We cover so much in this incredible episode with volleyball superstar - the super motivated Elly Harland. From her unpromising start in the sport, a determined young Elly worked hard, fine-tuning her skills in the US where she eventually represented Texas before moving to Scotland where her talent was soon spotted. Her career nearly ended before it started though when a ruptured ACL at age 15 left her wondering if her sporting dreams were over. Elly went on to have five surgeries including knee surgery for severe cartilage damage but each time she recovered and continued playing - this is one determined lady!
From a young age despite, (in her own words), no real talent Elly set about to make it in this fast and furious sport which is better known in the US and Japan but is fast gaining traction here. She has sure done that - helping to make her Uni club one of the biggest on campus and playing at national level. Jennifer reckons she might need padding to throw herself around a volleyball court and Prof Mackay explains why young females are particularly vulnerable to injury during this kind of pivoting and twisting high energy sport, leading to a fascinating chat about new knowledge regarding warmup and exercises for injury prevention.
Jennifer wants to know more about cartilage injury which is incredibly common in sports. Prof Mackay explains what cartilage is and why it is crucial in joints and what happens once cartilage injury is involved and how you can try and protect your own.
Elly explains her devastation at the thought of a reconstruction operation with a hamstring graft for her ACL rupture as she thought for a time that she might never play again. It was while looking for an alternative treatment that she met Prof Mackay and opted for InternalBrace repair surgery instead, but she hasn't forgotten the trauma at only 15 of thinking her sporting dreams were over.
The future is now incredibly bright for Elly who is determined that many more young people should get the opportunity to play volleyball and listening to her we think she has a huge future in the sport - wherever in the world she ends up next!
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