Revitalizing Progress: Little Sugar Creek Greenway’s Recovery Journey

Recovering from Injury with Outdoor Therapy: The Heather Trull Story

Heather Trull spent almost two months confined to a hospital room following a severe motorcycle accident. Regaining her mobility was a significant milestone, particularly her first post-recovery ride down Little Sugar Creek Greenway — a moment she holds dear.

After weeks indoors, she exclaims, “Being in the fresh air was glorious. It meant the world to me,” while enjoying a handcycle ride along the greenway.

The recently refurbished greenway runs alongside David L. Conlan Center at Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation. For patients like Heather, the enhanced sidewalks and improved access symbolize more than just renovations — they represent freedom and independence.

The Role of Adaptive Sports in Patient Recovery

Through the Adaptive Sports and Adventures Program (ASAP), patients can engage in activities like handcycling and fishing on the greenway’s trails, located just outside the hospital.

Physical therapist Lukas Sand highlights, “Each day we get to do this is my favorite. It’s also our patients’ favorite day. The sunshine, the fresh air, being able to try sports again… It all brings back pieces of their lives before injury.”

Sand assists patients in rediscovering their potential through activities like pedaling down the trail or fishing in the creek. These moments are therapeutic, joyful, and deeply personal.

Multiple Therapies for Comprehensive Recovery

Physical therapists screen inpatients for outdoor therapy by assessing their heart rate, blood pressure, and other factors. The ultimate goal is to improve their overall independence through a multifaceted approach using various types of equipment both indoors and outdoors.

Occupational therapists also assist inpatients with performing routine daily activities, while speech-language pathologists help with improving cognitive tasks, swallowing, speaking, breathing, or other related challenges.

The Power of Connection in Healing

Jennifer Moore, a licensed recreation therapist and director of ASAP, views the greenway as more than a scenic trail. For patients at Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation, it serves as a link between hospital care and community life.

Moore adds, “We introduce patients to adaptive sports but we also connect them with people who have faced similar challenges. That shared experience helps break down barriers and gives people hope for what’s ahead.”

Greenway Renovations Enhance Access and Patient Experience

The greenway’s renovations, including wider trails, improved access points, and a new pedestrian bridge, are integral for patients learning to navigate varied terrains. For patients like Heather and Trish, these moments in nature are more than therapeutic. They symbolize resilience, connection, and possibility.

Heather comments, “After being in the hospital bed, to get out into nature and be able to roll around again, is very exciting. I love it.”

The journey to recovery doesn’t just happen within hospital walls. It unfolds in open spaces, along trails, and in the presence of others who understand the journey. Each outing allows patients to reclaim a part of themselves and takes them one step closer to life beyond the hospital.

Find out more about Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation.

Related Articles