A.C.L.: Accelerated Conditioning and Learning

Resource Center for Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists

This page is intended to serve as a resource center for athletic trainers and sports physical therapists.  It is intended to provide the clinician with resources for functional examinations, return to sport protocols, pre-performance programs, and educational seminars.  This is intended to aid the clinician in the development of a practice which emphasizes “evidence based practice” and increase your market share in your community by becoming a leader in sports medicine.  Utilization of these tools will aid in maximizing your business potential and re-imbursement for your services.  Along with this is valuable links to the some of the most widely used journal references throughout our programs. 

Functional Athletic Examinations

As clinicians, we often attempt to determine how an athlete’s body is responding to the stress of athletic activity through a comprehensive evaluation.  However, our typical examination does not seem to address the physical demands of an athlete’s particular sport nor give a clear indication of the kinetic chain’s response to those stresses.  These examinations are all research based and designed to give a complete comprehensive examination and in-depth understanding of the entire kinetic chain.  More importantly, these are designed to demonstrate how this athlete’s kinetic chain responds to functional activities and more importantly how force is attenuated throughout the chain.  These should be used to “individualize” your treatment plans to that athlete’s specific limitations as determined through your comprehensive examination.  Each of these examinations is offered exclusively here for $60 each.

1.      UE Kinematics Examination: The UKE is a comprehensive examination and is designed for the athletic trainer and physical therapist to give an in-depth appreciation of the athlete’s entire upper and lower kinetic chain in order to assess the “weak links” in the system.  Although this exam looks at both upper and lower body kinematics, it is designed to focus on the upper quarter.  After completion of this examination, the clinician will have a clear picture of the “entire athlete” which will assist in proper program development.  This can be used as a part of a thorough athletic evaluation prior to treatment or as a base line measure prior to initiation of a sports performance program.
2.      LE Kinematics Examination:  The LKE is a comprehensive examination and is designed for the athletic trainer and physical therapist to give an in-depth appreciation of the athlete’s entire upper and lower kinetic chain in order to assess the “weak links” in the system.  Although this exam looks at both upper and lower body kinematics, it is designed to focus on the lower quarter.  After completion of this examination, the clinician will have a clear picture of the “entire athlete” which will assist in proper program development.  This can be used as a part of a through athletic evaluation prior to treatment or as a base line measure prior to initiation of a sports performance program.
3.      LE/UE Video Analysis:  This examination is designed to assist the clinician in video analysis of running gait, biking, and swimming.  This will guide the clinician in video set-up, bike set-up and assessment.  After completion of this analysis, the clinician will have a clear picture of the athlete’s limitations, compensations and weaknesses that should be addressed in their individualized treatment plan.
4.      LE Functional Testing:  The LFT is a comprehensive examination that includes only functional testing of the lower kinetic chain and core.  This includes a total of 10 functional tests that have been comprised to assess the athlete’s response to increasing demands placed on the system with functional movements.  Completion of this examination will give the clinician a clear picture of how the athlete’s body is responding during athletic activities and more importantly how we should address these with treatment.
5.      Low Back Kinematics Examination: The LBKE is a comprehensive examination and is designed for the athletic trainer and physical therapist to give an in-depth appreciation of the athlete’s entire upper and lower kinetic chain in order to assess the “weak links” in the system.  Although this exam looks at both upper and lower body kinematics, it is designed to focus on the lumbar spine.  After completion of this examination, the clinician will have a clear picture of the “entire athlete” which will assist in proper program development.  This can be used as a part of a thorough athletic evaluation prior to treatment or as a base line measure prior to initiation of a sports performance program. 

Return to Sport Protocols and Outcome Measures

One of the most difficult calls a clinician has to make is whether or not an athlete is ready to return to sport.  The following return to sport protocols are research based protocols that where developed to allow for functional testing of athletes with physical demands that replicate the forces typically generated during athletic activities.  These are intended to aid the clinician in making a sound judgment in whether or not the athlete is physically ready for return to their particular sport.  These are only intended to supplement a well developed treatment program and used as an adjunct in the determination of return to sport.  Each of these examinations is offered exclusively here for $50 each.  The functional outcome measures included here are free and should be used as another research based objective measure to improvement.

1.      LE Functional Testing:  the LFT is a comprehensive examination that includes only functional testing of the lower kinetic chain and core.  This includes a total of 10 functional tests that have been comprised to assess the athlete’s response to increasing demands placed on the system with functional movements.  Completion of this examination will give the clinician a clear picture of how the athlete’s body is responding during athletic activities and more importantly whether or not this athlete is ready to return to sport.

2.      Functional Ankle Ability Evaluation: The FAAE is a comprehensive protocol analyzing an athlete from several prospectives and using these scores to create a composite score expressed in percentage.  This composite score is used as a part of the evaluation process in order to determine return to sport following an ankle injury.  Completion of this examination will give the clinician a clear picture of how the athlete’s body is responding during athletic activities and more importantly whether or not this athlete is ready to return to sport.

3.      Functional Knee Ability Evaluation:  The FKAE is a comprehensive protocol analyzing an athlete from several prospectives and using these scores to create a composite score expressed in percentage.  This composite score is used as a part of the evaluation process in order to determine return to sport following a knee injury.  Completion of this examination will give the clinician a clear picture of how the athlete’s body is responding during athletic activities and more importantly whether or not this athlete is ready to return to sport.

4.      Functional Shoulder Ability Evaluation:  The FSAE is a comprehensive protocol analyzing an athlete from several prospectives and using these scores to create a composite score expressed in percentage.  This composite score is used as a part of the evaluation process in order to determine return to sport following a shoulder injury.  Completion of this examination will give the clinician a clear picture of how the athlete’s body is responding during athletic activities and more importantly whether or not this athlete is ready to return to sport.

5.      Functional Low Back Ability Evaluation:  The FLBAE is a comprehensive protocol analyzing an athlete from several prospectives and using these scores to create a composite score expressed in percentage.  This composite score is used as a part of the evaluation process in order to determine return to sport following a low back injury.  Completion of this examination will give the clinician a clear picture of how the athlete’s body is responding during athletic activities and more importantly whether or not this athlete is ready to return to sport.

6.      Outcome Measures:  These outcome measures are offered Free and have been shown in the research to have a high correlation and reliability to scoring of the test with actual functional ability.  When these are used as an adjunct to the return to sport protocols, it improves the reliability and allows the clinician to make a much more informed decision.  The two outcome measures we have used here are for knee injuries and low back injuries. For a copy of these, please email us at info@aclprogram.com

7.      Return to Sport Protocols:  The following protocols have been adapted from various authors and leaders in the sports medicine field and are offered here Free.  The authors have not contributed to these in any fashion however we feel these are valuable tools for the sports medicine specialist.  Our offerings are currently limited to baseball and include throwing protocols for Pitchers, Catchers and agility drills. For a copy of these, please email us at info@aclprogram.com

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ACL Evaluation Kit, ACL RTS Kit and the Master ACL Kit

As clinicians, we are always looking to increase the tools in our bag.  Whether it comes to examination, return to sport protocols or treatments, we like to have a plethora of tools from which to choose from.  However, as we all know, there are budget constraints.  Whether you are working in the professional, collegiate or high school setting, expense control is always important.  So getting your most bang for the buck is important.  That is why we are offering several packages that include the assessment tools and protocols from above in one convenient package at an affordable price.  These are the ACL Evaluation Kit, the ACL RTS Kit and the Master ACL Kit.

1.      The ACL Evaluation Kit: This includes all 5 assessment tools for one convenient price.  That means you get the UE Kinematics Evaluation, the LE Kinematics Evaluation, the LE/UE Video Analysis, LE Functional Testing and the Low Back Kinematics Examination for $250, a $50 savings!

2.      The ACL RTS Kit:  This includes all 5 of the return to sport protocols for one convenient price.  Included Free in with these are the two outcome measures and the baseball protocols.  That means you get the LE Functional Testing, Functional Ankle Ability Evaluation, Functional Knee Ability Evaluation, Functional Shoulder Ability Evaluation and the Functional Low Back Ability Evaluation for $200, a $50 savings!  Included free with this will be the 2 outcome measures and baseball protocols.

3.      The Master ACL Kit:  This includes all the assessment tools and return to sport protocols for one convenient price.  This means you get the UE Kinematics Evaluation, the LE Kinematics Evaluation, the LE/UE Video Analysis, LE Functional Testing, the Low Back Kinematics Examination, LE Functional Testing, Functional Ankle Ability Evaluation, Functional Knee Ability Evaluation, Functional Shoulder Ability Evaluation and the Functional Low Back Ability Evaluation for $440, a $90 savings!

Pre-performance Programs

As clinician’s we all know that most of the patients we see could have simply avoided us if they had properly prepared their bodies for participation in their particular sport or activity.  We also know that most of our athletes need some guidance when preparing for athletic events.  With a growing amount of interest in sports performance and injury prevention, programs like this add another revenue stream to an already strong sports medicine program.  These training programs are designed to take a comprehensive approach to sport conditioning/injury prevention by addressing all the contributing factors.  These programs are research based programs designed to take your athlete through a progressive program from beginning phases of rehabilitation to an aggressive program which should maintained as a part of your athlete’s regular training regime. 

1.      ACL Conditioning and Sprint Training Program:  This program is designed for the athletes who’s sport requires both the endurance that comes with cardiovascular training along with the power needed with sprint training.  This is a comprehensive progressive program which pushes both cardiovascular endurance along with a progressive sprint training protocol. Offered at the introductory price of $15.

2.      ACL Triathlon/Ironman/Marathon Programs: This is a combination of 3 different training programs for the athlete preparing for the triathlon, marathon and Ironman.  These are 14 week progressive programs designed for the athlete preparing for the Olympic distance triathlon, sprint distance triathlon, ½ Ironman and a marathon.  This is a day by day and week by week progressive program designed to take your athlete through training in the water, on a bike and running.  Each week has a gradual progression up to the day of the event.  Included at the end are training tips to be considered during the course of the program. These three fourteen-week programs are offered for $25 total.

3.      ACL Core Basics: This is an educational, training and injury prevention program for athletes of all sports.  This is a research based program designed to address all of the components that add to core stabilization and aid athletes in prevention of one of the most common athletic injuries, low back pain.  This series of exercises is designed to strengthen the core, aid in lumbar stabilization and improve athletic performance.  This is intended as an adjunct to an athlete’s typical strength training regime. Programs offered for $25.


4.      ACL Core Stabilization Program:  This is an educational, training and injury prevention program for athletes of all sports.   This is a research based program designed to address all of the components that add to core stabilization and aid athletes in prevention of one of the most common athletic injuries, low back pain.  This series of progression exercises from a beginning level to the most advanced level (6 levels to each exercise in all) is designed to strengthen the core, aid in lumbar stabilization and improve athletic performance.  This program’s focus is on the mid-core (without LE involvement) and intended as an adjunct to an athlete’s typical strength training regime. This program is offered at the low price of $30.

5.      ACL Fitness Manual for Peace Officers:  This is a comprehensive program designed for the clinician to use with those individuals who are preparing to enter the police academy.  This is a 16 week exercise program that address all components of physical fitness and aids in successful completion of the physical requirements for the police academy. This sixteen week program is offered at $50.

6.      ACL Baseball Core Stabilization Program:  This is a program originally developed for the Seattle Mariners as an adjunct to their spring training strengthening programs.  This is a comprehensive core stabilization program designed to address all aspects of core stabilization to aid the professional baseball player in prevention of low back pain while increasing athletic performance. This extensive program is offered in PDF format and at the low introductory price of $15.

7.      ACL Ski Conditioning Program:  This is a 6 week program designed to prepare the professional, collegiate or recreational skier for the up and coming ski season.  This comprehensive program addresses LE flexibility, strength and endurance to aid the athlete in improved performance and injury prevention.  This program takes your athlete step by step through strength training and plyometric training in a safe and controlled manner. This extensive program is offered at the low price of $50. Please allow 4-6 weeks for shipping.

Educational Seminars 

Educational seminars are continuing education seminars conducted by Trent Nessler PT, DPT, MPT, around the country and are related to sports medicine, injury prevention and use of functional examination as a part of your differential diagnosis process.  These courses can be used for most states CEUs for ATCs and PTs/PTAs.  For the process on how to apply for CEUs, please contact your local association to find out what materials you need to present (which should be included here along with the CV).  Each course comes with a course description, course objectives and biography of the presenter in order to ensure acceptance of your CEU application.

1.      Female Athlete Series:  This series is for athletic trainers, the sports medicine physical therapist or physical therapist with a strong orthopedic background.  During this three part series, Mr. Nessler covers in depth three distinctly separate but related areas:
  • Research related to the anatomy, physiology and biomechanics of female athletes and what the clinical and training implications are
  • Research related to gender strength differences with and without training and how this influences our training female athletes
  • Research related to the gender kinematic differences and what the clinical and training implications are for injury prevention

Included with this lecture series is the LE Functional Testing.  This is an examination tool designed to supplement the clinician’s existing sports orthopedic examination.  It is a series of tests developed to address the issues as presented in the research in this three part series.  This lecture series is presented in a PowerPoint presentation and is typically a two day course.  Cost for this course is $400.

2.      The Athletic Low Back:  This series is for athletic trainers, the sports medicine physical therapist or physical therapist with a strong orthopedic background.  This comprehensive treatment series is a three part series during which Mr. Nessler covers in depth three distinctly separate but related areas:
  • Research related to the lumbar spine and what the clinical implications are on examination, treatment and core stabilization
  • In depth review of lumbar spine anatomy and clinical implications to biomechanics and treatment
  • A research based exercise program for core stabilization to be utilized as a prevention program and to enhance performance

Included with this lecture series is the Low Back Kinematics Examination and the Functional Low Back Ability Evaluation (FLBAT).  This examination tool is designed to supplement the clinician’s existing sports orthopedic examination.  It is an extensive examination assessing the entire kinetic chain and it’s response to not only “typical” examination but also functional movements.  The FLBAT is an assessment tool designed to assess an athlete’s ability to return to sport following a low back injury.  This lecture series is 1 PowerPoint presentation and two manuals and is typically a two day course.  The cost for this course is $600.

3.  Research Based Performance Training:  This series is for athletic trainers, the sports medicine physical therapist or physical therapist with a strong orthopedic background.  During this three part series, Mr. Nessler covers in depth three distinctly separate but related areas: 

  • Research related to motor learning and how to use these concepts of “higher center learning and training” to improve functional carryover of exercise progressions to performance.
  • Research related to performance training methodology and how to incorporate into functional exercise progressions to ensure maximal carry over to performance training.
  • Research related to the anatomy, physiology and biomechanics of female athletes vs. male athletes and what the clinical and training implications are

Included with this lecture series is the LE Functional Testing.  This is an examination tool designed to supplement the clinician’s existing sports orthopedic examination.  It is a series of tests developed to address the issues as presented in the research in this three part series.  This lecture series is presented in a PowerPoint presentation and is typically a two day course.  Cost for this course is $400.

Performance Library 

As clinicians we are always striving to keep up on the most current research in order to ensure we are practicing evidence based practice in everything we do.  Below are links to the most current research related to the sports performance, injury prevention and diagnostic techniques.  These would include The American Journal of Sports Medicine, the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Journal of Arthroscopic Surgery, Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, Journal of Athletic Training, The National Strength and Conditioning Association Journal and Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Curriculum Vitae for Trent Nessler, PT, DPT, MPT

Knowing that there is a lot of “mis-information” out there on the internet, we wanted to give our audience a view of our curriculum vitaes, our educational and clinical experience as well as our research endeavors.  Also, knowing that most professional associations require CVs for CEU instructors, we wanted to make these available to you for submitting for CEU credits.

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For questions, comments or a copy of Dr. Trent Nessler's CV, please email us at: info@aclprogram.com