Is golf the culprit of James injury? Is the three-week recovery period too optimistic?

The Lakers officially announced today that team core LeBron James will miss the game due to right sciatica and will undergo a review in about three to four weeks. The news quickly attracted widespread attention, and ESPN LA immediately invited sports medicine expert Dr. Alan Beyer to conduct an in-depth analysis of the superstar's injury.

Dr. Bayer analyzed the complexity of sciatica from a medical perspective. He pointed out that the sciatic nerve is the main nerve that controls the movement and sensory functions of all muscles in the leg and is composed of multiple nerve roots at different levels. Regarding James's situation, Bayer analyzed that a single lumbar disc herniation is usually difficult to cause typical sciatica, because it often involves only one nerve level. "This may mean that he has multiple lumbar disc bulges and degeneration, which is consistent with his long career, or that the nerves at the sciatic notch in the pelvic area are compressed or irritated, thereby affecting leg function. "

It is worth noting that Bayer specifically observed that James did not receive immediate epidural anesthesia injection treatment like several previous athletes. "This leads me to believe that the problem is not at the level of the spine, but rather at the nerve endings and further down, possibly on the path of the nerves as they cross the pelvic sciatic notch and down to the leg muscles. "

Dr. Bayer expressed caution regarding the three- to four-week recovery timetable. "For an athlete of James' age and degree of physical wear and tear, this expectation may be optimistic. As we all know, athletes over forty naturally recover less quickly than young people. Ultimately it depends on how he responds to rest, physical therapy and other treatments. We will get a clearer answer in the next two or three weeks. "

When asked whether the injury was related to frequent golf during the offseason, Bayer gave an affirmative answer. "Golf is indeed a sport that is extremely demanding on the spine, because the human spine is not designed to adapt to the large twists required in the golf swing. This is likely to be related to the waist problems that occurred after he started playing golf. It is obvious that he did not fully invest in the training camp, which is undoubtedly related to the offseason. There is a connection between activities. "

However, Bayer also showed understanding: "We cannot ask a person to live in a protective shield and deprive him of his right to enjoy life. If LeBron chooses such a way of leisure, we should also respect it. . Fortunately, he does not practice thousands of golf swings every day like Tiger Woods, but only plays for leisure purposes. Of course, this does have some impact on the lower back. "

Finally, Dr. Bayer issued an important reminder: "Even if you recover after three or four weeks, this injury may still recur. Therefore, during the new season, he may need to say goodbye to the golf course temporarily, otherwise he will face greater risks. If this kind of injury is not treated properly, it is likely to develop into a chronic injury that will cause long-term problems. "These words undoubtedly sounded the alarm for James and the Lakers' new season journey.

(Text/Kong Yang)