GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Mary Free Bed brought together four sports rehabilitation components Monday to create what officials called the "most comprehensive and inclusive sports rehabilitation program in Michigan."
The new program features:
- Sports rehabilitation
- Sports psychology
- Performance
- Wheelchair and Adaptive sports
The sports psychology program and the wheelchair and adaptive sports programs have always been standalone, said Terrance Reuben, director of sports rehabilitation.
"Athletes are always looking for a comprehensive addressing of their needs," Reuben said. "And a lot of times, when we can address just those physical needs and we don't really address the mental and the emotional needs, that's a huge missing component that then limits their performance."
Athletes will be able to get more one-stop-shop treatment under the new program, said Jeni Rummelt, a wheelchair basketball and softball athlete.
"There's not really a limitation when it comes to Mary Free Bed," Rummelt said. "It doesn't matter what your ability/disability is. There's going to be a program. And that just helps mentally improve patients as well."
Reuben said Mary Free Bed will be conducting research to create a program design that can be duplicated across the hospital's network and across the country.
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