Minnesotan To Meet: Physical Therapist Andre Deloya
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Overcoming pain from illness or injury can take a lot of work.
Usually, finding the right physical therapist is key.
Andre Deloya has rehabbed pro athletes and rock stars, kids' sports injuries and those with brain or spinal trauma.
While his patients give him praise, he says it's just something he was meant to do.
How Deloya got his start is what makes him this week's Minnesotan to Meet.
Those with sports injuries come to Deloya for help.
"This is what I was kind of meant to do," Deloya said.
Andre Deloya and two partners started Accelerated Sports Therapy and Fitness eight years ago in Plymouth.
"We've been able to pay the bills," Deloya said.
Deloya is humble.
He sees 10-15 patients a day.
"At the end of the day, I can look myself in the mirror and say, 'I helped someone today,'" Deloya said.
Sometimes those someone's are names we all know.
"Kevin is one of the funniest people you'll ever meet in your life," Deloya said.
Yes, he's talking about that Kevin...Kevin Garnett.
Who after a while started impersonating Deloya.
"There's nothing like watching a 7-foot guy strutting around and talking like you," Deloya said.
Deloya worked with athletes from the Timberwolves for 14 years.
"People used to say I looked exactly like Wally Szczerbiak's dad. I mean his daughter one time even came up to me at two-years-old and tugged on my pants and said 'Come on Grandpa, lets go,'" Deloya said.
He has countless stories and fond memories, like traveling with the team all over the world.
What makes Deloya special is his appreciation of it all.
"I was sitting in the van like, 'What am I doing here? How did I end up in this cab at this point in time?'" Deloya said.
In 1998, another star needed his help.
He had to work with the rock star, so Steven Tyler could shoot the video for Aerosmith's hit "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing."
"If you ever watch the video," Deloya said. "You'll see him just standing still because he has two braces on his knees."
Then came Jimmy Buffett, who needed someone to work with him on tour in New Jersey.
After a concert, Buffett let Deloya ride in his limo.
"I just remember waving to the people. And the best thing was on the seat next to me in the limo was a big, brown paper bag of Philly cheese sandwiches. And we just sat there eating Philly cheese sandwiches driving back into town" Deloya said.
Deloya really enjoys the little things in life, which is how his whole career started in the first place.
"I got my leg pinned between two vehicles. I was trying to push my mom out of the way and I the brunt of it" Deloya said. "She [the therapist] rubbed this ultrasound thing on my leg and said that's going to help the healing underneath and I thought that's a really a cool application of physics."
As Deloya entered college he watched his mom struggle with MS, but once again focused on the positives.
"I was impressed by the change in her mental state from those visits and I thought that would be something really cool to do, to be able to impact someone's life that way. So, that became my goal," Deloya said.
After college he worked in New York in spinal cord and neurological rehab.
His wife's grad program brought them to Minnesota.
Deloya said he feels at home in Minnesota, as he spent his childhood years in Norway.
"This feels natural, the climate the cold temperatures," Deloya said.
His first few years in the state, he helped MS patients just like his mom.
After two daughters and his time with the Timberwolves he found his new challenge, helping the more common folk.
"I get more people to listen to me than those big guys," Deloya said.
But he realizes his life has been full and has this advice to anyone just starting out in their career.
"People will say 'How did you get that job or that job,'" Deloya said. "I always say 'I didn't really go for that job.' I just kept doing what I love to do. I try to do everything the best I can possibly do it."
Deloya said in his current role he treats a lot of high profile young athletes and he thinks some are being pushed too far playing year round sports.