We see a variety of knee problems ranging from surgical injuries to chronic inflammation. When a player is faced with taking care of a knee injury, strength and rehabilitation exercises are critical components of his daily routine. Athletic trainers and strength coaches work closely with the players to tailor specific protocols that are easily followed and extremely efficient.
The exercises that are described below are some of our basic exercises and can be done with minimal equipment. Our profiled player is Erick Dampier. He is currently rehabilitating a hyperextend knee, but has had arthroscopic surgery in the past. If you have a knee injury that has required clinical therapy, it is recommended that you follow your therapy plan. Also check with your clinician to make sure these exercises are appropriate for your case.
These exercises are a staple for our players while traveling. When on the road we do this work in a hotel room, thus we know they can easily be done in the comfort of one’s home.
Tom Abdenour in his 16th season as the athletic trainer for the Warriors. He spent his 2000 offseason serving as the athletic trainer for the gold medal-winning USA Men's Basketball Team at the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He also stays involved with the community as a member of the NBA's National All-Star Reading Team -- part of the Read to Achieve program.
Abdenour is hosting warriors.com's Athletic Trainer Talk section and will be answering fan questions about health, injuries and rehabilitation through the 2002-03 season.