Overcoming a Broken Leg: Alex’s Journey Back to the Football Field
Each month, Iron Physical Therapy highlights a special patient to tell their inspiring story. We want to honor the people who go all in - body, mind and spirit. They show us what’s possible - that you can move on from a setback to do amazing things...to challenge your body, to chase your dreams, to address pain in a healthy way to #getbetterbebetter.
Check out Alex’s story below and then click here to read more inspiring patient stories.
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Alex had surgery 5 months ago for a broken leg and ligament repair after an injury playing football. It has been such a long grind for him to progress back to his prior level of function. He has come a long way in PT—from using crutches to relearning how to walk, run, jump, change direction, and eventually returning to football!
A key focus of recovery for us in PT was to ensure that he had equal strength and power in the surgical leg compared to his uninvolved side. This required months of dedication on Alex’s own time to allow him to return to jumping, landing, and cutting without any compensation. He put in so much work over the course of the last 5 months in PT, and his dedication paid off!
We commend Alex for trusting in the process of PT to reach his maximal potential, and we can’t wait to see him on the field for his senior season at Delbarton next fall!
— Dr. Chris Aherne, PT, DPT
In alex’s Own Words…
What do you love most about football?
I love the joy I gain from football and how different it is from all other sports.
When you first got injured, did you realize right away how serious it was? What was going through your mind in that moment?
When I walked off the field, I realized how serious it was. My ankle felt like it wasn’t connected to my leg.
After surgery, did you ever question if you’d get back to 100%? What helped you push through those doubts?
I definitely questioned this at times, but then I realized it was all up to me to get back to 100%. This helped me push myself to get back to what I used to be.
PT was a long grind—was there a moment when you finally felt like yourself again?
I felt like myself when I began to run. The first time I ran, it felt very similar to how it used to be, so I realized how far I had come since the surgery.
One of the big goals in PT was making sure your surgical leg was just as strong as the other. How did it feel when you finally reached that goal?
I felt really proud of myself when I realized that I had no limitations anymore — I could go back to doing anything without thinking about my leg.
If a younger football player or a teammate found themselves in the same situation as you, what advice would you give them about getting through injury and PT?
I would say to focus on the small improvements you make every day instead of focusing on the things you still can’t do.
Fast forward to next fall—what’s the first thing you’re looking forward to when you step back onto that field?
I am looking forward to displaying my hard work and playing a full game again.