[jwplayer yY808HIT-ThvAeFxT]
Last summer, video of New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara’s intense workouts went viral — due as much to the world-class athleticism Kamara put on display as the creative training regiment that Dr. Sharif Tabbah designed to challenge the three-time Pro Bowler. Kamara’s results intrigued teammates like wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., who also worked with Tabbah during the offseason.
Now in 2020, another Saints player has sought out the Miami-based physical therapist. Kiko Alonso projects to start at the strong side linebacker spot next season, but he went down with a torn ACL in the Saints’ playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings. It’ll be tough for him to be ready to start by training camp, but Tabbah said recently that he’s been impressed with Alonso’s progres in the weeks since surgery.
Tabbah shared an Instagram video of Alonso working on his surgically-repaired knee, noting that, “It’s important to begin working on balance, stabilization and coordination and early as possible in a safe manner. Proprioception is lost after an ACL surgery but can be quickly restored when addressed appropriately!” Proprioception refers to the awareness people feel within their body, which can fade in areas that go unused following serious medical procedures.
A challenge athletes often face after surgery is the struggle to “trust” a repaired joint or limb, which makes sense considering that it’s failed them before. But training like the workout Tabbah drew up for Alonso does a lot to build confidence in the stability of his injured knee, which will allow him to play at full speed once the season kicks off in September. See it for yourself:
[vertical-gallery id=27935]