Deepak Chona, MD. SMA

Data-driven injury and sports performance expert - NFL/NBA/MLB/fantasy football. Stanford, Harvard-trained sports surgeon. Featured on ESPN, NBC, The Athletic

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

Suspect De’Aaron Fox will be affected by this ankle injury even if he does return (hasn’t yet)

#Spurs

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

@kurt13warner Would consider red light/low level laser therapy - it’s non-invasive and has very promising published results.

Could also consider PRP injection depending on the nature of your pain.

Happy to talk more if it can be helpful

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

Anthony Edwards - Best case scenario

Avg 2-4 wks but he’ll likely try to accelerate that given playoffs

Would be surprising to see <2 wks, although Giannis had a similar injury in the 2021 playoffs and returned in 6 days

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

Just in: Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has sustained a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee and is expected to miss multiple weeks, sources tell ESPN. Results showed Edwards avoided any ligament damage, but he will now miss time.

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

Anthony Edwards injury - High concern for ACL/PCL tears

The knee severely hyperextends, and appears to buckle at an endpoint

Even in the best case scenario of a sprain/bone bruise, he’s still likely missing at least the rest of this series

Fingers crossed for good news, although the video doesn’t give major optimism

#NBA

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

@KTCL13 Possible but typically that snap means the tendon is ruptured

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

#Wolves Donte Divencenzo - unfortunately looks like Achilles tear

Can see the calf recoil

[SleeperHoops @Sleeper_Hoops]

DONTE DIVENCENZO OH NO 💔💔

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

@GangGreenNYK Sorry! Hate to see it

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

The data on Wemby coming back

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

#Spurs Victor Wembanyama - Data suggests return Game 4 = possible but Game 5-6 = more likely (6 = most). Avg = 7-9 days for NBA and NFL

Game 4 = 5 days
Game 5 = 7
Game 6 = 9

Doing cardio now means symptoms likely improving at near-optimal pace

1/5

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

Great feeling to be a fan on #NFLdraft day when your team’s GM is a stud

[Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter]

Houston always is looking to move around the draft, and more is expected: Since becoming the Texans GM prior to the 2021 NFL Draft, Nick Caserio has executed 25 draft trades the past five years, including seven last year.

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

PSA 4 Athletes

Please don't play through concussions

Letting the symptoms go away fully = key to minimizing long-term effects

Def recommend specialist evaluation for guidance. We can prob help find one in your area if you need help

5/5

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

#Spurs Victor Wembanyama - Data suggests return Game 4 = possible but Game 5-6 = more likely (6 = most). Avg = 7-9 days for NBA and NFL

Game 4 = 5 days
Game 5 = 7
Game 6 = 9

Doing cardio now means symptoms likely improving at near-optimal pace

1/5

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

Concussion recurrence risk is real in the early return

But NBA concussions = relatively uncommon

So RE-injury concern = relatively low.

Non-NBA data suggests overall injury rate in early return = may be as high as 2.5x baseline

4/5

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

Jermod McCoy - reports suggest issues healing from prior cartilage resurfacing surgery

Fixable problem with revision surgery but takes ~1 yr to return

Pre-NFL cartilage issues predict shorter career and lower production, so wouldn’t be surprised if stock drops

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

Playing the odds means we’re prob missing Jordyn Tyson due to injury history

(Def not the same as fading)

#nfldraft

[SNY @SNYtv]

.@SportMDAnalysis explains: How might Juan Soto's calf injury impact him upon his return, and what's the risk of reinjury? (via @DannyAbriano) https://t.co/AasoMGevjB

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

9) Summary:

Identity follows action. Don't "try" to be an elite performer.

Build systems that makes failure unlikely, if not impossible

Pick one protocol. Master it. Repeat

10/10

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

PSA 4 Athletes:

Becoming elite = part mechanics, part biology, part psychology

Most people train their bodies but ignore their operating systems.

If you want to perform at the highest level, you need to audit your mental and physiological frameworks. 🧵

1/10

[Deepak Chona, MD. SMA @SportMDAnalysis]

8) Process Addiction

Most people are addicted to outcomes they can't control (trophies, stats)

The Fix: Shift your addiction to the inputs (sleep, diet, reps)

When you master the inputs, the outcome becomes the byproduct

9/10