Friday, July 18, 2008
Wambach's injury: Been there, done that!
Abby Wambach's broken leg Wednesday has brought back serious memories for me from Easter Sunday, 2001. It was the 5th minute of a Washington International Soccer League match between rival club teams, the Capitol Blues and Capitol Reds. My good friend Chris "Smitty" Smith lobbed a ball from the left side of the box near the PK spot that went over my defender's head and into space to the right, clearly a simple change of direction and calm finish past the beaten defender and over-committed keeper away from an opening goal for the Blues!
However, just as I was changing direction with all my weight on my right leg, the keeper - who had also been fooled by the perfect lob - also tried to change direction but had already committed to the "flop save". One of his knees struck the inside of my right shin at the precise moment I had all my weight on that leg, and the "pop" sounded like a gun went off according to those in attendance.
Before I hit the ground, I knew what had happened, and made every effort not to land on that leg in any way while in mid flight. Not that I really had much choice, as my feet had been propelled above my head by the force of "tackle" anyway, causing me to land squarely on my left shoulder and ear.
It was a clean break of both bones in the lower leg. No fragments, no real tissue damage because I had thankfully not taken another step, nor landed on it in any way. Without describing the details, let's just say the sensation of having your own foot "dangling" was a feeling I'll never forget. At that moment, there is no pain, and you feel like "how on earth am I ever going to stand on that thing again?"
My understanding is that Wambach's break is not quite as bad, that it's not broken completely through - or "detached" as my leg bones had become. Either way, the surgery is no doubt the same. A long titanium - or in my case, chromium - rod inserted right down the middle of the tibia bone - like a "dowel" for anyone who's ever done some construction. There are probably screws involved, though perhaps not quite as necessary as in my case. For me, because the bones were completely detached, I have screws holding the rod in place at the ankle, and below the knee that were there to keep my lower leg from "spinning" on the rod before the bone healed. Nice image huh?
As bad as this all sounds, everything I was ever told by anyone who at least seemed to know what they were talking about was that this injury was "better" than having blown an ACL or broken an ankle. There was absolutely no ligament damage. In fact, the lack of such damage, and the totally clean "snapping" break were all signs that I had tremendously strong ankles and knees, as well as non-brittle bones (which otherwise would have shattered instead of snapped). Plus, with the steel rod in my leg, there was no way the same injury could happen again, so don't worry about that! (yes, the rod is still there, but I can have it out anytime I get around to it. And yes, the airport is a pain because it almost always sets off the metal detectors)
Make no mistake, it's all a study of the lessor of which evil, but I am thankful that I didn't "do" my knee, as it would forever be an injury that was never quite as good as new. In my case, the extra bone that formed to repair the break (and is throbbing now as I write of course) has made things stronger.
The press reports that Wambach will be "back in about 12 weeks" sound a little optimistic to me, unless the break was more of a crack. The atrophy from not being allowed to put ANY weight on my leg for six to eight weeks was significant. By the time I was allowed to start physical therapy 10 weeks after surgery, I had lost well over an inch of circumference on my thigh and calf. Yes, I was standing, jumping, lifting weights 12 weeks after surgery, and even limping around the practice field at 14 weeks, but it was six full months before I could really change direction without "favoring" the leg, and longer before I felt I was back to running full speed.
I wasn't the professional level athlete that Abby is, nor did I have access to the level of treatment and rehab that she will, but I am/was no couch potato either. I was playing on two or three teams, and out on the field almost every day, so was definitely "in shape". However, I'm sure we'll see Wambach back on the training pitch within the 12 weeks mentioned in the press, but don't be surprised if it's more like 20-25 weeks before she gets her next shot at hitting the 100-goal career mark for the full U.S. Women's team.
Best of luck to her, and anyone else who has an horrible injury interrupt their best laid plans to play the sport they love. But time will fly, and there will be other chances for all of us to do good things.Labels: Abby Wambach, Sports Injuries
Thursday, July 17, 2008
B license awarded
Well, so much for my plan to blog about my experience at the USSF B license course I attended north of Chicago during the last week of June. In fact, I haven't blogged at all since before I left, as the nine days away really caused a pile up of undone things!
Once you show up, it's non-stop classroom, field time, meals, and sleep. Nearly every free minute of time I had was spent trying to keep up with work, so the few hours of truly free time we had were not hours I wanted spend looking at a computer screen.
In the end, it was a great 9-days, at a fantastic facility. I learned a lot and met a lot of great fellow coaches, like this crazy South African. The course was also attended by a full class of A license candidates, as well as what's known as "A audits", which are A license holders that must attend the course again at least once each four years, but don't have to do the final testing.
All said and done, I just received my license in the mail yesterday, and passed with flying colors - no "3.2 rule"!
One of the biggest things the instructors stressed at the end of the course was to share what we've learned with others, and how doing so will only improve the game for all. I agree, so if anyone has specific questions, don't hesitate to ask!
However, just as I was changing direction with all my weight on my right leg, the keeper - who had also been fooled by the perfect lob - also tried to change direction but had already committed to the "flop save". One of his knees struck the inside of my right shin at the precise moment I had all my weight on that leg, and the "pop" sounded like a gun went off according to those in attendance.
Before I hit the ground, I knew what had happened, and made every effort not to land on that leg in any way while in mid flight. Not that I really had much choice, as my feet had been propelled above my head by the force of "tackle" anyway, causing me to land squarely on my left shoulder and ear.
It was a clean break of both bones in the lower leg. No fragments, no real tissue damage because I had thankfully not taken another step, nor landed on it in any way. Without describing the details, let's just say the sensation of having your own foot "dangling" was a feeling I'll never forget. At that moment, there is no pain, and you feel like "how on earth am I ever going to stand on that thing again?"
My understanding is that Wambach's break is not quite as bad, that it's not broken completely through - or "detached" as my leg bones had become. Either way, the surgery is no doubt the same. A long titanium - or in my case, chromium - rod inserted right down the middle of the tibia bone - like a "dowel" for anyone who's ever done some construction. There are probably screws involved, though perhaps not quite as necessary as in my case. For me, because the bones were completely detached, I have screws holding the rod in place at the ankle, and below the knee that were there to keep my lower leg from "spinning" on the rod before the bone healed. Nice image huh?
As bad as this all sounds, everything I was ever told by anyone who at least seemed to know what they were talking about was that this injury was "better" than having blown an ACL or broken an ankle. There was absolutely no ligament damage. In fact, the lack of such damage, and the totally clean "snapping" break were all signs that I had tremendously strong ankles and knees, as well as non-brittle bones (which otherwise would have shattered instead of snapped). Plus, with the steel rod in my leg, there was no way the same injury could happen again, so don't worry about that! (yes, the rod is still there, but I can have it out anytime I get around to it. And yes, the airport is a pain because it almost always sets off the metal detectors)
Make no mistake, it's all a study of the lessor of which evil, but I am thankful that I didn't "do" my knee, as it would forever be an injury that was never quite as good as new. In my case, the extra bone that formed to repair the break (and is throbbing now as I write of course) has made things stronger.
The press reports that Wambach will be "back in about 12 weeks" sound a little optimistic to me, unless the break was more of a crack. The atrophy from not being allowed to put ANY weight on my leg for six to eight weeks was significant. By the time I was allowed to start physical therapy 10 weeks after surgery, I had lost well over an inch of circumference on my thigh and calf. Yes, I was standing, jumping, lifting weights 12 weeks after surgery, and even limping around the practice field at 14 weeks, but it was six full months before I could really change direction without "favoring" the leg, and longer before I felt I was back to running full speed.
I wasn't the professional level athlete that Abby is, nor did I have access to the level of treatment and rehab that she will, but I am/was no couch potato either. I was playing on two or three teams, and out on the field almost every day, so was definitely "in shape". However, I'm sure we'll see Wambach back on the training pitch within the 12 weeks mentioned in the press, but don't be surprised if it's more like 20-25 weeks before she gets her next shot at hitting the 100-goal career mark for the full U.S. Women's team.
Best of luck to her, and anyone else who has an horrible injury interrupt their best laid plans to play the sport they love. But time will fly, and there will be other chances for all of us to do good things.
Labels: Abby Wambach, Sports Injuries
Well, so much for my plan to blog about my experience at the USSF B license course I attended north of Chicago during the last week of June. In fact, I haven't blogged at all since before I left, as the nine days away really caused a pile up of undone things!
Once you show up, it's non-stop classroom, field time, meals, and sleep. Nearly every free minute of time I had was spent trying to keep up with work, so the few hours of truly free time we had were not hours I wanted spend looking at a computer screen.
In the end, it was a great 9-days, at a fantastic facility. I learned a lot and met a lot of great fellow coaches, like this crazy South African. The course was also attended by a full class of A license candidates, as well as what's known as "A audits", which are A license holders that must attend the course again at least once each four years, but don't have to do the final testing.
All said and done, I just received my license in the mail yesterday, and passed with flying colors - no "3.2 rule"!
One of the biggest things the instructors stressed at the end of the course was to share what we've learned with others, and how doing so will only improve the game for all. I agree, so if anyone has specific questions, don't hesitate to ask!
Once you show up, it's non-stop classroom, field time, meals, and sleep. Nearly every free minute of time I had was spent trying to keep up with work, so the few hours of truly free time we had were not hours I wanted spend looking at a computer screen.
In the end, it was a great 9-days, at a fantastic facility. I learned a lot and met a lot of great fellow coaches, like this crazy South African. The course was also attended by a full class of A license candidates, as well as what's known as "A audits", which are A license holders that must attend the course again at least once each four years, but don't have to do the final testing.
All said and done, I just received my license in the mail yesterday, and passed with flying colors - no "3.2 rule"!
One of the biggest things the instructors stressed at the end of the course was to share what we've learned with others, and how doing so will only improve the game for all. I agree, so if anyone has specific questions, don't hesitate to ask!
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