Physical Therapy, Dwarfism Awareness Month

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) – It is Physical Therapy Awareness Month and it’s also Dwarfism Awareness Month and that’s why NEWS10 was at Glens Falls Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. That’s where Kory Kosinski gets physical therapy.

Kosinski has achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism. He’s been undergoing limb lengthening surgeries to give him the opportunity to live an independent life.

Since his first surgery, he’s been going to physical therapy and walks me through his sessions.

“There is the bike right over there. I have to do that for around 10 minutes,” said Kosinski. “We’ll do stretches on the mats, back there and over there.”

Jessica Roberts has been Kosinski’s physical therapist since 2015.

“I was a new grad when I first started working with him, so it was a new experience too. I had to do a lot of research. I got in contact with the Paley Institute and the physical therapist there that he had worked with so it’s definitely helped me with my experience and pediatrics,” said Roberts.

After his most recent two surgeries, bearing weight on his legs was a challenge.

“Kory also goes in the pool as well sometimes and it will come right up to the surface so that way people can walk right on and so we are able to get people going with things when they’re not quite ready for outside exercises yet,” said Roberts.

She said strengthening and lowering his pain are the biggest goals right now.

“It’s definitely important for physical therapy. There’s a lot of therapists who work hard and you definitely need that, so it’s good that we have them so they can help us get to where we need to be,” said Kosinski.

Roberts said she’s happy to share more about her profession and talks about how gratifying it is to help people like Kosinski. But they help people with all sorts of conditions.

“I am certified in pregnancy and postpartum, in addition to doing pediatrics. We have the vestibular therapist. We have the lymphedema therapist, and we also have occupational therapist and speech therapist quite often as well,” said Roberts.

People with achondroplasia typically stand around 4 feet tall. Kosinski is standing at 5 feet and 6 inches. Although he is considering undergoing additional surgeries, he’s getting closer to achieving his goal, one step at a time, walking back into school with his friends.

“It’s bittersweet. I feel good that I’m at the end, but I’m also kind of sad because all of the memories. This has been most of my life, more than half of my life,” said Kosinski.

Kosinski is thankful for all of the physical therapists who have assisted him throughout his journey.

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