“Ahmed has made great progress, and once he was cleared by his physician, he could participate in running, jumping, and sport-specific activities necessary to get him back on the court.”
Fifteen-year-old Ahmed was at his high school basketball practice when he twisted his knee and heard a popping sound. He immediately knew something was wrong. Ahmed had torn his ACL and had a natural meniscus tear.
This diagnosis required surgery, so his family sought out pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr. Heather Harnly at the Pediatric Orthopedic Program, part of the RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group, who performed surgical reconstruction. “Dr. Harnly is great. We’ve known her for a long time as she helped my middle child through a knee dislocation. We knew we’d have another positive experience,” highlighted Ahmed’s mom, Syeda.
Through the Multidisciplinary Pediatric Orthopedic Program at RWJBarnabas Health, Ahmed was connected with Children’s Specialized Hospital physical therapist Megan Ambuske.
To help Ahmed get back to the sport he loves, Dr. Harnly and Megan Ambuske worked together to deliver comprehensive care. Since Children’s Specialized Hospital and the RWJBH Pediatric Orthopedic Program are located under one roof in East Brunswick, New Jersey, Ahmed was able to have his surgical follow-up followed by his first physical therapy appointment at the same time. “Having the offices next door to each other has proven to be very convenient for my family,” exclaimed Syeda.
Physical Therapy at Children’s Specialized Hospital
At the start of physical therapy, Ahmed’s sessions focused on swelling and pain management, gentle range of motion, muscle activation, and gait training so he could walk without crutches. As he progressed through outpatient rehabilitation, Ahmed no longer needed the crutches, and physical therapy sessions focused on strengthening, including the use of blood flow restriction therapy (BFRT). BFRT is a specialized technique that allows patients to make greater strength gains while lifting lighter loads and reducing overall stress during post-op rehab.
“I loved the way Megan conducted therapy sessions. At first, Ahmed was reluctant and scared that he would hurt his knee again, but Megan started with the basics, and then as he progressed, she made the exercises harder and more challenging,” noted Syeda. “I believe this really helped him. Megan is a great physical therapist because she is very good at her work and provides moral support and encouragement. Ahmed is much more confident.”
Megan added, “Ahmed has made great progress, and once he was cleared by his physician, he could participate in running, jumping, and sport-specific activities necessary to get him back on the court.”
While Ahmed has been cleared to play basketball alone, he is currently focusing his efforts on getting better and back to the team.
For other families going through a similar challenge with a sports-related injury, Syeda encourages you to have patience, not lose hope, and find the right team of providers to help get your child back on the right track.
Learn more about the Pediatric Orthopedic Multidisciplinary Program at RWJBarnabas Health.