Teen Athlete Case Study: Ankle Rehab and Shockwave Therapy for Safe Return to Sport
Hannah Munn, DPT | Living Well Center for Integrative Health – Essex Junction, VT
Patient: 16-year-old student athlete from South Burlington
Primary concern: Sports-related ankle injury limiting practice and competition
The Challenge
Repeated cutting, jumping, and sprinting produced ongoing pain and swelling. Fear of re-injury was affecting both athletics and academics.
Assessment & Integrated Plan
Detailed evaluation of range of motion, strength, balance, landing mechanics, and training load. Treatment combined progressive physical therapy with shockwave therapy:
Early focus on pain/swelling reduction and ankle mobility
Targeted strengthening of ankle, foot, hips, and core
Balance, proprioception, plyometric, and sport-specific agility work
Shockwave therapy to address lingering soft-tissue tenderness
Outcomes That Mattered
Everyday walking, stairs, and school activities no longer provoked pain
Progressed to full practice and high-intensity cutting/jumping without symptoms
Restored sport-appropriate strength, single-leg balance, and landing confidence
Returned to competition pain-free with strategies to reduce future injury risk
Why This Worked
A structured, sport-specific rehab plan plus shockwave therapy allowed safe progression and full return to play for this teen athlete.
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