Second Opinion Sports Medicine Podcast

Patrick Mahomes’ return is impressive but the real story is what his comeback reveals about ACL recovery, return-to-play timing, and why rushing back can cost athletes everything. If you’re a parent, athlete, trainer, or coach, this episode gives you the research-backed reasons to slow down before you speed back up.Dr. Pawen Dhokal and Dr. Dustin Glass open with a quick check-in from the road, then jump straight into the playoff-level questions everyone is asking: how does an elite athlete come back so fast, and what actually lowers reinjury risk? They break down Mahomes’ nine-month timeline, the role of expectation and mindset, and why the “average” recovery window may not apply to high-performing athletes.You’ll discover:
 
Why each month delayed before return to sport can cut ACL reinjury risk by 51%
 
Why young athletes returning to pivoting sports face dramatically higher reinjury rates
 
How simple return-to-sport criteria can reduce reinjury by up to 84%
 
Why NIL pressure and parental urgency can push athletes back too soon
 
The difference between what “feels ready” and what the data says is truly ready
 
The conversation then shifts to Achilles injuries, including what it really means when only 76% of pro athletes return after an Achilles rupture. The doctors explain why this injury is so difficult to overcome, why it can unravel an athlete’s foundation, and why current recovery stories deserve a lot more respect than they usually get. They also dig into the post-COVID spike in Achilles issues and what may have contributed to it.To finish, Dr. Glass shares practical ways to protect and lengthen the calf and foot, from towel stretches and lacrosse ball work to simple at-home routines that can help older or less active listeners reduce tension and keep moving well. Essential listening if you want the latest sports medicine insight without the hype — and the kind of advice that helps you make smarter decisions for your body, your kid, or your team.
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Most athletes train the muscle and ignore the tendon until something snaps. Dr. Dustin Glass and Dr. Pawen Dhokal break down the difference between muscle belly work and true tendon loading, and why the fix is not just “more reps.”If you work with athletes, lift regularly, rehab injuries, or coach anyone who keeps pulling the same hamstring, this conversation will change how you think about strength, recovery, and injury prevention. Dustin and Pawen get practical fast, moving from football-season hamstring issues to the overlooked loading strategies that actually build tendon capacity.You’ll discover:
 
Why tendon problems are often the real weak link behind “muscle pulls”
 
The difference between muscle loading and tendon loading
 
How isometrics, eccentrics, and heavy slow resistance each play a different role
 
Why 30 seconds is not the same as 60 to 120 seconds when it comes to tendon work
 
How Nordic hamstring curls, calf eccentrics, glute bridges, and controlled progressions fit into a smarter warm-up and rehab plan
 
How to spot tendon involvement versus muscle belly pain, and why hamstring pain can also involve bursa irritation or specific fiber patterns
 
The guys also get into how diagnostic thinking sharpens treatment. Dustin explains the value of precise orthopedic testing and differentials, while Pawen walks through how he tests angle changes, resistance, and movement patterns to figure out whether the issue is muscle, tendon, or something else entirely.This episode also touches on real-world performance takeaways from football training, force testing, asymmetry, and why even elite athletes can be far from balanced. If you want better movement, stronger tendons, and fewer soft tissue surprises, this one is packed with actionable insight.Essential listening for athletes, trainers, chiropractors, PTs, and anyone tired of treating the same “pulled muscle” over and over. Dr. Dustin Glass, DC, CCSP, brings deep sports medicine and diagnostic expertise, with a strong focus on orthopedic testing, biomechanics, and athlete care.

 Dr. Pawen Dhokal, D.C., contributes hands-on rehab insight from the field, including practical strength progressions and performance testing strategies used with real athletes.
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The hydration advice most athletes still follow is incomplete. In this conversation, Dr. Pawen Dhokal and co-host Dr. Dustin Glass sit down with Dylan Bledsoe of BioLyte to unpack why a product built from an IV-style formula is becoming a go-to for cramps, recovery, illness, and everyday dehydration.

Dylan shares how BioLight began when Dr. Rollins created an oral version of the IV fluids that helped his wife through breast cancer treatment. What started as a solution for severe dehydration has grown into a medical-strength hydration product used by high school programs, athletes, busy parents, and people dealing with everything from stomach bugs to POTS.

In this episode, you’ll discover:
Why BioLyte includes dextrose and why a sugar-free version is not the goal.

The electrolyte profile behind the formula, including sodium, potassium, chloride, and magnesium

How BioLyte differs from Gatorade, Powerade, BodyArmor, and pickle juice

Why flavor matters as much as function
Real-world stories involving muscle cramps, postpartum recovery, morning sickness, and more.

How BioLyte is being used by high school football programs and athletes

The story behind the unforgettable Thirst Responder mobile sampling ambulance

Who should be cautious with high-sodium hydration products
If you want to try BioLyte, visit drinkbiolyte.com and use code SECONDOPINION for 30% off your first order.

Disclaimer: This discussion is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your physician before using electrolyte products, especially if you have high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, or another medical condition.
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A hamstring pull can be the difference between a green light and a season derailed - and the real mistake is thinking pain-free means game-ready. Dr. Pawen Dhokal and Dr. Dustin Glass break down what actually has to happen before an athlete can return with confidence, and why the body is never as simple as "it feels good, so go."They start with a surprisingly useful lens on performance and recovery, then turn the conversation into a practical return-to-play masterclass for runners, receivers, sprinters, and field athletes. Dr. Glass explains why he works from the ground up, checking ankle stability, foot mechanics, tib-fib motion, glute function, and balance before ever trusting straight-line running. From there, the progression builds from double-leg jumps to single-leg work, 20-yard jogs, 45-degree cuts, 90-degree cuts, figure eights, and finally burpees to test both the body and the mind.You'll discover:
 
Why a hamstring injury often lives upstream or downstream from the actual painful spot
 
The balance tests and 90-90-90 work Dr. Glass uses before field work
 
How ankle and foot mobility can quietly affect hamstring recovery
 
Why deceleration, cutting, and landing mechanics matter as much as top-speed running
 
The difference between a muscle that is weak and one that is simply tired, tight, or under-recovered
 
The episode also gets real about confidence, communication, and the pressure that surrounds athletes when playing time, scholarships, NIL money, and reputations are on the line. Dhokal and Glass discuss how to avoid the trap of overpromising a green light, why athletes need clear ownership of the decision, and how bad communication can turn a routine rehab into a blame game.If you work with athletes, have a pulled hamstring, or just want to understand why return-to-play is far more complex than "no pain, no problem," this conversation is packed with practical takeaways. It's a sharp, honest look at what it really takes to get back on the field safely - and stay there.
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Football season is here, but this conversation goes far beyond Xs and Os. Dr. Dustin Glass and Dr. Pawen Dhokal break down what every parent, athlete, and coach needs to know about training camp, concussion risk, helmet tech, and the small decisions that can change a season - or a life. Dr. Glass shares hard-earned lessons from his own playing days, including the reality of first-contact football, the jarring jump from high school to college, and why today's young athletes need to prepare their necks and brains before the pads come on. Dr. Dhokal adds real-world perspective from working with athletes, parents, and sports families, including why the Q Collar is getting renewed attention as a preventative tool and why some injuries deserve a lot more respect than they get. You'll discover:
 
Why wearing a helmet around the house can help freshman players avoid brutal early-season neck strain
 
How helmet and equipment technology has changed from the old pump-up days to today's custom-fit systems
 
What the Q Collar is, how it works, and why some NFL players swear by it
 
The difference between youth, college, and pro-level speed, contact, and conditioning
 
Why "welcome to the NFL" moments reveal so much about the demands of elite sports
 
How one serious car accident involving 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan became a wake-up call about concussion recovery, brain health, and the fragility of everyday life
 
The discussion also turns deeply personal as both doctors reflect on perspective, gratitude, and the pressure that comes with caring for people in high-stakes environments. From old football war stories to a sobering reminder that life can change in a second, this episode hits the rare balance of practical sports medicine and real human insight. If you work with athletes, have a kid entering contact sports, or just want a smarter, more honest take on performance, injury prevention, and staying grounded under pressure, this one is essential listening.
Available on all platforms including Apple & Spotify. 

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IG & Tik Tok: @SecondOpinionSportsMed