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Soccer Dream Lives on for Siblings
Brother and sister take steps in their soccer careers after successful
knee surgery at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
No parent looks forward to the
call Patti and Joe D'Amico of
Manasquan got from their daughter
Alli in October 2006.
A starting midfielder for the University
of Delaware women's soccer team, the
21-year-old took a shot on goal — and
felt her kicking leg snap on the followthrough.
"As soon as it happened, I knew I
had a serious knee injury," she says.
Fast forward to Mother's Day weekend
2007, when Alli's brother, Joey, 17, was
playing a soccer game for the Middletown
Pride club team. "I planted my left foot to
kick the ball, and I heard my knee pop,"
recalls Joey. "The first thing that I thought
of was my sister's injury."
Alli and Joey had experienced one of
the symptoms of an acute anterior cruciate
ligament (ACL) injury.
The siblings looked to Anthony Petrosini, M.D., a sports medicine specialist affiliated with Jersey Shore University Medical
Center, for help. After evaluating them,
Dr. Petrosini confirmed Alli and Joey both
had ACL injuries that required surgery.
"ACL injuries are among the most common
injuries in soccer," Dr. Petrosini says.
"Soccer puts significant stress on the ACL
because of all the cutting and lateral movement
a player makes during the game."
Typically, the ACL tears when you slow
down suddenly or cut and pivot with your
foot firmly planted. This can twist or hyperextend
the knee. Landing awkwardly from
a jump is another frequent cause of an
ACL injury. "Although contact injuries do
occur, most soccer injuries are noncontact,
and are associated with slowing down and
changing direction," he adds.
In less than a year, Dr. Petrosini performed
reconstructive surgeries on Alli
and Joey at Jersey Shore.
Initially following ACL reconstruction,
patients can expect to use crutches for
one to two weeks. Early in rehabilitation,
the emphasis is placed on joint flexibility
and controlling swelling. As range
of motion improves, more emphasis is
placed on recovering strength. It typically
takes about six months of physical therapy
and strengthening exercises for a player to
return to an elite level of athletic activity.
Alli took the 2007 season off to give
herself extra recovery time and is now
ready to make a big impact in 2008. Joey
sat out last season, but is now playing in
college showcase tournaments without any
pain in his knee.
 – Rob Cavanaugh
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Anthony Petrosini, M.D., a sports medicine
specialist affiliated with Jersey Shore
University Medical Center, offers these
tips to help your children get into a game
plan of safety:
- Soccer
- Wear shin guards for every practice and every game.
- Choose shoes with molded cleats or ribbed soles.
- Ask your child's doctor and coach whether your child can safely "head" the ball.
- Baseball/Softball
- Pitchers: Throw only four to 10 innings per week.
- Catchers: Wear helmets, masks, and chest-and-neck protectors.
- Always wear a helmet when batting.
- Volleyball
- Wear knee pads and shoes with ankle support.
- "Call" the ball to reduce collisions.
- To prevent overturning the net, never grab it or hang on to the supports.
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