FC Dallas Youth Soccer Club player Walker Roberts, professional soccer player Becky Contreras, and competitive player Deirdre Milford are three of the approximately 150,000 people in the U.S. who hear the dreaded “pop” of an ACL tear playing soccer each year.
Even with proper warm-up and strength programs, these injuries still happen across every level of the game.
But thanks to the BEAR Implant, their injuries weren’t the end of their stories, just the start of their comeback.
See their journeys from ACL tear to return to play.
“Athletes typically say they feel different after an ACL surgery, but I feel like I am the same player today. In fact I sometimes forget which knee had the BEAR Implant because it feels even stronger in some ways than my non-injured knee.”
Read Becky’s Story
“I really don’t think of my ACL tear or my BEAR Implant knee at all. If I see someone with a knee brace on it reminds me of what I went through but otherwise my knee has no pain and is back to 100%. I trust it.”
Read Walker’s Story
“Once I stepped back on the field for team tryouts, it was like déjà vu. I couldn’t believe I was playing again. I felt great when I made the team and I think that had a lot to do with the BEAR Implant.”
Read Deirdra’s StoryUnlike most ligaments in the body, a torn ACL usually can’t heal on its own. The most common treatment is surgery called ACL reconstruction (ACLR), where the surgeon removes your torn ligament and replaces it with a tendon graft – either from your own leg (autograft) or from a donor (allograft). While ACLR works well, it has tradeoffs. Many people struggle to return to the same level of activity or sport.
The BEAR Implant offers a different approach. Instead of replacing your ACL, it helps your body heal the torn ligament naturally, no graft needed. Over time, the implant is absorbed and replaced by your body’s own tissue, helping restore your natural ACL.
The BEAR implant is FDA-cleared for adults, teens, and kids – even those with open growth plates – as long as the tear meets the criteria:
Your surgeon can evaluate your knee and tell you if this natural repair is an option.
It is important to follow the BEAR Implant physical therapy program. Your surgeon can explain the program details.
The BEAR Implant has the potential to be a game changer for professional athletes who experience ACL tears. In recognition of its potential, the BEAR Implant is supported by:
ACL tears are one of the most common, and unfortunate, injuries in professional soccer. The Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) invested in the BEAR Implant in 2024 as part of an ongoing effort to provide players with access to innovative resources that focus on improving injury outcomes.
In 2011, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) became one of the first investors in the BEAR Implant. The investment was part of an initiative to understand and develop treatment interventions for illnesses and injuries that impact players. Today, ACL tears are among the top three most burdensome injuries in the league in terms of time away from sport.
Find a surgeon near who performs BEAR Implant surgery to talk through your next move.
Find a Surgeon Near YouThe BEAR Implant is available across the U.S. in every state. Tap the button below to search for trained BEAR surgeons near you.
Find a SurgeonReturn-to-sport timelines are similar to ACL reconstruction, usually around 9 months. Recovery with the BEAR implant requires a unique approach. The rehabilitation protocol for the BEAR Implant has been carefully designed to help protect your ACL during the healing process while helping you meet important rehabilitation goals. Your surgeon and PT will guide your timeline so you come back strong and smart.
Read More About BEAR RecoveryTraditional ACL surgery replaces your torn ligament with a graft—usually taken from your own leg or a donor. That means removing the damaged ACL entirely. The BEAR Implant helps your own ACL heal naturally by reconnecting the torn ends using a special implant and a small amount of your own blood. There's no graft, no need to borrow tissue, and your knee’s natural structure stays intact. It’s a fresh way to recover that keeps more of you in your knee.
How is the BEAR Implant Different from Reconstruction?Our PT locator map can be used to search for physical therapists in your area who’ve been trained in the BEAR Implant rehabilitation.
Find a Physical TherapistYou may be eligible for the BEAR Implant if you have a partial or complete ACL tear as confirmed by MRI.
While patients in our early clinical studies were required to have surgery within 50 days of ACL injury, real world experience has shown ACL tissue quality, not time, determines eligibility for the BEAR Implant.
Children as young as 2 years old may be candidates for the BEAR Implant.
The overall procedure is very similar regardless of patient age. If your child is skeletally immature, their surgeon will use a growth plate sparing technique to avoid disrupting the natural growth process.
See Patient Stories