the comeback kid
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This past October in Kings Point, N.Y., junior starting cornerback for the University of Rochester Jordan Honjiyo was making a routine defensive play chasing down an opposing running back--but the outcome was anything but routine for Honjiyo. "He cut back, so I tried to plant and stop so I could cut back with him," he says, "then I just felt it snap."
At that moment, Honjiyo had suffered a devastating injury to his anterior crucial ligament, known more commonly as his ACL.
An all too familiar injury in today's sports world, it is caused by a sudden deceleration or landing maneuver in which the leg falls in a unfamiliar or awkward position. Often misperceived as "only a contact-related injury", more than 70 percent of ACL tears result from little to no contact with another player, just as in the case of this standout defensive player from Honolulu, Hawaii (Punahou School).
A few weeks after the injury, Honjiyo went under the knife to have surgery to repair his torn ligament. Once the surgery was over Honjiyo was on crutches for a couple of days, but was soon able to walk again. Roughly a month and a half later, Honjiyo began the very preliminary steps of his rehab process by exercising his knee through stretching and flexing movements.
Now, a little over six months since sustaining the injury, Honjiyo still remembers how his left knee felt the days following the dramatic event.
"It just felt loose," he says, "it just felt kind of weird. It didn't really hurt. It swelled up and was uncomfortable for the most part, but no real pain other than the actual injury itself."
The rehab process for this demoralizing injury is very long and intense, focusing greatly on increasing the strength and flexibility in the injured knee. For most athletes, a full recovery process takes 9-12 months. In Honjiyo's case, he has just began light jogging and stretching exercises. "The rehab process is very long," Honjiyo says, "I have just began exercising my body in ways that I have not been able to do for quite a while, so it can be frustrating at times, but I know the hard work will pay off in the end."
One common concern that has been raised by many in the sports world is that female athletes bear the brunt of the majority of ACL injuries-- much more so than their male counterparts. When asked about this, Honjiyo said, "I don't really think that gender has anything to do with it. I think it is a freak injury that can just happen to anyone, regardless of gender." Honjiyo, obviously not being an expert in this area, is unaware that females athletes are in fact 3 times more likely to suffer an ACL injury because of their physical anatomy and wider hips.
Many famous athletes have been quoted saying that they have changed their training regimens and/or have changed the way they play their sport entirely to compensate for their surgically repaired ACL.
"It has certainly changed the way I have been training," Honjiyo said. I have tried to cut down on my weight so I can put less stress on my knee when I play next year, my goal is to be nice and light out there when the season begins."
If you are wondering, Honjiyo has never suffered an ACL injury prior to this one. Not only that, he has never suffered any serious injury from football in his entire playing career other than a few mild ankle sprains and headaches. The rising senior hopes its his last as he prepares for his final college football season and a full recovery before next fall.
If you would like to view the interview click on this link: IMG_1292.MOV
At that moment, Honjiyo had suffered a devastating injury to his anterior crucial ligament, known more commonly as his ACL.
An all too familiar injury in today's sports world, it is caused by a sudden deceleration or landing maneuver in which the leg falls in a unfamiliar or awkward position. Often misperceived as "only a contact-related injury", more than 70 percent of ACL tears result from little to no contact with another player, just as in the case of this standout defensive player from Honolulu, Hawaii (Punahou School).
A few weeks after the injury, Honjiyo went under the knife to have surgery to repair his torn ligament. Once the surgery was over Honjiyo was on crutches for a couple of days, but was soon able to walk again. Roughly a month and a half later, Honjiyo began the very preliminary steps of his rehab process by exercising his knee through stretching and flexing movements.
Now, a little over six months since sustaining the injury, Honjiyo still remembers how his left knee felt the days following the dramatic event.
"It just felt loose," he says, "it just felt kind of weird. It didn't really hurt. It swelled up and was uncomfortable for the most part, but no real pain other than the actual injury itself."
The rehab process for this demoralizing injury is very long and intense, focusing greatly on increasing the strength and flexibility in the injured knee. For most athletes, a full recovery process takes 9-12 months. In Honjiyo's case, he has just began light jogging and stretching exercises. "The rehab process is very long," Honjiyo says, "I have just began exercising my body in ways that I have not been able to do for quite a while, so it can be frustrating at times, but I know the hard work will pay off in the end."
One common concern that has been raised by many in the sports world is that female athletes bear the brunt of the majority of ACL injuries-- much more so than their male counterparts. When asked about this, Honjiyo said, "I don't really think that gender has anything to do with it. I think it is a freak injury that can just happen to anyone, regardless of gender." Honjiyo, obviously not being an expert in this area, is unaware that females athletes are in fact 3 times more likely to suffer an ACL injury because of their physical anatomy and wider hips.
Many famous athletes have been quoted saying that they have changed their training regimens and/or have changed the way they play their sport entirely to compensate for their surgically repaired ACL.
"It has certainly changed the way I have been training," Honjiyo said. I have tried to cut down on my weight so I can put less stress on my knee when I play next year, my goal is to be nice and light out there when the season begins."
If you are wondering, Honjiyo has never suffered an ACL injury prior to this one. Not only that, he has never suffered any serious injury from football in his entire playing career other than a few mild ankle sprains and headaches. The rising senior hopes its his last as he prepares for his final college football season and a full recovery before next fall.
If you would like to view the interview click on this link: IMG_1292.MOV