Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Rehabilitation >
  • ... >
  • Outpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation >
  • Patient Stories >
  • Wesley Matsuka Williams
Outpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
About Us
Locations
Conditions We Treat
Our Experts
Our Partners
Patient Stories
Research
Residency and Fellowship Programs
Treatment Options
Contact Us
Outpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
About Us
Locations
Conditions We Treat
Our Experts
Our Partners
Patient Stories
Research
Residency and Fellowship Programs
Treatment Options
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Wesley: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Image of Wes Matsuka-Williams.

Wes’ Story: Record-Breaking Triple Jumper Leaps Past Injuries

Ever since he was a boy, it was clear that Wesley Matsuka-Williams was fast. Growing up in Norwich, England, Wes’ dad recognized his son’s talent and signed him up for the local track team. There, moving up through the club sport system is key to being recognized by important figures in the track community. With dedicated training, that’s exactly what happened for Wes.

Climbing to the Top

Starting out in track, Wes often ran the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints, as well as competed in the long jump. He performed very well locally but hadn’t secured any national titles. He started to dabble in the standing triple jump and traditional triple jump (with an approach run), and at 13 years old entered into his first triple jump competition. He did so well, it was clear he should train only in that event.

Wes qualified for the national championships, placed third, and at 16 had incredible success in the triple jump – winning all major championships in England that year and qualifying for his first competition representing Great Britain on the national team.

At this point, he was the top triple jumper in England and in Europe for his birth year (2000) and was top ten in the world. He started to think of his future, ultimately deciding to study and compete in college in America at Pennsylvania State University.

Wes struggled with various injuries from 2016 through his freshman and sophomore years of college, and it came to a point where his knees were so painful, he feared he would no longer be able to compete or even have a decent quality of life if he continued. Then, he discovered UPMC.

Travelling to Pittsburgh

It started with a hip impingement diagnosis at Penn State and the recommendation of a cortisone injection into the hip. Wes wasn’t certain about getting the injection. A teammate mentioned he was going home to Pittsburgh for winter break and that Wes should see a professional that helped him a while back – Ron DeAngelo, MEd, LAT, FAFS, Director of Sports Performance, UPMC Sports Medicine.

Wes saw Ron and team at the UPMC Freddie Fu Sports Medicine Center in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood. Ron tested his mobility, recognized tightness in several areas of his body in addition to the hips, and created a personalized pre-exercise routine with correctional movements and breathing that would help Wes recalibrate his posture and be more aware of his hip placement.

He helped with Wes’ mobility as a whole and set him up for success back home. “When I went to see Ron for my hip, I saw almost immediate improvement in my mobility and the pain I was experiencing,” Wes says. “I found that this team was quite good and knowledgeable, so I wanted to take the opportunity to care for my knees as well.” Ron referred Wes to the UPMC Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). 

Restoring Knees to Make the Jump

Soon after working with Ron, Wes saw a physiatrist at UPMC Passavant Spine Center in Wexford, Pa. and was diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy.

“By my doctor using the ultrasound, I learned about the problem areas in my knee and how I would be treated,” says Wes.

Wes underwent Percutaneous Ultrasonic Tenotomy (PUT) with the TENEX™ device, an approximately five-minute outpatient procedure that is performed with local anesthetics. It helps relieve chronic tendon pain by removing scarred and degenerated tendon or plantar fascia tissue.

Following the procedure, Wes modified his activity for two weeks and followed a rehabilitation plan developed by Lillie Silverstein, PT, DPT, CSCS, a former physical therapy resident who spoke with him weekly as he successfully navigated the plan from afar at Penn State. “UPMC was still very well connected throughout my rehab even though I wasn’t physically present,” Wes says. “Seeking the proper care was the differential factor in how my body responded. It was really refreshing to see a group of people who really cared for my health and wanted to see me improve. That even extended to my life outside of the clinic.”

Leaping to New Lengths

After treatment, he returned to compete collegiately and achieved his personal best, which had been on hold since coming to the States. He graduated from Penn State in May 2022 with undergraduate degrees in biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering, still with two years of potential NCAA eligibility.

Wes hopes to return to America for graduate school to complete an MBA and continue to compete. Now feeling much better physically than he has in quite some time, he once again believes going pro could be in the cards for him. He has his sights set on a hopeful professional career and representing his country again in international competition.

“I am overly satisfied with my care at UPMC,” Wes says. “I can’t describe how happy I am and how fortunate I feel to have been introduced to such incredible staff and knowledgeable people. They’ve helped me gain a better understanding of my own body and the nuances which lead to keeping me healthy. I want to make them proud and can’t thank them enough for reigniting the hope and keeping my dream alive.”

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login