The right landing in the right spot. That’s what Senior Aria Lynch’s coach said about her torn ACL, LCL, and lateral meniscus. It couldn’t have been built up to. It was the perfect landing. Perfect, in the worst way possible. 

But now, after that season ending summer game in Atlanta, Lynch is recovering like any champ would. And her story can be a great recovery story for any  athlete.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a major ligament in the knee and is torn when one suddenly stops or changes directions. This is most common in soccer, basketball, football, and downhill skiing. 

 Lynch goes to physical therapy and keeps up with her exercises. Most of them include a stationary bike, which stretches out the knee, because it may get stuck sometimes due to the injury. 

“It’s still really frustrating because it [the knee] won’t bend past a certain point. Like it’s been stuck here for like a week. And…it’s a problem sometimes,” Lynch said. 

Which seems to be just what the doctor ordered. Or in this case, the trainer. Austin Avalos, Francis Howell Central’s athletic trainer.

“[If you injure] your lower body try to do as much stuff that you can with your upper body and vice versa,” Avalos said, in regards to always staying active when injured.

The registered nurses at FHC, Keri Prest and Christy Gerling, mentioned that the most common injuries in athletes are the ACL or meniscus injuries and they and Avalos mentioned sprained ankles are common as well. Luckily, at high school age, recovery is usually quick for sprained ankles, not so much for an ACL tear. 

“ACL knee injury that stuff, you’re out a year or out for your season,” Gerling said. 

Prest also suggests stretching as a way to prevent injuries, because students are at risk of injury when they don’t stretch in general. Lynch definitely recommends physical therapy after getting injured. 

“Had I not been going I definitely would be…not where I am now,” Lynch said about physical therapy.