Thomas' story
Thomas Sadel, a 73-year-old Vietnam veteran and family man from New Jersey, never imagined a simple task would result in a life-changing injury. But while descending the stairs in his home, Thomas slipped and fell, suffering a fracture to his right hip. The pain and shock were enormous.
He was rushed to Englewood Hospital, and surgeons performed a right hip hemiarthroplasty to replace the ball of the hip joint with a prosthetic component.
Following the procedure, Thomas faced several challenges. “I was unable to walk or move around freely, and I was in constant pain,” he recalled. His doctors informed him that therapy at a rehabilitation hospital would be the next step in getting back to the things he loved to do.
After being discharged from Englewood, he chose Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (KIR) - Saddle Brook to help him regain his strength and independence. “I chose Kessler because it had a great reputation,” he said.
Upon arriving at KIR - Saddle Brook, Thomas faced significant mobility deficits. He required assistance with walking, stair navigation and transfers, and his balance and endurance were notably diminished. “I just wanted to be the way I was before the accident,” Thomas said. A physician-led rehabilitation team focused on creating a care plan to help him achieve his goal.
Thomas began a program that combined physical and occupational therapies. His physical therapists worked on improving his gait and endurance through progressive exercises such as standing box taps and squats to strengthen his hip muscles. He soon began to enjoy the challenge of these exercises.
"I liked all the exercises to regain balance... I liked practicing walking," he shared. These exercises not only improved his mobility but also helped reduce his pain.
In occupational therapy, Thomas learned to use adaptive equipment to support his independence with daily activities. Tools like a reacher, dressing stick and sock aid were introduced to make dressing easier, while home modifications were discussed to ensure safety. He found that using the reacher tool was a game changer for him, because it allowed him to do many things independently again. Thomas practiced standing tolerance and reaching activities using standing peg board games and functional item retrieval, such as searching for and retrieving cones placed around the gym, to enhance his visual scanning and coordination.
"The rehab team has helped me navigate the walker correctly to move better and more safely on my own," he added. The real turning point for him was “learning to concentrate on what is best for me and staying focused.”
One of the highlights of Thomas’s rehabilitation was the therapy dog visits, which he enjoyed immensely. Therapy dogs can positively affect patient stress, motivation and happiness levels. These dynamic sessions, alongside his progress in balance and mobility, helped build his confidence.
Throughout his rehabilitation, Thomas’s wife was there, offering constant support. “My wife has been 100% supportive of my recovery. She came for a family training,” he explained. Together, they learned strategies to maintain his progress at home.
Reflecting on his time at Kessler, Thomas expressed gratitude for the unified rehabilitation experience. “Overall, I found my rehab to be very seamless. All the OTs and PTs were great to work with,” he said.
He also discovered something new about himself during the process: “I learned that pain is no excuse to give up.”
Now preparing to continue his recovery at home, Thomas is focused on staying true to his commitment to get well. He has a message for others facing similar challenges: “Rehab is a must!”
He was rushed to Englewood Hospital, and surgeons performed a right hip hemiarthroplasty to replace the ball of the hip joint with a prosthetic component.
Following the procedure, Thomas faced several challenges. “I was unable to walk or move around freely, and I was in constant pain,” he recalled. His doctors informed him that therapy at a rehabilitation hospital would be the next step in getting back to the things he loved to do.
After being discharged from Englewood, he chose Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (KIR) - Saddle Brook to help him regain his strength and independence. “I chose Kessler because it had a great reputation,” he said.
Upon arriving at KIR - Saddle Brook, Thomas faced significant mobility deficits. He required assistance with walking, stair navigation and transfers, and his balance and endurance were notably diminished. “I just wanted to be the way I was before the accident,” Thomas said. A physician-led rehabilitation team focused on creating a care plan to help him achieve his goal.
Thomas began a program that combined physical and occupational therapies. His physical therapists worked on improving his gait and endurance through progressive exercises such as standing box taps and squats to strengthen his hip muscles. He soon began to enjoy the challenge of these exercises.
"I liked all the exercises to regain balance... I liked practicing walking," he shared. These exercises not only improved his mobility but also helped reduce his pain.
In occupational therapy, Thomas learned to use adaptive equipment to support his independence with daily activities. Tools like a reacher, dressing stick and sock aid were introduced to make dressing easier, while home modifications were discussed to ensure safety. He found that using the reacher tool was a game changer for him, because it allowed him to do many things independently again. Thomas practiced standing tolerance and reaching activities using standing peg board games and functional item retrieval, such as searching for and retrieving cones placed around the gym, to enhance his visual scanning and coordination.
"The rehab team has helped me navigate the walker correctly to move better and more safely on my own," he added. The real turning point for him was “learning to concentrate on what is best for me and staying focused.”
One of the highlights of Thomas’s rehabilitation was the therapy dog visits, which he enjoyed immensely. Therapy dogs can positively affect patient stress, motivation and happiness levels. These dynamic sessions, alongside his progress in balance and mobility, helped build his confidence.
Throughout his rehabilitation, Thomas’s wife was there, offering constant support. “My wife has been 100% supportive of my recovery. She came for a family training,” he explained. Together, they learned strategies to maintain his progress at home.
Reflecting on his time at Kessler, Thomas expressed gratitude for the unified rehabilitation experience. “Overall, I found my rehab to be very seamless. All the OTs and PTs were great to work with,” he said.
He also discovered something new about himself during the process: “I learned that pain is no excuse to give up.”
Now preparing to continue his recovery at home, Thomas is focused on staying true to his commitment to get well. He has a message for others facing similar challenges: “Rehab is a must!”