Women's Football Hub

Edited by Carolyn Kent – Women’s Football Hub

Introduction

In this expert-packed episode of the Women’s Football Hub podcast, we spoke with Dr Ted Ganley, orthopaedic surgeon and director of the Sports Medicine and Performance Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Elliot Greenberg, clinical specialist and rehabilitation researcher. With nearly two decades of experience treating ACL injuries in young athletes, their insights reveal a nuanced, evidence-based approach to youth rehab, recovery timelines, and re-injury prevention.

Why ACL Injuries in Young Athletes Are Different

Working almost exclusively with adolescent athletes, Elliot and Dr Ganley explain how ACL injuries in youth differ significantly from those in adults:

• 🦵 Skeletal maturity matters: Growth plates determine surgical choices and rehab timelines.
• 🧠 Emotional maturity varies: Young players often don’t grasp long-term consequences.
• ⚖️ Girls face unique risks: Hormonal changes, strength imbalances and higher exposure rates all factor in.

“We’re seeing 14-year-olds with the same injury as pros, but without the support systems.”

They also stress that female athletes are not only more likely to suffer ACL injuries, but also tend to face tougher return-to-play decisions due to differences in strength-to-weight ratio and biomechanics.

The Emotional and Psychological Toll

One powerful theme of this episode is the emotional weight ACL injuries carry for young footballers:

• 🧠 Identity loss is real: Players see themselves as athletes first.
• 🧍Isolation during rehab increases dropout risk.
• 🔁 Language matters: Words like “test” and “clearance” can lead to anxiety.

“None of my patients said the hardest part was pain. They said it was the emotional challenge.”

Both guests advocate for integrating sports psychology early, maintaining social connection with teammates, and educating parents as allies in recovery.

Rehab Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

From bracing strategies to quad activation, the pair highlight that:

• ✅ NMES (Neuro-Muscular Electrical Stimulation) should be standard to combat early quad inhibition.
• 🦶 Knee extension & patella mobility are critical but often overlooked.
• 🏋️ Strength training for girls is often underdosed due to outdated bias.

“Even in professional clinics, female athletes get prescribed less strength training. That has to change.”

They stress that return-to-play decisions should be based on milestones, not timelines. Functional testing, strength symmetry, and psychological readiness are all essential.

Reducing Re-Injury Risk

Re-injury rates are still high – especially in female youth players. To help reduce risk:

• ⏳ Limit players to one team and one sport during the first return season.
• 📋 Incorporate injury prevention programmes into every session.
• 👣 Focus on neuromuscular control and not just strength.

“The goal isn’t just returning to sport. It’s building athletes back stronger than ever.”

What Coaches & Parents Need to Know

Elliot and Dr Ganley both agree: you can’t do this without support.

• 👨‍👩‍👧 Educate parents as part of the rehab team.
• 🗣️ Give coaches clear return-to-play guidelines.
• 💬 Speak in ways players understand and relate to.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing this episode drives home, it’s that ACL recovery for youth footballers is about so much more than healing a ligament. It’s about identity, confidence, and education. With the right strategies and support, players can come back stronger – not just physically, but mentally.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

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This blog post was created with assistance from OpenAI’s ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025).