Second Opinion Sports Medicine Podcast

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Second Opinion Sports Medicine Podcast is hosted by the Pro Sports Docs, Dr. Pawen Dhokal and Dr. Dustin Glass. Dr. Dhokal & Dr. Glass are Chiropractors who have sports medicine practices in San Diego and Los Angeles. They have treated some of the worlds most famous and elite athletes including those from the NFL, NBA, MLB, and US Olympic teams. They have been the personal Doctors to legends in the game for over a decade and bring you helpful educational information and interesting, entertaining stories  weekly!

  1. 19h ago

    Episode #99 Spinal Stenosis Explained: Causes, Warning Signs & Care

    On this episode of A Second Opinion, a sports medicine podcast, Dr. Pawen Dhokal and Dr. Dustin Glass break down spinal stenosis: what it is, why it happens, and how chiropractors should approach it. They cover: The difference between central canal stenosis and narrowing where the nerve exits (the foramen), with a paper towel roll analogyCommon causes: bone spurs, disc bulges, and swelling after an injuryWhy canal stenosis in the neck calls for extra caution, and the signs of cord compression to watch for, such as hand clumsiness, balance changes and weaknessHow to decide whether to adjust, using extra imaging and a case-by-case approachReal patient cases, including one where severe neck stenosis showed up as leg symptomsWhy "it's just arthritis" or "age-related" doesn't fully explain new symptomsThe question to ask of any MRI: are we treating the person or the image?Setting honest recovery expectations with patients in painSpinal hygiene, daily movement and why it's never too late to build strength and mobilityThis episode is for education and isn't medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider about your own symptoms. Available on all platforms including Apple & Spotify.  Follow and watch us on Instagram, Tik Tok, & You Tube!  IG & Tik Tok: @SecondOpinionSportsMed

  2. 4d ago

    Episode #98 Why Post-ACL Quad Pain Is Often a Tendon Problem, Not a Muscle Problem

    Quad tendon pain after ACL surgery is not always a quad problem - and if you're treating it like one, you may be missing the real driver. Dr. Pawen Dhokal and Dr. Dustin Glass break down a late-teen athlete's post-ACL distal quad pain, tightness, and loss of flexion and extension, then trace the chain far beyond the knee to the ankle, calf, hamstring, TFL, IT band, pes anserine, and even the big toe. You'll discover why tendon issues often show up when rehab moves too fast, why isometrics and load tolerance matter more than people realize, and how to spot when a patient is being pushed into strengthening before the tendon is actually ready.   The conversation also digs into the communication gap between athletes, PT, trainers, and clinicians - and why that gap is one of the biggest reasons people keep getting “better” in one area while flaring up in another. Dr. Glass shares a practical framework for looking at the whole chain from the ground up, including how foot and ankle restrictions can contribute to knee symptoms in ways most athletes never hear about. Dr. Dhokal adds the real-world clinical perspective on when to challenge the obvious diagnosis and look for the hidden connector instead of chasing the loudest painful spot.   Then the episode shifts into a fast-moving football case: a receiver takes a subtle hit, comes off with sharp posterior rib pain, pain with breathing, and a brutal differential that includes rib fracture, intercostal strain, and facet involvement. The discussion walks through the exam, what patterns point away from fracture, and why the right explanation matters just as much as the treatment. If you work with athletes, active patients, or anyone coming back from injury, this episode is packed with immediately usable clinical reasoning. Perfect for clinicians who want sharper decision-making, and for patients who want to understand why the body rarely hurts in just one place. Available on all platforms including Apple & Spotify.  Follow and watch us on Instagram, Tik Tok, & You Tube!  IG & Tik Tok: @SecondOpinionSportsMed

  3. Oct 20

    Episode #97 The Truth About Red Light, KT Tape, and Sports Medicine

    Dr. Dustin Glass and Dr. Pawen Dhokal break down a week of NFL injuries and explain what may be happening behind the headlines. They discuss concussions, muscle and oblique injuries, Pacheco’s back surgery, and why a high ankle sprain can take much longer to heal than a typical ankle sprain. Along the way, they explore how sports medicine professionals assess injuries when details are still unclear, what signs can guide decisions about imaging, and how approaches such as laser therapy, kinesiology tape, PEMF, and red light have evolved in sports rehab. A practical conversation for football fans, athletes, trainers, and anyone curious about how clinicians evaluate injuries and support a safe return to play. Available on all platforms including Apple & Spotify.  Follow and watch us on Instagram, Tik Tok, & You Tube!  IG & Tik Tok: @SecondOpinionSportsMed

  4. Oct 12

    Episode #96 The Hamstring Return-to-Play Checklist That Prevents Reinjury

    A hamstring can feel “fine” and still fail the moment the game speed changes. Dr. Dustin Glass and Dr. Pawen Dhokal break down the return-to-play checklist that helps athletes get back with confidence, not just pain relief. This episode goes beyond the usual boxes like full range of motion and no tenderness. Dustin and Pawen push into what really matters before an athlete sprints, cuts, backpedals, and explodes again the kind of testing that exposes whether a hamstring is truly ready for competition.You’ll discover:   the objective checks Dustin uses beyond subjective “feels good” reports  why resisted testing and palpation can reveal lingering issues that athletes miss  how box jumps, single-leg work, and rebound drills help simulate real game stress  the value of incremental speed work from 20% to full sprint  why circles, figure eights, cuts, backpedals, and rotational drills matter for re-injury prevention  Pawen adds practical return-to-play progressions and explains why game speed is a different animal than controlled rehab or straight-line running. Dustin expands the conversation with creative ways to challenge the nervous system, including parachute work, bungee resistance, and unexpected acceleration patterns that force the body to react the way it will on the field.They also make this episode especially useful for parents and youth coaches. If you’re responsible for a young athlete, you’ll hear how to do a simple at-home checklist with cones, movement patterns, and honest observation so you can spot when a kid is ready - or when they need more time.The bigger message is simple: healing is not the same as being game ready. Without a real progression, athletes can rush back, play timid, and put themselves right back at risk. With the right sequence, they can build trust in their body and return with confidence.Perfect for athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone managing a hamstring strain or lower-body injury who wants a smarter, more complete path back to play. Available on all platforms including Apple & Spotify.  Follow and watch us on Instagram, Tik Tok, & You Tube!  IG & Tik Tok: @SecondOpinionSportsMed

  5. Oct 12

    Episode #95 How We Reset Pain Patterns After a Crushing Shoulder Hit

    A real NFL shoulder case gets broken down in real time, and the takeaway is bigger than imaging. When an athlete gets hit on the same side as a previous clavicle and AC joint repair, but X-ray and CT come back negative, what actually explains the pain? Dr. Pawen Dhokal and Dr. Dustin Glass map out the mechanical, muscular, and nervous system pieces that can keep an athlete hurting long after the “structural” tests say he’s fine.They trace how a clean-looking hit can still trigger posterior shoulder and front-of-clavicle pain, why deep breathing can reproduce symptoms, and how old injuries can change scapular mechanics in ways that are easy to miss if you only chase the obvious spot. You’ll hear them work through range of motion, trigger points, first rib findings, bicep involvement, scapular dyskinesis, and why the long thoracic nerve test matters when the shoulder blade starts winging. Dr. Glass shares what he found on exam, what he ruled out, and how he approached treatment with adjustments, active release, and targeted homework to restore motion and calm the pain pattern. Dr. Dhokal adds the broader clinical lens, including how soft tissue work, breathing, and reassurance can change the experience of pain as much as the physical treatment itself.You’ll discover:   Why negative imaging does not always mean the problem is gone  How to think about pain mechanically after an old injury gets reinjured  What scapular dyskinesis can look like in a high-level contact athlete  How to tell the difference between a new nerve issue and an old compensated pattern  Why explaining safety to the nervous system can unlock better movement  This episode is a must-listen for sports medicine clinicians, chiropractors, PTs, athletic trainers, and anyone who works with injured athletes who keep saying, “I know something is off.” If you want a realistic, practical look at how to think beyond the scan and into the mechanics of pain, this conversation delivers. Available on all platforms including Apple & Spotify.  Follow and watch us on Instagram, Tik Tok, & You Tube!  IG & Tik Tok: @SecondOpinionSportsMed

  6. Oct 9

    Episode #94 The NFL’s Hidden Injury Problem No One Wants to Talk About

    The NFL starts with players already beat up, and the real story is bigger than hamstrings and ACLs. Dr. Pawen Dhokal and Dr. Dustin Glass break down why football injuries pile up so fast, what the latest research says about concussion risk and ACL recovery, and why the league's biggest problem may be what happens after the final snap. The conversation kicks off with week one NFL energy, Chargers-Rams trash talk, and a reminder that elite athletes are pushing bodies to superhuman levels. But it quickly turns serious as the doctors connect the dots between preseason injuries, higher speeds, bigger collisions, and the hidden cost of playing a sport built on constant impact. You'll hear Dr. Glass explain why even "minor" hits can add up, how new technology is changing concussion detection and recovery tracking, and why a device that was tested with NFL teams reportedly showed damage during practice itself. Dr. Dhokal adds the athlete's-eye view, from rehab standards to why so many players are cleared before they're truly functionally ready. We break down:   Why early-season injuries happen so often  What the ACL numbers really mean for return to play  Why one in four athletes with an ACL tear may suffer a second tear  How concussion science is reshaping football medicine  Why retirement care, mental health, and long-term follow-up matter just as much as game-day treatment  Both doctors also dig into the business side of the NFL, from record-breaking contracts to the harsh reality that many players are cut, forgotten, or under-supported once they leave the league. They make the case for a real post-career medical system, similar to a VA for athletes, with brain scans, mental health support, rehab resources, and ongoing care that doesn't disappear when the jersey comes off.This is an essential listen if you care about football, sports injuries, concussion recovery, ACL rehab, or the future of athlete health. Honest, provocative, and packed with clinical insight, this episode asks a question the league can't keep ignoring: if the NFL can afford everything else, why not protect the people who make it possible? Available on all platforms including Apple & Spotify.  Follow and watch us on Instagram, Tik Tok, & You Tube!  IG & Tik Tok: @SecondOpinionSportsMed

  7. Oct 6

    Episode #93 How to Tell a Sports Injury Needs X-Rays - Not Just Rest

    A bruised elbow, a looming Friday game, and one urgent question: is this a scary fracture or just a nasty sprain-strain that can be managed safely? If you work with athletes, coach them, treat them, or are trying to get back on the field yourself, this is the kind of real-world sports medicine conversation you want to hear before you make the wrong call. Dr. Dustin Glass and Dr. Pawen Dhokal break down a live case from the sideline to the treatment table, starting with the mechanism of injury - a violent hyperextension when the arm gets hit from both sides at once. From there, they walk through the full evaluation: bruising patterns, point tenderness, range of motion, pronation/supination, varus and valgus testing, and the key question every competitor wants answered - can he play without making it worse? You'll hear them unpack:   Why bruising alone does not automatically mean fracture  How to tell a stable joint injury from something more dangerous  Why imaging can change everything when time is tight  The difference between treating pain, protecting tissue, and buying confidence  What sideline-ready support looks like for a football player trying to make it to Friday  Dr. Glass shares how he thinks about soft tissue work, cupping, PMF, ARP wave, taping, and protective padding when the goal is to calm the body down without provoking more guarding. Dr. Dhokal adds the athlete's-eye view, including the frustration of waiting on imaging, the pressure of game week, and why "feels better" is not always the best decision-making tool. This episode also digs into a bigger issue that every sports parent, trainer, and athlete understands: the difference between needing answers now and getting routed through a system that moves too slowly. If you've ever wished you could rule out a fracture on the spot, this conversation will feel very familiar. Essential listening if you want a smarter way to approach acute injuries, return-to-play decisions, and the kind of case-based thinking that separates guessing from good medicine. Available on all platforms including Apple & Spotify.  Follow and watch us on Instagram, Tik Tok, & You Tube!  IG & Tik Tok: @SecondOpinionSportsMed

  8. Oct 2

    Episode #92 Why Talent Alone Isn't Enough to Get Recruited

    The pressure is real in youth sports, and it does not stop at the field. From recruiting stress and first-call anxiety to NFL injuries already shaping Week 1, this episode connects the dots between performance, pressure, and what actually keeps athletes healthy.Dr. Pawen Dhokal and Dr. Dustin Glass break down why September 1 matters so much in softball recruiting, why some athletes rise once the stress is removed, and why the old advice to "push through it" can backfire when pain and mobility issues are quietly building in the background.  You'll discover why proactive communication with coaches can separate an athlete from the pack, how pressure affects performance in sports and life, and why parents, coaches, and players need to think differently about recovery, recognition, and readiness.  The conversation also gets into the details behind common football injuries, including groin strains, high ankle sprains, hip flexor issues, foot injuries, and the added heat-risk linemen face because of their gear, body position, and constant contact in the trenches.We also break down the early-season NFL injury report, including updates on Patrick Mahomes, J.J. McCarthy, Christian McCaffrey, Breece Hall, James Conner, Zay Flowers, Puka Nacua, George Kittle, and others, plus what those injuries mean for fantasy players and fans trying to read the early-season landscape.  If you have an athlete in your house, coach one, or are just trying to understand why healthy-looking players are often not truly ready, this one is essential listening. It is a smart, honest, and practical reminder that the best athletes are not just tough - they are the ones who know when to reset, recover, and protect the long game. Available on all platforms including Apple & Spotify.  Follow and watch us on Instagram, Tik Tok, & You Tube!  IG & Tik Tok: @SecondOpinionSportsMed

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About

Second Opinion Sports Medicine Podcast is hosted by the Pro Sports Docs, Dr. Pawen Dhokal and Dr. Dustin Glass. Dr. Dhokal & Dr. Glass are Chiropractors who have sports medicine practices in San Diego and Los Angeles. They have treated some of the worlds most famous and elite athletes including those from the NFL, NBA, MLB, and US Olympic teams. They have been the personal Doctors to legends in the game for over a decade and bring you helpful educational information and interesting, entertaining stories  weekly!

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