FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo underwent surgery on his right patellar tendon on Thursday morning, according to Tom E. Curran of Comcast SportsNet.
To gain a better understanding of the road ahead for Mayo, here are notes from a Thursday afternoon conversation with ESPN injury analyst and physical therapist Stephania Bell:
Important injury disclaimer. This is a similar injury to what was sustained by Giants receiver Victor Cruz, so there has been no shortage of discussion in recent days about recovery for players following surgery on the patellar tendon. There are different places the tendon can tear. Every tear might have a different dimension. And the health of the tendon prior to the tear is always an important consideration in any analysis relative to the repair and recovery process. These specifics aren’t known with Mayo, which is critical context. “You can’t put every player in the same package,” Bell said, adding that without being privy to the specifics of Mayo's injury, the discussion is limited to speaking in general terms.
Timetable is lengthy. On average, recovery is usually between eight months to one year. “It could take longer, but rarely would it take less,” Bell said, adding that the football-based seasonal calendar is something to consider (e.g. the start of training camp, in late July, would be the nine-month mark and some rehab-based decisions could be made with this in mind).
What happens after surgery. Mayo’s right leg will either be immobile in the early phases after surgery or have “protected/controlled motion.” It depends on the philosophy of those overseeing the rehab, with some varying outlooks on what allows the repair to best heal. The next phase in the process from there would be to regain motion and strength in the quadriceps and eventually move toward more aggressive work such as running and football-type activity.
Biggest challenge in the process. With any player in this situation, “the biggest challenge is restoring full range of motion when talking about bending.” After the repair, the leg is usually kept straight to allow it to heal, and as bending is introduced, the hardest work can come when trying to exceed a bend beyond 90 degrees. “It can be tight after surgery,” Bell said, adding that another significant challenge is getting full girth and circumference back in the quad as the tendon is basically the attachment between the quad muscle and shin bone.
Studies of note. Bell pointed out a study from the American Journal of Sports Medicine that provided more background on the topic. The findings of the study were that 19 of 24 players who suffered the injury returned to play.
Summary with Mayo’s road ahead. Bell pointed out that this is a “difficult, lengthy rehab” but noted the data above in saying “it’s very encouraging” from a standpoint of a player being able to return and potentially function at a high level. Bell highlighted the difference between Cruz and Mayo, as Cruz relies on down-the-field speed, while Mayo needs quickness/explosiveness for his position. Thus, it's hard to compare them because the demands of their positions are unique. Overall, when it comes to “explosiveness and power, those things take a while to come back.” Bell added this: “The Patriots have an excellent medical staff to oversee bringing him back from this injury. I see it as a situation where there is reason to be optimistic about his future.”