Growing up, Jaxon Rounsville experienced frequent knee pain. He later learned it was because of discoid meniscus, abnormally shaped cartilage that made him more prone to injury.
Even after multiple surgeries to remove excess cartilage and repair injuries, Jaxon became an avid long-distance runner, rock climber, and basketball player.
In 2021, he started school at the Pennsylvania College of Technology to study residential construction management. He began working as a construction laborer in the summer of 2023.
During that summer, his leg buckled after a long day at work. He needed another knee surgery to repair the damage, and afterward, he researched physical therapists close to school.
“UPMC in Williamsport was the perfect place to go,” Jaxon says.
A Faster Path to Recovery
Jaxon was eager to return to his active lifestyle, so he chose an outpatient program at UPMC Rehabilitation Institute in Williamsport, Pa.
There, he met Zachary Kurtz, PT, DPT, who specializes in blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy at UPMC in North Central Pa.
Blood flow restriction uses a specialized tourniquet system on an exercising arm or leg. The tourniquet system inflates to intermittently reduce blood flow. The technology can shorten rehab time and enhance outcomes.
Jaxon was hesitant to try BFR at first, but Zachary’s confidence put him at ease.
“Everyone at UPMC was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and amazing to work with,” he says. “So, I was curious enough about blood flow restriction to give it a try.”
The therapy involved wearing an inflated leg band to restrict a precise amount of blood flow, he says.
“This stimulated the muscles, so even a body-weight leg raise was enough to keep the leg from losing muscle,” Jaxon says. “The time it took me to learn to walk again and to gain strength back in the leg was shortened by an incredible amount.
“After I was weight-bearing, we moved on slowly into more and more exercises. With the help of the blood flow restriction, I lost less muscle, gained muscle back faster, and gained strength faster.”
Jaxon says he felt “wonderful” four months later as his therapy wrapped up.
He credits Zachary and the blood flow restriction therapy for getting him back to doing what he loves most.
“I am doing fantastic now,” he says. “I have started a new internship, I rock climb often, (and) I have gotten back into distance running and playing basketball. I couldn’t have made so much progress so fast without the help of the blood flow restriction therapy.”
Now, his ultimate goal is to run the marathon he had been training for before his most recent injury. Thanks to his resilience and his UPMC team’s dedication to Jaxon’s recovery, he’s well on his way.
“The staff was phenomenal to work with and taught me so much while I was there,” he says. “They took the time to teach me what we were doing and why we were doing it, all while bringing a fun, lighthearted energy to the therapy.”
Personalized Therapy at UPMC Rehabilitation Institute
UPMC Rehabilitation Institute offers individualized therapy services. Our team designs personalized treatment plans to help you safely recover mobility and maintain independence after an illness, injury, or surgery.
UPMC is a leader in advanced rehabilitation technology. Our specialists remain dedicated to providing exceptional care, developing new, cutting-edge treatments, and finding the quickest, most effective path to recovery.
To find a UPMC Rehabilitation Institute location near you, visit our website.