Ryan_howard_left_ankleThe only picture that we could find of Ryan Howard in an air cast (Dorney Park, Aug. 9)…

Ryan Howard has the never-ending sprained ankle.  The Big Piece told Todd Zolecki that is ankle is still only around 90-95% healed (quick, someone give him whatever they gave Michael Vick last week or DeSean Jackson at halftime).

"I still get a little bit of stiffness every once in a while," Howard said. "I'll take it now and see what happens in Spring Training. I'll just continue to look after it and take care of it. Those kinds of things linger, like the Cranberries."

But Howard stressed he is not concerned about the ankle heading into the 2011 season.

"It feels good," he said. "It's a lot better than it was. I got a lot of work done to it. I got a lot of the swelling out. Like I said, every once in a while, I get a little bit of stiffness or soreness, but I've been working out, and so far, so good."

 

Boomstix- yep, that's a Cranberries reference, folks.

Although Piece is not concerned about it (and both Amaro and Manuel have said it was worse than Howard initially let on), we're almost six months out from the initial sprain. According to American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the healing process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.  They also say that anything lasting longer than four to six weeks could be considered a "chronic ankle sprain."

Big word, big word… coming back from injury too quickly to play sports:

Possible complications of ankle sprains and treatment include abnormal proprioception. There may be imbalance and muscle weakness that causes a re-injury. If this happens over and over again, a chronic situation may persist with instability, a sense of the ankle giving way (gross laxity) and chronic pain. This can also happen if you return to work, sports or other activities without letting the ankle heal and become rehabilitated.

Or ride Steel Force.  I kid, I kid.

Do you have to let it linger, Do you have to, do you have to, Do you have to let it linger?