RickJ wrote:
Just reading around the details of MKs "hairline" 5th metatarsal fracture, in the context of his other foot problems.
These are stress fractures not just sudden impact injuries. They are actually worse than clean sudden breaks because the bone repairing stimulus from clean breaks is much greater and leads to quicker healing. The moon boot for 6 weeks is actually hope and pray. Many of these stress fractures don't heal and drag on and on, months, even years. If they don't heal they need a bone graft or serious anabolic help. I know a little more about this than from my usual medical training because my own son, now 21 had recurrent stress fractures in his tibia that just wouldn't heal and finished his football career. James Hird would have been finished if it wasn't for Dr Charter.
Why the epidemic of foot stress fractures? Who knows, 100 plus kilo giants doing intense sprint and jump work, softer and softer and lighter boots (my theory) which don't support the foot? Training overload? Don't think Big Nick ever had a foot stress fracture.
Let's all hope like hell that Matthew has some luck with spontaneous healing
He's taken a lot of that weight off but some of the damage has been done. That said his pain thresh hold is what sets him apart from other big men and gave him that huge aerobic/anaerobic advantage in the first place.
It's an issue of genetics, player management, work ethic and luck. I'd say there was some mismanagement but luck played a part too. As we move forward that random element will diminish across the board as medicine and science continue to make strides.
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