If you look around the gym at one of our three outpatient Rehabilitation Services locations, you’re sure to see a cross section of people. Everyone from teenagers to centenarians is working one-on-one with our staff to improve their strength, balance, and mobility.
Once in a while, you’ll even find a professional athlete in the mix.
Such was the case with Quinn Gleason of Mendon, who has been playing professional tennis since graduating from the University of Notre Dame eight years ago.
Quinn, who has played in both the US Open and Wimbledon, has 17 professional doubles titles and one singles title, having competed in 28 different countries.
In spring 2022, she thought it could all be a thing of the past. She tore the triangular fibrocartilage complex in her dominant wrist and was completely unable to hold a racquet.
With her career on the line, Quinn wanted to be sure she found the right therapist. That led her to Zach Nobles, Thompson’s senior occupational therapist as well as a certified hand therapist.
“I did a lot of research about therapists in the area and was particularly impressed by Zach’s client reviews and his certifications,” Quinn said. “I made a ton of progress within the first week, so I was thrilled with my choice to work with Zach.”
Quinn said Zach set up a clear program of exercises and stretches, giving her direction to get back on the court as soon as possible. After just a few visits, the mobility and strength in her wrist was much improved and after a few weeks, she was “back to 100 percent.”
In fact, the season following her recovery was her most successful to date.
“I won my biggest professional and first WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) title. I reached a career high of 95th in the world,” she said. “I can’t thank Zach and Thompson enough for my 100 % recovery from my wrist injury.”
For his part, Zach attributes Quinn’s progress to her dedication to therapy and her self-motivation to achieving full recovery. But Director of Rehabilitation Services Carole Drake says Thompson is indeed a place to get world-class care, with Zach and other high-caliber therapists possessing the same level of skill and determination as many of their clients.
“When patients come to Thompson, they can count on a patient-centered approach where they spend one on one time with their therapist working toward their goals,” she said. “We take immense pride in what we do every day for our community.”