James

James has been skateboarding most of his life. He loves the sport and as you can see, is very good! In late 2023 however, James had to put his skateboard aside because of severe pain in both of his ankles that was limiting not just skateboarding, but most of his physical activity. But James isn’t one to give in to pain. As a US Marine Corp veteran, he is used to putting in hard work to reach his goals, and that is what led him to 3DPT Haddon Heights to start a physical therapy program that would get him back on his board.

Over the last few months James has been progressing really well towards his goal of getting back on his skateboard, and has been trusting the process of PT. He always comes in ready for a challenge and with a great attitude!

Any tendinopathy injury can be a challenge for patients to endure, especially when pain has been going on for a long time. James and his PT, Dr. Christina Diamantis, have been working on progressively loading his tendons and slowly introducing more advanced movements and impact each session.  When he encounters any setbacks, he doesn’t get discouraged, and he keeps working towards his big picture goals.

Here’s what James had to say about his injury and experience at 3DPT Haddon Heights:

Tell us what brought you to physical therapy and how this affected your life.

James:  What brought me to physical therapy was severe achilles pain in both ankles.  The pain was increasing daily and after having to cut down mostly all physical activities, my podiatrist recommended PT as an option.  I gladly accepted, because I’ve had success in the past with PT.

Tell us a little about your recovery process. What has been the hardest part of your therapy?  What was your favorite part of physical therapy?

James: My recovery was slow at first but it quickly became evident that I was on the right path.  After getting a plan of action together with Brian and Christina, we started moving forward towards my main objective, skateboarding. 

The hardest part of physical therapy was being patient. As a Marine Corps veteran, I often mistake stubbornness for progress, which often leads to more physical damage. The best part of PT has been getting to know everyone there. Everyone is kind, knowledge and always positive. Having an environment like that for me is critical for healing. 

What advice would you give to other people who suffered similar injuries or are going through the same situation?

James: If I could offer any words of wisdom to anyone suffering from a  similar injury or living in pain, I would tell them to listen to your body.  Your instincts will tell you what path forward works best for your well-being.  Do not wait and suffer in pain, especially when there are so many others willing to offer a healing hand.

Why would you recommend 3 Dimensional Physical Therapy?

James: I would recommend 3DPT for a multitude of reasons but first and foremost would be the amazing staff. It’s a family-like atmosphere where laughter and positive encouragement are heard more often than not. Everyone that comes in is greeted by name and with a smile, it’s an amazing atmosphere.

What are you most looking forward to doing without your injury?

James: I am most looking forward to getting back to skateboarding.  I’ve been skating since 1987 and the passion I still have to progress and get better is a driving force in my life that I hope to never lose.  Being off my board for the last few months has been harder than I expected but it gave me the opportunity to focus on my health and the importance of staying in motion.  I know that I will be back to skateboarding sooner than later and 3DPT will be the main reason for that.  I’d like to thank everyone there for their continued support and I’m honored to have been chosen as the patient of the month.

Physical Therapy can help you reach your goals too!

Click HERE to make an appointment with a 3DPT physical therapist