The physio becomes the patient: Women’s Football Hub podcast on ACL tears
I joined Carolyn Kent on the Women's Football Hub podcast to share my journey and research regarding the injury and recovery.
Women's Football Hub is a platform dedicated to helping female footballers stay informed, train smarter, and reduce their injury risk.
I joined Carolyn Kent on the Women’s Football Hub podcast to share my journey and research regarding the injury and recovery.
Carolyn built this platform that is dedicated to helping female footballers stay informed, train smarter, and reduce their injury risk.
As a physiotherapist and passionate footballer I have, like many female athletes, had to navigate the long road of ACL recovery. I had spent years helping others rehab their injuries, but when I tore my own ACL, I was suddenly on the other side of the process. The experience added to the way I see injuries, rehab, and the return to play.
You can listen to this interview on the Women’s Football Hub podcast. We talk about how ACL injuries happen, the tough decision between surgery and non-surgical recovery, and the importance of a gradual return to play. Whether you’re recovering from an ACL tear or looking for ways to prevent one, I hope my story helps you on your own journey.
Understanding ACL Injuries in Female Soccer Players
ACL injuries are, unfortunately, a big part of women’s football. I know because I’ve lived it as a player tearing my ACL, and as a physiotherapist diagnosing and treating female footballers (soccer players) who have suffered from this injury.
I was playing competitive coed soccer when I tore my ACL in a classic non-contact pivot shift injury. As I planted my foot and turned, I immediately knew something was wrong. Oftentimes, players hear a loud pop, which can be a classic sign of a ligament tear, but I personally didn’t experience that.
Female players are at a higher risk of ACL tears due to numerous factors like training history, biomechanics, strength imbalances, and societal perspectives contributing to strength training, sports training and playing sports in general.
“Pressing, decelerating, and landing injuries are some of the biggest culprits for ACL tears in professional female footballers.”
For me, it was also preparation, or lack thereof.
“I wasn’t prepared for the intensity of the game when I got injured. I had taken a break from competitive play, and I wasn’t doing structured warm-ups or strength training to protect my knees.”
This is a common issue among female athletes, and it underscores the importance of targeted injury prevention programs that focus on stability, strength, and agility, like the FIFA 11+.
“Many players think they can jump right back into play without conditioning, but the reality is that skipping preventative training increases injury risk significantly.”
Surgery vs. Non-Surgical Recovery for ACL Tears
After my injury, I had to decide: surgery or non-surgical rehab? It wasn’t an easy choice. I went through three months of structured physiotherapy, working with ACL specialist physios (at ORKA Performance in Calgary) to see if I could regain stability without surgery. While some players successfully return to sport without an operation, I kept experiencing instability and buckling, which helped me make a decision towards getting surgery.
“Even though I’m a physio and knew all the research, making the decision was still tough. I had to think about my long-term ability to play, my career, and my overall knee health. Surgery was ultimately the best option for me, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all decision.”
There’s a lot of discussion now about protocols like cross-bracing, which may help ACLs heal without surgery. If you’re in this situation, take the time to weigh your options, talk to specialists, and make the choice that best supports your long-term goals.
“One of the biggest mistakes athletes make is assuming surgery is the only route. It’s about assessing your body’s specific needs and long-term functionality.”
Returning to Play: Why Gradual Progress Matters
Getting back to football wasn’t as simple as passing my rehab milestones. I had to rebuild my strength, confidence, and movement patterns over time. Carolyn and I talked about how many athletes underestimate the return-to-play process—there’s more to it than just getting your knee strong again.
One of the biggest lessons I learned? Preparation matters.
Looking back, I wasn’t ready for the intensity of competitive play when I got injured. I wasn’t doing structured injury prevention or proper warm ups for soccer, and my body wasn’t prepared for high-speed deceleration. Same went for when I was back playing at a high level post-surgery.
“Deceleration, cutting, and reactive movements need to be part of rehab and preparation.”
If you’re returning to the field, don’t just rush back into games—build up gradually with controlled drills, then small-sided play, and only then full matches.
“I thought that once I hit the 12-month mark, I’d be back at my pre-injury level. But when I stepped onto the field, I realized I still wasn’t ready. I needed more time to adjust to the speed and unpredictability of the game. Many athletes don’t realize that physical readiness doesn’t always equal psychological readiness. Confidence and trust in your knee are just as important as strength and mobility.”
If you’re a footballer dealing with an ACL injury, know this: you’re not alone.
Whether you’re weighing surgery, grinding through rehab, or preparing to return to sport, take it one step at a time. Build strength, follow evidence-based recovery strategies, injury prevention programs like the FIFA 11+, and don’t skip the neuromuscular training.
If you want to dive deeper into ACL recovery, I’ve put together an eBook with all the research and insights I’ve gathered from my experience as a player, patient and physiotherapist.
It was a pleasure speaking with Carolyn about ACLs, the research behind injury prevention and rehabilitation. I’m excited to see where the WFHub goes!