WILLIAMSBURG — Although field hockey wasn't the sport he grew up with, Williamsburg physical therapist Dr. Sasha Digges Jr. was specifically asked to join USA Field Hockey as a physical therapist at Nottingham World After that, I was happy to learn about field hockey. The Masters Hockey Indoor World Cup will be held in late March.
Diggs, clinical director of Peak Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation in Williamsburg, got the opportunity through a friend.
“A friend of mine worked for the USA Field Hockey team as a physical therapist, thanks to her expertise in dry needling techniques. , I was chosen,” Diggs said.
While in Nottingham, Diggs primarily worked 12 hours a day in the arena, treating and evaluating athletes of all ages with all types of injuries. He helped tape his ankle, performed dry needling, listened to the athlete's medical concerns and advised the player on how to rehabilitate specific injuries.
“This wasn't something that was on my radar or something I thought I'd do. What's unique about it is that it reminded me of my time as a student athletic trainer. It was really about working long hours and doing it. It was about working with athletes who have injuries and pain. It's about me working with them to determine if it's time for them to stop competing, or if we can work on it and still be able to compete. ,” Diggs said.
Diggs, a certified athletic trainer and certified strength and conditioning specialist, said one of the most important things he had to do upon arriving in Nottingham was gain the trust of the many athletes he treats. said that it was.
“As a physical therapist and as a newcomer to the team, I had to earn the trust of all the athletes. Once you have the first success with the first athlete, the rest is easy. Word of confidence spread among the players and all of a sudden more people are coming to see you,” Diggs said.
An avid soccer and lacrosse fan, Digges was excited to learn more about the sport of field hockey while in Nottingham.
“I went there as a rookie. One thing I learned while over there was that in America they call it field hockey. In other parts of the world they call it hockey. I had to tell people that here in the United States, most people think of ice hockey when they think of hockey.It was very interesting to learn about the differences between different cultures. ,” Diggs said.
Diggs said he understands how certain treatments can impact an athlete's career.
“I've had five knee surgeries and torn both ACLs and had reconstructive surgery, so I understand sports injuries. What it's like to be an athlete who has to face that. I understand that, but I also understand what it means from a physical therapy standpoint,” Diggs said.
Due to his work in Nottingham, Diggs will also have the opportunity to travel to Cape Town, South Africa or Auckland, New Zealand to support the Outdoor World Cup in the fall.
“As a physical therapist, you make a positive difference in people's lives every day, but sometimes you get a glimpse of just how profound the impact can be.”
