing her play volleyball again to fearing permanent mobility issues.

Finding Dr. John Kahl at ACLRX completely turned her trajectory around. From October 2025 through July 2026, spanning 10 continuous months of dedicated work, Dr. John stood by our side. From our very first consultation, he listened to our fears with genuine empathy and immediately established a structured, actionable plan. He systematically guided Karina through every critical milestone, painstakingly building her back up step by step: restoring her basic mobility and full leg extension, progressing to jogging, building up to running a mile, incorporating high-impact plyometrics, and ultimately mastering dynamic sprinting and cutting on the court. His communication, responsiveness, and clinical guidance were superior at every single stage.

What truly sets Dr. John apart, however, is his remarkable integrity and commitment to his athletes. His focus was never on the billing cycle; it was entirely on getting our daughter healthy.

Looking back on this intense 14-month recovery, the results speak for themselves. In August 2026, Karina officially stepped back onto the court and made her high school varsity volleyball team.

To see her competing at the varsity level after a time when we feared she might live with a lifelong physical disability is an absolute blessing. That achievement would simply not have been possible without the partnership, structure, and selfless dedication of Dr. John Kahl. We are endlessly grateful for what he did for Karina and recommend ACLRX without reservation to any family navigating an ACL journey.

Sincerely,
The Peboontom family

★★★★★
From being at one of the lowest points of my life and feeling like my identity as a person was taken from me… John assured me from day 1 of us meeting he would get me back to 100% and he has. Even with all the complications I had with my injury John helped me get through it and come out on top.
J
JeffBack to boxing & jiu-jitsu · Google review
★★★★★
I had the pleasure of working with John after my ACL injury from a skiing accident. John's knowledge, reassurance and patience got me back on a slope the following season… If it wasn't for him I don't think I would ski again.
M
MartaBack on the slopes · Google review
★★★★★
I had patellar tendon ACL reconstruction surgery and choosing John as my physical therapist was the best decision I could have made… He will constantly adjust a workout, technique, and/or equipment to make sure you are effectively and safely recovering. I am someone who skis, runs marathons, regularly trains in the gym, wakeboards, hikes, plays pickleball… I genuinely could not be more thankful.
L
LaurenPatellar tendon ACLR · Google review
★★★★★
John was incredibly insightful and professional while working to help me recover from an ACL surgery. I am very grateful to [have] been a client of his and make a full recovery due to his techniques and knowledge in the field. Highly recommended.
N
NicholasFull ACL recovery · Google review
ACLRx client competing in team roping
Back in the arena
Knee extension before and after, three weeks apart
Full extension — 3 weeks apart
Client message after first day back skiing
First day back skiing
Client hiking after a year of limping
Hiking after a year of limping
John Kahl coaching an athlete through a lunge
“I don't just rehab knees. I rebuild athletes.”
Meet your coach

Hi, I'm John Kahl.

I'm a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a board-certified Sports Clinical Specialist (SCS) — a credential only a small share of PTs hold. I'm also a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). That combination is rare in ACL rehab, and it's the whole difference.

I've spent nine years in ACL and knee rehab, with 600+ success stories along the way. And I watched too many people get “discharged” and “cleared” while nowhere near ready to trust their knee. The strength work, the testing, the return-to-sport phase — that's where real recovery lives. It's the part the system skips. So I made it the whole point.

I get it personally, too. Years of knee pain and tendonitis as a lifter and basketball player taught me what it feels like when your knee threatens your training — and your identity.

DPTDoctor of Physical Therapy
SCSBoard-Certified Sports Specialist
CSCSStrength & Conditioning (NSCA)
FAQ

Your questions, answered.

Still unsure? That's exactly what the free call is for.

Book a free discovery call →
What is ACLRx?

ACLRx is an online ACL and knee rehab coaching program led by Dr. John Kahl, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS — a board-certified sports physical therapist and certified strength coach. You get a 1:1 plan built around your knee and your sport, weekly video coaching, and objective testing at every phase, from injury or surgery all the way back to sport.

Can online rehab really work for an ACL?

Yes — across the whole journey. From early post-op range of motion through strength, testing, and return to sport, recovery comes down to progressive loading, movement quality, and smart programming. All of that coaches really well over video. You get eyes on your movement every week and a plan that adapts — without sitting in a waiting room.

My surgeon already cleared me. Why would I need this?

Cleared to heal isn't the same as tested and ready for sport. Surgical clearance rarely includes strength symmetry, hop testing, or cutting mechanics. That's exactly the gap I fill.

What stage should I be at to start?

Any stage. People come to me right after injury, while prepping for surgery, fresh post-op, or long after discharge and still not trusting the knee. On your free call we'll pinpoint where you are and the smartest next step.

I'm not sure I even need surgery — can you help?

Yes. I won't diagnose you online or replace your surgeon, but I can help you understand your options, ask the right questions, and build a plan around whichever way you go. And if you do have surgery, going in strong makes recovery smoother.

Do you replace my surgeon or in-person PT?

Not necessarily — I work alongside your medical team. Keep your surgeon and any early in-person care. I focus on the strength, testing, and return-to-sport work that standard care often leaves out. That said, some people decide working with only the ACLRx team is best for them — we'll figure out the right fit together on your free call.

Do you only work with ACLs?

ACL is my focus, but I help with most knee injuries — meniscus, MCL, patellar problems, runner's knee, and other post-op knees. If a knee is holding you back, it's worth a conversation.

What equipment and time do I need?

A standard gym is ideal, but a lot can be done at home with dumbbells and bands. Most clients train 3–4 focused sessions a week. I build the plan around the equipment and schedule you actually have.

How long until I'm back to sport?

It depends on your surgery, your sport, and where you're starting — so I won't hand you a fake number. I'll set clear, testable criteria so your return is based on readiness, not a guess.

Is this covered by insurance?

This is a cash-based coaching program, and many clients use HSA/FSA funds. We'll go over details and options on your free discovery call.

It starts with a conversation

Get back to your sport.
Stronger than before the tear.

Book a free discovery call and let's build the plan that takes you from “cleared” to ready.

Free 1:1 callHSA/FSA eligibleNo pressure