(607NewsNow) — Hip injuries can force anyone into involuntary bed rest, putting a halt to daily physical activity. In older populations, hip fractures are among the most serious health events. Without proper intervention, elderly people are at an elevated risk for health complications and are more likely to lose mobility and independence.
“I broke my hip six months ago, and the doctor put a pin in it. I was in the hospital for about seven days. My doctor, Dr. Jarvis, recommended I come to Arnot for rehabilitation,” says Tyrone Derigge, physical therapy patient at Arnot Health, a Member of Centralus Health.
Tyrone needed surgical intervention to help his hip heal properly. Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) surgery for the hip is a two-part medical procedure used to repair a severe broken hip by surgically repositioning the bone fragments and locking them into place with metal hardware.
“After an ORIF, there is a lot of stiffness and pain postoperatively. There are movements you don’t want to force right away. Bending at the hips, hinging at the hips, and rotating at the hips can be difficult,” says Michaella De Natale, Physical Therapist at Arnot Health, a Member of Centralus Health.
As someone who uses the short summer season for outdoor activities, Tyrone was forced to forgo his favorite activity.
“In the summertime, I play golf two to three times a week. That’s probably the only exercise I get.”
Michaella says she always focuses on the patient’s personal end goals, working to get them back to their hobbies and activities as quickly and safely as possible.
“Function is always a concern. People who come here are frustrated or down because they can’t do what they have been doing for many years. It can take a lot of work to prove to them that they can get back to where they were.”
Though they couldn’t work on a golf course, Michaella had Tyrone swing clubs in the office, helping him regain strength, mobility, and confidence to tee off the 2026 season.
“It got to the point where the discomfort of my broken hip was natural. I adjusted to it. I thought I was 100% better, but physical therapy really helped me. I probably wouldn’t have been on the golf course if I hadn’t come here.”
Without intervention from a healthcare professional, Tyrone says he’d be stuck inside instead of searching for a new course to perfect his swing.
“I was attached to my chair, and Michaella got me out of my chair. It’s the right thing to do, seeing the staff here and getting back on your feet.”
Arnot Health offers physical therapy and rehabilitation services at 602 Ivy Street, Elmira; 100 John Roemmelt Drive, Horseheads; 555 St. Joseph’s Boulevard, Elmira; 123 Conhocton Street, Corning; 7571 State Road 54, Bath. Cayuga Health offers physical therapy and rehabilitation services at 10 Brentwood
Drive, Ithaca; 10 N. Main Street, Cortland; 310 Taughannock Boulevard, Ithaca; 220 Steuben Street, Montour Falls.
