re: Josh Smith out indefinitely

We are so screwed

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I had one case in an All-American defensive lineman, whom came to see me one month before the NFL combine.

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Whom farted?

Let’s hope he makes a quick recovery. But I guess the silver lining is if it destined to happen. Better now than during the heart of SEC play. Let him get all the rest he needs and fully recover. Don’t rush him back.

Bain to SS he is batting 1000

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So he was allowed to play with a stress fracture. Wow that was a smart move by the coach. I’m sure that didn’t help the injury.

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Well, it’s not exactly that simple of a matter. The pars stress fracture is one that will never re-unite with the parent bone. Once the pars fractures (and it usually occurs on the pars on both sides of the vertebrae), the position between the vertebral body and the now detached posterior elements, is too far of a gap, so the bones won’t reunite, or mend back together.

This isn’t usually a big deal though, because the vertebral position can be managed by a number of modalities. Chiropractic can help to keep the vertebral body in an optimal position. Also, core strengthening is now even more vitally important. Additionally, the athlete will have to be shown & taught how to absolutely minimize how much he ever allows his low back to go into extension (back bending), as this can force the loose vertebral body forward, which will wear heavily over time in the supporting ligaments.

I say all of this to signify that this injury can be, & most often is, managed to allow for the athlete to return to their sport, & possibly have a long career.

Also... it’s possible that the stress fracture occurred a year ago or more, without him necessarily knowing it happened. It could be that he did something recently that suddenly made it symptomatic, thus alerting the sports medicine staff, therefore getting it diagnosed. Additionally, the circumstance could be that one of the doctors knew about it, & evaluated Josh to be well enough at that time, to play. Don’t necessarily hang the blame of injury mismanagement on Mainieri. It’s complicared. The team doctors handled Eric Walker properly, as well as O’Neal Lochridge and even Hunter Fedducia (sp?) here as of late.

I haven’t heard what their prognosis was as far as time frame. 4-6 weeks is about right for an average estimate. Again, these spondy (pars) injuries can vary greatly from case to case. Most of them, end up working out quite well. Let’s pray that Josh Smith is in the favorable number here!