[pct-l] hiking and ACL

[Jeffrey Olson]

A little off topic. 

A friend of mine has been a nationally ranked volleyball player in his 
age group starting in his 20s.  About five years ago he found he had to 
do too much Vitamin I or stronger drugs to play.  He still got up for 
tournaments.  Both ankles had been sprained too many times, and one was 
just worn out.  

The last time I visited him he was barely able to walk - 100 yards, let 
alone play volleyball.  He'd been talking to an orthopedist down at 
STanford who said that he could have his foot and ankle amputated and 
have a prosthetic device put in place that would allow him to walk and 
perhaps even play volleyball and tennis. 

My friend is still limping, but the attractiveness of this option is 
growing.  He's had numerous surgeries and now apparently there is little 
that can be done to reconstruct.

A grim reminder that an active lifestyle can prematurely wear out body 
parts...

Jeff Olson
martin, SD