From a Fractured Ankle to the Finish Line

Fractured ankles are among the most common orthopedic injuries and are often caused by a fall.

For Adam Guerrero, 33, of Rancho Cucamonga, a fall at a local rock climbing gym landed him in the Emergency Department. He was diagnosed with a fracture in his left ankle...and as an avid runner with three races scheduled on his calendar, his disappointment was obvious.

After it was determined that he would not need surgery, Adam was placed in a cast and on crutches. His physician then referred him to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center's Rehabilitation Services department, where he was evaluated and treated by Sapan Thakur, DPT, an orthopedic certified specialist (OCS).

With the image of a finish line constantly in his mind, Adam progressed through more than four months of focused orthopedic rehabilitative care to improve his pain, his walk, ankle strength, range of motion and balance.

"We utilize a wide range of evidence-based protocols to maximize individual recovery for our orthopedic patients," says Sapan. "With an ankle fracture of this magnitude, we had to essentially teach Adam how to walk again."

Although it was difficult for him to accept that he could not run, let alone walk without aid, Sapan says Adam remained highly motivated to work hard in therapy.

"In addition to his comprehensive and individualized care program, Adam's mindset and commitment were key to his positive outcome," adds Sapan. "There's no doubt this contributed to his successful recovery."

In February of 2017, Adam had his last physical therapy visit and was released to begin training. On May 6, 2017, Adam ran his first 5K race since his accident, and soon after, completed a half marathon with a personal best time!

"It was hard to push forward at first," says Adam. "What I really appreciated was that Sapan modified and progressed each therapy session to meet my needs. He motivated me and never let me slack off. My care was just that...care for ME, not a one-size-fits-all program."

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center's highly trained staff and board-certified physicians offer a comprehensive range of orthopedic, athletic and Sports Medicine programs for everyone from professional athletes to weekend warriors. To learn more about our Rehabilitation Services programs, offered in Pomona, Claremont, Chino Hills or West Covina, visit our Rehabilitation Center.