Two patients at UHS Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation have shared their experiences with recovery and regaining mobility through physical therapy. Kaylee Goodspeed, a 15-year-old high school student and cheerleader, underwent two knee surgeries due to loose ligaments. Her mother, Jamie Goodspeed, said that the second surgery was preventive. After her operation, Kaylee began therapy at UHS Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation in Endicott with physical therapist Renee Marcyan.
“She was truly remarkable,” Jamie said of Renee. At first, Kaylee went three times a week, then two, and followed a strict home exercise plan in between appointments. Renee didn’t just show Kaylee what to do — she showed her that she believed in her.
Kaylee returned to her activities much earlier than expected. Her surgeon, Kristen Herbst of UHS Orthopedics, noted the quick recovery: “She beat the timeline by months,” Jamie said. The family credited this outcome to the support from her therapist and consistent home exercises.
The connection between patient and therapist was important for Kaylee’s experience. “We were actually sad to see therapy end,” Jamie shared. “They joked with her, they talked about their weekends — it became something she looked forward to.”
Now entering her junior year of high school, Kaylee is back to cheering without pain or restrictions.
Jim McKenna, age 75, also benefited from physical therapy after shoulder replacement surgery performed by Dr. Herbst at UHS Orthopedics. A longtime cyclist who started riding at age 60, Jim had struggled with chronic shoulder pain before his procedure.
“I loved cycling the moment I started at 60,” Jim said. “But the pain became unbearable.” He began rehabilitation with Benjamin Dvorsky at UHS Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation after his surgery.
“I drove almost 50 miles for each appointment,” Jim said. “But Ben was great. He gave me everything I needed to do at home and trusted me to do it.” According to Ben Dvorsky: “He was very dedicated. Jim supplemented his once-weekly PT sessions with consistent home exercises, which he credits for his accelerated recovery and return to independence.”
Three months after surgery, Jim resumed cycling thousands of miles without pain: “I’ve ridden a couple thousand miles since the operation,” he said proudly. “Physical therapy was absolutely essential. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.”
UHS Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation emphasizes teamwork among therapists and individualized care plans for patients recovering from surgery or injury.
“We don’t treat just as a Physical Therapist or a Physical Therapist Assistant — we work in teams,” said Darrel Harvey, director of Outpatient Operations at UHS Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation. “Our focus is on quality, access and making sure patients feel taken care of.”
UHS provides custom exercise programs as well as advanced tools like blood-flow restriction cuffs when appropriate for muscle recovery.
October is recognized as Physical Therapy Awareness Month by UHS staff members who aim to highlight their work helping patients return to daily life activities.
With nine outpatient locations including Binghamton, Endicott, Vestal, Greene and Owego—plus a new site on the campus of UHS Senior Living at Ideal—UHS therapists collaborate closely with medical providers and specialists for tailored treatment plans.
More information about services offered can be found on the organization’s website: nyuhs.org/physicaltherapy
