At 13, Owen lives and breathes sports.
From basketball courts to baseball diamonds, he plays nearly year-round, point guard and shooting guard for St. Jude the Apostle and JOELITE, catcher for the Louisiana Leopard Dawgs, and even finds time to fish and cook on weekends.
“He’s just a natural athlete,” says his mom, Andrea. “He’d much rather be outside with friends, playing or being active.”
But when Owen started feeling pain in his right elbow, his dominant arm, Andrea knew something wasn’t right.
“It started about two years ago,” she recalls. “He’s a catcher, so he’s always throwing. We thought it was overuse, and at first, it didn’t seem too serious.”
They brought Owen to see Kyle Pontiff, MD, sports medicine physician with Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health. His advice? Rest, then reassess.
That plan worked for a while, but the pain returned earlier this year. Instead of sidelining Owen from the sports he loves, Dr. Pontiff took a proactive approach.
A Preventive Game Plan
“Dr. Pontiff has always been so reassuring,” Andrea says. “As a parent, you walk in thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this is my kid’s life.’ He understands that. He didn’t say stop playing. He said, ‘Let’s figure out how to keep him in the game safely.’”
Dr. Pontiff referred Owen to physical therapy at Traction Sports Performance, where he began working with Will Bacon, PT, DPT. The goal was clear: strengthen the muscles around Owen’s elbow and prevent future flare-ups.
“We knew he wasn’t going to stop playing,” Andrea says. “So, it became, how can we keep him from having to sit out for long stretches?”
For several weeks, Owen went to physical therapy twice a week, focusing on targeted strengthening exercises. The difference was immediate.
“Since starting PT, Owen hasn’t had any pain,” Andrea shares. “And now, even though he’s not in active therapy anymore, he knows what exercises to do to stay strong.”
More Than Just Recovery
For Andrea and her husband, Joe, the experience has been about more than healing an injury. It’s been about setting their son up for success.
She encourages other parents to trust their instincts and be proactive, even if an injury seems minor.
“If your child is consistently complaining or you see something off, even if it’s just rubbing an elbow during a game, it’s worth checking out,” Andrea says. “Ignoring it can mean sitting out for a season.”
Sports Physical Therapy That Keeps Athletes Moving
Andrea says the experience with Dr. Pontiff and the team at Traction has given her peace of mind.
“It’s not just physical therapy. It’s sports physical therapy. It’s a different level of care, and they really understand the athlete’s mindset,” she says.
Preventive sports rehab can make a significant difference in an athlete’s life. Trust your instincts, be proactive and seek expert care.
Now, Owen’s back on the field, court and fishing dock, playing hard, staying strong and doing what he loves most.
