THIS REPORTER TAKES A PARTICULARLY DARKSIDE VIEW IN HIS COVERAGE OF ATHLETICS. IF HE KNEW MORE, HE WOULD NOT BE SO MELODRAMATIC. HOWEVER, HE DID FIND A SPORTS DOCTOR WHO OBLIGED HIS GLOOM AND DOOM PERSPECTIVE…TIME WILL TELL OF COURSE.
LATEST REPORT IS THAT SALLY WILL TRAIN LIGHTLY FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THERE IS NO FIBRE TEAR, JUST A LOW GRADE MUSCLE “STRAIN” ACCORDING TO SCAN RESULTS… kk
Quadriceps strain dents Sally Pearson’s Olympic hopes
by: Damien Stannard
From:The Courier-Mail
December 19, 20117:48PM
Sally Pearson, in action during the recent European season, injured her thigh in the Gippsland Gift final at Traralgon last Saturday. Source: News Limited
WORLD champion hurdler Sally Pearson’s Olympic dream could be shattered if her latest injury is treated poorly.
The Queensland gold medal hope broke down with a thigh injury in the Gippsland Gift final at Traralgon last Saturday.
Pearson stayed in Melbourne for treatment and a MRI scan that revealed a minor quadriceps strain.
Her coach Sharon Hannan said the track star would have a lighter workload while the muscle repaired, but could be back in full training by the new year.
But a musculoskeletal expert said the setback, if treated improperly, could make or break her Olympic campaign.
“For her, the quadriceps is so important for explosive flexion of the knee,” said Dr Shane Brun from Sports Medicine Australia.
"Any injury, depending on which muscle and the grade (of the strain), could make a substantial difference.
“It could be make or break. It could be a show-stopper, depending on how bad it is.”
Dr Brun said early treatment was critical. “It only needs to be something little to throw the whole thing out,” he said.
“If you don’t get on to it early, or don’t treat it properly, scar tissue can prevent you from stretching it out.”
Pearson is an ambassador for the meeting and had a victory, and the $5000 prize purse, in the bag when she felt the muscle twinge about 70m into the 120m handicap race.
The 25-year-old eased up to finish second before seeking treatment.
Pearson has been managing a chronic back problem and rebounded from a torn hamstring in 2008 to dominate the European season and lower her own national 100m hurdles record.