Jacob Schramm: ACL tear after crash on the Streif

Jacob Schramm talks about his comeback

At the end of July 2025, ski racer Jacob Schramm visited medical device manufacturer medi in Bayreuth. As a medical cooperation partner, medi supplies the German Ski Association’s (DSV) national teams with braces and orthoses. In the interview, the 26-year-old talks about the difficult time following his accident in January 2025, his therapy results, and his plans for the future.

Jacob, you had a serious crash during a training run in Kitzbühel in January 2025. What exactly happened? 

"A few weeks earlier, I had broken my left elbow in a crash while preparing for the World Cup. Honestly, I was a bit stressed and tired because I wanted to get fit again quickly for Kitzbühel. During downhill training on the Streif, I was doing well, but I missed a small bump on the slope and, due to exhaustion, couldn’t react in time. Because of the high turn pressure and the slip catch mechanism*, my right ACL tore while I was still skiing. After that, I completely lost control and crashed into the safety net at high speed. That impact dislocated my left knee — both ACLs, the lateral collateral ligament, and several muscle structures were torn. I also suffered a mild concussion." 

Airlifted to the hospital by rescue helicopter

Three torn anterior cruciate ligaments

Two knee braces and a medical compression stocking

Jacob, what did your initial treatment look like? 

"Since I was in a wheelchair and needed a ground-level apartment, I moved into a holiday flat in Berchtesgaden that my physiotherapist Marcus Hirschbiel kindly provided. It was a stroke of luck because my physio was right there with me, we started light movement therapy immediately, and I also received daily lymphatic drainage treatments. I was also immediately fitted with the medi knee braces — the M.4s comfort for my right knee and the M.4s PCL dynamic for my left knee — as well as the medical compression stocking medi Rehab one for both legs. The compression stockings were incredibly helpful: they promote lymphatic drainage, reduce swelling, and help prevent edema. I wore them all day. Thanks to the knee braces, the results of my surgeries were stabilized and further damage was prevented until the next operation."  

How long did you wear the knee braces? 

"I used the M.4s comfort for about eight weeks, and the M.4s PCL dynamic for much longer — I wore it daily during my surgeries and for another ten weeks after my second operation. After that, I only wore it while hiking, as it especially supported me on downhill sections. Both braces helped stabilize me during my first attempts at walking with a walker about two weeks after the first surgery, and later with crutches, and they adapted well to my progress. What was especially practical was that I could easily put them on and take them off for my physiotherapy sessions, and they were simple to open. They also helped mentally: knowing there’s protection gives you confidence."  

Gradually increase range of motion throughout rehab

Dear Dr. Köhne, how important are rigid-frame knee braces in general for injuries like the ones Jacob sustained? 

"Especially in cases of complex and/or bilateral injuries, a brace is absolutely essential and crucial for safe recovery. When both knee joints are operated on simultaneously, it’s impossible to fully offload either joint. A brace tailored to the rehabilitation process can still ensure proper healing. Additionally, we were able to continuously adjust the range of motion throughout the rehabilitation and adapt it to the healing progress." 

What does a typical therapy protocol look like for injuries like these? 

"The more complex and unusual the injuries are, the less standardized therapy protocols exist. It makes sense to adapt the protocols for each individual injury. However, compromises always have to be made due to the combination of injuries, in order to address all affected structures simultaneously. This requires a high level of compliance from the patient. In addition, a skilled surgical team is essential, as well as individualized and high-quality rehabilitation carried out by experienced professionals without frequent changes in personnel or location. Jacob completed all rehabilitation steps in the first few months smoothly, with great success and incredible progress — together with the therapist he trusts." 

Jacob, what does your current training routine look like? 

"I train six times a week, with strength training on five days and usually endurance training on Saturdays. I can't jog yet, but cycling works well. I'm happy about every bit of progress. We're taking it week by week, gradually increasing the intensity and incorporating specific movements into the training. I can now do squats with around 80 kilograms of additional weight without pain. Only the posterior chain in my left leg is still causing some issues. But we're currently adding dynamic movements like small hops, quicker stops, and lateral steps. My cruciate ligaments have to relearn everything – and that includes fast movements and heavy loads." 

"My big dream is the Olympics in 2030. Just thinking about it gives me strength."

Thank you very much for the conversation, and all the best to you, Jacob!