Local Athlete Returns to the Field After Physical Therapy at United Helpers

HEUVELTON – After missing much of last year’s soccer, all of cheerleading and the majority of softball season Heuvelton’s Sydney Thornhill is back on the field following physical therapy at United Helpers RiverLedge Campus in Ogdensburg.

Ms. Thornhill was injured last fall during a soccer game, suffering from a torn meniscus that required surgery.

“I fell on it wrong and I knew right then something had happened,” she said. “After the surgery they told me it was worse than they expected it to be, so they said the recovery time was going to be six months.”

However, Ms. Thornhill was back on her feet and cleared to again compete after just four months, returning in time for the end of softball season.

United Helpers Physical Therapy Assistant Joseph R. Longshore said that was the goal heading into therapy.

“We wanted to get her back to playing softball, soccer and cheerleading,” he said.

When asked to describe her therapy, Ms. Thornhill said it wasn’t easy, but at the same time it was fun and just what she needed.

“Brett (Physical Therapist Brett C. Amo) and Joe really worked me hard, but it was fun while we did it,” she said. “They got my confidence up and helped me build up the muscle in my legs so I would be ready to come back.”

Now that fall sports have started including, soccer, football, volleyball, cross country and swimming, Mr. Longshore said the need for physical therapy amongst the area’s youth is sure to increase.

“Sports specific injuries are certainly prevalent this time of year,” he said. “We try to create protocols that are sport specific and get people back to playing the sports safely that they enjoy.”

As patients begin their therapy, Mr. Longshore said the therapists and assistants become cheerleaders themselves.

“At some point during the therapy after the therapist has set up the protocol we become cheerleaders,” he said. “We cheerlead and create enthusiasm with the clients.”

Mr. Longshore said those protocols include one on one attention that patients may not always find everywhere else.

“At United Helpers we have the ability to work one on one with the patients,” he said. “It’s very rare that we see more than one patient at a time and that’s a great thing to be able to provide personal care.”

For more information on therapy services at United Helpers, contact RiverLedge in Ogdensburg at (315) 393-0730 or Maplewood in Canton at (315) 386-4541.