Injured and Aging
Story by Lindsay Miller
In one of her last high school basketball games, senior Phoebe Brushko scrambled for a loose ball. It was nothing out of the ordinary, but when an opponent hit her knee from the side, Brushko felt it give. She played the rest of the game, but later found out she had torn her ACL and needed surgery. She put that off until the summer. “I tore some cartilage so they scoped my knee first.,” Brushko says. “Then I did a little strength training to get ready for volleyball.” But as many high school athletes are learning, postponing her surgery could have led to permanent consequences.
An American Journal of Sports Medicine study conducted from 2005 to 2007 found that 3 percent of severe high school sports injuries (putting athletes out for at least 3 weeks) ended the athlete’s career. Over half the athletes who suffered a severe injury were out for the entire season, and one in four severe injuries resulted in surgery.
Athletes are now becoming faster and stronger and are facing more pressure than ever before. These factors directly affect the severity of athletic injuries. A severe high school injury, especially one requiring surgery, can end an athlete’s career in an instant. Former high school athletes, now in their 20s and 30s, are now at an increased risk for arthritis, subsequent injuries, and even decreased mobility.
Physical therapist and athletic trainer Mike Braid has seen everything from collegiate athletes with herniated disks to 20-somethings seeking knee replacement surgery. According to Braid, insufficient rehabilitation is one of the main contributors to medical problems later in life. This is why it is especially important for young athletes to focus on effective rehabilitation after an injury.
After her surgery, Phoebe Brushko underwent six months of physical therapy. Now a high school chemistry and biology teacher in Denver, Brushko maintains an active lifestyle. She hikes, skies and mountain bikes. “I never feel tentative about doing anything because of my knee,” Brushko says. She knows she’s at an increased risk for arthritis, but she tries not to think about it. “I know it’s fixed and I’m not doing anymore damage to it now.”
But not all injured athletes are as fortunate as Brushko. myOptumHealth recommends the following low-impact exercises for athletes recovering from serious injuries:
Knee Injuries
Allowed: Swimming, elliptical, bicycle, cross-country skiing
Avoid: Running, basketball, tennis or other high-impact activities
Shoulder Injuries
Allowed: Upper body ergometer (bicycle for upper body), lifting light weights
Avoid: Lifting heavy weights
Lower Back Injuries
Allowed: Swimming, elliptical, stair stepper
Avoid: Tennis, basketball or other activities requiring twisting or spine rotation
