“My Football Journey” by: Harnoor Dhaliwal
“I grew up playing football and started at the age of 13. From a young age, playing in the CFL was always a dream of mine. There was nothing I loved more than being on the football field and everything the game taught me and gave me. Part of that journey included playing in U Sports after high school. I was fortunate enough to receive scholarship offers from several OUA schools, but I ultimately chose the University of Ottawa.
During my time in Ottawa, I was introduced to Dr. Steen by a teammate while dealing with an AC joint sprain during the season. Dr. Steen played a pivotal role in my recovery. Thanks to his help, I didn’t miss a single game, even though playing regularly aggravated the injury. Despite that, I progressively got better throughout the season. Beyond treatment, Dr. Steen took the time to educate me on proper supplementation and nutrition, which played a big part in me being named the Gee-Gees' Most Improved Player following the 2022 football season.
Once my shoulder fully healed, I continued to see Dr. Steen regularly for tune-ups and injury prevention. Together, we worked on improving my weak areas while building on my strengths. Fortis Spine and Sport provided the perfect environment for a high-performance athlete, with Dr. Steen’s holistic approach focusing on mental health, nutrition, daily habits, and movement to optimize performance.
Unfortunately, in the third game of the 2023 season, I suffered a contact knee injury, tearing my ACL, MCL, and meniscus. It was devastating, but I immediately began working with Dr. Steen on my prehab process. Despite the severity of the injury, his support—both physical and mental—helped me navigate one of the most challenging times of my life as an athlete. With his help, I regained full range of motion and was even able to jog before my surgery.
Post-surgery, Dr. Steen was instrumental in the early stages of my rehab. His focus on the central nervous system was crucial in helping me regain range of motion quickly. However, the injury gave me a new perspective. Despite having a successful career and serving as a team captain at the University of Ottawa, I decided to transfer closer to home and continue my football journey at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Moving to Laurier meant leaving Ottawa and no longer being able to work with Dr. Steen in person, but he remained a valuable resource. He stayed in touch and was always available to answer any questions throughout my recovery process.
Nine months post-op, I returned to play and completed the entire season. That year, I was fortunate to win the Yates Cup with Wilfrid Laurier and compete in the National Championship for the first time in 20 years for the school. Dr. Steen’s guidance in the early stages of my recovery was critical to my comeback, and I am incredibly grateful for his help in achieving these milestones.”