Karine Deroche testifies to her experience of caring for Allyane in her knee rehabilitation programand especially following her latest surgery: 4 allografts to reconstruct 3 ligaments. She explains her journey and the results obtained.
How did you hear about the Allyane method?
It was my surgeon, Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet, who directed me towards this method.
Dr. Sonnery Cottet came to operate on me twice at Toulouse University Hospital with Professor Etienne Cavaignac.
In November 2019, for an osteotomy, and then in September 2020 for 4 ligament grafts on the same right knee, I received two tissue donations to repair these ligaments:
- An allograft from a donor to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament.
- An allograft from another donor for the posterior cruciate ligament.
They took a graft from my good leg to repair the lateral plane and sutured this autograft with the remaining grafts.
I am 8 months past my last surgery.
What was your initial impression of it?
I was thrilled, and relieved. Surprised, taken aback, and delighted.
I was at a dead end with my rehabilitation. For two years now, I've been going to physiotherapy almost every day. And 8 months after my last surgery, I was falling back into the same problems as 2 years ago: the more I rehabilitate, the more inflammation I get, the more sessions I do, the more my tissues swell, the more I suffer, become overwhelmed, and get depressed.
For the past three months, I have been doing 4 physiotherapy sessions per week, I have gained muscle mass, a dense muscle mass but not drained like saturated and ultimately not very effective in terms of power.
The repair of my right knee is a consequence of a triple ligament rupture with bone avulsion of the left ankle, "my good side".
When Dr. Sonnery Cottet told me about this method, I was delighted to try a new approach.
The Allyane method provides me with scientific answers to the interaction between our brain and our muscles. I needed that. I am convinced that the future lies in neuroscience.
I've been in contact with elite athletes for almost 25 years through my work as a sports journalist. I'm familiar with the effects of visualization and mental imagery, which athletes have been using for some time. I've seen mental preparation in sports evolve over the years. It's my environment.
I was happy to experiment with this method, which really corresponded to my personal and ultimately professional journey.
In what context did you benefit from this method?
I have been on sick leave for 2 years now.
- 3 operations in 1 year (osteotomy/removal of osteopathic material/4 ligament grafts)
- six and a half months in a rehabilitation center
- 3 months in a wheelchair
I finally discovered the Allyane method for regaining postural balance. I contacted the practitioner on the advice of my surgeon, who ultimately provided a suitable solution to my somewhat specific problem. I am immensely grateful to him.
What problem does this address?
For ligament reconstruction of the right knee following 4 operations in 1986 and 2020.
The goal of my Allyane treatment is to rebalance the entire lower musculoskeletal system.
How did you experience this session? What were the results?
We began with two lengthy conversations, one by phone when we scheduled the appointment, and another upon arrival. This initial exchange ultimately laid the foundation for the session. It was important for me to express my experiences, my difficulties, and my needs. We then determined our priorities together, where to begin: the right side, the left side, or the back. We settled on the right quadriceps, which had been inhibited for over 30 years.
We took photos of me standing up, from the front, from the side, etc. We filmed my walk, my gait, how I go up and down stairs, how I jump. My proprioception is hesitant, strong on the right, strong on the left. I have difficulty going down stairs; I haven't jumped since my first operation in 1986. Together, we reviewed the footage. The "together" aspect is crucial. Feeling the imbalance is not at all the same as SEEING it. I saw that I was much less off-balance than I had imagined. SEEING allows you to confront a reality other than the one your body makes you feel. This gave me confidence: I saw where my weaknesses were. The analysis is insightful; I am very well supported by the practitioner who sees what I don't necessarily see myself.
I get up at the edge of the table to redo the tests done before the session. I look at my right thigh, and with the naked eye I can see that it's bigger, that my quadriceps is differently defined. I absolutely can't believe it. We do the test again, I lift my leg, the physiotherapist presses on it, and then I see the muscle contract where it hadn't before. I'm stunned. I push harder and I get a cramp! The physiotherapist looks at me and says, "Well, yes, it's working now!" We burst out laughing together, because it's such a joy. I had almost accepted living with my "disability," my difficulties, I had practically resigned myself to them, and now it's such a relief, such a great pleasure to think that there could be another way.
My leg feels completely different now; it's much lighter. More reliable, I went back down the stairs I used to hesitate to descend; it's now second nature.
Of course, there is still work to be done, I need to stimulate this quadriceps, continue to build muscle, but I am relieved to see that I will be able to progress again and project myself into what I no longer considered possible.
It's a bit early to have conclusive results, we will probably do more sessions for the left side, the ankle and the back, but I am convinced of the validity of this method.
Would you recommend the Allyane method?
YES, 150%. It's already done, I encouraged my physiotherapist who treated me for 6 months at the rehabilitation center to train with Allyane.
In the sports world too, I will discuss this with those around me because it seems to me to be the way forward to refine mental preparation, to couple it even more with movement.