Soccer Star Returns Stronger and Faster After PT

Seventeen-year-old Yujin Kikuchi loves the competitive rush he gets while playing soccer.

“I like dribbling best, taking guys on and leaving them in the dust,” he said. “I like creating chances for my teammates, and scoring goals, of course. The field is a great place for me to show my creativity and imagination.”

The left winger has left plenty of other players in the dust on his journey to the elite player he is today. He recently graduated from the San Jose Earthquakes academy team and will start on the Earthquakes’ professional B team this fall while he finishes his senior year of high school. After that, he’ll head to Stanford University, where he has already committed to playing soccer.

But about a year ago, Yujin’s future was less certain. He’d played through knee pain for several years, but when it suddenly worsened, he decided to have surgery in April 2024. The timing was not ideal: Yujin would still be recovering as college recruiting season started in June. But the injury was affecting his style of play.

Robert Pardue, PT, DPT, and Yujin

A few days after the surgery, which was performed by Kevin Shea, MD, Yujin started physical therapy with Robert Pardue, PT, DPT. Yujin progressed from walking with a brace and crutches to jogging, then sprinting, then cutting and other drills to practice the quick deceleration and acceleration needed on the soccer field. The whole time, he was building muscle around his knee and throughout his leg.

“Robert was always there, helping me with everything two times a week,” Yujin said.

Yujin recovered very quickly: He was able to start training again after just four months of PT and was back in the game a month after that.

“It felt great to be back; it felt like I wasn’t out for four months,” Yujin said. “Even in PT I was always moving my body and touching the ball, so it felt natural to get back to playing.”

Pardue attributes Yujin’s speedy and successful recovery to his dedication and supportive family.

“He definitely got back to soccer earlier than the majority of patients I’ve seen,” Pardue said. “From day one, he had the most mature and laser-focused mindset. His whole family was so supportive as well. For many of the athletes we work with, their identity is tied into their sport, so not being able to play for several months can be very challenging. Yujin was always so motivated—that’s a rare thing to see.”

Yujin’s parents, Kaz and Makiko, accompanied him to many of his physical therapy appointments, and they saw how Pardue helped Yujin through the mental aspects of PT.

“We met Robert in a time of uncertainty,” Kaz said. “The first few months after surgery were tough on Yujin, and the way Robert connected with Yujin and encouraged him really helped.”

Yujin and Pardue connected over their shared love of soccer.

“I’ve played soccer my whole life, and I’m very passionate about it,” Pardue said. “I even did PT when I was younger after soccer injuries. Right off the bat, Yujin and I were able to build a rapport.”

Pardue said that the atmosphere of the PT clinics at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health can also help motivate young athletes.

“Every single day, we have high-level athletes coming into our clinic, and they see peers their age; they see a large space with squat racks and weights,” Pardue said. “Going in and seeing other kids their age working really hard makes it a fun, competitive environment.”

As Yujin’s therapy wound down, Pardue worked with the Earthquakes’ PT team to ensure a smooth transition. And once Yujin was back on the field, Pardue cheered him on from the stands.

“I went to see him play three times, and it was so amazing to see him out there,” Pardue said. “From seeing him in the clinic, I could tell he was very skilled, but seeing him play was next-level.”

Yujin and Pardue still stay in touch via text, and Pardue is excited to see what Yujin accomplishes next. “Now he’s back stronger and faster than he was,” Kaz said. “I think now he can train more with his left foot and is more balanced in terms of strength. He’s in a better position than he was before. It’s such a relief that everything fell into place—Yujin committed to Stanford, and he’s still on a pro path with the Earthquakes. We’re super-grateful.”