How this Caldwell University Soccer Player Conquered Two ACL Injuries with Physical Therapy
Each month, Iron Physical Therapy highlights a special patient to tell their inspiring story. We want to honor the people who go all in - body, mind and spirit. They show us what’s possible - that you can move on from a setback to do amazing things...to challenge your body, to chase your dreams, to address pain in a healthy way to #getbetterbebetter.
Read Lexi’s story below and then click here to read more inspiring patient stories.
————————————————————-
Lexi has been on the grind in PT over the last 6 months to rehab her ACL. As she enters her final few years of eligibility as a collegiate soccer player at Caldwell University, she has been highly motivated to finish her career strong.
The rehabilitation process is all too familiar to Lexi, as she had undergone surgeries on her other knee in recent years as well. As we progressed in PT, it became evident that there were limitations in the range of motion, strength, and stability of her old ACL reconstruction. This was an area that would certainly increase her risk of reinjury if we did not address it. She was diligent to do everything she could to get both knees back to 100%.
From getting her knee to fully straighten, to squatting heavy, and progressing to sprinting/jumping/landing, she ticked every box off along the way. We even competed 1v1 in soccer drills in the clinic to initiate return to contact!
She’s done a great job of improving her movement quality in her own training at home, and has been more aware of nutrition/sleep to optimize recovery. She has crushed all her return to sport testing and is back to contact during the spring soccer season.
We are pumped to see her back in action next fall!
- Dr. Chris Aherne PT, DPT
In lexi’s Own Words…
Why do you love soccer?
I love soccer because it is exciting and a great opportunity for players to grow. Playing soccer in college has taught me to compete with your team, get better at the game and make good friends. You work together to represent your school.
What Brought You Into Physical Therapy?
An ACL tear to my right knee is what brought me to physical therapy.
What have you learned in PT that you didn’t know before?
Physical therapy has taught me a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation and wellness, which has helped me with skills to improve my quality of life.
I found that strength training exercises targeting my quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles actually helped me regain stability and support in my knee.
What advice do you have for student athletes who get injured?
Remember that injuries are a natural part of sports, but how you handle them can have a significant impact on your long-term athletic success. By staying proactive, patient and focused on your rehabilitation, you can overcome injuries and return to the game stronger than ever.
What can you share about the mental setbacks of having to stop training because of injury?
As an athlete who has had 2 ACL knee surgeries, I can fully say that there will be times that you often feel frustrated and restless when you can't train or compete as usual due to injury. There is always that fear of losing progress and feeling out of control over athletic abilities.
The physical aspect of a long term injury is also very hard. Immobility can cause muscles to weaken and joints to stiffen, reducing mobility which is very frustrating.
But with patience, realistic goal-setting, and staying connected with the support of coaches, teammates and my physical therapists, you can overcome these obstacles.
What has been your biggest motivation to #getbetterbetter?
When sitting on the sidelines during an injury like this, it makes me strive for better outcomes and to work harder. It makes me realize that challenges are opportunities for growth.
I'm motivated by the desire to make a positive impact, contribute to something meaningful and continually improve myself in the process.