When 61-year-old Lisa Meyer tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) her very first time skiing, she wanted an option that would allow her to get back to her very active lifestyle. She considered traditional ACL reconstruction (ACLR) but ultimately chose the BEAR Implant after hearing about its benefits from her daughter who works at Bespoke Physical Therapy. We spoke with Lisa; her daughter / physical therapist, Katie Adamson; and her surgeon, Dr. Tim Wang, an orthopedic surgeon at Scripps Health in San Diego, California, about her BEAR Implant experience, rehab and her return to biking. 

Q: How did you tear your ACL?

Lisa: I tore my ACL right after I finished my very first ski lesson at Deer Valley in Park City, Utah. When I got off the ski lift, my skis crossed and my bearings didn’t break free, so I twisted my left knee. I initially thought I was okay but then felt unsteady and fell to the ground. After going to the local orthopedic clinic, they confirmed I tore my ACL, and I immediately made arrangements to see Dr. Wang when I returned home.

Q: How did you learn about the BEAR Implant and ultimately, why did you choose it?

Lisa: My daughter Katie works with Dr. Wang through her role as a physical therapist, so he was my first choice to discuss my ACL injury. I spoke with Katie about my options because I’m really active, and I initially wanted to get back to jogging, lifting and pickleball. She recommended the BEAR Implant to me. Once I met with Dr. Wang, we discussed ACLR using an allograft, but in Katie’s experience, she hadn’t seen awesome results using a cadaver, so my options were to either get the BEAR Implant or cope without a functional ACL.

I chose to get the BEAR Implant because I liked the idea of using my own tissue to heal my ACL versus using cadaver grafts. I thought it would be a better fit for me given my age and my desire to get my range of motion and activity back. I also liked that the procedure would have smaller incision sites, which would lead to less scarring compared to traditional ACLR.

Katie: I have been following ACL tear research for the last 5-10 years, and I spent time at Ohio State where they did research on the BEAR Implant. When I heard my mom was a candidate, I encouraged her to pursue it because I see it as the future of ACL repair.

Q: Why was Lisa a good candidate for the BEAR Implant? 

Dr. Wang: Lisa was a good candidate because of her age, activity level, and proximal tear pattern. She was also well informed due to her occupation as a nurse and daughter’s occupation as a physical therapist.

Q: Can you tell us about rehab? 

Lisa: I was lucky to have Katie run my physical therapy program. I went three times a week. The first six weeks were tough with pain control and being non-weight bearing. But after that it was smooth sailing, and I was able to hit all my goals for flexion, extension and range of motion. My main sport now is biking, which I picked up during rehab. When I realized I wouldn’t injure myself with full circle rotations while biking, I was really motivated to continue the sport. My boyfriend, Steve, had ACLR surgery in the past on both his knees, and he supported me through my recovery and saw firsthand how the BEAR Implant helped me continue to be active.

Katie: Although I’ve seen other patients go through ACLR rehab, my first time working with the BEAR Implant protocol was with my mom. Prehab was very important for her. The biggest difference between her protocol and ACLR protocol was the slower start in the beginning. After the six-to-eight-week mark, she was doing the same weightlifting as my other ACLR patients. We worked on functional milestones like symmetry and made sure to mimic what her goals were in life with our therapy goals. Since she got used to walking with the brace on, we also worked on her gait when it was time to remove the brace.

Dr. Wang: Because Lisa’s daughter Katie is a physical therapist, Lisa was able to maximize the accelerated physical therapy program and get back to function sooner than that of the traditional autograft ACL. It was amazing to see her get back to a high level of exercise and activity pretty early on.

Q: Can you tell us about your return to sport experience? 

Lisa: I was cleared to return to sport nine months after my BEAR Implant surgery. During rehab I started biking and trained to participate in a charity ride for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. In January 2025, I traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, and successfully biked 460 miles in eight days with no problems with my knee and no medication. Although I was on an e-bike, I did most of the peddling and never used the full electric features. I biked up to 60 miles daily! This was a huge accomplishment for me, and now I’m deciding what to do for my next big off-road biking trip.

Q: What, in your opinion, is most notable about the BEAR Implant and how has it impacted how you treat ACL tears?

Dr. Wang: The BEAR Implant is unique because it allows us to repair someone’s own native ACL without having to harvest their own tissue. This allows us to avoid the side effects and complications often associated with traditional ACLR. It may also result in a more “natural” feeling knee compared to traditional ACL surgery. The BEAR Implant provides us with another option for treatment in the spectrum of ACL injured patients.

Q: How does your BEAR Implant knee feel today?

Lisa: My knee feels normal, and in fact my BEAR Implant knee feels better than my other knee. There’s nothing I can’t do with my knee; I still play pickleball and golf. What’s changed activity-wise is that I used to be a runner, but my joints have had enough and after falling in love with biking during rehab, that’s become my main sport.

Q: Why do you recommend the BEAR Implant for your patients like Lisa?

Dr. Wang: The BEAR Implant provides patients with another option for treatment of their ACL injury that may allow for stable knee and return to activities while minimizing complications.

Q. What have you learned through this process?

Lisa: I’ve learned so much about myself through BEAR Implant surgery and rehab. My recovery went so smoothly without complications, and I took a lot of ownership in being consistent and putting in the work. I would recommend the BEAR Implant to anyone, especially someone older whose tissues are no longer as strong as they were in their 20s and 30s but who still wants to be active. At 61, getting the BEAR Implant allowed me to pick up biking as a new sport, and I’m as active as I ever was. I play golf once or twice a week, I weight lift three days a week and I do F-45, Orangetheory Fitness and still play pickleball. I don’t feel like I have any limitations, and I can do anything I set my mind to.

Learn more about the BEAR Implant and find a surgeon

The BEAR Implant is available across the U.S. Learn more about the BEAR Implant or find a surgeon in your area. If you’re a BEAR Implant patient and would like to share your story, click here.

The BEAR Implant from Miach Orthopaedics was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2020. It is indicated for adults, adolescents and children with a complete or partial rupture of the ACL, as confirmed by MRI. Patients must have an ACL stump attached to the tibia to construct the repair. Children with open physes must have sufficient bone in the femoral and tibial epiphyses on either side of the intended tunnel locations to avoid disruption of the growth plates.

It is important to follow the BEAR Implant physical therapy program. Your surgeon can explain the program details.

Be sure to discuss your individual symptoms, diagnosis and treatment with your surgeon. The BEAR Implant has the same potential medical/surgical complications as other orthopedic surgical procedures, including ACL reconstruction. These include the risk of re-tear, infection, knee pain, meniscus injury and limited range of motion.

Visit www.miachortho.com for complete product information, including Instructions for Use.

ML-1341 Rev A 08/2025