Injury
Anybody who knows me well, knows that I love soccer. I have been playing since I was 12, won a referee scholarship to college, played Div III soccer in college and have not stopped playing since! About two years ago, playing indoor soccer up in Rockville, there was just one defender between me and scoring a goal. I tried to cut the ball in a full sprint and felt my knee buckle in a most un-natural way. I knew immediately that this was a serious injury and was assisted off the field. Fortunately, it was my left knee so I was able to drive myself home and of course, I had to work the next day so I put myself on one crutch and hobbled around to see my patients. After a few months, I had full range of motion and “good enough” strength for normal walking and stair management. My knee was stable but far from normal, clicking, clunking and a general feeling of looseness. I knew what my choices were 1) non-surgical management with some chance of returning to sport or 2) ACL reconstruction followed by rehab and hopeful return to sport. If you reread that first sentence, then you will know what I chose to do!
ACL Surgery
In November of 2017, I underwent ACL reconstruction using a patellar-tendon graft. (Thank you Dr. Barry Boden). Post-op recovery was not easy, but I had the advantage of knowing how to manage the pain, exactly what to do, how to do it and how hard to push. I did my own rehab for the first 2 ½ weeks and then started out-pt PT, when I knew that I would be able to get out of the house by myself and when I knew I was ready for more aggressive rehab. Fast forward a little more than a year later…I am regularly refereeing all ages of soccer games and I am back to playing on my Women’s recreational soccer team.
Now, I don’t recommend that every PT or surgeon undergo the same procedure of the patient’s they are working with, BUT, the experience did teach me many valuable things that have helped me to better understand and help the patients I’m working with today!
Anne-Marie Fiala PT, DScPT, MS
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