"Modern medicine has vastly improved in the last 10 years"
While in general, this statement is true, it's not all-inclusive. In the last 24 hours, it's been used by people who 1. Don't practice medicine and 2. Don't understand how "modern medicine" works
Let's discuss.
While in general, this statement is true, it's not all-inclusive. In the last 24 hours, it's been used by people who 1. Don't practice medicine and 2. Don't understand how "modern medicine" works
Let's discuss.
Let's start with the basics, what has changed with Achilles rupture repair surgery in the last 10 years?
I'll defer to one of the nation's top orthopedic surgeons, Dr. David Geier, to answer this.
When discussing Kevin Durant in April, Dr. Geier said this.
I'll defer to one of the nation's top orthopedic surgeons, Dr. David Geier, to answer this.
When discussing Kevin Durant in April, Dr. Geier said this.
“The surgery is still basically bringing one end [of the tendon] up against the other and holding it together until your body lays down enough new collagen to rebuild it,” Geier said. “We haven’t really improved on that.”
"Okay so the surgery is the same, but surely something has changed because we are seeing some success stories where before we didn't."
You're right. Collectively the medical community is learning quite a bit about Achilles rehab thanks to successful returns like Durant's.
You're right. Collectively the medical community is learning quite a bit about Achilles rehab thanks to successful returns like Durant's.
Here's Dr. Geier again:
"The biggest changes in Achilles protocols in recent years have been ramped-up rehab schedules, designed to prevent a degree of muscle weakness, and the use of platelet-rich plasma injections and stem cell treatments."
Promising right?
"The biggest changes in Achilles protocols in recent years have been ramped-up rehab schedules, designed to prevent a degree of muscle weakness, and the use of platelet-rich plasma injections and stem cell treatments."
Promising right?
It is. These are great advancements forward in recovery and return to sport. This is the "modern medicine" people are referring to.
The problem is this doesn't mean we fixed the Achilles problem, only that we are learning more about it.
The problem is this doesn't mean we fixed the Achilles problem, only that we are learning more about it.
Again Geier:
"Such measures have been more successful at reducing recovery timelines than boosting prognoses. What I don’t feel has changed is that a large percentage of players that return drop in terms of minutes played, games played and player efficiency ratings."
"Such measures have been more successful at reducing recovery timelines than boosting prognoses. What I don’t feel has changed is that a large percentage of players that return drop in terms of minutes played, games played and player efficiency ratings."
Ah there it is.
There's the problem with the "modern medicine" argument. Most people hear "modern medicine," and think that we've made massive advancements in recovery and outcomes.
And we have, just not in the ways you think.
There's the problem with the "modern medicine" argument. Most people hear "modern medicine," and think that we've made massive advancements in recovery and outcomes.
And we have, just not in the ways you think.
The advancement is that most players are almost guaranteed to return. This is an AMAZING accomplishment for an injury that just 20 years ago was universally accepted as a career-ender.
That's modern medicine at work.
That's modern medicine at work.
The argument that medical advances will guarantee production post-injury is flawed because ultimately we haven't seen medical advances equate to NFL running back production post-achilles.
They only assure us that a return is much more likely than it was just a decade ago.
They only assure us that a return is much more likely than it was just a decade ago.
So how do we use this info?
Just know that Akers will most likely return to the NFL, but "modern medicine" isn't guaranteeing you anything more than that.
Just know that Akers will most likely return to the NFL, but "modern medicine" isn't guaranteeing you anything more than that.
I do, truly, hope that Akers becomes the first RB to successfully return. I want that for him, and I want that for all of us as fans of the NFL.
Injuries suck, and sadly we need more cases like Akers to continue to learn how to effectively treat things like Achilles tears.
Injuries suck, and sadly we need more cases like Akers to continue to learn how to effectively treat things like Achilles tears.
We will have a breakthrough case, hopefully this one, that opens up new protocols and procedures that allow us to effectively treat not just NFL players but all Achilles ruptures.
Until then we just have to accept that our idea of "modern medicine" isn't what we think it is.
Until then we just have to accept that our idea of "modern medicine" isn't what we think it is.
@threadreaderapp unroll
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
