Aaron Rodgers Update 3: Return to Practice
Our forecast for a Rodgers return this season is still bullish.
Our Forecast is Still Alive
It is now official: Rodgers has returned to practice 77 days post-Achilles speed-bridge repair surgery - which means our forecast for a Rodgers return this season is still alive! Now, it is important to note that he has returned to practice at a limited capacity. Here is Robert Saleh, head coach of the NY Jets, on the situation:
"This isn't so much getting ready to play as much as it is a progression in his rehab … For Aaron, what he'll be doing in practice is no different than what he'd be doing on (a side field) with regard to certain drills and individuals. Instead of throwing with staff members, he'll be throwing to teammates. There's no added risk to it. There are certain things that he's been cleared for that we'll allow him to do."1
If you're interested in more details and would like to see footage of Rodgers at practice, click on the link to the Pat McAfee Show, or for a short 24-second video simply click on the image above.
Max Effort Positional Isometrics + PAILs Loading Strategy
We are hopeful that Aaron Rodgers is currently integrating positional isometrics and PAILs into his current treatment and training. At this point in time, ideally, these contractions should be performed at Rodgers' maximal effort. The recommended approach for getting to max effort involves progressively ramping up from low effort to moderate effort and culminating in maximal momentary effort, maintained for 6-8 seconds.
This work is executed with the intent to stimulate the development of connective tissue architecture. Once these contractions reach Rodgers’ maximal effort, this work will also stimulate load-bearing capacity within the connective tissues.
It is important to mention that isometrics are the safest muscular contraction to perform. Why are they so safe? Because the tissue stays at the same length in an isometric, and when training connective tissues architecture and load-bearing capacity length (i.e., stretching) is a parameter we want to control.
Additionally, in isometric contractions, there is minimal, if any, tissue glide or shearing due to the absence of movement. Unlike lengthening or shortening tissue movement seen in eccentric or concentric contractions, which can generate inflammation, isometrics provide a means of stimulating connective tissue without inducing tissue inflammation. It is well-known that eccentric contractions, or tissue lengthening under load, are responsible for the post-training soreness felt in the connective tissues. By continuing to incorporate isometrics at this stage, we aim to stimulate connective tissue without generating inflammation.
Speed-Bridge Implant: Allows for Maximal Effort Static Loading + Organization of New CT Architecture.
As stated previously, we hold the belief that the speed-bridge implant, which serves as connective tissue, will likely play a much more significant role than our current understanding suggests. The speed-bridge implant will give the connective tissue load-bearing support so that Rodgers can progressively ramp up his nervous system to elicit its maximal effort.
During an isometric contraction, all the force generated by Rodgers’ nervous system, as it progressively recruits muscle tissue to their maximal momentary effort, is funneled and accumulated into the connective tissue. Understand that it is this generated force that is distributed into and through the connective tissue architecture that signals the macro-scale tissues as well as its micro-scale constituents (cellular material) to develop. Any new connective tissue architecture that is developed from this work will be organized along the directionality of the implant - which is exactly the stimulus we want to generate. Additionally, this organized development of CT architecture limits the formation of disorganized connective tissue architecture - commonly known as 'scar tissue.'
Treadmill Work + Skill Work = Dynamic Submaximal Loading
In the loading strategy we are presenting, the treadmill work and skill work (see the video of Rodgers’ practicing) serve as submaximal dynamic loading of the connective tissue architecture. The shoes and orthotics control the length of the Achilles externally and the speed-bridge internally. In the treadmill setting, the loading of bodyweight percentage is controlled through the treadmill and Rodgers’ feedback on the status of how that tissue feels. In the skill setting, loading is controlled by Rodgers, who, as a four-time NFL MVP, has a very high kinesthetic IQ.
The simultaneous training of all these different means coupled together to stimulate the development of CT architecture within the same week and that is progressive in nature aligns with our conjugate periodization.
Still Bullish
The NY Jets' playoff chances, and thus Super Bowl chances, are currently on life support - which we acknowledge does not help with our forecast of a Rodgers’ return. Nevertheless, if the tissue-specific strategy we've outlined to stimulate the development of his connective tissue architecture and increase load-bearing capacity is indeed being implemented - something we currently have no way of verifying - we remain bullish on a Rodgers return this season.
Let us Know
Leave a comment and leave your feedback on our forecast - whether you share a positive (bullish) outlook or a more skeptical (bearish) view of our forecast.
"Jets' Aaron Rodgers Returns to Practice After Achilles Injury" URL: https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-aaron-rodgers-return-practice-achilles-injury
This comment is for FRS/FRC practitioners. I've been rehabbing 2 different achilles injuries with patients, both a few months into care at this point. I'd like to share helpful tip for ankle dorsiflexion PAILs/RAILs.
As many of you have used before, for ankle rehab, I've been using the Ankle-Angle board for PAILs/RAILs dorsiflexion efforts. I stumbled into a helpful technique while using the angle board. It's simple, there are two hand slits cut into the sides of the angle board (I assume for carrying it). I use those two side hand holds and use them to better pull myself into the dorsiflexion stretch. These hand holds on the sides of the angle board are used to better lock and block the position for PAILs efforts. Pulling up on the hand holds while doing PAILs. In than the half kneeing (combat) position I've typically used, the heel will lift under high intensity PAILs for dorsiflexion. This technique eliminated any movement of the ankle/foot during PAILs. Hope this helps.
Happy Holidays!
I remain positive given Rodger's (known) training strategy and progress thus far, but bearish on the Jet's ability to win enough games to get them to the playoffs