How Southern Tier student was able to recover from major injury and return to the national stage
Provided by Cayuga Health
Race walking is a sport with an incredibly misleading name. Walking is usually associated with a slow, steady pace, and the track-based sport is anything but. Speed aside, this competition is incredibly technical. Athletes must have one foot on the ground at all times, and it has to be visible to the human eye. Officials are always present, keeping an eye on every athlete’s footwork, looking for opportunities to penalize them for lifting both feet at the same time. On top of that, the advanced leg, the one stepping forward, must not bend and remain straight as the body passes over it. This technique takes a long time to learn, can’t be rushed, and is often tailored to the person’s individual body structure.
Maddie is a national championship race walker and understands the intricacies of the sport. Race walking isn’t her only passion. When she’s not striding around the track, she finds herself running up and down a soccer field. She didn’t know it at the time, but that game would end her race before it began.
“The day prior to my second ACL tear, I had gotten hurt, and my mom was like ‘you should not play soccer tonight, your knee hurts.’”
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An ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, injury is usually associated with a popping sound, immediate swelling and a feeling of instability.
Having already sustained another injury, her risk of experiencing another knee-related injury was slightly higher. Determined to help her teammates work towards victory, Maddie pushed the pain aside and committed to the game.
“I went into that game. I played anyways and I hurt my left knee, which is now the more recent tear.”
With all sports on pause, Maddie placed her focus on surgery and, with the help of Cayuga Health, a member of Centralus Health, created a custom-tailored plan to help heal as quickly as possible.
“Immediately, we decided Dr. Anderson was the way to go because she was so amazing in my last recovery and she has made this whole journey so much smoother than I ever could’ve imagined.”
Dr. Ashley Anderson, an orthopedic surgeon at Cayuga Health, a member of Centralus Health, grew up in the Southern Tier and understands the love athletes have for their sport. Maddie says Dr. Anderson and the rest of the team did everything they could to help ease her concerns.
“The nurses were all super sweet, made me feel comfortable.”
After surgery, Maddie moved on to rehabilitation therapy. With multiple outpatient rehabilitation offices across the Southern Tier, patients can choose from one of several convenient locations to work towards recovery. Maddie still needed to focus on her schoolwork while injured and was able to coordinate with Cayuga Health’s physical and occupational therapy office to work around her schedule.
“The physical therapists, I could not ask for better ones. They are there for me whether I’m having a good day or a bad day. They listen to me as a friend and as a doctor.”
In listening to her concerns, Maddie says they were able to set, strive, and meet every milestone.
“The whole team has been amazing in supporting me and helping me reach the goals I wanted to hit. They don’t question them; they help you to get to them and that’s how I’ve become the race walker I am today.”
With the help of her team of providers, Maddie was able to regain her stamina, maintain focus, and readjust her technique to swiftly strut without risking another injury.
“I’m most proud of this most recent season and getting back out there within such little time and making it back to the national stage.”
Maddie made her triumphant return to the track. In March 2024, the race walker finished with what New York State Senator Tom O’Mara called a “remarkable time” of 8:09.62 during the 2024 Adidas Indoor National Track and Field Championship one-mile race walk.
“I was just so grateful to have had such an amazing team help me recover from an injury like that.”
Centralus Health believes in caring for the whole patient. Each specialist is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care in a friendly and encouraging environment. Therapists work closely with doctors and other healthcare professionals to create an unsurpassed level of care.
Some outpatient offices at Centralus Health offer early and late hours for care, opening at 7 a.m. and closing by 6 p.m. Referrals are recommended but not required. Appointments can be made over the phone. For more information about Centralus Health’s comprehensive physical therapy and rehabilitation services, click here.
Cayuga Health System’s occupational, physical, and speech therapists practice in four Cayuga Health locations: Cayuga Wellness Center, 310 Taughannock Boulevard, Suite 1C, Ithaca, (607) 252-3500; Cayuga Health’s East Campus, 10 Brentwood Drive, (607) 274-4159; 10 N. Main Street, Cortland, (607) 428-8020; and at Schuyler Hospital, 220 Steuben Street, Montour Falls, (607) 535-7121. They also partner with Island Health & Fitness trainers in Ithaca as appropriate for a seamless transition from therapy to appropriately challenging group or individual exercise programs.
Arnot Health’s Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation at five locations: Arnot Ogden Medical Center, 602 Ivy Street, Elmira; St. Joseph’s Hospital, 555 St. Joseph’s Boulevard, Elmira; 123 Conhocton Street, Corning; 100 John Roemmelt Drive, Horseheads; and 7571 State Roade 54, Bath, (607) 776-8635. All other Arnot Health practices can be reached at (607) 737-7804.
