Injury, athletes’ worst nightmare

In every action there is always an equal reaction.

According to Isaac Newton, whenever objects A and B interact with each other, they exert forces upon each other.  Basketball players fall under the power of the laws of motion. Take for example a basketball player sprinting or running in one direction on the court and due to momentum, will have to remain moving in that direction. To stop, they will need to apply and exert a great amount of force, via his muscles and foot. The force that he or she apply to the floor in the attempt to stop will be returned to them, pushing them in the other direction and effectually stopping their movement. The risk of injury haunts every athlete even on practice more so during actual game when efforts could double.

Last Wednesday, All-Star guard  Andrew Velasco of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo De Cebu suffered a horrific injury when suffered an open fracture in his right leg.

This paper’s sports editor Manny Villaruel, who was there covering the game when the incident happened, stated in his social media account:  HORRIFIC, MOST LIKELY CAREER-ALTERING INJURY (The first time I have ever witnessed in my 21 years of covering basketball games) ...All-Star guard Andrew Velasco of SHS-Ateneo Magis Eagles writhes in pain while CESAFI physician Rhoel Dejano administers first aid on his injured right leg he sustained during their CESAFI basketball game against Don Bosco moments ago at the Cebu Coliseum. Given the extent of his injury, an open fracture with blood dripping out of it, Dejano and Magis Eagles coach Rommel Rasmo have both ruled out Velasco for the rest of season. Get well soon, Andrew. Hoping and praying for your speedy recovery. Everything happens for a purpose. God is good, all the time!”

"Given the extent of his injury, I think he's out for the rest of CESAFI season. He can still play again, but definitely not this year," said Dejano, who described the extent of Velasco's injury as very severe that he likened it to the one sustained by NBA superstar Paul George during a Team USA scrimmage in Las Vegas three years ago.

Velasco’s camp informed yesterday that the player had a successful surgery yesterday by Dr. Tony San Juan and Dr. Dilbert Monicit. He will begin his rehabilitation tomorrow.

Velasco is one of my students in the Physical Education class in SHS-Ateneo. He is a responsible student athlete who never said ‘No’ in every task I have given.

Student athletes in my PE class are given special task to be motivator, coaches and leaders of a group. Velasco’s team usually is well organized and prepared. Aside from basketball, which he will surely return and play, his future is bright, especially on the quality of education he gets from SHS-Ateneo.

25 years ago, I also suffered a horrific injury. I spent two weeks on a wheel chair, unable to stand and walk and after the bruises disappeared, I was slowly able to stand and walk, but with the help of crutches and soon have to use a cane for a month to help walk around school.

The X-ray result showed no broken bones, and I was glad because I was able to play my favorite sport again after six months, but after 20 years, I twisted my knee again badly and had to be carried out of the basketball court. This time, the MRI diagnosed that I have torn my ACL ligament

But what surprised me most was both Dr. San Juan and Dr. Wilson Dela Calzada confirmed that my ACL was long torn already based from the reading on the MRI.

I had the option not to have it surgically repaired and rehabilitation will do, but I need to lose weight as well. With my body weight hovering around 320lbs, I finally decided to have it surgically repaired and after six months my knee felt brand new.

But Dr. San Juan was quick to warn me that my right knee has a partial tear of the ACL and might be totally torn if I don’t take care of it. My right knee was wobbly, which was evident when every time I twist it, I lose my balance.

Anyway fast forward six years now. I have lost 125 lbs, ran full marathon, finished 70.3 Cobra Ironman and countless of 21K half marathon.

Although I have accomplished so much already, my knee are taking the toll from training. My knee is in pain and would hamper my races.

I have it checked with Dr. San Juan and he diagnosed it to be a patella tendinitis, which is the overused of your knee because of the frequent jumping and running.

 I was unable to fully extend or straighten my right knee and have to limp for a while and since January; I have been managing the pain on my knees and countering it with lots of strengthening program which focuses on stability, balance and core training. I am also practicing my other muscle group to help support the knee. With this program, I got to run again and finish my sixth Cobra Ironman pain free.

Actually the simplest way to have my knees fixed is another surgery with Dr. San Juan but I just could not bare six months of recovery time and I am afraid that six months would spell a big difference in my weight loss.

So to challenge myself, I signed up for a half marathon run next year.

Next week, I will dig deep in search for alternative measures to help my knees get stronger. That’s the time my initial PRP falls in to my lap. Like a gift from heaven.