04-11-2022, 01:53 AM
Sam Walsh's tightrope surgery hasn't left him vulnerable to further injury. He didn't come back too early. The ligament has been replaced by a plastic cord which won't strengthen over time. The trauma caused by the surgery itself would presumably be long gone.
As LP notes, the injury, surgery and recovery over a 4 week period has created a big hole in his preseason preparation. He had to focus on recovery rather than peak fitness and of course he had little opportunity to prepare via contested footy drills and preseason games.
Added to this, adjusting to the new ligament is a more gradual process that might take the remainder of the season. Cam Guthrie said that it took him a year:
As LP notes, the injury, surgery and recovery over a 4 week period has created a big hole in his preseason preparation. He had to focus on recovery rather than peak fitness and of course he had little opportunity to prepare via contested footy drills and preseason games.
Added to this, adjusting to the new ligament is a more gradual process that might take the remainder of the season. Cam Guthrie said that it took him a year:
Quote:Guthrie had about two weeks in a moon boot before progressing to light walking and running on the Alter G treadmill (weight-bearing treadmill) and finally running outdoors once the swelling and pain had subsided.What is Syndesmosis? AFLPA in 2020
He began full training six weeks following surgery and played his first match at week eight.
Even still it took him the rest of the season to get back to full capacity, which included one-legged proprioceptive movement as part of the recovery process.
“For a good 12 months after the injury, doing a lot of one-legged exercises you could really tell the difference between the injured ankle and the good one,” he said.
“The biggest thing that impacted me after surgery was when I was kicking.
“I couldn’t really point my toe as firmly as I wish I could have. I’m a big believer in having a really firm foot when I kick and I couldn’t really do that movement to the best of my ability, but it got better slowly and I haven’t had any issues since.”