Blood Flow Restriction After ACL Injury

Chris Fry

Dr. Christopher Fry is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition and the Associate Director of the Center for Muscle Biology at the University of Kentucky. Chris completed a B.S. in Biology at Baylor University (2006), Ph.D. in biomedical sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB, 2011) and postdoctoral training in muscle physiology at the University of Kentucky (2014). He established his research lab at UTMB in 2014 where his work focused on aging muscle adaptation, recovery from burn injury and enhancing quadriceps recovery following ACL reconstruction. In 2019 Chris relocated his lab to the Center for Muscle Biology in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Kentucky. His research program at the University of Kentucky is focused on the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle plasticity during aging and recovery after injury. Specifically, the Fry lab seeks to enhance the regenerative and regrowth capacity of skeletal muscle when it is compromised, as during aging or following an acute or chronic injury. Work from his lab has yielded seminal insight into human skeletal muscle progenitor cells (satellite cells and fibrogenic cells) and their contribution to muscle quality and adaptation. Dr. Fry's lab utilizes several different experimental models, including transgenic rodent models, primary cell culture, as well as clinical subject research.  He is funded by several grants through the National Institutes of Health, and he has also received numerous awards for his research including the New Investigator Award of the American Physiological Society as well as being named a University Research Professor. He has competed as an amateur bodybuilder and enjoys working out, traveling, cooking and spending time with his wife and son.  

Corbin Hedt 

Corbin is a physical therapist currently practicing in Houston, TX with Houston Methodist.  Corbin obtained his Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Texas Woman's University.  Soon thereafter, Corbin obtained residency-training from Houston Methodist Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Sports Physical Therapy Residency program.  He currently serves as residency faculty and mentor to current residents as well as leading research efforts as the Physical Therapy Research Director for the department.  Corbin has extensive experience in sports rehabilitation and takes special interest in return to sport paradigms, sports-specific treatment strategies, and the youth population.

Corbin has had the opportunity to work alongside athletes at all levels and with prestigious organizations such as the Houston Astros, Houston Texans, Houston Dynamo/Dash, Rice University, Houston Rodeo, and Houston Ballet/Orchestra.

Active in research and evidence-based education, Corbin has authored/co-authored several publications within the realm of sports rehabilitation.

Heather Milligan

Heather Milligan is the founder and President of Elite OrthoSport Physical Therapy & Performance in Los Angeles, California. In addition to her degree in Physical Therapy, she holds her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Heather is a Board-Certified Specialist in Orthopedics, a Board-Certified Specialist in Sports and a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist.

Heather spent 20 years as a competitive gymnast and has worked extensively with athletes of all ages and competition levels including professional boxing, MMA, NFL, NBA, MLB, tennis, figure skating, volleyball, soccer, track, gymnastics, and a variety of recreational athletes. She has used both her clinical and business experience to establish a team of physical therapists at Elite OrthoSport that share her values and approach to provide the highest level of care and individual attention to each patient.

Luke Hughes

Dr Luke Hughes is an exercise physiologist with a special interest in clinical rehabilitation and spaceflight. He completed his PhD in blood flow restriction training, specifically investigating the efficacy of using BFR as a post-surgery rehabilitation tool following ACL reconstruction, within the NHS at University College London Hospital. Expanding on his PhD research, he investigated the hypoalgesia effect of BFR exercise, and associated mechanisms. Luke is now funded by the UK Space Agency working in the Aerospace Medicine and Rehabilitation Laboratory at Northumbria University. He is investigating the lumbopelvic deconditioning associated with spaceflight, both in astronauts during ISS missions and in healthy individuals during bedrest on Earth.

Kyle Kimbrell

Kyle is a graduate of the physical therapy program at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX. He’s been in practice for 19 years with the bulk of his career spent in outpatient private practice in Camarillo, CA.

In addition to his duties in the clinic, Kyle ran a “Recruit Injury Management and Prevention Program” for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Training Academy for 13 years. Presently Kyle works as a Clinical Educator for Owens Recovery Science where he produces educational content, teaches their certification course, as well as consults on a wide range of cases and research projects.