Battling Back to Tae Kwon Do and CrossFIT
OPTI’s Ninja Warrior: David Shares His Comeback Story
David Ramcharan has battled back from injuries that could have kept him from returning to Tae Kwon Do and CrossFit. But, David did not give himself the option of giving up. Due to his determination and work ethic, David is now performing at a higher level than he was before. Check out David’s Comeback Story below!
What was your injury (injuries in your case)?
My right ACL was torn during some poorly supervised sparring at Tae Kwon Do in 2012. I had to have it surgically reconstructed. Several years later, I tore the meniscus in my left knee from overusing my knee during my training. This also resulted in a surgical repair.
What was the most challenging aspect to your recovery?
Getting past the frustration and believing I will regain full functionality again was the hardest part for me. I get a little emotional every time I think about this, but there was a part of me that thought I would never be able walk properly, run, or do all the things I wanted to do. Katie not only took care of getting my knee healed physically, but helped me recover mentally also – not many people have the personality and skill to do this, so I count myself really blessed to land at OPTI with Katie taking care of me.
What did you learn from your experience in physical therapy?
Trust that what seems to be a slow process should not be rushed – listen to your PT; don’t rush back to an activity before you are fully healed.
What did you enjoy most about OPTI?
I really enjoyed the fun and caring atmosphere – if you’re feeling frustrated, tired, depressed – when you leave you’ll be feeling better physically and emotionally. Also, Katie is her own walking case study in injuries from her college athletics, so she often reflects on her own journey; it really helps knowing the person treating you has personal experience with pain, injury and recovery.
What advice would you give someone that is recovering from an injury?
I have many friends who try to recover from a back, knee, shoulder – you name it – injury without wanting to take the time to work with a PT, and they almost always take longer to recover and usually never get back to full function. Don’t try to recover and heal without a “good” PT helping you. Ask around for someone specializing in your injury… and don’t take “good enough” as a recovery goal. If you feel you’re not making progress – come to OPTI ? – in my book, I got World Class Care.
What have you accomplished since coming back from your injuries?
Since being released back into the wild, I earned my Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and placed in the top 10 in the state of Nebraska in my division in the CrossFit Open 2017. Now I’m training for my 2nd Degree Black Belt!
Your Comeback Story Starts Here!
Omaha Physical Therapy Institute (OPTI) is an outpatient orthopedic and sports physical therapy clinic with it’s main location at 144th & Dodge and it’s Athlete’s In Motion (A.I.M.) Clinic inside of the Omaha Sports Complex on 144th & Giles. One-on-one personalized physical therapy every session!
Check out our sports specific rehabilitation page for more information on how OPTI can assist you with your sports related injury!