The Sports Docs Podcast

SportsDocsPod
  • 4.9 (29)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Sports medicine is a constantly evolving field, with hundreds of new articles published each month on the topic. This ever-growing wealth of information can make it challenging to stay updated on the newest approaches and techniques, and to know which data should actually change your practice. Join orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Catherine Logan and Dr. Ashley Bassett, as they chat about the most recent developments in sports medicine and dissect through all the noise. On each episode of The Sports Docs podcast, the hosts will tackle a specific injury – from ACL tears to shoulder instability – and review the top research from various high-impact journals that month, including The American Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Sports Health, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, and more. The Sports Docs will also be joined by experts in the field of sports medicine – orthopedic surgeons, nonoperative sports medicine specialists, athletes, physical therapists, athletic trainers and others – to provide a fresh and well-rounded perspective based on their unique experiences. The Sports Docs – Dr. Logan & Dr. Bassett – are friends & former co-residents from the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, who went onto esteemed sports medicine fellowships at The Steadman Clinic and The Rothman Institute, respectively. Dr. Logan practices in Denver, CO, and serves as Team Physician for Men's USA Lacrosse & as a Team Physician for U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Dr. Bassett is the director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at the Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey and practices across northern NJ, primarily in Morris and Sussex Counties. Together, they will bring monthly conversations on how to care for athletes of all ages and levels of play, with a healthy mix of cutting-edge science and real-world application. 

  1. 2D AGO

    178. Candace Townley Cox, DPT: ACL Recovery Tips and Tricks - Part I (REBOOT)

    On today’s episode we’re focusing on rehabilitation of ACL surgery with Candace Townley Cox, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and body movement expert at Evolution Physical Therapy. Today’s discussion will center around tips and tricks to optimize outcomes and some common pitfalls that may hold patients back from a full recovery. We have some great articles for you that contribute well to our conversation on the surgical treatment of knee cartilage disease. As always, links to all of the papers that we discuss on this show can be found on our podcast website. The first article is a level 3 case-control study published in the October 2020 issue of OJSM, titled Anterior Knee Pain After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Gustavo Constantino de Campos and his team in Sao Paulo, Brazil retrospectively reviewed the records of 438 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction. Anterior knee pain was reported in 6.2% of cases. Patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with a patellar tendon autograft were 3.4 times more likely to experience anterior knee pain. Also, patients who experienced an extension deficit in the post-op period were also more likely to experience anterior knee pain, with an odds-ratio of 5.3. The authors fund that anterior knee pain was not correlated with patient sex, age or surgical technique. We are joined today by Dr. Candace Townley Cox. Candace is a Colorado native who received her Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Following undergrad Candace returned to Colorado as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at Regis University in Denver. There, she earned her Master’s degree in Sports Performance while working specifically with the Women’s Volleyball and Softball teams. Candace continued her education at Regis University earning her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Since graduating Candace has spent countless hours in Sport Science Labs assessing movement quality, efficiency, as well as bone and muscle performance. As a movement expert, she is able to address the body’s impairments both from a table assessment and from functional movement assessments.

    44 min

  2. MAY 18

    177: TightRope Tales: The Future of Syndesmosis Repair

    In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with foot and ankle expert Dr. Ned Amendola to discuss the modern management of ankle syndesmosis injuries (“high ankle sprains”) in athletes.  The conversation focuses on when surgery is indicated, the evolution from rigid screw fixation to dynamic stabilization with TightRope technology, surgical pearls, and accelerated return-to-sport strategies for high-demand athletes. Highlights When Does a Syndesmosis Injury Need Surgery? Most isolated, stable syndesmosis injuries can be treated nonoperatively Surgery is indicated when there is: Mortise wideningInstability on stress imagingAssociated fibula fracturesSignificant ligament disruption (AITFL, PITFL, interosseous membrane)Key principle: Instability—not just diagnosis—drives surgical decision-making The Shift from Screws to Dynamic Fixation Traditional screw fixation challenges: Screw breakage and looseningFrequent hardware removal surgeriesRestricted physiologic motionLonger non-weight-bearing periodsAdvantages of TightRope fixation: Dynamic stabilization with physiologic micromotionLower risk of malreductionFaster rehabilitationNo routine hardware removalKey insight: Dynamic fixation respects normal syndesmotic biomechanics TightRope Surgical Technique Critical first step: Anatomic reduction of the fibula in the incisura Technique highlights: Confirm reduction on AP, mortise, and lateral imagingDrill 2–4 cm above joint line, parallel to plafondPass TightRope across all four corticesCarefully seat medial buttonTension laterally while maintaining reductionPearls: Clamp carefully to avoid malreductionAvoid posterior fibular translationEnsure proper button seating without soft tissue interpositionOne vs Two TightRopes One construct may suffice for: Lower-demand athletesIsolated injuries without fractureTwo constructs favored for: High-energy injuriesAthletesFibula fracturesRotational instability or Maisonneuve injuriesKey principle: Persistent rotational instability drives the need for additional fixation Outcomes with Dynamic Fixation Benefits seen clinically: Lower reoperation ratesLess stiffnessFaster functional progressionEarlier return to sportAthletes tolerate early motion and rehab particularly well with dynamic fixation The TightRope PRO System Improvements include: Smaller drill tunnelsLower-profile buttonsLess soft tissue irritationControlled self-tensioning handlesKey insight: Modern implant design improves precision and preserves bone Rehabilitation & Return to Sport Isolated injuries: Early ROM within 1–2 weeksProgressive weight-bearing by 4 weeksRunning around 8–10 weeksCutting/pivoting at 10–12 weeksElite athletes may return as early as 6–8 weeks in select cases Return-to-play criteria: No syndesmotic tendernessSymmetric dorsiflexionNegative stress testingFunctional cutting/acceleration testingPsychological confidence in the ankleKey Takeaways Surgical treatment is based on instability and biomechanics, not simply imaging findings Dynamic fixation with TightRope technology has transformed syndesmosis management in athletes Proper reduction technique remains the most important surgical factor Modern fixation allows for earlier rehabilitation and faster return to play Return-to-sport decisions should incorporate both functional and psychological readiness Featured Guest Dr. Ned Amendola – Duke University, President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Head Team Physician and Chief Medical Officer for Duke Athletics 🎧 Listen & Subscribe If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Follow us on Instagram Arthrex Team Physician Controversies 2026 Our Hosts: Ashley Bassett, MD & Catherine Logan, MD, MBA / www.cosportsmedicine.com

    17 min

  3. MAY 11

    176: From Sidelines to Headlines: Reporting Sports Injuries (Stephania Bell)

    In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with Stephania Bell to discuss the evolving role of sports injuries in modern media coverage. As a licensed physical therapist and leading injury analyst for ESPN, Stephania shares how fantasy football, sports betting, visual technology, and audience demand have transformed injuries from simple status updates into complex, high-interest storylines centered around athlete performance, recovery, and long-term health. We'll chat about: How Fantasy Football transformed injuries into weekly decision-making currency  Fans now want:  Probability of performance  Risk assessment  Recovery expectations  Long-term outlook Fantasy Football Changed Injury Coverage Sports media shifted from reporting diagnoses to explaining performance implications Changing the Media Narrative Early injury reporting was binary:  Playing vs not playing Modern injury coverage focuses on:  Function  Limitation  Risk  Performance impact The Power of Medical Animations Visual tools help bridge medicine and storytelling Benefits of animations:  Improve anatomy understanding  Explain biomechanics and injury mechanisms  Clarify recovery expectations  Translate complex medicine for broad audiences Notable NFL Injury Coverage Joe Burrow  Turf toe and wrist injury breakdowns highlighted how subtle injuries impact quarterback mechanics  Visual animations helped explain throwing wrist ligament injuries and recovery Brock Purdy  Turf toe animations demonstrated the functional impact on movement and push-off mechanics Patrick Mahomes  Discussions emphasized how injury location and position-specific demands alter performance expectations The Future of Injury Coverage Coverage is becoming more nuanced around:  Load management  Athlete longevity  Cumulative wear and tear  Concussion awareness  Recovery strategy Common Injury Misconceptions Playing ≠ fully healthy  Recovery timelines are ranges—not exact dates  MRI findings are only one piece of the puzzle  Position matters enormously when evaluating injury impact Featured Guest Stephania Bell – Licensed Physical Therapist, ESPN NFL Injury Analyst, Co-host of Fantasy Focus Football 🎧 Listen & Subscribe If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Follow us on Instagram Arthrex Team Physician Controversies 2026 Our Hosts: Ashley Bassett, MD & Catherine Logan, MD, MBA / www.cosportsmedicine.com

    33 min

  4. MAY 4

    175: Orthobiologics in Practice: Bone Marrow Concentrate, the ANGEL System, and the Vortex Needle

    In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with orthobiologics expert Dr. Spencer Stein to discuss the real-world application of bone marrow concentrate (BMAC) in sports medicine. The conversation focuses on how to effectively integrate orthobiologics into clinical and surgical practice, with a deep dive into the ANGEL System and Vortex Needle, emphasizing consistency, technique, and appropriate patient selection. Where BMAC Fits in Practice Common applications:  Cartilage restoration procedures  Tendon and ligament pathology  Nonunions and osteotomies  Osteochondral and revision cases Why Bone Marrow Concentrate? Delivers:  Progenitor cells  Growth factors  Cytokines Particularly useful in:  Borderline surgical candidates  Revision cases  Biologically compromised environments The ANGEL System Closed, automated centrifuge system Allows customization of hematocrit and final product Benefits:  Consistency and reproducibility  Ability to “dial in” biologic composition  Reduced variability in outcomes The Vortex Needle Designed for controlled, low-volume aspiration Advantages:  Minimizes peripheral blood dilution  Improves cell concentration and biologic quality  More targeted aspiration technique Closed-tip design:  Better consistency  Higher quality aspirate Pearls:  Focus on proper aspiration technique  Use small-volume, targeted draws  Integrate BMAC early in surgical workflow  Train your team for efficiency Pitfalls:  Poor aspirate technique  Overpromising outcomes to patients  Treating biologics as a cure-all Future of Orthobiologics Moving toward:  Indication-specific protocols  Standardized biologic formulations  More targeted applications by tissue type Featured Guest Dr. Spencer Stein – NYU Grossman School of Medicine, sports medicine surgeon specializing in arthroscopy and joint preservation 🎧 Listen & Subscribe If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Follow us on Instagram Arthrex Team Physician Controversies 2026 Our Hosts: Ashley Bassett, MD & Catherine Logan, MD, MBA / www.cosportsmedicine.com

    19 min

  5. APR 27

    174: The Comeback Step: Game-Changing Foot & Ankle Surgery

    In this The Sports Docs Podcast episode, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down with foot and ankle experts Dr. David Pedowitz and Dr. Josh Metzl. From evolving surgical techniques to implant innovation and accelerated return-to-play timelines, this conversation highlights how modern approaches are reshaping outcomes for high-level athletes. Achilles Tendon Injuries Who Needs Surgery?  Best suited for young, active athletes, especially in explosive or cutting sports  While nonoperative care has improved: Tendon elongation remains a key concern Push-off strength deficits can impact performance  Surgical repair offers:  Faster strength recovery  More predictable return to sport Evolution of Surgical Technique  Shift from open surgery → minimally invasive (MIS) and percutaneous approaches Benefits:  ↓ wound complications  Improved cosmesis  Faster rehabilitation Double-row fixation restores native footprint and improves gap resistance PARS Technique (Percutaneous Achilles Repair System)  Combines precision of open repair with less soft tissue disruption Key features:  Small incision with percutaneous suture passage  Reproducible jig-guided technique  Strong, locking suture construct  Ideal for acute midsubstance rupturesPearls:  Master jig orientation before live cases  Maintain tension during suture passage  Protect the sural nervePitfalls:  Incisions too small → poor visualization  Overtensioning the repair Repair Constructs: PARS vs SpeedBridge SpeedBridge (double-row, knotless):  ↓ tendon elongation  Strong biomechanical construct  Slight ↑ risk of heel pain PARS:  Less invasive  Lower wound complication rates Insertional Achilles Pathology  Typically treated with open or MIS SpeedBridge techniques MIS FiberTak SpeedBridge advantages:  Smaller incisions  Less implant material  Strong fixation with rip-stop construct Supports early weight-bearing and mobilizationReturn to Play 90% return to sport after surgery Typical timeline: Running: progressive, athlete-specific Full return: ~6–9 months 🎧 Listen & Subscribe If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Follow us on Instagram Arthrex Team Physician Controversies 2026 Our Hosts: Ashley Bassett, MD & Catherine Logan, MD, MBA / www.cosportsmedicine.com

    31 min

  6. APR 20

    173: Anchors Away! Stabilizing the Athlete’s Shoulder

    In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Bassett & Dr. Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with shoulder instability expert Dr. Kevin Farmer to discuss the modern management of traumatic anterior shoulder instability in athletes. The conversation focuses on the instability continuum, including when to operate, how to evaluate bipolar bone loss, and when to add remplissage, with an emphasis on optimizing outcomes in young, high-risk athletes. Who Needs Surgery? Young athletes—especially males less than 20—have 70–80% recurrence rates with nonoperative care Higher risk populations: Collision athletes Overhead athletes Military/tactical athletes Key insight: Early surgical stabilization can be career-protective in high-risk athletes MRI evaluates: Bankart lesions Hill-Sachs size and orientation Capsulolabral quality Advanced assessment includes: Percent glenoid bone loss Hill-Sachs engagement On-track vs off-track lesions Arthroscopic Bankart Repair Remains the workhorse procedure in absence of critical bone loss Modern advances: Knotless anchors Improved efficiency and reproducibility Better capsular tensioning Anchor strategy: Typically 3–4 anchors Start low (5:30–6 o’clock) and work superiorly Fewer than 3 anchors associated with higher failure rates Capsular Management Capsular shift is critical in: Young patients Hyperlax athletes Goal: Restore anterior stability Re-tension IGHL complex Knotless technology allows fine-tuned tensioning Remplissage Traditionally used for off-track Hill-Sachs lesions Now increasingly used in: Subcritical glenoid bone loss (~10–15%) High-risk athletes Borderline “on-track” lesions Benefits: Decreases recurrence rates Reduces need for revision surgery Key insight: Low threshold in young, male contact athletes Remplissage Technique Two anchors placed in Hill-Sachs lesion Sutures passed through capsule and infraspinatus Secured in subdeltoid space Pearls: Use knotless anchors for low-profile fixation Visualize subacromial space to avoid soft tissue capture Motion vs Stability Concern: loss of external rotation Reality: Minimal, clinically insignificant loss with modern techniques Stability benefits outweigh small motion tradeoffs Postoperative Rehab Sling: 3–4 weeks Early passive motion Strengthening at 6 weeks Return to sport: ~5–6 months Return to Sport Testing Criteria-based return reduces recurrence (5% vs 22%) Key components: Full ROM Greater/equal to 90% strength vs contralateral side Functional testing (CKCUEST, shot-put, plank taps, etc.) Patient-reported outcomes (WOSI greater than 90%, KJOC greater than 88%) Featured Guest Dr. Kevin Farmer – University of Florida, Team Physician for the Florida Gators 🎤 Stay Connected If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Follow us on Instagram  Arthrex Team Physician Controversies 2026 Our Hosts: Ashley Bassett, MD & Catherine Logan, MD, MBA / www.cosportsmedicine.com

    20 min

  7. APR 13

    172: ACL 2.0: Playbook for Reducing Retear Risk

    Live from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies Conference In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with two leading ACL experts—Dr. Pat Smith and Dr. Aaron Krych—to discuss strategies to reduce failure after ACL reconstruction. The conversation highlights the evolution of ACL surgery, focusing on graft selection, fixation, biologic augmentation, and mechanical protection, with an emphasis on optimizing outcomes in young, high-risk athletes. Graft: Autograft vs Allograft Strong evidence shows higher failure rates with allograft in young athletes  MOON data: ~4–6x increased risk of failure in patients 25 years   Allograft best for:  Older, lower-demand patients  Revision or multi-ligament cases Autograft Selection Graft choice depends on:  Age, sex, sport, and anatomy BTB:  Preferred for high-level pivoting athletes  Strong fixation, less graft elongation Quadriceps tendon:  Increasingly utilized  Larger graft diameter  Less donor-site morbidity vs BTB  Particularly useful in younger and female athletes Key insight:  Grafts 8 mm are associated with higher failure risk Internal Brace (IB) Indications:  Young athletes  Hyperlax patients  Revision ACL Benefits:  Decreased graft elongation and cyclic displacement  Reduced postoperative laxity  Lower rerupture rates (~1% at 5 years in some studies)  Faster return to sport and improved rehab confidence Lateral Extra-Articular Tenodesis (LET) Strong evidence supports reduced failure rates:  Primary ACLR: ~11% → 4% (high-risk patients)  Revision ACLR: ~21% → 5% Benefits:  Decreased pivot shift  Improved return to pre-injury sport  Cost-effective in high-risk populations Indications for LET  Age ≤25 years  High-grade pivot shift  Knee hyperextension  Return to cutting/pivoting sports  Revision ACL reconstruction LET Surgical Technique Pearls IT band graft (7–8 cm x 1 cm)  Passed under or near LCL depending on technique  Fixation near lateral epicondyle Pearls:  Fix in neutral rotation and ~30–60° flexion  Avoid overconstraint  Close IT band defect Featured Guests Dr. Pat Smith – Hospital for Special Surgery Naples Dr. Aaron Krych – Mayo Clinic, Team Physician for the Minnesota Timberwolves Stay Connected Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Follow us on Instagram for more insights on cutting-edge sports medicine, athlete recovery, and performance https://www.instagram.com/thesportsdocspod/ Our Hosts: Catherine Logan, MD, MBA https://www.cloganmd.com/ Ashley Bassett, MD https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett www.thesportsdocspod.com

    33 min

  8. APR 6

    171: Next-Gen Knees: Modern Cartilage Restoration

    Live from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies Conference 🎧 Episode Summary In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with cartilage restoration expert Dr. Travis Maak to discuss the modern surgical management of knee cartilage defects. The conversation focuses on diagnostic workup, surgical decision-making, and cutting-edge cartilage restoration techniques, including Autocart, BioCartilage, and Cartiform. Diagnostic Imaging - MRI is critical for:  Defect size and depth  Subchondral bone integrity and edema  Concomitant meniscal and ligament pathologySurgical Decision-Making  Patient age & activity level  Lesion size, location, & containment  Subchondral bone involvement  Prior surgical historyAutocart (Autologous Minced Cartilage) Single-stage autograft cartilage restoration technique Uses patient’s own cartilage with PRP or BMAC Key advantages:  Preserves native chondrocytes & extracellular matrix  Avoids staged procedures Ideal for small-to-medium contained lesions Outcomes:  Significant improvements in pain & function at ~5 years  ~75% achieve clinically meaningful outcomes  Low reoperation rates BioCartilage Micronized cartilage extracellular matrix allograft scaffold Used in combination with microfracture and biologics (PRP/BMAC) Functions as a biologic bridge to enhance cartilage repair Best for:  Small-to-medium, contained, full-thickness defects  Well-aligned, stable knees Outcomes:  Improved pain and function at 2 years  Better repair tissue quality compared to microfracture alone Cartiform Cryopreserved osteochondral allograft with viable chondrocytes  Maintains native cartilage architecture Indicated for:  Larger lesions (>2 cm²)  Defects with subchondral bone involvement Advantages:  Single-stage procedure  Conforms to irregular defects Key Takeaways Cartilage restoration success depends on correcting biomechanics first Procedure selection should be lesion-specific and patient-specific Autocart offers a promising autograft solution with strong midterm data BioCartilage fills the gap between microfracture and larger restoration procedures Cartiform is a valuable option for larger defects and requires careful patient selectionFeatured Guest Dr. Travis Maak – University of Utah, Head Team Physician for the Utah Jazz, cartilage restoration and joint preservation specialist 🎤 Stay Connected If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Follow us on Instagram

    27 min
See All (178)

4.9
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

Sports medicine is a constantly evolving field, with hundreds of new articles published each month on the topic. This ever-growing wealth of information can make it challenging to stay updated on the newest approaches and techniques, and to know which data should actually change your practice. Join orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Catherine Logan and Dr. Ashley Bassett, as they chat about the most recent developments in sports medicine and dissect through all the noise. On each episode of The Sports Docs podcast, the hosts will tackle a specific injury – from ACL tears to shoulder instability – and review the top research from various high-impact journals that month, including The American Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Sports Health, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, and more. The Sports Docs will also be joined by experts in the field of sports medicine – orthopedic surgeons, nonoperative sports medicine specialists, athletes, physical therapists, athletic trainers and others – to provide a fresh and well-rounded perspective based on their unique experiences. The Sports Docs – Dr. Logan & Dr. Bassett – are friends & former co-residents from the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, who went onto esteemed sports medicine fellowships at The Steadman Clinic and The Rothman Institute, respectively. Dr. Logan practices in Denver, CO, and serves as Team Physician for Men's USA Lacrosse & as a Team Physician for U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Dr. Bassett is the director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at the Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey and practices across northern NJ, primarily in Morris and Sussex Counties. Together, they will bring monthly conversations on how to care for athletes of all ages and levels of play, with a healthy mix of cutting-edge science and real-world application. 

Information

  • Creator
    SportsDocsPod
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    178
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Sports Docs Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Sports Docs Podcast

You Might Also Like