The young female athlete of this generation is playing sports faster, harder, and more frequently than ever. Therefore, they have an increased risk for injury. When you think of an injury, what scenario comes to your mind? My assumption is one of trauma, with athletes colliding and external forces resulting in broken bones, torn ligaments, and pulled muscles. While this can be a problem, it is largely unavoidable. Would you believe me if I told you that greater than 70% of ACL tears happen without the individual ever being touched by another athlete? If you care to do your research, read this article. Because traumatic injury is a risk of playing sport, we in the medical (especially rehabilitative) world have to do a better job with trying to prevent non-contact injuries. 70% is WAY TOO MUCH!

Read the testimony of Delaney written by her Mom: An 11-year-old who has had two, TWO, meniscal repairs! OH, BY THE WAY, pay attention to if her injuries were contact or non-contact in nature..

Delaney has been active ever since I can even remember. Her love for sports started young. She has really loved playing volleyball and basketball. Last several years, she has played on several teams with her classmates. Her journey of injury began last October 2016, when she was trying out for a basketball team. She was doing great until she did a drill where she was dribbling and weaving in and out. After the tryout, she told me that she couldn’t straighten her knee. Well, when she woke in the morning she could hardly walk on it. Thankfully, we had an established relationship with several orthopedic doctors and she could be seen the next day after the tryout. We got to see Dr. Christopher Peer who immediately got a MRI ordered. After getting the MRI it was determined she had torn her meniscus in the inside handle. He recommended surgery. So, Nov. 10th, 2016, she had her 1st surgery.

Rehabbed in a traditional rehab facility with multiple therapists who did this and that but never really worked on her strength and movement. She was finally released in April and immediately Delaney began gradually getting back into playing club basketball. She was exhausted cardiovascularly but worked to get going again.  She played several games in May. And at the end of school was feeling pretty good. She started strength and conditioning program at the school in the summer because nothing was going to hold her down. On June 12th, she attended strength and conditioning then turned around and went to a volleyball camp. This is where she came home and said that her knee started to hurt after volleyball after a certain drill done. We waited a couple days and Dr. Peer wanted to see her immediately. He ordered another MRI and it was visible that a new part of her meniscus was torn. She had the 2nd surgery June 27th. She was so disappointed and cried many nights on how she will never get back to where she was.

We went back to the same traditional rehab. Same old, same old. We felt she wasn’t advancing or going anywhere. Thankfully a friend at school, said Julie you need to take her to Freedom PTTC. And she began telling all the progress that her daughter has gone through with much worse knee diagnosis than Delaney.

And so here we are…

My husband went with Delaney on the first visit and was so impressed with the motivation and words of encouragement for Delaney. It made us smile and cry. We thanked God that night that we found Freedom. It is funny how God works His wonder when you hand all your worries and woes over to Him. Thanks for all that you have done for Delaney so far. You have given her hope!!!  Thanks for being a motivator and mentor and of course her physical therapist.

So, thank you!!

I truly hope that if you or your child has suffered a knee injury, or play sports, that you have read down this far. I hate that I write so much and will work on my length. However, to repeat, WE MUST DO A BETTER JOB OF TREATING ATHLETES. With lower than ever reimbursement rates, it is difficult to spend time with our patients to educate them on movement, but what good are we if we don’t?! Delaney experienced two devastating injuries at an unfair age due to poor movement. At Freedom PTTC we obsess over the minute details, take the time, and use the latest technology to provide you and your child a chance to compete. Like Delaney, come and write your story with us and MOVE BETTER!