JimBob
01-18-2008, 09:31 AM
Prognosis good for Woods
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
1/18/2008
Last Modified: 1/18/2008 3:44 AM
Receiver with vertebra injury expected to be ready for 2008 opener.
STILLWATER -- Within days of the accident that resulted in his spinal injury and temporary right-leg paralysis, wide receiver Artrell Woods predicted that he would play football again.
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy also predicted that Woods would return to the field.
Cowboy head trainer Rob Hunt was more cautious, stressing the severity of the injury -- a dislocated vertebra in the lower back -- and expressing the most basic hope that Woods would regain the ability to walk without assistance and have a normal lifestyle.
Thursday was a milestone not only in Woods' recovery, but in Hunt's prognosis.
On Thursday morning, Woods was in Oklahoma City to be examined by one of his surgeons, Dr. Brock Schnebel (the University of Oklahoma's team physician). Woods was cleared to do some light running for the first time since the July 13 accident, which occurred during a routine weight-lifting session.
As Woods jogged about 250 yards on Thursday afternoon, Hunt said, "I think there's a high percentage that he will play football this year. I'm finished with being guarded.
"If he continues to follow the (rehabilitation) guidelines, I think he will participate against Washington State (in the Aug. 30 season opener at Seattle). And I think he will participate at a high level. I think he'll go into preseason camp and compete for a position. I don't see why he won't progress back to a high-level football player."
The 6-foot-1 Woods had an extremely impressive 2007 spring-practice period and would have been a sophomore starter. On July 13, while having an 185-pound bar on his shoulders, Woods lost his balance and fell, with his tailbone bearing most of the impact. There was a violent compression of his spine, a damaged vertebra and a same-day surgery in Oklahoma City.
Woods weighed about 200 pounds before the accident. He dropped to 175 while wearing a full-torso plastic brace for nearly four months, but now carries 193 pounds. He now is able to leg-press 365 pounds. Following his Thursday workout, the Bryan, Texas, native described his run as having been "a small stride, basically. No problems. No pain. Smooth. I haven't really felt any pain in a long time. Just a little soreness now and then."
Ten days after the accident, Woods took his first steps. Hunt still has the video stored on his cell phone.
"Artrell told me that he will never complain about running and lifting weights again," Hunt said. "He said his teammates have no idea how lucky they are, to be able to run. With his maturity, he will provide a different perspective for a lot of our players."
The Cowboys open this year's spring-practice period on March 3, with the Orange-White game set for April 12. In last year's Orange-White exhibition, Woods had 111 receiving yards and scored twice.
"No question, (Woods) is far beyond where we expected him to be at this point," Hunt said. "He wants to be involved fully in spring ball, but he won't get the full meal. He'll get a snack. He'll get a taste. He'll have zero contact in the spring. No one will touch him, but he'll be active with his receiver group and in fundamental drills.
"The amount of running he does will increase between now and March, but he's not going to be on the same schedule of running that everybody else is. Could he open it up and run like he could six months ago? Probably. His bone has healed enough that he can begin this process, but you don't want to risk causing damage."
By the start of preseason practice in August, Hunt said, Woods should be ready for full-blown football.
"The next big concern is when he has his back to a defender, and someone tees off on him," Hunt said. "Not that it would damage the repair, but it's something he'll have to experience again."
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
1/18/2008
Last Modified: 1/18/2008 3:44 AM
Receiver with vertebra injury expected to be ready for 2008 opener.
STILLWATER -- Within days of the accident that resulted in his spinal injury and temporary right-leg paralysis, wide receiver Artrell Woods predicted that he would play football again.
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy also predicted that Woods would return to the field.
Cowboy head trainer Rob Hunt was more cautious, stressing the severity of the injury -- a dislocated vertebra in the lower back -- and expressing the most basic hope that Woods would regain the ability to walk without assistance and have a normal lifestyle.
Thursday was a milestone not only in Woods' recovery, but in Hunt's prognosis.
On Thursday morning, Woods was in Oklahoma City to be examined by one of his surgeons, Dr. Brock Schnebel (the University of Oklahoma's team physician). Woods was cleared to do some light running for the first time since the July 13 accident, which occurred during a routine weight-lifting session.
As Woods jogged about 250 yards on Thursday afternoon, Hunt said, "I think there's a high percentage that he will play football this year. I'm finished with being guarded.
"If he continues to follow the (rehabilitation) guidelines, I think he will participate against Washington State (in the Aug. 30 season opener at Seattle). And I think he will participate at a high level. I think he'll go into preseason camp and compete for a position. I don't see why he won't progress back to a high-level football player."
The 6-foot-1 Woods had an extremely impressive 2007 spring-practice period and would have been a sophomore starter. On July 13, while having an 185-pound bar on his shoulders, Woods lost his balance and fell, with his tailbone bearing most of the impact. There was a violent compression of his spine, a damaged vertebra and a same-day surgery in Oklahoma City.
Woods weighed about 200 pounds before the accident. He dropped to 175 while wearing a full-torso plastic brace for nearly four months, but now carries 193 pounds. He now is able to leg-press 365 pounds. Following his Thursday workout, the Bryan, Texas, native described his run as having been "a small stride, basically. No problems. No pain. Smooth. I haven't really felt any pain in a long time. Just a little soreness now and then."
Ten days after the accident, Woods took his first steps. Hunt still has the video stored on his cell phone.
"Artrell told me that he will never complain about running and lifting weights again," Hunt said. "He said his teammates have no idea how lucky they are, to be able to run. With his maturity, he will provide a different perspective for a lot of our players."
The Cowboys open this year's spring-practice period on March 3, with the Orange-White game set for April 12. In last year's Orange-White exhibition, Woods had 111 receiving yards and scored twice.
"No question, (Woods) is far beyond where we expected him to be at this point," Hunt said. "He wants to be involved fully in spring ball, but he won't get the full meal. He'll get a snack. He'll get a taste. He'll have zero contact in the spring. No one will touch him, but he'll be active with his receiver group and in fundamental drills.
"The amount of running he does will increase between now and March, but he's not going to be on the same schedule of running that everybody else is. Could he open it up and run like he could six months ago? Probably. His bone has healed enough that he can begin this process, but you don't want to risk causing damage."
By the start of preseason practice in August, Hunt said, Woods should be ready for full-blown football.
"The next big concern is when he has his back to a defender, and someone tees off on him," Hunt said. "Not that it would damage the repair, but it's something he'll have to experience again."