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Anaheim Ducks: Physical Therapy Corner, Corey Perry

By Chris Bushell

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 14: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during the third period in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 14, 2018 in Anaheim, California. THe San Jose Sharks defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 14: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during the third period in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 14, 2018 in Anaheim, California. THe San Jose Sharks defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 1: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks skates against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on February 1, 2018, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 1: Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks skates against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on February 1, 2018, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /

One Season Away

As the holidays approach so does the season of winter. With it, we are one season away from seeing Corey Perry return to the ice. When the injury and subsequent surgery occurred at the end of September the Ducks stated Perry would miss 5 months. That places Perry back at the end of February to the beginning of March. So, for that to be a reality, what will Perry have to do?

Well, the first two months Perry was most likely using crutches and a knee brace, allowing only certain ranges of motion each progressing couple of weeks. He was working with physical therapists who were moving his knee for him, controlling the swelling and pain and achieving the desired range of motion.

Based on the timeline he has definitely passed this point. He should be out of the brace and off crutches. He should have achieved the ability to do light exercises on his own focusing on getting his knee to fully extend and strengthen the prime muscles of his legs; hip flexors, quads, glutes, hamstrings etc. There are weight precautions he was stuck with and only certain ranges he should be pushing his knee too.

Now, he is in the next phase of his rehab. Continuing to build back strength as well as introducing a cardio routine. He is an NHL player after all and if he wants to get back into game shape his endurance needs to be at the right level.

This is also the phase where balance training becomes key. Balance exercises can also incorporate strengthing and endurance wrapping all three into one. Believe it or not, this is the most important phase. You can always add weight, you can always make him run longer and faster, you can always challenge his balance with different surfaces.

If he can’t do the small things here he can’t build off it. Perry is in the most important phase from now until the New Year. Then he can start getting back to his lifting as he would before the start of the season and most importantly get back on the ice.

All the strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance needs to be focused on the core muscles, hip flexors, quads, glutes, hamstrings, abductors, and adductors. I have no doubt the Ducks physical therapy staff is working round the clock to achieve that.

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