UCSF Orthopedic Surgeon Volunteers Her Time to National Women's Soccer

By Vanessa deGier Christina Allen, MD, loves soccer. She has played the game for more than 30 years. As an assistant clinical professor of orthopedics at UCSF and an orthopedic surgeon at UCSF Medical Center, she also cares for players, specializing in treating knee and shoulder injuries. Her expertise, love of the game and desire to give back to the community led her to volunteer her time to care for athletes outside of UCSF as an orthopedic physician for a variety of sports teams, including the US Soccer Women's National Team. Allen recently returned from a trip to Russia and the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) U-20 Women's World Cup Championship, where she was the team physician for the US women's under-20 soccer team. She traveled with the team for three weeks during the tournament, which took place at stadiums in Moscow and St. Petersburg. As the team physician for US women's soccer, Allen's main job was to keep the girls healthy and on the field. "We had two trainers that also worked with the players, but I was responsible for serious injury or illness evaluations, concussion evaluations and coordinating hospital care, if necessary," said Allen. "The work is very rewarding; the women are tough and appreciative. Plus, I get to watch a lot of great quality soccer close-up!"

Christina Allen

Traveling with the Team Allen has been an orthopedic physician for the US Soccer Women's National Teams since 2004, when she went on her first trip with the U-20 team to Brazil. "I have always been interested in volunteering with sports teams, and my involvement with soccer came about through my own love of the game," said Allen. Her work with US women's soccer has taken her to Brazil, Japan, Canada, Mexico and Germany. "I feel volunteering my time and expertise is a great way to use my skills outside of UCSF, and it is a real privilege to work with these dedicated athletes," she said. While in Russia, Allen used her medical skills to treat a variety of injuries and illnesses, including concussions, neck injuries, and some knee and ankle injuries. "I even had to deal with a kidney infection and some nasty infected spider bites - so I can't just rely on my orthopedic training," Allen explained. "We were fortunate to avoid any significant knee injuries, as they are very common in female soccer players, especially anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. I think the fact that the girls were very fit and had been training hard for seven months prior to the World Cup lowered their risk of injury."

US Women's U-20 team in Red Square, Moscow. (See larger)

Allen's team played very well, battling all the way to the final four in Moscow after beating highly ranked Germany in the quarter-final match in St. Petersburg. The team then played China in their semifinal match. They played for 90 minutes of regulation, and then another 30 minutes of overtime before China ended the scoreless draw by winning on penalty kicks. "It was a shame. We had beaten this team before, and totally dominated the semifinal game in terms of shots on goal. But the girls couldn't put the ball in the net," she said. "They played their hearts out, though." Volunteering at Home In addition to her work with US women's soccer, Allen donates her time every other Tuesday at a free soccer injury evaluation clinic based at San Francisco Sport and Spine Physical Therapy in the Marina District. At the clinic, injured soccer players can be evaluated by Allen and by Sturdy McKee, a local physical therapist. Injuries are evaluated, and the player is either given exercise techniques to help recover from the injury or directed to seek further evaluation by an orthopedic surgeon if the injury is more significant.

US Women's U-20 team in front of the tournament logo. (See larger)

"I enjoy doing the clinic and keeping athletes healthy by offering them the ease of a self-rehabilitation program," added Allen. "Sometimes a player presents with an ACL tear, but they don't realize how serious their injury is. I can explain to the athlete that they need to seek further treatment, so they don't do more damage to their knee." Allen has also served as a physician for several other teams, including UC Berkeley women's soccer. In 2005, she was a volunteer team physician at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. While there, she cared for athletes in taekwondo, judo, gymnastics, speed skating and wrestling. The UCSF Sports Medicine Center The UCSF Sports Medicine Center is a state-of-the-art facility designed to care for athletes of all levels. Specialists in orthopedic surgery, family medicine, physical therapy and fitness work together to develop treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs and goals - whether it is to return to a regular walking program or to report for practice with a professional team.

US Women's U-20 team. (See larger)

Physicians and staff members from the Sports Medicine Center are highly active in the community, volunteering their services to a variety of sports events and programs, including the Nike Marathon and PlaySafe, a program the center created that cares for San Francisco-area high school student athletes. Related Links: Christina Allen, MD, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Soccer Injury and Prevention Clinic, San Francisco Sport and Spine Physical Therapy
Sports Medicine - Flying on a Fast Track
UCSF Today, March 22, 2004