Tanya Iacono

My name is Tanya, and I am a competitive powerlifter. During my training for the 2025 USAPL Nationals, my knee became symptomatic and I sought a diagnosis. It was determined that I had a cartilage injury. Multiple orthopedic surgeons told me that there were no real treatment options available - only to wait until my knee deteriorated enough to require a partial or full knee replacement.

As an athlete, that was a difficult reality to accept. I wasn’t ready to give up the sport and lifestyle I love. On the recommendation of a physical therapist, I reached out to Dr. Strickland and sent her my scans for another opinion. Honestly, I expected to hear the same thing again - that my options were limited and that my competitive lifting career was over.

It felt like a miracle when Dr. Strickland offered a completely different path: cartilage implantation, a newer advancement in cartilage repair. This procedure represents hope and opportunity where none existed before - especially for those of us who want to remain active and return to the activities that define us.

Thanks to Dr. Strickland and her team, I now have the chance to continue pursuing the sport I love, and I look forward to stepping back onto the platform one day.