Specialized Orthopedic Surgery and Therapy Help Young Athlete ‘Soar’
Bryant could hear the whistles blowing as he walked by the gymnasium. He had grown up playing football, golfing and swimming, but basketball was his true passion. As he got older, it became more difficult for him to participate in the activities he loved.
“For an 11-year-old boy wanting to be energetic and athletic and not being able to is crushing,” says Bryant’s mother, LaTéssa.
Bryant has a congenital condition, tarsal coalition, which fuses the bones in the midfoot and limits motion and physical activity. He was unable to run long distances, jump, or walk for more than 20 minutes without severe pain. His family turned to the pediatric orthopedics team at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
Pediatric orthopedic surgeon Randolph Cohen, MD, performed back-to-back surgeries to successfully correct the problem. One year later, Bryant was cleared to return to sports, but he needed help learning how to use his newly gained mobility. Dr. Cohen recommended a six-week physical therapy program at Memorial Hospital Miramar’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Department.
Reaching New Heights
Physical therapist Whitney Chambers PT, DPT, OCS quickly made a connection with Bryant, building a personalized physical therapy program around his love of basketball. She involved Bryant’s family in his therapy, and even taught his younger sister, Briana, all of his exercises so she could assist, too.
To help Bryant re-learn how to jump, Whitney marked the height of a regulation college basketball net on the therapy room wall. Each week she placed a sticky note a little higher up on the wall. On his last day in therapy, everyone watched as Bryant jumped up and reached all of the notes.
“One of the great things I can say helped us in our experience was the hands-on support that we got,” says LaTéssa. “Now Bryant can soar.”
To help youngsters like Bryant, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital developed the U18 Sports Program, located on the Memorial Hospital Miramar campus. Find out more at U18SportsMedicine.com.
“We’d like to try to make a difference in somebody’s life,” says Dr. Cohen. “When a child like Bryant, who has been frustrated and unable to participate because of his discomfort and inability, can have a procedure and through a combination of surgical intervention and therapy return to playing basketball, it’s tremendously satisfying.”
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To find a Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital physician, call Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Physician Referral Service toll-free at (866) JDCH-DOC. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
