Dr. John Crawley

Lucas is a residency-trained, board-certified Orthopedic Specialist at Mend Physical Therapy’s Boulder location with extensive experience in ACL physical therapy, complex knee rehabilitation, and return-to-sport care after a sports injury or surgery. He works with patients at every stage of recovery, from the early, acute stage following an injury to the late-stages of return to running, hiking, skiing, and sports.  Lucas is one of our experts at Mend in ACL rehabilitation.

Lucas’s interest in orthopedic and sports physical therapy grew from his own background as a collegiate football and baseball athlete. He attended St. John’s University before completing his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Regis University. After graduating, Lucas worked in a high-volume orthopedic and sports medicine setting, where he specialized in post-operative ACL rehabilitation and complex knee injuries, and completed a year-long orthopedic residency program.

With a strong foundation in orthopedic manual therapy, strength and conditioning, and evidence-based ACL rehab, Lucas takes a comprehensive approach to care. Having knee-surgery himself, he has first-hand experience with both the physical and mental challenges that come with these injuries, and emphasizes progressive loading, movement quality, and confidence-building throughout the rehab process. His clinical focus is all encompassing, including low back, neck, and shoulder injuries, but he particularly enjoys treating knee injuries, long-term athlete development, and helping active adults safely return to the activities they love.

Lucas combines hands-on manual therapy with individualized exercise programming to restore mobility, build strength, and improve movement efficiency. His treatment approach includes joint mobilization, spinal manipulation, and trigger point dry needling, always paired with progressive strength and movement training. He takes a whole-body, global approach to care that addresses contributing factors both local and distal to the injury to help patients achieve lasting results.

Lucas works with patients of all ages and activity levels, from first-time PT patients to competitive athletes. His goal is to provide clear education, personalized treatment plans, and measurable progress, empowering patients to confidently manage their recovery and return to full activity.

Outside the clinic, Lucas enjoys exploring Colorado with his wife, daughter, and their golden retriever, Sully. His interests include fly fishing, backpacking, strength training, and anything related to college or professional football.