Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine >
  • ... >
  • About Us >
  • Patient Stories >
  • Sports Medicine >
  • Performance Services >
  • Luke Performance Services
Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
About Us
Patient Stories
General Orthopaedics
Joint Replacement
Sports Medicine
ACL Program
Athletic Training
Concussion
Performance Services
Physician Services
Sports Nutrition
Orthopaedic Surgery
Your Care Team
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Contact Us
Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
About Us
Patient Stories
General Orthopaedics
Joint Replacement
Sports Medicine
ACL Program
Athletic Training
Concussion
Performance Services
Physician Services
Sports Nutrition
Orthopaedic Surgery
Your Care Team
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Luke’s Story: Return to Play After Back-to-Back ACL Injuries

Image of Luke

In July 2019, Luke was playing in a basketball tournament in Louisville, Kentucky, when he went up for a layup and felt an odd — but familiar — sensation. The 16-year-old small forward for West Virginia’s Morgantown High School (MHS) had torn his left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

“I felt a pop. In the back of my head, I knew,” says Luke. “Past experience told me it was my ACL.”

For some young athletes, an ACL tear might mean the end of competitive play. But Luke felt confident he’d come back from his injury. After all, he had done it two years earlier — overcoming a torn right ACL just before starting high school.

And what a comeback he made. Luke returned to play varsity basketball as a junior — just six months after his second ACL injury — and received a college basketball scholarship offer before the start of his senior season.

UPMC Sports Performance Program

Luke’s mom, Michelle, initially discovered UPMC Sports Performance and its Return to Play program in 2017 during an online search. Luke had undergone reconstructive surgery after his first ACL tear and completed physical therapy in Morgantown.

“Even though Luke was medically released to play, we felt he needed additional rehab to bridge the gap from PT to competitive sports,” says Michelle. “We wanted him to build up more strength and confidence so that he would be better equipped for competition.”

They made the one-hour trip to Pittsburgh where Luke began working with Program Director Ron DeAngelo, MEd, LAT, FAFS. Ron, a licensed athletic trainer and movement specialist, developed a customized strength and agility program that Luke could work on at home during the week. Over the next month, Ron reevaluated Luke and revised or added exercises when he returned each Saturday. At first, Luke wasn’t exactly thrilled.

“Fourteen-year-old Luke wanted to be done. I thought I could play,” says Luke. “But looking at the films, I knew I couldn’t do the same things and I couldn’t jump as high. Ron helped me get to the next level and back to where I was — and beyond.”

The hard work paid off. Luke returned to play for the MHS freshman team halfway through the season. He moved up to varsity basketball as a sophomore and played a full, successful, and healthy season.

Back to Pittsburgh

Even after his second ACL injury, Luke never thought his basketball days were over. “I knew that by rehabbing, doing everything right, and working hard I’d be back,” he says.

This time, Luke didn’t have any qualms about returning to Pittsburgh for additional rehabilitation before returning to competitive play on the basketball court.

“I couldn’t run as fast, jump as high, or cut as hard,” says Luke. “I knew I needed to work on my strength and explosiveness.”

His parents didn’t have any qualms either.


“We were very pleased with Ron and the Return to Play program. After the success with Luke’s right knee, we were certainly willing to travel to Pittsburgh again for the left one.” — Michelle, Luke's mom


Ron conducted a thorough evaluation and designed special exercises targeted to Luke’s injury and his sport. He included strength and balance exercises along with jump sequences to help with Luke’s explosiveness, jumping, and running. Stretching exercises were added to increase flexibility and prevent future injuries.

Luke returned to full play with his team in January 2020 feeling stronger, more stable, and more confident.

An Unexpected Offer

At the start of his senior year, Luke played in a basketball league game in Pittsburgh. His strong play drew the attention of Wheeling University’s basketball coach. The next week he traveled to Morgantown to offer Luke an athletic scholarship.

“It was unexpected,” says Luke. “It felt good to be recognized. It definitely made all that hard work worthwhile.”

Luke is excited for the opportunity to continue playing basketball in college. But for now, he is focused on his senior year and playing one final season at Morgantown High School — and hopefully competing for a state championship.

Both Luke and his parents expressed gratitude for Ron and the UPMC Sports Performance Program.

“We are extremely pleased with the results,” says Michelle. “We highly recommend the program. Watching Luke continue to improve and progress to the point where he is now competing at his prior level has been the biggest reward for us as parents. His scholarship offer is a bonus.”

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login