#WhyFrye – Emma Martinez
August 25, 2026
Finding Her Balance Again: Emma Martinez’s Concussion Recovery
When St. Stephens High School student-athlete Emma Martinez suffered a concussion and spinal injury during a wrestling tournament, she and her family had no idea how challenging the weeks ahead would become. After briefly losing consciousness, Emma struggled with memory, concentration, balance, vision changes and weakness in her grip – symptoms that concerned her mother, Megan.
Trusting her instincts, Megan searched for a concussion specialist and found sports medicine physician Dr. Michael Simhachalam (Dr. Sim) at FryeCare Orthopedics and Neurosurgery.
“I knew we needed someone who specialized in concussions,” Megan said. “From the first phone call, Dr. Sim made us feel like we were in the right place. He saw Emma the same day, thoroughly evaluated her and explained everything in a way that helped both of us.”
Dr. Sim developed a personalized treatment plan that included weekly follow-up visits and vestibular therapy through Frye Regional Medical Center. Objective testing allowed Emma and her family to see measurable improvements while providing documentation that helped her receive academic accommodation during recovery.
Despite lingering symptoms, Emma successfully completed the school year with all A’s and earned scores of 5 on her AP exams.
“Dr. Sim gave us confidence every step of the way,” Megan said. “He didn’t just treat Emma’s injury; he helped us understand what recovery looked like and gave us peace of mind.”
Now entering her junior year, Emma has regained her balance, vision, memory and concentration. While she made the difficult decision to step back from wrestling after multiple concussions, she plans to continue competing in track and soccer while managing the wrestling team.
“I’m definitely much better,” Emma said. “I’m excited to get back to school, keep playing sports and start earning college credits. I’m grateful for the care I received because it helped me get back to doing the things I love.”
To learn more or schedule an appointment with Dr. Simhachalam, contact FryeCare Orthopedics and Neurosurgery at 828.304.2527.
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