The Adrian Peterson Effect

[Mothman]

'Adrian Peterson Effect' leaves doctors in awe and players rushing to return

By returning so quickly from severe knee injuries, Adrian Peterson and Robert Griffin III are making life tougher for NFL defenses.

And another group you might not expect.

Orthopedic surgeons.

Peterson's incredible MVP performance in 2012, coming off tears of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and his medial collateral ligament, has changed the standards of what injured athletes expect from surgery. And it's changed conversations in consulting rooms across the country.

"High school athletes will come in with a torn ACL, and I'll give them the same speech: six to eight months, return to normal level of play is 12 months," says Michael Jablonski, an Orlando-based orthopedic surgeon. "You'd be surprised how many times they say, 'Well, what about Adrian Peterson?' "

Jablonski has operated on athletes at all levels, including in multiple professional sports (not to mention the Orlando ballet), and he trained under Griffin's doctor, James Andrews. He has seen it all, and yet he hasn't seen anything like what Peterson did.

More at the link.

[Eli]

But what if, only a what if here.... Something comes out about him using HGH or deer antler or some other weird stuff? I know he has said over and over he is clean as a whistle and I tend to believe him because that's the kind of dude he is. But there is always going to be speculation...What would it do to his career? Or the way you look at him? His recovery is insane so I understand the speculation and the thoughts do cross your mind I'm sure. I believe he's clean, he's just a freak. It's just a what if.

Millions of little children all over the country would be terribly disappointed. But for anyone who wasn't born in this century, it should be just another example of a high profile athlete lying through his teeth to boost either his market value or his own ego. Which happens often enough today that it would be a complete nonevent.

[S197]

Peterson is a monster.

But what if, only a what if here.... Something comes out about him using HGH or deer antler or some other weird stuff? I know he has said over and over he is clean as a whistle and I tend to believe him because that's the kind of dude he is. But there is always going to be speculation...What would it do to his career? Or the way you look at him? His recovery is insane so I understand the speculation and the thoughts do cross your mind I'm sure. I believe he's clean, he's just a freak. It's just a what if.

It would definitely dampen my respect for him. I believe he's clean but then again I didn't think Lance Armstrong was doping either.

[Eli]

I'd also be less likely to buy a Peterson jersey. (Then again, I've never bought a jersey in my life, and probably never will.)

[VikingHoard]

I'm not sure why using HGH to treat injuries is frowned upon. I mean, it's not the same as taking steroids, or using HGH to try to bulk up. It's not like kids are going to go out and tear their ACLs just so they can use HGH to recover thinking it will make them into the next Peterson.

[Raptorman]

It would definitely dampen my respect for him. I believe he's clean but then again I didn't think Lance Armstrong was doping either.

But Lance was really good at it. It shows you something that they didn't give his stripped titles to anyone because everyone he raced against was doping as well.

Some people heal faster than others. I used to heal wounds in days when my sisters would still be cut up for a week or so after. Just depends on the person.

[J. Kapp 11]

I think some of it has to do with the fact that AP was in such amazing physical condition to begin with. When you've got the kind of muscle structure that he has, it definitely helps your recovery. High school kids don't have that.

And don't be surprised if RGIII doesn't do quite as well as AP.

[maembe]

AD was also noticeably less explosive in the beginning of the season. He was injured in December and came back 9 months later. He wasn't his old self until maybe mid October, so like 11 months later. It was definitely a tremendous recovery, but I really don't think it was totally unbelievable or even worth speculating that PEDs were involved when there's absolutely no evidence of it. The quote in the OP says 6-8 month recovery period, full recovery in 12 months. It sounds like he followed that timeline pretty closely.

[King James]

I think the difference between Peterson and everyone else is that he didn't choose to sit on his butt all day like most people with ACL injuries. I heard the articles about him rehabbing on certain days longer than normal so bad that the doctors had to slow him down. He was determined. I think injuries hurt people mentally, more than they do physically. Most people assume after an ACL injury that they will never be the same again.

I don't think surgery alone, is going to help others heal like Peterson did but if they can put that same insane workout in that Peterson did, they can return to form sooner as well. RGIII seems to be coming alone, this season will tell. But to be fair, Peterson really did start off slower than normal during the first few games. By mid-season, he turned on the gas and never took his foot off the brake!

[dead_poet]

By mid-season, he turned on the gas and never took his foot off the brake!

He's going to wreck his engine then. That can't be healthy

[The Breeze]

He's going to wreck his engine then. That can't be healthy

I lolzed~

[DK Sweets]

AD was also noticeably less explosive in the beginning of the season. He was injured in December and came back 9 months later. He wasn't his old self until maybe mid October, so like 11 months later. It was definitely a tremendous recovery, but I really don't think it was totally unbelievable or even worth speculating that PEDs were involved when there's absolutely no evidence of it. The quote in the OP says 6-8 month recovery period, full recovery in 12 months. It sounds like he followed that timeline pretty closely.

I also agree. AD definitely wasn't the same against Jacksonville. He was probably a bit ahead of schedule because of his physical condition, his mindset, and genetics; but I think that those three things (along with a world class surgeon) are more likely to be the cause of a fantastic recovery than PEDs.

I think a really underplayed role in Peterson's recovery is that he didn't come back as a better athlete. He came back as a better football player.