The Ready State Podcast From Injury to Recovery: The Truth About ACL Rehab for Young Athletes with Coach Carmen Bott
Oct 2, 2025
Coach Carmen Bott, a seasoned strength and conditioning coach with over 20 years of experience in ACL rehab, discusses the alarming rise in youth ACL injuries. She reveals that recovery often takes a full year, contrary to common beliefs. Carmen emphasizes the importance of multi-sport participation and proper support systems for young athletes. She debunks myths around strength training and urges parents to be proactive about their children's athletic health. The conversation highlights the need for play, varied movement, and psychological support during recovery.
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ACL Rehab Is A Yearlong Process
- ACL rehab for adolescents is rarely done well in 12 weeks and should be treated as approximately a year-long process.
- Coach Carmen Bott combines rehab with a year of strength, conditioning, and capacity building to lower re-injury risk.
We Lost Foundational Play Hours
- Today's youth lack the varied play hours that built robust movement foundations decades ago.
- Carmen Bott links reduced early play, single-sport focus, and missing PE to higher ACL incidence.
Demand Qualified Coaches And Team Support
- Verify your child's club coaches are certified, have safe-sport training, criminal checks, and first aid.
- Prefer clubs that include a physiotherapist and strength coach collaborating on athlete care.