Joint Decisions
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- As a member of the Bridgewater State University women’s soccer team, Logan Levesque, ’26, has witnessed both teammates and opponents go down with injuries, specifically knee injuries.
Health science major’s research looks at surgical options for injured former athletes
By Heather Harris Michonski, Bridgewater State University News & Video
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- As a member of the Bridgewater State University women’s soccer team, Logan Levesque, ’26, has witnessed both teammates and opponents go down with injuries, specifically knee injuries.
“I’ve been lucky to not experience an injury like this, but it’s something I’ve often thought about, how female athletes seem to have more knee injuries,” she said.
As a health science major, with a concentration in physical therapy, Logan looks to carve out a career helping people recover from injuries.
When her advisor, Dr. Jean Mead, informed her of an opportunity through BSU’s Adrian Tinsley Program for Undergraduate Research and Creative Work Summer Grants program, Logan saw it as way to gain more knowledge within a field she wants to work in.
“I’m trying to figure out my future, and what I want to do over the next few years, and I thought this was a cool opportunity,” she said.
While working on her project, ““Decision-Making in Knee Replacement Surgery: Exploring Influences Among Former Female Athletes with Osteoarthritis,” she was mentored by Mead and Health and Kinesiology Professor Dr. Matthew Patey.
The study examined elite female athletes, post-career and over 40, and the ways in which they arrived at making the decision to have knee-replacement surgery.
“Going into the PT (physical therapy) field, I want to better understand all of the factors one considers so I can better help my patients, what they are going through when they are making this decision,” Logan said.
What she found was a lot of similarities. That many of the women struggle with mental health when it comes to having the surgery.
“Most people didn’t want to feel as though their identity as an athlete will be taken away,” Logan said.
Another commonality was that many of the women put off having the surgery until a major incident occurred.
“Until they had fallen multiple times, or couldn’t walk normally, or stand up without their knee giving out, that was when they would finally consider it,” she said.
As she looks to apply to graduate schools next spring, Logan said the ATP program has helped increase her knowledge and added to her resume as she enters the workforce.
“It really did benefit me and will help me with the application process for PT schools. I’ve now gotten to do research that I didn’t think I’d get to do (as an undergraduate). I’m happy I did it,” she said.