Sports Rehabilitation in 2050 - A Story

Low fog rolled into the floodlit grounds on a cold winters evening at the rugby club. Droplets of moisture collected on the turf as I shifted my feet around the park. The scream of the whistle broke my daze, sending my attention to the ball. Caught in the sense of nothingness, I plucked the ball from the air, charging towards the burley opposition players. As my left foot contacted the ground, agonising pain shot through my leg. Dazed, I tumbled into the moisture-laden turf, crying out in agony. Pain pumped through my nerves just as thoughts of an injury, sending my brain into an overdrive of emotions. I laid there helplessly, watching the smooth fog roll overhead.

My pupils were met with blinding lights. Unable to feel the lower half of my body, I tried to get up, forgetting the trauma of last night. The surgeon informed me that I had sustained a severe knee injury. Thoughts of last night once again pulsated through my brain. As I was wheeled into the theatre for surgery, angst hung over me, just as rainclouds do before a storm.

Agony on that foggy winter’s night had faded to a distant memory. Rehabilitation was a full-time job, giving my body the best chance to heal itself. A bionic, personalised brace acted as the driving force of my recovery, nurturing my dormant muscles and protecting the delicate tendons inside my knee. The physio mentioned I wouldn’t have been so lucky 30 years ago, declaring it would be a 12-month recovery from a traumatic injury such as mine. “Your damn lucky mate, I’ve seen hundreds of knee injuries in my time, and you just happen to have access to the very best rehabilitation system”.

Without a bionic brace monitoring and controlling my movements, life would have been put on pause. These technologies have maintained thousands of other athletes throughout their careers, keeping them on the field for most of their lives. Despite a speed bump, the future looked bright, I could get back to training in a couple of weeks without worrying about my knee, enabling me to perform at my best.

Dread and angst ceased as I stepped onto the field once again. Blustery winds pushed across the field as rain started to fall on a grey winter’s night. Pins and needles tingled through my hands, frozen from the wind. This is why I play the game. I’m home.

Artefacts - Rehabilitation in 2050