[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/02\/return-to-play-lukes-story\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/02\/return-to-play-lukes-story\/","headline":"Return to Play After Back-to-Back ACL Injuries: Luke’s Story","name":"Return to Play After Back-to-Back ACL Injuries: Luke’s Story","description":"For some young athletes, an ACL tear might mean the end of competitive play. But Luke was confident he'd come back from his injury because he'd done it before.","datePublished":"2021-02-23","dateModified":"2020-12-22","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","name":"Sports Medicine","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/sports-medicine\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/iStock-1224158985.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/iStock-1224158985.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/02\/return-to-play-lukes-story\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Sports Medicine"],"wordCount":777,"articleBody":"In July 2019, Luke was playing in a basketball tournament in Louisville, Kentucky, when he went up for a layup and felt an odd \u2014 but familiar \u2014 sensation. The 16-year-old small forward for West Virginia’s Morgantown High School (MHS) had torn his left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).\u201cI felt a pop. In the back of my head, I knew,” says Luke. \u201cPast experience told me it was my ACL.”For some young athletes, an ACL tear might mean the end of competitive play. But Luke felt confident he’d come back from his injury. After all, he had done it two years earlier \u2014 overcoming a torn right ACL just before starting high school.And what a comeback he made. Luke returned to play varsity basketball as a junior \u2014 just six months after his second ACL injury \u2014 and received a college basketball scholarship offer before the start of his senior season.UPMC Sports Performance ProgramLuke’s mom, Michelle, initially discovered UPMC Sports Performance and its Return to Play program in 2017 during an online search. Luke had undergone reconstructive surgery after his first ACL tear and completed physical therapy in Morgantown.\u201cEven though Luke was medically released to play, we felt he needed additional rehab to bridge the gap from PT to competitive sports,” says Michelle. \u201cWe wanted him to build up more strength and confidence so that he would be better equipped for competition.”They made the one-hour trip to Pittsburgh where Luke began working with Program Director Ron DeAngelo, MEd, LAT, FAFS. Ron, a licensed athletic trainer and movement specialist, developed a customized strength and agility program that Luke could work on at home during the week. Over the next month, Ron reevaluated Luke and revised or added exercises when he returned each Saturday.At first, Luke wasn’t exactly thrilled. \u201cFourteen-year-old Luke wanted to be done. I thought I could play,” says Luke. \u201cBut looking at the films, I knew I couldn’t do the same things and I couldn’t jump as high. Ron helped me get to the next level and back to where I was \u2014 and beyond.”The hard work paid off. Luke returned to play for the MHS freshman team halfway through the season. He moved up to varsity basketball as a sophomore and played a full, successful, and healthy season.Back to PittsburghEven after his second ACL injury, Luke never thought his basketball days were over. \u201cI knew that by rehabbing, doing everything right, and working hard I’d be back,” he says.This time, Luke didn’t have any qualms about returning to Pittsburgh for additional rehabilitation before returning to competitive play on the basketball court. “I couldn’t run as fast, jump as high, or cut as hard,” says Luke. \u201cI knew I needed to work on my strength and explosiveness.”His parents didn’t have any qualms either. \u201cWe were very pleased with Ron and the Return to Play program. After the success with Luke’s right knee, we were certainly willing to travel to Pittsburgh again for the left one,” says Michelle.Ron conducted a thorough evaluation and designed special exercises targeted to Luke’s injury and his sport. He included strength and balance exercises along with jump sequences to help with Luke’s explosiveness, jumping, and running. Stretching exercises were added to increase flexibility and prevent future injuries.Luke returned to full play with his team in January 2020 feeling stronger, more stable, and more confident.An Unexpected OfferAt the start of his senior year, Luke played in a basketball league game in Pittsburgh. His strong play drew the attention of Wheeling University’s basketball coach. The next week he traveled to Morgantown to offer Luke an athletic scholarship.\u201cIt was unexpected,” says Luke. \u201cIt felt good to be recognized. It definitely made all that hard work worthwhile.”Luke is excited for the opportunity to continue playing basketball in college. But for now, he is focused on his senior year and playing one final season at Morgantown High School \u2014 and hopefully competing for a state championship.Both Luke and his parents expressed gratitude for Ron and the UPMC Sports Performance Program. \u201cWe are extremely pleased with the results,” says Michelle. \u201cWe highly recommend the program. Watching Luke continue to improve and progress to the point where he is now competing at his prior level has been the biggest reward for us as parents. His scholarship offer is a bonus.”Luke’s treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.To learn more or schedule an appointment with Sports Performance at UPMC Sports Medicine, please call 1-855-937-7678 or visit our website."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"02","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/02\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Return to Play After Back-to-Back ACL Injuries: Luke’s Story","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/02\/return-to-play-lukes-story\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]