- Feb 1, 2005
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So what happened? Who won the "I once hurt my ankle and he'll be out for" stakes?
Ex-Player Watch Player watch: Jan Vertonghen
- Thread starter Dharmabum
- Start date
Always Offside
Ardent Aussie
- Oct 31, 2013
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Neon_Knight_
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- Jul 20, 2011
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I love how following scan results the media always changes from 'sprained ankle' to 'ankle ligament damage'. They are one in the same...sprain = torn ligament (if anyone is interested, strain = torn muscle). The scan is to determine which ligaments are damaged, and to what extent, and to check for any additional damage to the joint capsule. This shows just how thoroughly sports journalists research everything that they report!
One of the main factors in recovery time is which and how many ankle ligaments are torn. Assuming it's the outside of the ankle (the most common to injure and what Vertonghen has done on this occasion), there are three ligaments: anterior talo-fibular, calcaneo-fibular and posterior talo-fibular.
The anterior and calcaneo ligaments are most commonly injured, as you essentially have to tear those before you can tear the posterior ligament, which is located behind them. If you only injure the two outer ligaments, the intact posterior ligament is still able to do a fairly decent job of stabilising the joint; hence people can generally still weight-bear and can return to controlled exercise before the injured ligaments have fully healed.
If you tear all three ligaments, you can expect a longer lay-off, with a longer period of rehabilitation. Due to the fact that you can't weight-bear as much during the early stages of recovery (something that you should absolutely do from day 1 if possible), the joint barely functions whilst the ligaments begin to heal, which results shortened ligaments. Shortened ligaments cause the joint to be weaker, less flexible and altogether less functional (if you've ever had an ankle sprain that didn't seem to recover fully on its own, this is most probably why). Therefore, an athlete would have to ease back into exercise far more gradually and spend significantly more time rehabilitating the ligaments. If you rush back too soon, you can expect to re-sprain the same ankle or potentially cause other injuries, due to the incorrect ankle function (e.g. knee, hip or back).
Due to the anterior and calcaneo being located closer to the surface, tearing these causes more visible inflammation and bruising than tearing the posterior ligament, which is why sometimes an ankle can look like a really colourful balloon yet recover in a few weeks.
In Vertonghen's case, my guess is that eight weeks was the worst case scenario following the findings of the scan results, with six weeks now being predicted based on how mobile he has been over the last few days.
Does anyone know whether six weeks is when he is expected to be back competing or just back in training?
One of the main factors in recovery time is which and how many ankle ligaments are torn. Assuming it's the outside of the ankle (the most common to injure and what Vertonghen has done on this occasion), there are three ligaments: anterior talo-fibular, calcaneo-fibular and posterior talo-fibular.
The anterior and calcaneo ligaments are most commonly injured, as you essentially have to tear those before you can tear the posterior ligament, which is located behind them. If you only injure the two outer ligaments, the intact posterior ligament is still able to do a fairly decent job of stabilising the joint; hence people can generally still weight-bear and can return to controlled exercise before the injured ligaments have fully healed.
If you tear all three ligaments, you can expect a longer lay-off, with a longer period of rehabilitation. Due to the fact that you can't weight-bear as much during the early stages of recovery (something that you should absolutely do from day 1 if possible), the joint barely functions whilst the ligaments begin to heal, which results shortened ligaments. Shortened ligaments cause the joint to be weaker, less flexible and altogether less functional (if you've ever had an ankle sprain that didn't seem to recover fully on its own, this is most probably why). Therefore, an athlete would have to ease back into exercise far more gradually and spend significantly more time rehabilitating the ligaments. If you rush back too soon, you can expect to re-sprain the same ankle or potentially cause other injuries, due to the incorrect ankle function (e.g. knee, hip or back).
Due to the anterior and calcaneo being located closer to the surface, tearing these causes more visible inflammation and bruising than tearing the posterior ligament, which is why sometimes an ankle can look like a really colourful balloon yet recover in a few weeks.
In Vertonghen's case, my guess is that eight weeks was the worst case scenario following the findings of the scan results, with six weeks now being predicted based on how mobile he has been over the last few days.
Does anyone know whether six weeks is when he is expected to be back competing or just back in training?
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Everlasting Seconds
Well-Known Member
- Jan 9, 2014
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Super Jan is so central that when not on the pitch, we play better with one CB than three CBs who all are not Vertonghen.
Huddlestone22
Tom Huddlestone
- Mar 1, 2007
- 2,036
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Jan commented on Instagram live tonight that his ankle is like a chocolate fireman
Bit racist
.
spursgirls
SC Supporter
- Aug 13, 2008
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That sounds really bad. :-( Can't see him back in 6 weeks myself.Jan commented on Instagram live tonight that his ankle is like a chocolate fireman
dondo
Well-Known Member
- Jan 4, 2006
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yido_number1
He'll always be magic
- Jun 8, 2004
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Could of been much worse the way he went off. At least we have the cup breaks in February if it had been over the festive period it could of really hurt us.
Everlasting Seconds
Well-Known Member
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"We spun his blood cell round and round at the London Eye. He say it was good. I believe in him, all the player believe in him"*
*Could have been said by Pochettino
Mr Pink
SC Supporter
- Aug 25, 2010
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Easily be back for the Everton game at the start of March then.
Probably on the bench against Stoke.
TottenhamMattSpur
Well-Known Member
- Aug 31, 2012
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When I did mine, for the first month I can only describe the sensation as feeling as though my foot wasnt attached properly to my leg. There was an unusual movement with pain ranked as a 12 out of 10. Hideous pain. It's healed so badly I have far less movement in my left ankle than my right.
A&E just said "iss juss a spran, you be ok in 2 weeks"
Wankers. Hope Jan didn't go to Bas Vegas A&E
Neon_Knight_
Well-Known Member
- Jul 20, 2011
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When I did mine, for the first month I can only describe the sensation as feeling as though my foot wasnt attached properly to my leg. There was an unusual movement with pain ranked as a 12 out of 10. Hideous pain. It's healed so badly I have far less movement in my left ankle than my right.
A&E just said "iss juss a spran, you be ok in 2 weeks"
Wankers. Hope Jan didn't go to Bas Vegas A&E
The NHS is not the best when it comes to sports injuries.
Colonel_Klinck
Well-Known Member
- May 19, 2004
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That is good news! We need him back asap. We've had some shite luck with injuries this season
Everlasting Seconds
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The most important and underrated player in the squad. We are nothing defensively without him. Nothing. Nothing.
