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Client Case Study: How Kelsey Rebuilt Strength and Confidence After a Peroneal Nerve Injury

When Kelsey came to our clinic, she was four weeks postpartum and facing more than just the challenges of new motherhood.


During labor, unbeknownst to her due to an epidural, she’d spent an extended period with compression to her peroneal nerve (think behind the knee). As the anesthesia wore off, she realized she couldn’t lift her right foot. Her ankle felt weak, her lower leg numb, and her once-strong body suddenly unfamiliar.


She was diagnosed with a right peroneal nerve injury, a condition that causes foot drop and loss of control of the ankle. 


But the physical symptoms weren’t the only weight she was carrying.


A tough start and a worse message


Before coming to us, Kelsey had already tried physical therapy elsewhere.

What she received was what many receive: an underdosed rehab plan that barely scratched the surface of what she needed. Even worse, she was told that this kind of injury “might not get better.” No plan. No progression. Just a vague warning and a growing fear that she’d never regain full function.


She left that clinic feeling discouraged, unsupported, and deeply uncertain about her future as an active woman, enthusiastic CrossFit athlete, and new mother.


She didn’t just need treatment. She needed a different model of care.


From diagnosis to data


When we evaluated Kelsey, the limitations were clear:

  • Drop foot visible during walking

  • Dorsiflexion strength at just 3.9 lbs on the right, compared to 11.6 lbs on the left

  • Light touch sensation diminished across the peroneal nerve distribution

  • Eversion strength nearly cut in half on the affected side


But the numbers weren’t the whole story. What stood out most was Kelsey’s mindset: driven, but shaken. She didn’t need us to promise easy. She needed us to prove progress was possible.


And that’s exactly what we set out to do.


The plan: Treat the system, not just the symptom


We used the Client Attribute Profile to identify what mattered most for her recovery — strength, endurance, nervous system sensitivity, and psychological readiness.


Her program focused on:

  • Peroneal nerve glides to restore mobility

  • Seated and standing dorsiflexion drills loaded with kettlebells

  • Endurance holds for the ankle complex, building capacity over time

  • PEMF therapy via our exclusive Electrons Plus device to support nerve function and reduce neural sensitivity


As symptoms improved, we progressed into foundational resistance training: deadlifts, squats, step-ups, and carries — all scaled to match her current state.


Kelsey didn’t just get a rehab plan. She got a structured return to performance via our unique Prescriptive Training System, driven by real-time feedback and clear progression.


The result: Not just recovered, but rebuilt


Eight weeks later, Kelsey had:

  • Full dorsiflexion and eversion strength matching her non-affected side

  • No visible gait deviation or functional limitations

  • A return to full training without restriction

  • Minimal residual paresthesia, no longer affecting performance

  • Confidence restored in her body and her future


She didn’t just heal. She evolved, physically and mentally.


Kelsey’s story is not rare. But her outcome is the result of a different approach.


Too often, traditional rehab offers generic protocols and grim prognoses that do more harm than good. But recovery isn’t about avoiding effort — it’s about matching the right effort to the right moment.


And when you do that? You don’t just treat the injury. You train the person back to who they were — and sometimes, to someone even stronger.


Are you ready to use training as rehab, not just put a band-aid on the symptoms?


Click below to schedule a free discovery call and find out how our approach can help you return stronger than before:



Let’s build the plan that works for you.



 
 
 

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