OGDENSBURG – Coming off the
best season of her young athletic career, Madrid-Waddington’s Emma Plumley was
looking forward to using the AAU season to continue strengthening her game in
preparation for her junior season with her eyes also set on taking the court at
the next level.
Ms. Plumley’s sophomore
season included a sectional title, first-team All-NAC, and Second-Team Watertown Daily Times All-Northern
honors.
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| Physical Therapist Brett Amo works on a drill with Emma Plumley. |
Heading into the 2019-2020
season Ms. Plumley, a guard on the school’s basketball team, knew she would
again be an important piece to the Yellow Jackets success, as the team’s only
returning starter. However, the start of her junior season was pushed back when
she tore her right ACL while “crossing-up” a defender during an AAU game last
April.
“I felt my knee cap move and
I thought I had dislocated my knee,” she said. “They carried me to the bench
and then they carried me to the car, so I really hadn’t put any weight on it
until I got home. When I got home and tried to walk to the house I experienced
what was probably the worst pain I’ve ever felt,” she said.
Ms. Plumley then had surgery
in Boston with former New England Patriots team physician Dr. Thomas Gill
performing her operation. However, prior to her surgery, she came to United
Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Ogdensburg for “prehab.”
“Those two months were
focused on getting my leg stronger and improving my range of motion in
preparation for surgery,” Ms. Plumley said, noting that prehab consisted of a
lot of stretching and simple exercises that would help strengthen her leg
without exacerbating her injury.
Two weeks after surgery and
already off her crutches, Ms. Plumley returned to United Helpers to begin
working towards the resumption of her athletic career.
“I knew I was going to come
back, but I was super upset at the news (diagnosis of a torn ACL) and did
briefly think what if I can’t play anymore,” she said. “But I only questioned
myself for a little while and then got to work.”
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| Physical Therapist Brett Amo watches as Emma Plumley runs on a treadmill. |
“Therapy was very
challenging, but in a good way. It’s hard work, but I like to be pushed and
Brett does a great job,” she said. “I’m actually probably in the best shape of
my life.”
As she wrapped up what would
be her final physical therapy appointment, Ms. Plumley said that her doctors
have cleared her to return to action on Jan. 1, about a month-and-a-half after
the season begins.
“After this, I want it more
than ever,” she said. “I can’t wait to get back on the court.”
Adding to the excitement is the
fact that Emma’s younger sister, Grace will also be joining the varsity team
this year.
“I’m so excited because
basketball is the one sport I really love (she also plays soccer) and I want to
play in college,” she said. “I’m going to be a little nervous, especially the
first time I do a crossover, but I am glad to be back.”
For more information regarding therapy
services in Ogdensburg, please call (315) 393-0730 ext. 2156. For information
regarding therapy services in Canton, please call (315) 386-4541 ext. 3217. You
may also like United Helpers on Facebook or visit www.unitedhelpers.org.
