Football professional Omar Al Somah completes rehabilitation in Munich

The reason for the operation was a partial rupture of the left ankle. The exact diagnosis was: tear of the anterior ligament of syndesmosis (AITFL) and tear of the anterior ankle ligament (LFTA). This required the important reconstruction with InternalBrace? from Arthrex – one of the leading companies in orthopaedic products – for syndesmosis and the anterior ankle ligament. Syndesmosis connects the fibula and the tibia. And exactly the syndesmosis of the upper ankle joint had been broken in Somah. As a result, the stability in the lower leg was no longer completely given and the upper ankle joint was without guidance. A not uncommon injury among footballers, but it is very painful and makes it impossible to play football. Marco Reus, who was unable to participate in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil because of this kind of injury, had to make this bitter experience.

Dominik Ramspott (ORS), Omar Al Somah, Dr. Kinast (OZA)

Operation succeeded – now it’s time to get down to business: Rehabilitation by ORS rehabilitation professionals

The operation was successfully completed by anchoring the damaged ankle ligaments. In order to be fully operational again as soon as possible, Somah went to Ortho Reha Sport (ORS) for rehabilitation and started with targeted training. The physiotherapist and managing director of ORS, Dominik Ramspott and his team were amazed at the progress made in the rehabilitation measures from the very beginning. “If Somah continues as before, he’ll be fitter after surgery and rehab than ever.” Ramspott said.

The therapy diary – the way to complete rehabilitation

Based on our experience and specific requirements, we have chosen the following rehab program that Somah has embarked on with unbelievable determination and perseverance.

Phase 1 – Wound healing in the first and second week after surgery:

Reduced load from 10 kg to 30 kg with Aircast Walker
Three training units per day on the ergometer
Core stabilization training and upper body exercises
Ongoing control of inflammation signs and removal of surgical stitches 14 days after surgery

Omar Al Somah, Dominik Ramspott (ORS)

Phase 2 – Coordination phase in the third and fourth week after the operation:

Stress build-up with an aircast walker up to full load at the end of the fourth week
Practicing passive mobility (flexion / extension 0°-0°-20°/30°)
Increase of exercises from phase 1

Rehab 4th week

Phase 3 – Set-up phase in the fifth and sixth week after surgery:

Full load with a bandage – walking without supports is already pain-dependent possible
Exercise freedom of movement in flexion and extension, no inversion / eversion
Activating the foot muscles
Further core and upper body training

Rehab 5. week

Rehab 6th week

Phase 4 – Sport phase in the seventh to tenth week after the operation:

Wearing a sports support
Stability training for the foot area
Jumps / change of direction / coordination training

Phase 5 – Agility phase in weeks eleven and twelve after surgery:

Training without team or opponent contact
Agility Training / Speed / Sprints

After successful completion of the individual phases, it is not only for Somah that a return to football is possible – this applies to every patient who takes rehabilitation seriously and for all sports.

Targeted training, fast recovery and the “inner pig dog”….

With the start of the rehab phase 2 Somah has gotten in the right way – 4 hours of training a day is not something that everyone can do immediately. And since not all exercises are painless, it is all the more astonishing that this top athlete has apparently never heard of the “inner pig dog” – because he overcomes it day after day. Clearly, at the beginning of the therapy only light stress was applied, since the wound was still fresh and the wound healing had not yet been completed to 100%. But with every day of training Somah was getting closer and closer to the full load. Four hours of targeted training for the rehabilitation area during the day is not feasible for the patient – and would not be effective. For this reason Somah has also carried out an enormous amount of general physical fitness exercises as part of his therapy.

On the home stretch – the last week of rehab

Now Somah has already completed five weeks of his rehab program – one is still ahead of him with us. The progress made so far has been impressive, but now it’s time to finish the restoration. Somah occasionally works with bandages up to full load, completes targeted training for mobility, improves his coordination and builds up stability in the previously injured area. The muscles adjacent to the affected area are also systematically rebuilt.

Dominik Ramspott (ORS), Omar Al Somah

We at ORS are confident that Somah will be fully resilient again after this week and will once again be one of the top performers in his team. For us, the rehabilitation of this great athlete was a special experience, which once again showed what people can achieve with their will power – and our support – in the shortest possible time. We wish him and his team all the best, good luck in the coming season and above all freedom from injury,”says Dominik Ramspott at the end of the therapy.

If you would like to see Omar Al Somah training at ORS, just click here and watch our videos on YouTube.

You can find out more about ORS and its services at https://www.ors-m.de/?lang=en

Do you have specific questions or would you like to receive non-binding advice on physiotherapy and rehabilitation? Gladly! Simply arrange a personal appointment on +49 89-999 0 978 – 31 or send an e-mail to ors-anmeldung@ors-m.de