05
April
2018
|
07:00 AM
America/New_York

Boys lax: John Jay's Braden Burke's latest comeback story is a work in progress

The Journal News reports on John Jay High School lacrosse player Braden Burke's recovery after suffering a torn ACL in a playoff game last season.

Burke explains how he felt hearing the initial pop in his knee and realizing what had happened. 

Stephen J. O'Brien, MD, MBA, sports medicine surgeon at HSS, repaired Burke's ACL with the patellar tendon graft.

"The bottom line is we've made great strides from the days we put people in casts and it would take them a year to get better. Now, most of my athletes are back playing after one season," explains Dr. O'Brien, who always tells his patients who are athletes that they are going to control their fate.

"I'm really anxious to play, but I want to be smart about this so I'm always looking to find a balance," said Burke. "I'm doing whatever I can to get out there and I'll do whatever my body tells me I can do."

While Dr. O'Brien fixes the knee, he explains how if the athlete has a good attitude, they are going to be back playing sports quicker than they think since the ACL graft heals in 6-8 weeks. 

"Everything after that should be rebuilding your strength, your coordination and what they call proprioception, your first step, your ability to move," adds Dr. O'Brien.

Read the full article at LoHud.com.