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• Interview Dr. Angel Ruiz-Cotorro ► elespanol.com
1) The tendon's safe. "Rafa injured a hip's flexor muscle. It's swollen, causing a degree 1 muscle injury. The tendon isn't affected, so the prognosis is good. Obviously, we'll need to be 2-3 weeks w/ a lot of caution, rest & physiotherapy. Then, back into activity progressively"
2) Right decision. "Obviously, every muscle injury gets worse when you force it. Rafa was very limited in his match with Cilic and the decision to retire was the right one. This has made the injury not get worse"
3) Good luck. "This injury doesn't happen very often in tennis, though we've had a few cases. There are other parts, like the rectus femoris, which are in a more complicated area. Even if he's been unlucky, at least the injury is just degree 1. It's not good, but treating it carefully & being cautious he'll likely be able to go on with his planned schedule. There is no muscle tear, just a pulled muscle"
4) Several factors contributed "Several things add up. Match w/Schwartzman was very tough & played at high temp, the loss of fluids, another intense match w/Cilic,w/lots of rhythm changes...all this made the area overload little by little & an abrupt gesture can cause the injury"
5) 5 weeks or more. "We have to see how he evolves w/rest & undergoing physiotherapy. Then, back to activity very progressively. We're talking about a muscle that needs time & requires be treated carefully. This muscle allows you to do many things, but not involving much impulse. At the beginning there will be certain movements he won't be able to do. [But] There's time. There are 5 weeks left till his first planned tournament, & if they aren't 5, they'll be more, whatever needed. The most important thing is that there's room for us to do things properly"
Translated by Genny SS
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