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http://www.tennisperspective.com/2012/08/the-curious-case-of-nadals-knees-revealed.htmlThe Curious Case Of Nadal’s Knees Revealed
Posted on August 17, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment
Over the last few days there has been plenty of speculation about the state of Rafael Nadal’s knees since he withdrew from the US Open. Quotes from his PR agent denied an injury and state he simply wasn’t fit. Other stories indicated he should be fit for Davis Cup in September, while others revealed a more worrying story (apparently from Uncle Toni) that they were trying to manage Rafa’s knees conservatively to avoid surgery.
It has long been my view, and many other peoples, that Nadal needed an extended break to not only lengthen his career but to preserve the long term health of his knees. It appears that is finally what is happening.
Nadal held a press conference a few hours ago where is has been revealed that Rafa suffers from Hoffa’s Disease.
This means that the infrapatella fat pad (aka Hoffa’s Pad), which is situated behind the knee cap, is getting impinged – which is particularly painful on end of range knee extension. This situation perhaps sheds some light on Nadal’s bizarre situation in Melbourne this year where his knee locked getting out of a chair, then causing him extreme pain to extend the knee.
While we know Rafa has successfully used PRP therapy to manage his tendinitis issues when inflammation has been an issue, rest, anti inflammatories, strengthening and some cortisone is likely to be all part of Rafa’s immediate future if he wants to avoid arthroscopic trimming of the fat pad.
In his press conference Nadal made it clear that this is not the end of his career and that he intends to give his knees the time they need to recover rather than to force a return. In other words, it is entirely possible that we may not see Rafa on the courts again until 2013.
Realistically this is a great move for Nadal. Sure missing the Olympics would have been hard to swallow but the body of Rafa always seems to start breaking down on the American hard courts as his body starts to run out of gas.
Nadal’s work for the year is done. He took control of the clay courts, where he normally gathers a huge tally of points that should stop him drifting too far down the rankings. He’s also a particular variety of athlete, the work horse, who need to hit a huge number of balls to work himself into form. That wasn’t going to happen in time for the US Open so why put your body through it. He’s already put his body through enough.
Nadal was clear in the press conference that he was unconcerned with how his rest period would impact his rankings.
“I’ll return when the knee is healed. I won’t force… I’ve already missed many important things and I won’t risk any more.”
“I work very hard every day to be ready as soon as possible. I’m really motivated to compete as soon as I can.”
“For 6 months this year, I was competing to become number 1 in the ATP ranking, but I’m not worried about being number 3 or number 4.”
“I won’t put deadlines for my return. Right now I follow my knee’s orders.”
It seems Rafa is finally following the doctors orders – and his body’s.
http://www.tennisperspective.com/2012/08/the-curious-case-of-nadals-knees-revealed.htmlRafael Nadal Announces He Has “Hoffa’s Syndrome”, He Hopes To Return For Davis Cup [Video]
by Tom Gainey
In a press conference today in Mallorca, Rafael Nadal shed more light on his injury situation. The 26-year-old revealed that he has been suffering from “Hoffa’s Syndrome”, which is a fat pad impingement in his left knee (read more here). The injury has now forced him out of the US Open and he says he will only return when the knee is 100% OK.
“Now the most important thing is to recover well and today my knee is not ready to compete in a ‘Grand Slam’, I will try to recover as soon as possible to return with a good feeling, with guarantees to compete and train all the best I know,” Nadal said via Marca through Google translation.
After missing all of July and August, Nadal is still hopeful on returning for Spain’s Davis Cup tie at home on clay against the U.S. the weekend after the US Open.
“We’ll see if I will be ready for Gijon, for the Davis Cup,” Nadal told Reuters. “My goal, my dream is to be there if the captain has confidence in me, but it always depends on the captain and the knee.”
Nadal’s absence will hurt his ranking, but the 11-time Grand Slam champion also said that he isn’t worried what position he will be when he returns.
Rafa’s coach and Uncle, Toni Nadal, added yesterday that he wants Rafa only to return when fully healthy.
Nadal hasn’t played since his shock loss to Lukas Rosol in July 28 at Wimbledon. He said this injury is related to the knee issues he had earlier in the year in Miami.
