Danni Hennessy
Danni Hennessy, a patient in our Deptford clinic, is 3DPT’s May patient of the month. Danni suffered from a subchondral lateral tibial plateau fracture during the middle of her soccer season. This type of injury was season ending for Danni, but she was determined to get back to competing at a high level as soon as possible. Danni started Physical Therapy knowing that it would be a challenge both physically and mentally, but she gave it her all and crushed therapy. She is always willing to try new and challenging exercises, and she was able to overcome the mental barriers of returning to sport. The biggest physical and mental barrier that she overcame was being able to run and change directions without requiring a brace for stability. Through many hours of therapy that was focused on running, jumping, landing, and agility mechanics, she no longer needs a brace and she is back to competing at a high level. She is still attending therapy for injury prevention purposes, but she made a full recovery and even was awarded honors in a recent tournament for her high level of play.
Here is what Danni had to say about her injury and her road to recovery with 3DPT:
Tell us what brought you to physical therapy and how this affected your life.
Danni: During high school soccer, I experienced a fracture LTP, which soon led to a season ending injury. The injury affected
my confidence and my mental wellbeing. Since the first day I arrived at 3DPT, everyone was so encouraging, uplifting, and positive. I’m so grateful for their patience and support throughout my recovery back to soccer!
Tell us a little about your recovery process. What has been the hardest part of your therapy?
Danni: My recovery process took about 2-3 months. I would attend 3DPT twice a week to work on gaining strength back in my knee. The hardest part was being patient with myself. All I wanted to do was get back playing again, but since the injury occurred within the bone of my knee it needed more time. Throughout the weeks, every time I walked through the doors a spark of hope lit within me. I knew that although it will take time to heal, I will return to play stronger and faster than ever before.
What advice would you give to other people who suffered similar injuries or are going through the same situation?
Danni: I would tell them to always remain positive. During the moment, it seems as if you will never get better but what I have learned throughout this whole experience is to be patient with yourself. The results you are hoping for won’t happen instantly. It might take weeks, months, or even years to heal, but having an optimistic attitude will help you throughout your recovery.
Why would you recommend 3 Dimensional Physical Therapy?
Danni: I would recommend 3DPT because of the lively and supportive atmosphere. Every time I walked through the door, the staff always had a smile on their faces. They made me feel encouraged and have hope in myself that I will get better. Having their support helped me regain confidence on and off the field.
What are you most looking forward to that you may not have been able to do with your injury?Danni:I was looking forward to returning to soccer. When soccer was taken away from me, my love for the game grew. Knowing I couldn’t play the sport that makes me happy hurt more than the actual pain in my knee. “You only know you appreciate something when you no longer have it” is a quote I was able to experience. It was a different type of pain that knocked me down, but through the help of 3DPT they helped me overcome this obstacle and step onto the field again. Now I’m back stronger, faster, and more confident than I ever was. I can not thank the members at 3DPT enough!