Back to the Court: Jovey’s ACL Recovery and Return to Play PROGRAM

On August 28, 2025, Jovey Knudson was playing volleyball for NRHEG when an injury suddenly changed her season.

Jovey tore her ACL and sustained damage to her medial meniscus, leaving her devastated and facing a long road back to the court.

Jovey and her mom, Kate Knudson, were able to get on Dr. Scott Perkinson’s schedule quickly. In fact, Jovey was able to have surgery a month earlier than the alternative date they had been given with a different surgery center.

“Dr. Perkinson was great to work with,” Kate said. “He was knowledgeable and relatable, even to a teenager.”

Surgery was just the beginning. ACL recovery takes a lot of time and work. Following surgery, Dr. Perkinson referred Jovey to physical therapy closer to home, where she attended one to three times each week for the first eight months of her recovery. Having therapy closer to home made it easier for Jovey to stay consistent with her rehabilitation while continuing to make progress.

As she got closer to returning to sports, Jovey continued her training at OFC’s Performance Lab. For the final three to four months of her recovery, she participated in the Performance Lab’s Return to Play Bridge Program, training twice a week for one-hour sessions as she prepared for the demands of volleyball.

As she got closer to returning to sports, her training continued at OFC’s Performance Lab. For the final three to four months of her recovery, Jovey participated in the Performance Lab’s Return to Play Bridge Program, training twice a week for one-hour sessions.

The program gave Jovey the chance to keep building strength and preparing for the demands of athletics as she moved closer to returning to the court.

For Jovey, the people she worked with along the way made a big difference.

“The staff at the Performance Lab were extraordinary,” Kate said. “Jovey enjoyed every single member of the Performance Lab team. She was welcomed by name, encouraged by all, and more importantly, given compassion when she was faced with some challenges during her workouts.”

After months of appointments, physical therapy and training, Jovey was finally ready to get back to the volleyball court.

“Jovey’s journey at OFC exceeded our expectations,” Kate said. “We could not have asked for better care.”

Jovey also noticed how well the staff connected with her throughout her recovery.

“Jovey commented that all the staff at OFC works with kids well and are able to connect with them,” Kate said.

Now, Jovey is back on the court. This season, she returned to the NRHEG Panthers volleyball team as a starting middle.

After everything it took to get there, seeing Jovey back in her spot on the court has been a pretty special part of the journey for her and her family.

Learn more about Performance Lab / Orthopaedic and Fracture Clinic’s collaboration of our Bridge program.

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Get Back to What You Love

OFC’s sports medicine team provides evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation for athletes of all ages, helping you understand your injury and plan your next steps.

If an injury takes you out of the game, getting the right care can help you understand what happened and what comes next.