[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/07\/haydens-hand-injury-story\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/07\/haydens-hand-injury-story\/","headline":"Rehabilitation After Hand Injury \u2014 Hayden’s Story","name":"Rehabilitation After Hand Injury \u2014 Hayden’s Story","description":"Hayden, 12, hit her hand on a door, resulting in a small break. Physical therapy at UPMC Rehabilitation Institute helped her get back to sports.","datePublished":"2026-07-14","dateModified":"2026-07-15","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/rehab","name":"UPMC Rehabilitation Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/rehab","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-rehabilitation-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2242599786-e1784055134745.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2242599786-e1784055134745.jpg","height":638,"width":1471},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/07\/haydens-hand-injury-story\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Rehabilitation"],"wordCount":528,"articleBody":"The last place the Friant family expected to be on Jan. 17, 2026, was at UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care. But that\u2019s where they found themselves after Hayden Friant, 12, hit her hand on a door, resulting in an unexpected and painful injury.The next day, a follow-up call from the urgent care staff confirmed that Hayden had a small break on the side of her hand.The referral of a family member led them to the office of Kelly Machuca, MD, a sports medicine specialist at UPMC Williamsport, just a few days later. Dr. Machuca directed Hayden\u2019s care, which involved a period in a solid cast, then a flexible brace, for approximately seven weeks.After removing her cast, Dr. Machuca referred Hayden to the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute in Muncy for outpatient physical therapy.\u201cHe put the referral in, and they called us,\u201d says Traci Friant, Hayden\u2019s mother. \u201cOnce they called, I would say it was within a day or two we could get there and get her in.\u201dRehabbing A Young AthleteHayden is an active young athlete, and her injury disrupted her sports schedule in a big way. Not only did it cut her competitive swim season short, but it also kept her from participating in soccer, gym, and even recess.When Hayden arrived at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, the goal was to get her back to the activities she loves.Hayden began her rehabilitation journey with Robert Stahlnecker, PT. Robert, or “Dr. Rob,” as Hayden and Traci called him, helped her through every step of the process. He started Hayden using the hand bike, in addition to bands and weights, to help her regain strength.Assigning PT HomeworkRobert also gave Hayden homework between physical therapy sessions.\u201cAt home, I had to do this exercise where I put my hand in putty and had to try to spread my fingers through it,\u201d Hayden says. “(Robert) had me use rubber bands to stretch my fingers out. I also used exercise bands and weights at home, doing things like curls.”Traci says that the open communication Hayden had with Dr. Machuca and Robert throughout treatment was key to Hayden’s successful rehabilitation.\u201cThey were personable with her and got onto her level as a kid,\u201d Traci says. \u201cShe\u2019s at an age where she can communicate, and she\u2019s very good at communicating what she needs.“They talked to her about any concerns she was having, or things that were and weren\u2019t working,” Tracy says. “Dr. Rob especially built trust with her and made her feel comfortable working with him.\u201dTraci adds that the rehabilitation staff in Muncy were welcoming and responsive, from the front desk to the physical therapists. Their promptness and flexibility with scheduling allowed Hayden to work her rehabilitation around her other commitments.Returning to Daily LifeSince her time at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, Hayden has returned to sports and is back to the daily activities she enjoys.\u201cMy hand doesn\u2019t hurt, and it\u2019s stronger,\u201d Hayden says. \u201cI could barely open a jar or a bottle when I first broke my hand, and now I\u2019m doing things I did before.\u201dSources"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2026","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"07","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/\/07\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Rehabilitation After Hand Injury \u2014 Hayden’s Story","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/07\/haydens-hand-injury-story\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]