Worthing physiotherapist saves young dancer from life in a Wheelchair
Ryan Pellett on the machine with Terry Hallet checking his feet Picture by Malcolm McCluskey W41359P10
PHYSIOTHERAPIST Terry Hallett’s knowledge and understanding has saved Ferring dancer Ryan Pellett from life in a wheelchair.
Ryan’s family were left stunned when overnight four years ago he went from being a happy and active dancer and sportsman to being unable to walk and reliant upon a wheelchair.
Doctors and experts could not come up with a reason why Ryan was experiencing such pain in his feet and legs, and after months with little improvement, told the family to accept he could be in a wheelchair for life.
In despair, and desperate for an answer, his parents Lesley and Mike saw an advert for physiotherapist and foot orthotic specialist Terry Hallett, booked an appointment and in the following months, he diagnosed Ryan’s problem and had him walking again.
Lesley, of Elm Park, said: “Terry is my hero. I contacted him out of the blue, when we were completely desperate for help, and that chance paid off, as he’s changed Ryan’s life.
“I couldn’t believe it, before we found Terry, when I was going to see doctors with a child with this sort of problem and they just didn’t want to know.
“There was one time when we were even asked to leave the room, so they could talk to Ryan alone, and it was suggested the problem was all in his head because he didn’t want to dance and we were pushing him to do it. It was just really horrible.”
Ryan was nine when the problem started back in March, 2006. He had taken part in a dancing competition, and the morning afterwards, he could not stand up.
His family assumed he had picked up an injury that would get better in a few days, but became worried when two weeks later he was no better.
But in late October, they went to see Terry, who works at Goring Hall Hospital and also runs the Comfoot Zone clinic in South Street, Tarring. Lesley, 44, said she and Mike immediately felt as though Ryan’s problem was being taken seriously.
She said: “It was so different because he listened to us, and although at first he didn’t say he could help us, he worked out what was wrong with Ryan.
“He found out Ryan had a very high arch on his feet, and he used laser treatment on his tendons, which really worked. It took a few months but eventually he got him walking again and now he’s back to normal.”
Grateful Ryan has been able to return to the stage and dance again thanks to some special insoles designed by his “magic man” Terry.
Terry designed the special orthotics (insoles) for Ryan, now 13, to put inside his shoes.
They work by ensuring his toes now touch the floor, because before, due to the high arches of his feet, they were not, which was making it impossible for him to push off the ground and walk properly.
Ryan said: “Terry is the magic man who really listens to you. Before I went to see him, it was really horrible and there was a tiny part of me that wondered if I was going to be like that forever.”
The Angmering School pupil is a member of the Freestyle Dance Academy in Tarring, and regularly takes part in freestyle competitions with his dance partner, Lauren Stobbart.
He is also a keen footballer, playing for the Worthing Minors youth team.
Terry, who has been a physiotherapist for 13 years, said: “What Ryan has is a fairly common problem, but his is much more extreme than most. Typical insoles are made for a four degree malalignment of the foot, but Ryan’s was measured at 14 degrees.”
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Monday 28 May 2012
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