SJ Sports: A Courageous Athlete

In the Fall of 1998, Mullica Hill’s Katie Scherle entered her freshman year at Clearview Regional High School with high hopes of a successful athletic career. The 6-foot daughter of Bud and Pat Scherle had been playing basketball and softball since childhood and she was ready to take it to the next level.

In February of 1999, in the middle of her first season with the Pioneers, she injured her left knee. After being examined by long time Eagles’ and Flyers’ team physician Dr. Arthur Bartolozzi, Scherle got the news most athletes dread: “You’ve torn your ACL.”

Injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in the past was considered a career ending injury. Extensive and invasive surgical procedures associated with long periods of post-operative immobilization complicated the postoperative course and resulted in stiffness, muscle wasting and loss of normal knee function. Current surgical techniques with advanced arthroscopic (fiberoptic) technology and new methods of preparation and fixation of the ACL substitute graft, have enabled athletes to return to sports much more quickly.

ACL injuries occur commonly in sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball and lacrosse. Most of these injuries occur as a result of a non-contact cutting or pivoting, as opposed to being tackled or injured by an opponent.

An isolated ACL tear can be fixed and the knee can be restored to entirely normal function. Associated injures to the meniscus (a shock absorbing washer in the knee), to the joint surface cartilage, or to other ligaments can complicate the postoperative course and can result in some knee pain and dysfunction.

Scherle had a choice to make. Having treated many high level athletes, Dr. Bartolozzi was very aware of her plight. He discussed that she would receive the same high-level care and attention as had all the previous professional and collegiate athletes that preceded her, but it was up to Scherle to make the commitment to proceed and work hard to recover.

Bartolozzi described choices for replacements of the ACL which included autograft (a piece of the patient’s own tendon), or allograft, (a segment of cadaver tendon) — each of these procedures has had excellent and essentially similar results because of present day technology.

In addition to technological advances, one of the greatest advances has been the acceleration of rehabilitation. Many athletic trainers and physical therapists are well aware of these advanced techniques, which include agility training and conditioning as well as endurance training, and restoration of sport specific activities that are begun at an earlier time because of these improved methods.

After hearing all the issues, Scherle made her decision to proceed with the ACL reconstruction surgery. Immediately following her initial visit, she began an intense rehab program to strengthen her leg in preparation for surgery.

Although surgical techniques have changed over the years, the demand of the post operative rehabilitation program has not changed significantly. In Scherle’s case, she was as committed to rehabilitation just as she commits to high levels of athletic performance. This enabled her to resume her athletic participation at the highest level.

After completing her formal rehab program at NovaCare in Washington Township, Scherle returned to Clearview where she was guided by certified athletic trainer Guy Midure through the final stage of rehab: sport specific training and return to play.

Scherle was in excellent playing shape with her knee completely rehabilitated for the beginning of practice in her sophomore year.

It is an emotionally challenging situation when an athlete develops an injury that could permanently affect one’s future participation. Katie Scherle met the challenge head on and was determined from the outset to resume full unrestricted activity at the highest level. This was key to the restoration of her performance as an outstanding athlete.

The psychological impact of a serious knee injury can extend well beyond the post operative and post recovery phase. Some athletes develop a timid approach to sports and some actually never regain the bounce and agility that were once present. Part of this may be related to the loss of normal knee function, and part of it may be related to a weighty sense of nervousness about a future injury.

Scherle overcame these obstacles to return to play, raising her scoring average to 20 points per game. But with only a few weeks left in her sophomore season, the unthinkable happened. Scherle injured her other knee, and immediately knew the seriousness of the injury.

Scherle underwent another ACL reconstruction, this time to her right knee. For the second year in a row, she missed the softball season while recovering from surgery. Proving her resilience with even greater determination, she faithfully completed her rehab program and returned to basketball at the beginning of practice in the fall of 2000. She played the remainder of her time at Clearview without need for further surgery.

With Scherle’s leadership, the basketball team won the Tri-County Royal division championship and advanced to the semifinal round of the state tournament. She holds school records for rebounding and scoring. As a pitcher for the softball team, she led the region in strikeouts and as a batter, she led in homeruns.

In the best of circumstances with the best surgical procedure and the best post operative rehabilitation, one could anticipate an excellent result. Scherle overcame challenges such as access to surgery and therapists, and a psychological and personal commitment to full recovery. She earned a basketball scholarship to Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland, where she is currently enrolled.

While the technique for treating ACL injuries has evolved over the years, some things have not changed. A high level of commitment is still required to allow the injured athlete to return to previous level of play.

And still, new challenges face the sports medicine community. There is considerable evidence that ACL injuries are more common in female as compared to male athletes for reasons including differences in strength, differences in hormonal balance, and in the architecture of the bones.

Content provided by South Jersey Sports Club.

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Author: SJ Sports Club-Dr. Arthur Bartolozzi & Cliff Fawcett