SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, June 28, 1995
7B
Kansas athletes come to the Anschutz Pavilion rehabilitation room to get injuries treated with supplies like these. As many as 350 athletes a day come to the room for some kind of treatment.
944 Mass.
832-8228
Edmee Rodriguez/
KANSAN
Injured Jayhawks fly to Anschutz
By Dan Gelston Kansan staff writer
Jennifer Kaul vividly remembers March 6, when she received an unexpected hiatus from her days as a Kansas cheerleader.
She was practicing her tumbling, getting ready for the end of the basketball season, when she heard a loud pop from her right knee. Kaul soon joined other injured athletes who spend much of their time in the training room at Anschutz Pavilion working to rehabilitate sports injuries.
Lynn Bott, head trainer for Kansas sports, said as many as 350 athletes a day came in for some sort of treatment. Trainers help the injured with their rehabilitation. Some athletes are there to prevent injuries: taping ankles and soothing minor aches with heat or ice applications.
The pop that Kaul heard was a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a rupture in the knee within the joint. The day after the injury, she went to Anschutz for an opinion. After seeing two more doctors, including her own, she underwent surgery on April 5.
She began the rehabilitation process immediately but found it difficult at first.
"The first day of rehab was hell for
me. I was crying," Kaul said. "But I've gotten used to it, and now I love it. It's so exciting, and I've gotten so much better already. I actually look forward to going."
Kaul's injury was supposed to keep her out of action for at least six months, but five days a week of
strenuous rehab have helped accelerate the process.
Carol Jarosky, assistant athletic trainer, said that it was common for athletes with a long-term rehabilitation to experience great progress initially, but that the progress would eventually slow.
"By about the
better." Kaulsaid.
Her exercises have evolved from leg raises and squatting to make her leg stronger, to jogging and more cardiovascular exercises to give the leg more flexibility.
Steven Munns, orthopedic surgeon and director of Kansas sports
"There are times when it gets discouraging,but I know I'm getting better."
fourth or fifth month they don't see the daily progress that they used to, even though it might be there. That's when they get discouraged." Jarosky said.
After two months of rehabilitation, Kaul agrees.
"There are times when it gets discouraging, but I know I'm getting
medicine comes to the training room once a week to check on injured athletes.
Jennifer Kaul
Kansas cheerleader
Munns said part of his job was to determine whether operating was necessary.
"There are 12 to 18 injuries a year that require surgery that will put the athlete for a
Kaul is aiming to come back in time for junior varsity cheerleading tryouts in August. She said making the squad was possible if she remained dedicated to her rehabilitation.
period of time," he said.
Some athletes, no matter how hard they work, can't come back.
That was the case for Steve Douglas, a defensive tackle and offensive lineman for the Kansas football team, who earned a varsity letter in 1991.
Just before the 1992 Aloha Bowl, he was doing jumping exercises in the sand when his knees buckled. The next days he couldn't bend his legs.
"The trainers were excellent," Douglas said. "They don't let you go too fast but they push you and work with you depending on your capabilities at that time."
Douglas tried to resume his career by doing rehabilitation exercises at the training room.
That injury, coupled with previous knee problems, ended his playing career, despite surgery.
Bott said that athletes could come in any time they wanted, but that most of them were on some sort of schedule.
As a result of his work and trainers' assistance, Douglas is now able to walk and run without pain. But he no longer can play football.
For Kau, she knows her road to recovery remains a long one.
"The job they've done with me here has been excellent," Kaul said. "I just want to say a giant thanks to all of them because I will be better and stronger because of this."
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