Olympics, Young Gymnasts and Back Pain

In the world of competitive dance, every movement is crucial. For Kiara “Katie” Rodriguez, her dance journey took an unexpected turn when, at the age of 15, when she began experiencing hip pain. What felt like a pulled muscle led her to Nemours Children’s Health, Celebration, where she met with her pediatrician, Dr. Janette Magarino. “We all agreed it might be a pulled muscle,” says Katie. “So, we were told to rest and ice the area and take an anti-inflammatory. However, being the type to not complain, I would just dance through the pain.” As a dedicated dancer, Katie spends five hours a day, six days a week perfecting her craft. As she continued to dance, the pain got worse. “When I was home, the pain was unbearable and at times would leave me screaming or crying,” says Katie. “I couldn’t deal with the pain so I often would lose […]

Zander, an aspiring college football player, first crossed paths with Nemours Children’s Health after suffering a game-related injury. As luck would have it, Dr. Julia Fink, Nemours’ orthopedic specialist, was the team doctor on the field. After the game, Dr. Fink brought him in for an X-ray and MRI, setting the course for his recovery. The injury turned out to be an acromioclavicular joint separation (AC joint separation), which worsened during the state football championship game. Zander’s team went on to win the game, but his shoulder pain lingered, especially with throwing, even after physical therapy. To resolve the issue, Dr. Fink performed an AC joint reconstruction. Following surgery, Zander was in a sling for six weeks and underwent three months of physical therapy. By May, he was able to start his throwing program, and by August, he was ready to kick off the football season, stronger than ever. From […]

16-year-old Alyson was living her dream of competing in horse shows with her beloved horse, Epsilon. That all changed in May 2024, when one routine jump ended in a painful fall. Alyson landed hard on her right leg, and in an instant, she knew something was wrong. “Immediately I was in a lot of pain,” Alyson recalls. “The EMT helped me out of the ring, but I couldn’t walk any further. My mom took me to the closest hospital where they told me I fractured my leg and may need surgery. I was so disappointed and discouraged because I was not going to be able to ride or compete for a long time.” For Alyson, an injury that would require surgery and months away from riding was a devastating blow. Referred by her initial doctor, Alyson’s journey led her to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, and into the care of Dr. […]