Patient Story of: Ryan Liu

As a competitive fencer, my dominant side is constantly under stress during practices and tournaments. Over time, the repetitive strain led to significant pain in my right hip, which began to affect both my performance and daily movement. Simple actions became uncomfortable, and the pain prevented me from training and competing at my highest level.

After dealing with these symptoms for several months, I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Austin, whom I had previously seen for other fencing-related injuries. Dr. Austin diagnosed me with inflammation in my hip and recommended that I take a break from fencing to allow it to heal properly. From there, I was referred to Grace Horan, who developed a personalized rehabilitation plan focused on strengthening my hip and reducing the risk of future injuries.

Throughout my entire experience at HSS, I was impressed by the patience, professionalism, and genuine care shown by every member of the team. They made what could have been a frustrating recovery process feel smooth, supportive, and encouraging.

With Summer Nationals approaching, it was especially important for me to recover quickly so I could return to training and prepare for the biggest competition of the fencing season. Thanks to the expertise and guidance of Dr. Austin and Dr. Horan, I was able to return to fencing in a relatively short amount of time and resume training completely pain-free.

When Nationals arrived, I achieved a second-place finish in Division III, the best result of my nine-year fencing career. The accomplishment improved my national ranking and earned me a new letter rating, marking a major milestone in my athletic journey.

I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Austin, Grace, and the entire HSS team. Their care and support played a critical role in my recovery and success, and I truly believe this achievement would not have been possible without them.