An ankle sprain hit Big Ben Roethlisberger playing against Cleveland. Ben did what Ben does best… he ignored the pain, played on and won the game for the Steelers. But now, a week later, he is paying the price. The ankle cannot be played on after 1 full week of pro rehab.
The bruising is better, but playing in the NFL requires a lot of ankle mobility and strength. And a weak ankle will not get it done. Of course, you can tape it up and I am pretty sure that is what Ben will do. Actually, it appears he had a custom brace made, which will also restrict natural and healthy movement of the ankle. But, I caution Big Ben to wait, because taping that ankle may lead to a serious knee injury, God forbid an ACL tear.
And taping the ankle will make Ben much slower than if he allowed the ankle to heal to the point that he can move correctly and safely on it. Well, this is the third practice he has sat out, but we will see if he plays on Monday night. I suspect he will try and play.
And this is the big problem with pro athletes. They do not let their injuries fully heal and they get back out there and over time, they get worse. Eventually, they can lead to more serious injuries or become so impaired that the athlete cannot perform anywhere near their best. And ignoring the pain will only take you so far.
I always advise athletes to ignore the pressure and take care of their bodies. You have to heal yourself if you want to be in it for the long haul. I believe Ben is getting top of the line rehab treatment, but sometimes, you just have to be patient and let the ligaments heal. It pays huge dividends in the long run.
For all you fans out there and athletes, remember to let your injuries fully heal or they WILL come back to haunt you.
