Oxlade-Chamberlain tipped to hit former heights on return

There is a “fairly good chance” Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will return to his pre-injury level, avoiding the fate of many other athletes who have suffered ligament damage, according to knee expert Dr. David Geier.

It was revealed by the club this week that the serious injury sustained by Oxlade-Chamberlain in the Champions League semi-final meeting with Roma at Anfield would likely keep him sidelined for the entirety of the 2018/19 campaign.

The lay-off is a devastating blow for the player, who had enjoyed an encouraging debut season at Anfield.

Oxlade-Chamberlain underwent surgery shortly after sustaining the injury, and while it proved a complete success, Geier has warned that it can be difficult for a player to have full faith in a reconstructed knee.

“Even after an ACL, it can be a challenge for the surgeon and physical therapist to help an athlete reach a point where the surgically reconstructed knee feels like the uninjured knee so that he is completely confident landing on it, cutting and changing directions at full speed, and more,” he explained in an interview with Rousing The Kop.

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Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain grimaces on the ground after getting injured during the Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Liverpool and AS Roma at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Tuesday, April 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

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“With three or four of the main stabilizing ligaments injured, that challenge is even greater, and there is often more stiffness and muscle weakness after the more complex surgery.”

Such injuries have irreparably damaged athletes’ careers in the past and in some cases forced them to retire, but Geier is confident that, in this specific case, Oxlade-Chamberlain should be able to recover his form.

“The physical therapist and athletic trainers working with him would obviously have a better idea as they see day to day and week to week whether he is meeting rehab milestones,” he said.

“Having said that, based on just what I have read about the ligaments he injured, I would think there is an excellent chance he returns to play and a fairly good chance he returns at the level he was prior to the injury.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com