Woitalla: Rachel Buehler gives advice on injury recovery

U.S. Women’s National Team defender Rachel Buehler suffered ACL injuries, in separate incidents, in both knees, as a teenager. Now 27, she has won two Olympic gold medals, a U-20 World Cup, a WPS title (Gold Pride), and has played 99 games for the USA, including five at the last World Cup.

Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla sat down with Buehler, who starred at Stanford University and now plays for the NWSL’s Portland Thorns FC, to provide some advice for young players faced with the challenge of rehabilitating from injuries.

Among the highlights of Buehler’s comments:

“I focused on a goal for each week: This week I want to gain two more degrees of extension or inflection, or whatever it is. I thought in terms of small goals and then felt like I accomplished something and was making progress. When I reached that goal, I got excited about it. That was a positive way for me to work.

“Focus on the positive, because I think kids sometimes are so emotionally hyped up about the negative aspects. As long as they’re diligent in their recovery, they heal well from injury.”

[ + Click here to read the entire interview with Buehler ]