Patient Story: Anna Li
With nagging injuries, and a major surgery standing in the way of her Olympic dreams - see how Anna was able to bounce back with the help of ATI Physical Therapy, and bring her to London as a part of the U.S. Women's Gymnastics team!
Transcript
Hi, I'm Anna. I just got back from London, the Olympics games. Right now I'm excited to go on the Kellogg's Olympics Tour. It was a dream of mine and a goal that I've had for so long since I was younger. I knew I had injuries that were always nagging on me from the past, this year I knew I was going to try no matter what. I knew I had to have another big surgery, but I thought, I've already gone through it once, I can do it again.
"Good, nice job!"
The first time I went to ATI, it was by my house in high school. I had a lot of fun at ATI, just getting back in and getting back stronger. It was really fun, I love the people at ATI. When I came back home from college, I went to UCLA, came home and I saw we were right next to an ATI. I thought, "How great is that! I love ATI, I went there before."
We started with pretty basic, just range of motion things to let the bone and surgical site heal. Worked on range of motion, then finally progressed into some general exercise. Then even further progressed from that into more sports specific training, and getting her back into gymnastics.
With Jay, he's great. He's always there to help me. I've been out at competitions, and I'll shoot him text messages to help me if I have questions. He's pretty great on all my injuries, he pretty much knows what hurts and where. And he'll come over after practice and be like 'Oh, this just happened.'
He'll be able to work on it right away. He's like a really good friend.
"Nice!"
My favorite was when we actually got to pretend I was on the beam, on the balance beam. I started walking, but everyone was laughing because it was so easy- because it was a little balance beam. I that was my favorite part. Strengthening things that were related to gymnastics.
I think she was very motivated, of course, to return to her sport. Also, the huge goal of the Olympics in the future was mind blowing for me as her physical therapist to think I was going to work with someone and help and get them back. But she brought that motivation, determination, strong work ethnic and everything that came along with it. Think that can kind of go for any patient too, to show that motivation and determination can really get you places. ATI is a good source to help reach their goals.
It took a lot of people and help and support from everyone, and I mean, it happened, I got to go to London! All of the people over there are so helpful and their so nice. Yeah, it's my favorite place that I've ever rehabbed at.