TheFightinPhils
02-03-2005, 05:53 PM
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Bucks guard T.J. Ford is approaching the one-year anniversary of the spinal injury that interrupted his playing career, and he remains months away from beginning his comeback.
Ford hasn't shot any baskets since he underwent surgical spine surgery last May in Los Angeles. He bruised his spinal cord last Feb. 24 when he landed on his tailbone in a game against Minnesota, the third time he had temporarily lost feeling in his extremities on a basketball court.
The Bucks had hoped he would return this season, but the bruise has been slow to heal and last month he was declared out for the rest of the season.
He returned to his home in Houston to continue his rehabilitation, which consists of cardiovascular work, weight training and core stabilization exercises but nothing basketball related.
"We have no problem with him going back to Houston, getting back in touch with family, and I think he needs that support group around him," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. "It was very hard on him as we struggled early in the season for him not to be out there and help us."
Harris said Ford will return to Milwaukee after the All-Star break later this month and undergo additional medical tests in March or April to see whether he can start easing back into the sport.
He has done no basketball activity since his surgery, which was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins of the Los Angeles Spine Surgery Institute.
"The doctors are just not sure what a rocking motion or any basketball activity may do," Harris said. "They would rather work on the stabilization, work on his cardiovascular, before there's any activity, whether it's shooting, dribbling, passing, running up and down. They don't want any thought of playing to get into the back of his mind."
Harris said he's holding out hope that Ford, the eighth overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft after leading Texas to the Final Four, will play next season.
"I'll get a better gauge in April. But right now we're hoping to have him in training camp and at the start of the '05-06 season," Harris said.
Ford has no residual weakness or numbness from the injury or the operation but has had a trying time emotionally, Harris said.
"It's been very tough for him. He wants to play and he believes in his heart he will play again. The doctor has told him he will play again," Harris said. "So, it's just a matter of this bruise healing and once it does, he's got full clearance to go ahead and play. And he's just awaiting that. But it's been very hard on him, certainly more mental than physical."
Ford was leading all rookies in assists and ranked ninth overall in that category last season before he was hurt. He averaged 7.1 points, 6.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds.
Without him, the Bucks lost 15 of their final 27 games last season and they are 16-27 this season, last in the Central Division.
In 2001, Ford was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the openings of the vertebra the spinal cord runs through. He has opted not to have surgery to correct that hereditary condition.
"That's something way down the road and that would probably knock him out from playing (or doing) any type of physical activity," Harris said.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/sports/10809046.htm
Ford hasn't shot any baskets since he underwent surgical spine surgery last May in Los Angeles. He bruised his spinal cord last Feb. 24 when he landed on his tailbone in a game against Minnesota, the third time he had temporarily lost feeling in his extremities on a basketball court.
The Bucks had hoped he would return this season, but the bruise has been slow to heal and last month he was declared out for the rest of the season.
He returned to his home in Houston to continue his rehabilitation, which consists of cardiovascular work, weight training and core stabilization exercises but nothing basketball related.
"We have no problem with him going back to Houston, getting back in touch with family, and I think he needs that support group around him," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. "It was very hard on him as we struggled early in the season for him not to be out there and help us."
Harris said Ford will return to Milwaukee after the All-Star break later this month and undergo additional medical tests in March or April to see whether he can start easing back into the sport.
He has done no basketball activity since his surgery, which was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins of the Los Angeles Spine Surgery Institute.
"The doctors are just not sure what a rocking motion or any basketball activity may do," Harris said. "They would rather work on the stabilization, work on his cardiovascular, before there's any activity, whether it's shooting, dribbling, passing, running up and down. They don't want any thought of playing to get into the back of his mind."
Harris said he's holding out hope that Ford, the eighth overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft after leading Texas to the Final Four, will play next season.
"I'll get a better gauge in April. But right now we're hoping to have him in training camp and at the start of the '05-06 season," Harris said.
Ford has no residual weakness or numbness from the injury or the operation but has had a trying time emotionally, Harris said.
"It's been very tough for him. He wants to play and he believes in his heart he will play again. The doctor has told him he will play again," Harris said. "So, it's just a matter of this bruise healing and once it does, he's got full clearance to go ahead and play. And he's just awaiting that. But it's been very hard on him, certainly more mental than physical."
Ford was leading all rookies in assists and ranked ninth overall in that category last season before he was hurt. He averaged 7.1 points, 6.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds.
Without him, the Bucks lost 15 of their final 27 games last season and they are 16-27 this season, last in the Central Division.
In 2001, Ford was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the openings of the vertebra the spinal cord runs through. He has opted not to have surgery to correct that hereditary condition.
"That's something way down the road and that would probably knock him out from playing (or doing) any type of physical activity," Harris said.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/sports/10809046.htm