08/18/2026
📢Introducing I Kneed A Hand
In PT, we spend the majority of our time working on the physical aspect of recovery. But one of our athletes brought to the top of our attention something we need to continuously remind ourselves of: sometimes the hardest part of recovery has nothing to do with physical part of it.
It's mental health.
CeCe has had 4 knee surgeries in the span of just over a year. And through all of it, the thing that hurt the most wasn't the rehab. It was feeling like no one actually got it. Missing the team. Missing the sport she loved. Feeling completely alone in it because nobody else truly understood what she was going through.
So she did something about it.
CeCe started I Kneed A Hand, a support group for youth athletes who are looking for support and connection with other athletes going through the same thing.
This matters. A lot.
And we want to do all that we can to support CeCe and every other athlete struggling with the mental health side of injury.
If you're an athlete (or a parent of one) who's dealt with injury and could use someone who truly gets it, reach out to CeCe.
📨 [email protected]
And if you have a friend or teammate dealing with injury, please share with them so we can spread the word.
You're not alone in this.
Read CeCe's full story below:
"Hi! I'm CeCe Marinello and I had a sports injury just like you. I was 12 years old and a starter on the Girls Academy National Champion team when I tore my left meniscus. I did my rehab and recovered, and 4 months later was cleared to play soccer. My very first night back at practice, I tore my right meniscus and back to surgery I went.
The injuries affected my mental health even more than my physical. I oftentimes felt like I had nobody to talk to when I was struggling. My family always listened, but never truly understood. That was the motivation behind this project — I want to prevent kids from feeling like they have nobody to talk to during hard times with recovery and missing the sports they love.
I want you to reach out whenever you need to talk to someone who knows exactly how you feel. I'll write back as soon as possible with advice, tips for dealing with a sports injury, or just to listen. You can also connect with more athletes in the same situation through our group chat.
I hope this helps you feel seen and heard. Please never hesitate to ask for help."
