The Specialist Behind Knee Deep ACL Recovery

What began as a research interest has evolved into something more.

photo of female in an orange helmet and ski goggles at the top of Alpine Meadows Resort with Lake Tahoe in the background.

Kyla Russell, PT, SCS, ATC, CSCS is a board-certified sports physical therapist, athletic trainer, and strength and conditioning specialist with over 20 years of experience in high-level sports medicine and ACL rehabilitation. She has built and led ACL rehab programs for major medical systems and worked with athletes from a wide range of sports from youth and collegiate to professional, Olympic hopefuls, and US national teams.

A lifelong snowboarder and avid hiker, Kyla founded Knee Deep ACL Recovery to deliver performance-driven ACL rehab for athletes who want to return stronger than before.

Testimonials

  • When I tore my ACL, I was initially referred to Kyla as she is the local "knee genius" and she easily lived up to that reputation. She was my primary PT from surgery all the way to return to sport and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. Early in my recovery, she had a knack for knowing exactly where needed attention and adjusting it so that I was on the right track. When I was to the strengthening phase, she had a great balance of pushing me to my limits with power/coordination/endurance exercises while also promoting healing. I returned to skiing after 9 months and had total confidence in my knee, thanks to Kyla. Not only is she incredibly professional, she is a pleasure to work with.

    —KW

  • "In October 2024, when I was 7 weeks away from running the Amsterdam Marathon, I hurt my left knee after a tempo workout and couldn't put any weight on it. Two weeks after seeing Kyla and getting her excellent help I was back on my running program and completed the marathon without injury. I've continued to follow her strengthening program and resolved my long-term muscle imbalance. She's the best!"

    —MT

  • After two partial knee replacements within a month, Kyla’s rehab was transformative. Along with the surgical recovery, my biggest challenge was the total leg realignment. Everything from my hips to feet had to readjust. Kyla worked directly with my surgeon and created a custom recovery and PT plan. Less than 18 months later, I’m training for my first half-marathon in a decade. Truly exceptional.

    — BT

  • I have worked with Kyla after multiple surgeries, and the depth of her experience is evident in every session. I'm deeply appreciative of her compassionate, constructive approach to the rehab and return to sport process. If you're seeking expert guidance to get your knee feeling not just 'better' but ready to confidently perform, there's no one I recommend more than Kyla. 

    -CG