Posted on June 17, 2025
Hi everyone,
I am the new graduate physiotherapist at Dr7 Physiotherapy and Podiatry! I have always been fascinated by anatomy and biology, and how we can influence health outcomes. That interest, combined with my love for animals, initially led me to complete 3 out of 5 years of study at Murdoch University to become a veterinarian. After these three years, I received a Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Biology). However, I felt like I wanted to learn more about the musculoskeletal system, and studying Physiotherapy would be the best way to scratch that itch. I completed my Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy) in 2024 at Curtin University, and I have loved every minute of my first few months at Dr7 Physiotherapy and Podiatry. Maybe at some point in my career, I will find a way to use my physiotherapy skills to help our four-legged friends as well!
Another one of my big passions is sport, especially AFL and soccer. I am a staunch West Coast Eagles supporter, and I love running out for my local soccer team every Sunday. During my time playing and watching sports, I have noticed the big incidence of ACL injuries occurring in women’s sports. New evidence and research in the area are constantly emerging, and I hope that I can also be part of the solution in my clinical practice.
Female athletes are up to 5x more likely to sustain an ACL injury than male athletes. Why is this? Research is continuing to explore this topic, but there is no clear-cut answer. Potential reasons that are often investigated include
- Anatomical differences in pelvis width and thigh bone length between males and females
- Differences in ACL volume and size
- Efficiency of muscle activation and coordination around the knee (hamstrings and quadriceps) in males compared to females
- Hormonal differences during different phases of the menstrual cycle
- Core stability and control of the thorax over the knee
- Football boot construction is geared mostly towards male anatomy and movement patterns
Since there are few conclusive answers in the “Why?” debate, research is also being directed towards bigger picture preventative strategies. 70-80% of ACL injuries in the AFLW competition occur in non-contact situations when decelerating, changing direction, or landing on one leg. Clearly, there is a need for these aspects of gameplay and movement to become a focus at training (for both males and females). Several research-backed programs are free for community players and coaches to access. These include the AFL’s Prep-to-Play, which was created in collaboration with La Trobe University, and Football Australia Perform+, which was developed by leading Australian injury researchers, sports doctors, sports scientists, and coaches. Each of these programs focuses on strength, balance, change of direction, and explosive movements in the context of its unique sport. Whilst these programs are not the complete solution, they are a great tool to implement from the grassroots level.
Whether you want to learn more about this area of research, you have some other niggling pain, or you just want to chat about the past weekend of footy, you’ll find me at Dr7 from Tuesday to Saturday.
