injury

Question
hi i am a rugby player
i am 15 going on to 16
i have represented my region for rugby
and i was wondering if you have any tips you could give me as i have had knee trouble for awhile and soon ill be having a anterior cruiate ligament reconstruction and i was wondering if there is anything i should do before i get the surgery to speed up the recovery or is there anything i could do to get back into playing rugby as soon as possible as i am really proud of my sport and it has given me so much and i would like to give my coaches and family something back by doing my best, also if there is anything i could do going back into the next season as i have been told i am out for te year

Answer
Hi Blake, Sorry to hear about your knee, A year away from rugby can be tough but a life time with a disability is worse. Be careful with your rehab, your age means that you will heal a lot faster then older players, I would suggest you phone around different physios who have dealt with a cruiate ligament reconstruction and find out if they can help you recuperate faster. Because you cant run you can swim and do other stuff mainly upper body.

Find and contact other players who have had cruiate ligament reconstruction and find out how they did it, maybe start ringing around different rugby clubs, many players have had a cruiate ligament reconstruction and gone on to have successful rugby careers...its not the end.

remember also that everyone is different, Im a quick healer which means I can get injured but can be back on the field in no time...but others are different.

Hope that helps