AF&A Blog

Several months ago we blogged about an injury to tennis star Serena Williams. To refresh your memory, she cut her foot on a piece of glass at a restaurant after winning Wimbledon. The injury and repair lead her to sit out the US Open where she would have defended the doubles title she won with her sister. We all have tough decisions to make concerning our health and one can easily empathize with the tough decision she made to sit out that tournament. Unfortunately, she began training too much and too soon after her surgery. Last week she announced that she will not play for the remainder of this year.

She reported last week that after a morning practice she felt pain in her previously injured foot and consulted her doctor. After imaging the area, it was concluded that she had restrained the injured tendon. She admitted that she had been attempting to get back in shape to play and may have trained too hard. This could happen to anyone who is trying to get back to daily activities quickly after surgery.

By attempting to return to tennis too quickly, she has lengthened her recovery time and possibly set the stage for further injury. She admitted that she had been training a lot over the last few weeks in order to get back into competition. This is easily understandable to anyone who must set aside their livelihood to recover from an injury. In Serena’s case, the decision to ‘get back to work’ may have cost her much more money in future winnings than the tournaments she had already passed on. This can hold true for anyone healing from foot surgery. You may feel you need to get back on your feet ASAP and return to your normal activities, but doing so puts you at risk for an even longer healing time with more varied results. Always be sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations for post-op care and subsequent physical training. By taking the time to heal properly, you can avoid further problems that can occur.

Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy Austin!

With ‘deep sadness’, tennis pro Serena Williams has decided to listen to her doctor and not play in the US Open. This is obviously a difficult decision for her as friends have noted this is one of her favorite tournaments to play in.

This is also a big headline as she is the number one ranked player in the world. Her absence also prevents her sister Venus and her from defending their doubles title. Though not a happy decision, we here at AFAS feel she is making the best decision. Returning to any activity before allowing proper time for healing will only increase the risk or re-injuring, cause more extensive damage, or leave one with permanent deficits.

The injury that will prevent Serena from competing occurred in early July. While dining at a restaurant, her foot was injured by a broken glass. This type of injury involves a sharp, foreign body. Any foreign body carries inherent risk of infection and your Podiatric physician will clean the wound clean promptly. Depending on factors such as the type of object and the depth of the wound, you may be prescribed antibiotics. A sharp object, like broken glass, can cut tendons, blood vessels, or nerves. The recoveries for injuries such as these are varied. Tendon injuries typically require 6 weeks to heal, with additional time to be toned back to their original strength. It is important to follow your doctor’s instruction when you are recovering from any type of surgery. If Serena Williams can sit out the US Open, you can surely keep yourself off you feet long enough to heal properly. Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy Austin!