By Erin K. Blakeley, Shoulder1 Staff
For the first time in three weeks, Derek Anderson will put on his uniform and return to action. The second-leading scorer for the San Antonio Spurs has been on the bench since his May 5th collision with Dallas’ Juwon Howard. The collision, which resulted in a flagrant foul call, left Anderson with a separated shoulder.
Anderson returned to practice yesterday and reported no pain or swelling after practicing with the team. “I feel great, I feel 100 percent right now,” Anderson reported to the Associated Press. “I would like to continue where I left off.”
Three bones intersect to comprise the shoulder joint: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the the scapula humerus (upper arm bone). A separated shoulder occurs when the ligaments that hold the scapula and the clavicle in place weaken, stretch, or tear. As a result, the joint loses stability.
A separation occurs in degrees of severity, depending upon the damage to the ligaments. Usually, the treatment requires immobilization of the arm in a sling and anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the swelling. In extreme cases, a surgeon may operate to properly realign the clavicle and scapula. In Anderson’s case, surgery was not necessary.
The twenty-six year old averages 15.5 points per game, and 3.7 assists per game for San Antonio. He has also had 120 steals for the year, making him a formidable defensive threat. His loss has had a substantial impact on the team. Anderson hopes to give the Spurs the lift they need for the remainder of the Western Conference Finals. They trail the Los Angeles Lakers two games to zero in the series.
References:
Yahoo News
