ACL injuries have become more and more common among young female athletes, a fact that William Byrd senior Emilie McCaskill knows too well.
She and Carilion Clinic Sports Medicine specialist Michael O'Malley, M.D., recently spoke to WDBJ about her injury, her recovery and her drive to reach her athletic goals.
The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is one of four main ligaments in the knee. It also acts as the primary stabilizer when an athlete cuts and changes direction during practice and games.
Most ACL injuries occur from sports like soccer, basketball, football and tennis.
For Emilie, it's basketball, and her goal was to get back on the court and score her thousandth point before her senior season ended.
According to Dr. O'Malley, the typical recovery time for an ACL repair like hers is nine months.
Emilie gave herself six months.
“It’s a hard injury," Dr. O'Malley told WDBJ, "and it’s tougher on an athlete because an athlete wants to get back on the field.”
Check out WDBJ's video to see if Emilie met her goal—and made her shot.
If you think a Sports Medicine specialist can help your child reach their goals, reach out to their pediatrician for a conversation and referral.
Original source can be found here.
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