tcamom

Oh, that is too bad. Middleton was showing the signs of building a program. Any ideas who will coach you?

Yes we are!!! Do well. I know you will leave it all on the field, you always do.

Josh LeNoir, Trinity Christian.. First team all state as a kicker last year. Has been working hard the last 4 months to improve his kicking and punting.

Sounds encouraging. I could not be there. Last spring the game against McNairy was a "character building" experience for Trinity. We were in over our heads. To be competitive against McNairy this spring makes me anxious for fall to get here.

Who was selected to the all-tournament team?

Thanks for sharing this. We always hear the bad stuff, gripes and complaints. Very refreshing to read that our sport is building (or revealing) character in young men.

Thanks for posting this info.

This game is history now, but I just can't let that (10-1) comment go. If you watched the entire game closely, you will agree time of possession went to Trinity. Shots on goal were about even. Except for one beautiful shot, Lexington scored on TCA mistakes (and I am not just referring to keeper). TCA had several strong shots hit the corner uprights, the post and the crossbar. The score was 3-0 at half, then Trinity scored while Lexington's stronger 2 players were on the bench at the same time. One was subbed, the other left for a short time with an injury. As soon as Trinity scored, the Lexington "strong two" were put right back in the game. Playing the Lexington bench 2-3 subs at a time did not influence the game. Man for man, except for your top 2 players, TCA showed better skills and tactics than the Lexington players.

Fun game to watch!! Lexington is definitely improved. Have been watching these teams compete since Lexington fielded its first soccer team. Easy to see that Lexington is building a soccer program. Trinity did not let down, left it all on the field. Made some mistakes that cost us, but we are better every game. Keep it up!!

Where was the game?

Way to go Bolivar!!! Keep it up. all the way to the state championship!!!!!

4 min to go, Bolivar up by 15

Good luck Madison!!!!!!!! We are rooting for you!!!

Madison and Trinity tied 1-1 today

To shift the subject a little: I recently took a cont ed course on anterior knee pain (jumpers knee, patello-femoral maltracking syndrome, etc) Pain in the front of the knee is very common in female athletes, especially with jumping sports. Course was 3 days, and one of the things emphasized was hip strength, especially in the abductors (muscles that swing your leg out to the side) and extensors (glutes - -- a muscular butt is a good thing, and referred to as your "big house"). One check or screening for hip strength, is to do a single leg dip while standing sideways on a step. Watch your knee. Does it stay over the center of your foot, or does it pull to the inside? If it pulls to the inside, you are at high risk for knee injury or a pain syndrome. Strengthen those hips!!!!

Mitch Ross, wide receiver and punter from Bolivar has committed to Harvard.

Talking to your doctor is exactly what you should do. Most of the time, the knee will feel tight, but no risk of re-tearing with the exercises as long as you do what you have been told. One exercise to not do early on is knee extension, (moving your leg from bent to straight), using your quads. When you need to straighten out your leg, use the other ankle to help. Ask your PT about the patellar pain. And hang in there. When you start walking, it will be with your brace locked and crutches, then with your brace unlocked only in PT, no crutches, then with your brace unlocked all the time. How quickly you get out of the brace depends on your quad strength. Keep me informed!! I am pulling for you!!

Good for you!! Keep it up! The hardest part is when you are feeling fine, but still limited in your activity. Blame it on tissue histology (the length of time it takes for healing to occur). About the hamstring, I am not sure why it keeps reoccurring. Her surgery was patellar tendon graft, and she did not have a really hard time getting her extension back. It was asymptomatic, then cropped up again when she joined the team for practice. We are approaching it now with making sure she gets recovery days.

I agree. He also has great field vision, and can really "pass the ball".

Patellar mobs are what you describe as "moving your knee cap around". Try this: Before you start the bending exercises, put a towel roll under your knee (it should be flexed about 30 degrees). using the web space between your thumb and first finger, "catch" the part of your knee cap closest to your thigh. Gently push away, gliding your knee cap toward your foot, not down into the knee joint. Take up the slack, then oscillate there for at least 30 seconds, do it 5 or 6 times. Then do the same technique, but glide your knee cap toward the inside. Do the same on your uninjured knee, so you can feel how much movement your knee cap should have. With the patellar tendon graft, the area where the graft was harvested tends to build up scar, and block your knee cap from gliding distally (toward your foot). That is why you should do your mobs all through the day, but especially before your bending exercises. Sorry this was so long, but it is important. Not getting your patellar "play" back early on leads to knee cap problems later. By the way, the junior basketball player I am rehabbing now (July surgery) started full practice with the Bolivar team this week. She still checks in with me, and I am making her do extra plyometrics and jump rope, etc. She does not have any knee symptoms, but we are dealing with an uncooperative hamstring.

The "hanging up" sensation should not be ignored. Tell your physical therapist. Have you been taught to do patellar mobs (mobilizations)? sometimes the catching sensation will clear up if you do your patellar mobs, especially the distal and medial ones before your knee bending exercises. Your PT can teach you how.

lilc, the duration of PT is very individual, and depends on lots of factors: some of it is hard work on your part, some of it depends on your "support system". By that, I mean, if you have an ATC at your high school practices, you will be discharged sooner from PT. The ATC can progress you through the final goals for return to play. Here in Bolivar, we do not have an ATC at the high school (I would love to hire one for my clinic and send them over during practice periods, but rural west TN is a challenge for medical staffing). The basketball coach communicates with me at least weekly, and I send a written program for my patient to do during bball practice. As she progresses, I will alter her practice plan at school. But, since we do not have an ATC, I continue to see her in PT. Basketball requires very high level responses from the knee, especially in females. I don't like to completely discharge from PT until I am confident the patient can return to sport safely. I also address the other leg (hip strength, etc.) for prevention purposes. Sorry this is so long, your duration of PT will be based on your goals, and when those goals are met, you will be discharged. The brace sometimes helps with confidence, sometimes is needed if the ACL is not as firm as the MD would like. Remember, with a patellar tendon graft, you are transferring elastic (tendon) tissue to replace non-elastic (ligament). It takes time for that graft to scar down and build tensile strength. Keep up the good work!!!

Follow the physical therapists instruction carefully right from the beginning, and there is no reason to develop pain on the front of your knee. The first few weeks are crucial, (and painful), but set the tone for the rest of your life, literally. I am working with a 16 year old now. She had her ACL repair (patella tendon graft) in July. She is running, jumping (not landing on the injured leg by itself, so no layups), participating in all the basketball drills with her team, except scrimmaging and rebounding situations. I am just afraid she will have a giving way episode if she lands on another player's foot. She is still coming to PT 3 days a week, where we are working on first step quickness, and quad/ham strength. She has no knee pain at all, and no swelling, even after a hard workout. Tuck jumps on the tramp, fitter with random ball passes, five point drills, carioca. She is doing it all, just waiting on the ortho MD to okay her to return to full sport. Her brace is to come in next week. Advice: don't get fitted too early on for your functional brace. Get your quads built back first. The brace is expensive, and tends to not fit as you rebuild your quads and hamstrings if it is fitted too soon.

My son, who played football and soccer in high school, played Rugby in college in Virginia. He loves it, has finished graduate school, has a high-falutin' job, but continues to play rugby. It is his social and recreational outlet, he was thrilled when he was promoted to the 'A' level team in Richmond.