Davenporter Credits Aquatic Therapy Team for Second Chances
Retired University of Iowa Nursing Director, John Wagner, 68, is looking forward to resuming his retirement dreams — of cruising to places like Antarctica, cheering on the Hawkeye’s Women’s Basketball team, volunteering with his wife, and spending more time with grandchildren.
As many seniors like John will attest, life happens when you’re making other plans. “I was newly retired from University of Iowa Hospitals and taking a weekend bike ride with my son when the outing took an unexpected turn and I fell off the bike. When I tried to get back on the saddle, I immediately fell down. I couldn’t stand.”
John says he was lucky that his son, an ER physician from California, was home for a visit. “He looked at my knee and immediately diagnosed that the tendons and the quadriceps muscle connected to the top of my knee were cut, he told me I would need surgery to walk again.”
A trip to ORA Orthopedics’ Urgent OrthoCARE confirmed the diagnosis and with it, a year-long odyssey began that would encompass a total of three surgeries: the first to reattach the tendons after the bike accident; the second due to reinjury after slipping on ice; and a third to clean out infected knee tissue, likely from bacteria found in garden soil.
“Three surgeries in one year and I’m still standing,” laughs John. “As soon as I would get strong and get scheduled for release, something else would set me back.” John says the final surgery was particularly painful. “About three months after my second surgery, I had been gardening. Doctors think dirt in my wound likely caused the strep infection. My knee swelled to the size of a volleyball. The third surgery was needed to debride the infected tissue.
“I was really sick, I was so weak. I couldn’t walk very well, and I needed help for everything. I was in skilled care. My knee needed time to heal before I could try to walk again.”
John’s says his own career of patient care at University of Iowa Hospitals did not completely prepare him for the challenges in his own role as patient. “Having spent 46 years in the medical field, I know what tough love is now.”
John attests that the tough love, encouragement, persistence and expertise came from what became his team of ORA Physical Therapy professionals who got him walking again.
“When I first met John we spent a lot of one-on-one time working on the basics of getting his quadriceps to even activate again” says Sara Hipsman, PT, ORA Physical Therapy. “Round one of rehab was going smoothly, but when I heard about his slip and fall, I was heartbroken, knowing he likely re-tore it.
“Thankfully John came back kicking for round two. With new goals, we worked on land until we hit a plateau, but I knew he would make even more progress in the aquatic environment, so I called in the aquatic team to work their magic.”
“Aquatic therapy was a game changer,” he says. “When you are in the clinic pool’s deep end, you are basically weightless. It had been months since I walked normally, and the pool allowed me to be more active and regain my normal gait.”
ORA’s Aquatic Lead, Caitlyn Mejia, says water’s unique properties of buoyancy, resistance, hydrostatic pressure, and temperature can advance a patient’s progress. “Aquatic therapy pools offer many options including underwater treadmills, massage, temperature variation and steps to help patients transition to back to weight-bearing activity on land,” she explains.
John’s ORA aquatic therapist, Grace Parker, also says the combination of aquatic therapy, his determination, positive mindset, and the collaboration of his three physical therapists made all the difference.
“Before his appointments, I would confer with both Sara and Caitlyn to assess his progress and adjust his PT plan. We all offer different perspectives but were of one mind to return John to the activities he enjoys.”
John says “I began by walking on the underwater treadmill in the deep end, only bearing 25% of my weight, while the water supported me. As I became stronger and more flexible, I’d move to the shallow end bearing 50% of my weight, then the pool steps at 75% of weight, eventually moving back onto land, bearing 100% of my weight.
“It felt great to exercise that leg and muscles in a safe environment: I mean, when you think about it, if you fall in water, nothing happens!”
“I really got to know all the PTs and they were a team. They were awesome but also tough when they need to be. Having spent more than four decades in the medical field, you have to show tough love for your patients. My PTs worked well together and I trusted them.”
Grace adds, “Much of John’s success came down to his persistently positive attitude. We had a great relationship and he wasn’t afraid to ask questions or express concerns about his journey. We are very proud of him.”
Ten weeks of aquatic therapy and John was standing on two feet, albeit with the help of a leg brace, and the occasional use of crutches or a cane. “I mean if I’m going on a cruise, it’s late at night and the boat is rolling, there is no shame in a cane,” he laughs.
John continues to build strength and takes renewed joy in going to the gym, volunteering with his wife, and has plans to travel and enjoy his two-year old grandchild. He says he was also excited to attend the Big Ten Tournament and watch Hawkeye legend Caitlin Clark play. “She’s incredible and an inspiration,” he says. One could say his PT team thinks the same of him.
