The 5 Worst Athlete ACL Injuries of All Time: Recovery (Part II)

Injured professional athletes have some of the most incredible recoveries from the most devastating injuries. In our last blog post we talked about the 5 worst ACL injuries in recent sports history, but how did they recover? In this blog post we’ll cover how the recovery went for these five athletes and highlight some of the amazing recoveries modern sports therapy has achieved.

Tom Brady’s “Unprecedented” Recovery

Tom Brady’s ACL tear in 2008 marked the first time the star quarterback missed games in 15 years of his career. The doctor who oversaw his surgery and recovery said, “With regard to his recovery of strength, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. With an average person, it would have taken probably twice as long.” Even after getting an infection after the procedure, Brady was still able to keep his rehab on track. Brady went on to play the entire following season with a knee brace, was named the 2009 NFL Comeback Player of the Year and won the AFC East title.

Robert Griffin III’s “Superhuman” ACL Recovery

Robert Griffin III’s season ending ACL injury was heartbreaking for Redskins fans after the team rallied to win 7 games at the end of the season, winning the NFC East title. Dr. James Andrews has called RG3’s recovery “superhuman,” leading many to believe he will be ready for Week One of the 2013 season. It’s still too early to tell, as RG3 is still in recovering, but his appearance at a draft party in early May, complete with jumping jacks, suggests that he is well ahead of schedule.  (We hope he’s wearing an ACL brace under those jeans for support!)

Tiger Woods “Double Bundle” ACL Surgery

As a professional athlete you typically have access to the newest and most innovative procedures in the medical community. When Tiger Woods tore his ACL in 2008, he underwent ACL surgery that consisted of repairing both parts of the ACL, which isn’t done with conventional ACL surgery. Though studies have to gauge performance over time to determine if this is a superior surgery, the thought is that it establishes a more natural motion post-surgery. With a win at the 2013 World Golf Championship, if looks like Tiger is doing just fine.

Adrian Peterson’s Incredible Return After ACL Tear

Adrian Peterson wasn’t expected to return until the middle of the 2012 season following an ACL tear in 2011. Eight months after his surgery (which was done a risky 6 days after it was injured), Peterson was on the field for Week One of the 2012 NFL season. He went on to have the best season of his career, finishing with 2,097 rushing yards, the second most in NFL history. Orthopedic surgeon Leon Popovitz notes Peterson is the exception for this kind of recovery stating, “Adrian is so special. Not only is he physically, just exceptionally gifted, he has the mental makeup that will give him confidence and extreme concentration.”

Derrick Rose’s Slow Recovery

Derrick Rose spent the NBA playoffs on the Bulls’ bench, despite being cleared to play. Rose was injured in the 2012 playoffs, and sat out the entire 2012-2013 season during his recovery process. Even as the Bulls entered the playoffs, Rose displayed extreme patience in his recovery saying, “I'm not coming back until I'm 110%. Who knows when that can be? It can be within a couple of weeks. It could be next year.”

MMAR Medical supplies orthopedic braces for a range of injuries, including ACL and MCL injuries and for a range of sports including basketball, football, and golf.

Have you had ACL surgery? How did your recovery go?  Which one of these recoveries is most impressive to you?  Comment!

The 5 Worst Athlete ACL Injuries of All Time (Part I)

ACL injuries that will never be forgotten. 

Rarely do people consider how much athletes put their bodies through to perform at the professional level. Sure, it sounds great to get paid to play the sport you love, however, athletes spend countless hours in the gym, conditioning and training. Rightfully so, athletes need all the strength training they can get to help prevent major and common injuries.

According to a leader in proactive wellness, Core Performance, 70% of ACL injuries occur during the planting and cutting movements used in all sports. In addition, girls and women are 4 to 10 times more likely than boys and men to sustain ACL injuries. However, as we’ve seen in professional sports, ACL tears can happen to even the best and strongest athletes.

Below is our list of top 5 sports related ACL injuries. Please be advised that some of the injuries listed are difficult to read or watch.

Tom Brady

Tom Brady with knee brace after ACL injury. Image by CBSSports.com

Tom Brady’s injury is an example of how injuries can occur in many ways. In contact sports, things are moving so quickly that some injuries are unavoidable. This is exactly what happened to Tom Brady in the first game of the 2008 NFL season when Bernard Pollard landed on Brady’s knee, tearing both his ACL and MCL. Despite severely injuring this knee and fighting an infection, Brady was able to come back and play the next season.

Check out Tom Brady’s knee injury on YouTube.

Robert Griffin III (RG3) 

RG3 with support brace during practice. Image by NFL.com.

 In the 2012 NFL season, RG3 suffered from two severe knee injuries, including the PCL sprain in Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens, and the inexplicable looking injury against the Seattle Seahawks. Since the injury, Robert Griffin III has made great progress towards rehabilitating his knee and looks to continue playing.

See RG3’s knee injury against the Seattle Seahawks for yourself on YouTube.

Tiger Woods 

Tiger Woods experiencing knee pain. Image by ScientificAmerican.com.

Although there was a lot of speculation as to the extent of Tiger Wood’s knee injury, it’s an observed fact that knee injuries can occur in non-contact sports. It was reported that Tiger tore his ACL and received an advanced form of reconstructive surgery. To achieve a powerful swing, professional golfers tend to place a high amount of pressure on the knee joints in order to add rotation into their swing. With time, wear and tear can occur on both knees.

Adrian Peterson 

Adrian Peterson with support knee brace after knee injury. Image by ABCNews.com.

Not all ACL and MCL injuries end on bad notes. Adrian Peterson is one of the most notable athletes to make a nearly 100% recovery after his knee injury to almost break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. Despite the odds against him, Peterson shocked both the medical and sports communities when he was nominated for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player the very next year. Chek out Adrian Peterson’s season ending knee injury on YouTube.

Derrick Rose 

Derrick Rose ACL support brace. Image by Madeira.org.

Although there has been a lot of speculation about the appropriate length of recovery of Derrick Rose’s ACL tear, it should always be treated with care. Most doctors recommend 6-9 months recovery time for non-athletes, but for professional athletes this time is usually scaled down due to the fact that they have more time for rehabilitation. Nevertheless, Derrick Rose’s knee injury is still in our top 5 worst injuries.

Take a look at Derrick Rose’s devastating knee injury on YouTube. Which sports related injury do you think was the worst? Did we miss any? Share with us in the comments!

Support Braces for Knee Injuries & Injury Prevention 

If you are rehabilitating an ACL or knee injury, then proper support is needed. MMAR Medical specializes in ACL braces and knee injury prevention braces.

Have a question about a particular knee brace? Contact us or comment below to ask your question or share your personal injury stories! Be sure to check back in the future for the 2nd part of this blog where we talk about how these amazing athletes are recovering from their ACL injuries.

Back Injury Prevention: 5 Simple Techniques

Did you know that one of the most common reasons for missed work is back related injuries? In fact, it is estimated that up to 90% of US residents will experience some sort of back injury during their lifetime! Many of these issues stem from work related injuries, but regardless of where the injury takes place, the pain can cause major problems in everyday life.

The key is to prevent the injury from the start. To help, we’ve compiled a list of simple and effective techniques that you can implement to keep your back healthy.

1. Lifting and moving objects.

One of the most common causes of back pain and injury is moving and lifting objects. Most of us know that we should be lifting from our knees, but sometimes we seem to forget this simple step. Even if an item doesn’t appear very heavy, throwing your back out can happen very easily. Be sure to follow the squat technique and if an item seems extremely heavy, ask for help!

2. Sleeping support.

You wouldn’t think that sleep could cause back pain. In reality, if your bed isn’t supporting your back, you might wake up with problems. Make sure that you have a bed that offers the right amount of support. If you notice that you often wake up in pain, it may be time to re-evaluate your sleeping arrangements.

3. Exercise and stretch.

There are many muscles throughout your back that need stretching and exercise on a regular basis. Strengthening your back supports your spine and helps it to work properly. Be sure to keep your back flexible and strong for optimum support.

4. Relieve stress.

For many people who are experiencing high levels of stress or anxiety, they are holding that tension in their back. If this is you, find a way to release your stress levels, so your back can also feel the release. Getting a nice message can help alleviate back pain and stress levels.

5. Diet and health.

If you happen to be carrying extra weight in your belly, your back will feel the effects. Keeping yourself fit and healthy will also keep your back in shape. So make sure you eat the right foods and get enough exercise each day. Strengthening your core and lower back muscles can help take pressure off your lower back.

If for some unfortunate reason you do experience a back injury or pain, MMAR Medical is here to help. We specialize in back support and spine bracing. From lumbar belts to complete spinal braces, we are ready to give your back the support it deserves. Have a question about a particular back brace? Ask below using our comment section.