World champion faces five weeks
of rehab after a knee operation
Nick Matthew is fighting to be fit for the Commonwealth Games next month after undergoing an operation yesterday.
The three time world champion and defending double Commonwealth Games champion underwent successful minor surgery on his right knee on Monday to repair a small tear in the meniscus.
A statement released by his management team revealed that Matthew is now working through an intensive rehabilitation programme with the aim of recovering in time for Glasgow 2014.
Both he and his medical advisors are optimistic that he will be fit in time for the start of the Commonwealth Games on July 24.
The winner of gold medals in both men’s singles and men’s doubles in Delhi 2010, Matthew first felt pain in the right knee on Monday June 16 while on court.
After a week of treatment, a meniscus tear was diagnosed and minor surgery was recommended as the best course of action. The operation, performed at the Sheffield Claremont Hospital, took place on the morning of Monday June 23 in order to allow the maximum recovery time.
Matthew said: “Obviously the timing is not ideal but injuries like this can happen at any time and that’s just part of professional sport.
“I’m glad that we’ve taken the decisive action to fix the tear and my medical team are very positive about Glasgow.
“I have five weeks of rehab and lots of hard work ahead of me to be fit but I have a great team working with me at the English Institute of Sport (EIS)in Sheffield and Manchester and at England Squash and Racketball (ESR) in Manchester. I’m determined to be ready and I’m optimistic that I will be.”
Jade Leeder, Head Physiotherapist at the English Institute of Sport and England Squash and Racketball, will take the lead in Matthew’s treatment.
Mark Cambell, Matthew’s Strength and Conditioning Coach, will be assisting with a tailored fitness programme to ensure that he is in the best possible shape for Glasgow 2014.
Picture by PATRICK LAUSSON