Will Surgery Salvage Yao Ming's Basketball Career?
In my book, Forever Free From Chronic Pain (Chapter 3), I discuss why I do not recommend reparative surgery on any of the joints (including the feet) if the underlying cause of the chronic pain is not known or is not addressed: "If surgery is done when the source of the pain is not known, you will undergo a highly invasive procedure that does not address the source of the problem. It will be painful, costly and potentially dangerous (Health World, 2008). After the surgery, the chronic pain usually returns or becomes worse."
The Houston Rockets are counting on an innovative and complicated surgical procedure to repair the hairline fracture in Yao Ming’s left foot. They hope it will create a base of support for his 7-foot, 6-inch frame that will withstand the unprecedented pounding Ming’s body takes every time he mounts the basketball court. However, privately the Houston officials have grave doubts that Ming will ever be sturdy enough again to play professional basketball.
This is truly a tragedy, for as the global games goes, Ming is basketball’s most important player since Michael Jordan. He is the reason that China has become enamored with the National Basketball Association. He is the reason why American players were treated like rock stars in the Beijing Olympics. He is regarded by many as the ‘Icon’ of professional basketball.
After watching a video and studying many photographs of Ming, I doubt he will ever recover from his reconstructive foot surgery unless they address the underlying cause that led to his debilitating foot injury, which I believe is: a Primus Metatarsus Supinatus (Rothbarts) Foot. Unfortunately, to date, the Houston Rocket's management maybe totally unaware of Ming’s embryological foot structure and the impact it has on his skeletal framework. And Ming is just another, of a long list of elite professional players, whose careers have been cut short or severely compromised by the apparent foot structures they were born with: Bill Walton, Micky Mantle and Tiger Woods just to name a few.
Let’s hope that Ming will prove to be the exception and that he will overcome the destructive forces generated from his feet. But the smart money is betting against this. And without addressing his apparent Rothbart’s Foot, one of the greatest players in NBA's history will abruptly and prematurely leave the sport in his prime. And what a needless shame that will be!
Reference
"Back Pain, The Dangers of Surgery: What Doctors Don't Tell You." Health World, Volume 4, Issue 8, 25 July 2008.
Professor/Dr. Brian A. Rothbart
Chronic Pain Elimination Specialist
Discovered the Rothbarts Foot and PreClinical Clubfoot Deformity
Developer of Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy
Designer of Rothbart Proprioceptive Insoles
Founder of International Academy of Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy
Author of Forever Free From Chronic Pain
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Posted by rothbart at 7/21/2009 9:48 AM 
Categories: Sports
Tags: Yao Ming NBA Foot Surgery Rothbarts Foot
Categories: Sports
Tags: Yao Ming NBA Foot Surgery Rothbarts Foot
Nice blog.From your blog,I know something others that I didn't know before. Thanks for your providing and sharing.
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I agree that you have to find the source of the pain, a surgery isn't a good solution at all. If you don't remove the reason, the pain will continue to disturb you.
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You are correct.
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I find myself coming to your blog more and more often to the point where my visits are almost daily now!
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Thank you for your comment.
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