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What do these two men have in common?
Both are well-conditioned, professional athletes. Both follow a year-round regimen of strength training and are arguably among the best athletes in the world. Both men were chosen in the first rounds of their league’s draft, suggesting they are among the best to play their sport and both play for teams in New York City.
Even with all of this conditioning and natural athleticism these two men have something else in common. They were both forced off their respective playing fields by a common injury – back spasms.
The spine specialists at Texas Back Institute have examined and treated professional sports players from teams such as the Dallas Mavericks and FC Dallas for many years and one of these physicians, Dr. Richard Guyer, recently made observations about this injury. More on this later.
Two Players. Same Injury
The photo on the left is Odell Beckham Jr., a rookie wide receiver for the National Football League’s New York Giants. On the right is Carmelo Anthony who is the veteran star forward of the New York Knicks.
According to ESPN Sports, Carmelo Anthony left Monday’s game against the Houston Rockets with back spasms late in the first half and did not return. Without Anthony, the Knicks fell to the Rockets 91-86.
The sports network noted, “Anthony appeared to land awkwardly after attempting a jump shot with two minutes to play in the second quarter. He tried to play through the injury but asked to be taken out of the game on the next possession.
Head coach Derek Fisher was unsure of the condition of Anthony’s back on Tuesday but said the Knicks would be patient with their star.
“As far as I’m aware, back spasms isn’t really something that you can push or rush,” Fisher said. “Until you can actually play without being in spasm, there isn’t anything you can really do. Hopefully that will be soon. His back will be the only indicator of how soon that can be. I don’t think there’s anything we can necessarily do to rush that right now.”
Anthony is leading the Knicks in scoring with 23.9 points per game.
Odell Beckham just broke the internets. Catch. Of. The. Year. #DALvsNYG http://t.co/e8J5kzCFN4
— NFL (@nfl) November 24, 2014
Odell Beckham’s injury was not lost on New York area media, especially after he made what many consider the “catch of the year.” According to popular website NJ.com, “Giant fans collectively held their breath in MetLife Stadium on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys when rookie sensation Odell Beckham went down with a back injury early in the fourth quarter.
Luckily for the Giants, Beckham was able to return to action though coach Tom Coughlin said he would be monitored throughout the week to make sure he can play next week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The sports website reports Beckham told reporters after the game on Sunday that his back “locked up” on him after taking a hit on a short pass over the middle from Eli Manning. Beckham was concerned because he fractured his back in high school but ultimately was relieved when it was discovered that “it’s just a bruise.”
An Expert Opinion on Back Spasms
In addition to being one of the three founders of Texas Back Institute, Dr. Richard Guyer is one of the most trusted back specialist in the country. While he is not treating either of these athletes and is basing his observation on media reports, here is his description of the injuries to Anthony and Beckham.
Because of their extensive conditioning, recovery from back spasms is faster for professional athletes than the less-conditioned patients. Dr. Guyer explains.
Back spasms can happen to anyone – from professional basketball and football players to a worker who has attempted to lift a heavy object. If you’ve experienced back spasms, contact us, for an immediate examination and therapy.