From injury to recovery, the OAW Sports Medicine team is dedicated to helping athletes return to the sports they love. When Bailey, a competitive soccer player from Mukwonago, suffered a serious ACL injury, her family turned to Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin for expert care. Her mother, Kelley, shares their experience working with Dr. Steiner, Physical Therapist CJ, and the OAW team throughout Bailey’s recovery journey.
Our daughter Bailey has been playing on a U15 competitive soccer team through Mukwonago Area Soccer Club and in November 2025, she tore her ACL on impact during an indoor tournament. The very next day, we took her to an OAW walk-in clinic for an orthopedic doctor assessment, X-rays, and later scheduled an MRI for further consultation.
Meeting with Dr. Steiner and the team following the MRI concluded that Bailey had a full-blown Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear that required reconstruction surgery, as well as bilateral meniscus tears, which could be addressed during the operation. This minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery replaces the fully torn ACL with a tissue graft (they used her quadriceps tendon tissue) to restore knee stability. It was hard to grasp that our daughter would be out of her beloved sport for nearly nine months due to the lengthy recovery process. Hearing these words terrified us as parents, but the reputation Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin and Dr. Steiner have in our community assured us that she was in good hands, and we were so right!
The surgery in January went well, and Bailey worked extremely hard in the days that followed to regain mobility and manage the pain. She was on crutches for four weeks with scheduled check-ins with her orthopedic team. Dr. Steiner and his staff were clear with expectations for the months ahead: in-office rehabilitation, at-home exercises, and extreme patience. He connected us with CJ at OAW New Berlin Physical Therapy Center to create a program for mobility and strength restoration. Pairing Bailey with CJ was the best thing for her, mentally and physically. She instilled confidence, encouraged her to work hard, have fun, and celebrate the weekly results.
OAW took care of our family from the initial consultation all the way through surgery and postoperative rehabilitation, and we will forever recommend this amazing team to any parent or athlete who endures a similar injury.
Bailey is currently three months post-operation and has been working with CJ and the rehabilitation team twice weekly since surgery. She is now cleared to begin running and will soon begin establishing a return-to-play program while continuing to work hard on strength training and agility. She looks forward to playing with her team again this fall!
— Kelley L., Mukwonago
At Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin, we know that an athlete’s recovery extends far beyond surgery. Through coordinated care from our Sports Medicine physicians, physical therapists, and rehabilitation specialists, we help athletes safely return to competition with confidence. We are honored to be part of Bailey’s journey and look forward to cheering her on when she returns to the soccer field.
Request an appointment with the OAW Sports Medicine Team today!
