Philadelphia 76ers Health Epidemic: Cause, Concern, Conspiracy?

The Philadelphia 76ers roster was decimated with injuries in 2016-2017. What were the causes? Is President Bryan Colangelo’s handling concerning? In short, is there another issue behind the curtain?

The list of injured Philadelphia 76ers grew throughout the 2016-2017 season. From the start of the season, Ben Simmons, Nerlens Noel, and Jerryd Bayless were there.  At first, it was something the fans could push aside. After all, the real payoff of the 2016-2017 season was the debut of Dario Saric and Joel Embiid, right? The fact that the Philadelphia 76ers even landed the top pick in the 2016 NBA Draft was almost too surreal.

The lineup of Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Dario Saric on one NBA team all as rookies would have been too much for even the ever patient Philadelphia 76ers fans to absorb simultaneously. And so Karma intervened once more.  Jerryd Bayless was never able to get his sore wrist “right”. Ben Simmons fell to injury just before the season began.

Are you tired of this topic? You are not alone. You’d think the fans, players, and front office would be professional and prepared for the constant streaming of disappointment.

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Relevant Topic

But I’m getting ahead of myself, or rather, jumping into the middle of a conversation.  You see, this time its a matter of extreme importance. So much so that I’m commiting a series of articles towards the discussion.

If you are just getting familiar with the matter, I suggest you begin with a prelogue article which triggered the series, Philadelphia 76ers Injury Hardship Exception Alex Poythress Impressing Fans .  The discussion of the late season exception set the stage for two other discussions about the state of the Philadelphia 76ers injuries.

In Part I, we pose the question: now that Orthopedic surgeons can detect each blemish, wrinkle, and flaw in the human body’s soft tissue, when is intervention truly called for? Let’s look at this another way – has Sports Medicine Gotten TOO Good for Philadelphia 76ers?

In Part II, we broach the subject of perception, communication, and honesty.   Throughout the season, minimalist communications downplayed the severity of the eventual injury outcomes.  In short, there are differences in medical terminology and athletic terminology in matters of “recovery”. To the medical professional, healthy means “can train”. To athletic profession, healthy means “can play”. The difference in the two perceptions can mean many months of training and possible setbacks.  Unfortunately, the 76ers front office has not performed well in terms of spanning that chasm.

Slow Starters

As 2016 ended, the 8-24 Philadelphia 76ers had not quite learned how to “click”. But that all changed in 2017,  as the team began to win games. Despite losing on January 27, 2017 to the Houston Rockets, the team had improved to 17-28. To get there, the team was on a 9-4 run in the new year.

The Houston Rockets were the last team to face rookie center Joel Embiid.  Second year center Jahlil Okafor, already plagued by a nagging knee injury the previous season, fell to another injury.

But the last straw was the injury to Robert Covington.

CAUSE

Throughout last season, there were many Philadelphia 76ers players injured.  Lets review the who and the causes:

Ben Simmons (Foot, September 30, 2016),
Nerlens Noel (Knee, Inflamed Plica, October 16, 2016),
Jerryd Bayless (Wrist, November 16, 2016),
Joel Embiid (Knee, January 27, 2017),
Jahlil Okafor (Knee, March 24, 2017),
Sergio Rodriguez (Hamstring, March 27, 2017)
Robert Covington (Knee, March 28, 2017)

Surgical Solutions

Ben Simmons required foot surgery. Joel Embiid required knee surgery. Despite nagging pain in his knee, Jahlil Okafor did not go under the knife again.

Robert Covington required surgery.   In the end, Robert Covington’s surgery was labeled “minor” and a “success”.

But that opens up a conversation.

Sir Charles In Charge

Innovation time folks!

The Philadelphia 76ers have been innovators to the NBA for some time.  Time to invest in designing novel protective gear for knees.  Time to invest in daily massage therapy,  Time to consider Osteopathy techniques to aid players prevent and recover from soft tissue injury.

The Philadelphia 76ers are the next wave of NBA greatness, or should be if the team can resolve the issue facing them at nearly epidemic proportions. How can the team redefine the bar of performance without innovating way to reinforce the soft tissue breakdowns of the players?

There is plenty of new research on the topic, and undoubtedly the team is gleaning through the latest and greatest literature on the topic.  Studies now indicate that all athletes must address soft tissues work as part of their training regiment.

Soft tissue repairs like no other

Soft tissue is not designed to get stronger like muscles from use. The mechanics of ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and other soft connective tissues serve the purpose of shock absorbers. The only true repair occurs with rest, movement and exercise designed to facilitate motion in proper mechanics.

But even Aspetar Sports Medicine clinic, one of the leaders in the field, focuses on the newest treatments over prevention.  Even ESPN got into the act with covering soft tissue injury.  That article featured Dr. Jerrald Goldman, team orthopedist for the Oakland A’s in a discussion about injuries.

New preventative measures available

Thankfully, there are some prevention techniques which are proving to be rather effective. Athletes have known for some time that “warming up” joints helps their play, but that increase of blood flow is one of the keys to helping prevent soft tissue fatigue. New aides like foam rollers have been showing some positive results, and each new innovation adds not only to the solution, but contributes to the overall understanding.

Some research of soft tissue damage are beginning to explore causes from much earlier ages.  The exporation of managing fascia to prevent injury and reoccurring pain is only now beginning to be accepted by the general population.

Next: Philadelphia 76ers: What to expect statistically in 2017-18- Assists and Turnovers

The Philadelphia 76ers have some of the best talent in the NBA on one team. Now, the challenge is developing that talent, harnessing that talent, and maintaining the health of that talent.  To do that, this team needs to do what Allen Iverson once did. Change the rules.  Invest in new innovations to prevent another season of stars on the bench. This team is too talented to fail. The city of Philadelphia has waited to long for that to happen.

Until this point in time, the Philadelphia 76ers had no incentive to get stars back onto the court. But as the team signed both J.J. Redick and Amir Johnson, the team is committing to success. To succeed, the team must find a way to keep players healthy.  That’s the goal. Now, it’s up to the Philadelphia 76ers organization to find the solution.