03/19/2024
To 16-year old Ciara, swimming is more than just a sport, it has been a part of her life since before she could walk. When physical and mental challenges started to impact her participation in the sport she loved, the Center for the Female Athlete helped her get back to feeling her best in the pool.
With a chest wall deformity known as pectus excavatum which places pressure on her heart and lungs, swimming wasn’t always easy. She underwent surgery when she was 13 and has two titanium bars positioned within her chest to lift her sternum off of her lungs and heart.
After surgery, Ciara came to Dayton Children's Hospital for physical therapy, helping her gain strength. While the bars make sure Ciara’s heart and lungs are protected, they also present some challenges for her as a multi-sport athlete in swimming, track and cross-country.
On top of this, Ciara was struggling to manage the nutritional habits necessary for her high levels of physical activity. Between athletics and school, she also experienced stress and anxiety that took some of the fun out of sports. Ciara and her mom, Nicole, turned to the Center for the Female Athlete for help.
The center created a plan of care that focused on nutritional and mindfulness techniques to help manage feelings of stress before a meet. She’s learning proper breathing exercises and nutritional habits to keep her body strong and ready year-round.
Today, her resilience and dedication is shown in ripples with personal bests and podium finishes in swimming, cross-country and track. The center has helped Ciara take the stressors of being an athlete in stride!
Her mom, Nicole says, “It's so inspiring to witness such a positive change in Ciara. I am so proud that she values a healthy, fit and performance ready mind and body.”
Dive into her full story: https://bit.ly/3TmiSKs
*
*
*
*
🌟 Are you ready to find out if the Center for the Female Athlete is right for you? Take our 1-minute quiz and schedule a 30-minute free, virtual consultation with one of our athletic trainers to find out by visiting: https://linktr.ee/thefemaleathlete