It’s every GAA player’s worst nightmare.
A.C.L are three of the most dreaded letters in the GAA. Anterior cruciate ligament.
When a player goes down holding a knee, they, teammates and managers are immediately praying that it’s only a twist or something minor.
The thing about it is, many players say it’s not always the most painful injury. You can never be too sure if a ligament is torn or if it’s something else until you get the results of a scan on it.
For example, a player in Tipperary reportedly played a full year of club football and hurling without knowing he had torn ligaments until a scan showed it up at the end of the season. Two players from my club tore knee ligaments, and it took almost 20 months for them to be back at full fitness.
Most knee specialists claim 9 to 10 months is the standard recovery time.
That is, perhaps, the reason why so many of us were surprised at the rapid nature of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s rapid, seven-month return for Manchester United on Saturday.
Back at it again https://t.co/GgU5oG2gVL
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 19, 2017
A whole host of debates took place on the Internet regarding the speed of his return, with many claiming the Swede is putting his body under serious pressure. Others admired and praised him.
Former Mayo footballer Conor Mortimer doesn’t feel Ibrahimovic’s seven month recovery time is anything out of the ordinary. He claimed to have returned from an ACL injury in a four to four-and-a-half month period, and to know others to have recovered similarly quickly.
He went on to claim that the Swede’s return was “no big deal.”
Zlatan back after 7 months…… I know players including myself back 4-1/2 from ACL inside 4-5 months minus his access to professionals and treatments etc 🙄👍all about how hard the individual works and some luck on return of course.
— Conor.mortimer ⚽️ (@Conmort) November 18, 2017
His outlook was met with plenty of backlash on social media. Former Cork hurler and current Mary Immaculate College Fitzgibbon hurling manager Jamie Wall led the criticism.
https://twitter.com/Jamwall7/status/931964993943326720
The pair then engaged in a back and forth.
Please explain Jamie ?
— Conor.mortimer ⚽️ (@Conmort) November 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/Jamwall7/status/931966294324281344
Ever had a ACL done Jamie ?
— Conor.mortimer ⚽️ (@Conmort) November 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/Jamwall7/status/931966988703977473
I rest my case.
— Conor.mortimer ⚽️ (@Conmort) November 18, 2017
Most agreed with Wall’s take on the whole thing – there is no point in returning in record time and having to face that same long road again.
You also don’t want to return with a weakness in one leg, or even a mental weakness that would restrict your performance.
Have to question wisdom of that return time – return to play (RTP) not equal to return to performance. Also Increased risk of reinjury with RTP < 9 months …..but it's pro football so they know best 😊
— Brian O Connell (@brianothephysio) November 18, 2017
Keenly argued on both sides of the coin.
