Memphis' injury at Corinthians: what it is and likely recovery time | OneFootball

Corinthians confirmed last Monday that forward Memphis Depay suffered an injury in the 1-1 draw against Flamengo at Neo Química Arena, in the eighth round of the Brazilian Championship. With the club’s approval, the No. 10 traveled to the Netherlands to begin his recovery and posted photos of the treatment this Wednesday.

The Dutchman was diagnosed with a strain in the front muscle of his right thigh. He got injured shortly after Timão’s equalizer, around the 18th minute of the first half. The forward was involved in the play by switching the ball to Matheus Bidu and, right afterward, grabbed his right leg. Before Flamengo restarted play, he signaled to be substituted.

(Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians)

The No. 10 went straight down to the locker room and returned to the bench in the second half. Given the situation, Gazeta Esportiva spoke with Fábio Feitosa, a physiotherapist and specialist certified by the National Society of Sports and Physical Activity Physiotherapy (Sonafe Brasil), to better understand Memphis’ injury and the player’s possible recovery timeline.

“According to the injury mechanism (kicking), the structures possibly affected are the muscle belly of the rectus femoris, the myotendinous junction and, in some cases, the central tendon of the rectus femoris itself. The location of the injury (distal, middle or proximal) will show similar symptoms: intense pain on palpation, pain when stretching, and pain when moving against resistance, a stabbing or tearing sensation, difficulty walking, kicking, or running. There may be reduced strength for knee extension, reduced range of motion, swelling or hematoma, functional deficit, and a muscle gap (depending on the severity of the injury),” he explained.

What about recovery?

Memphis suffered a grade 2 injury in his right thigh. According to Fábio Feitosa, the Dutchman’s recovery could last from three to six weeks, since this is considered the “intermediate level” of a muscle injury.

“The time will vary according to the severity of the injury and the percentage of fibers torn, which is assessed through additional imaging tests (MRI). The mildest grade can last up to two weeks, intermediate grades range from three to six weeks, while more serious and severe grades last from six to 12 weeks,” the physiotherapist said.

The FIFA international break will therefore be essential for Memphis’ recovery, as he has begun treatment with the medical staff of the Dutch national team. Even so, the tendency is for the Dutchman to miss Corinthians’ Copa Libertadores opener, as well as the derby against Palmeiras in the Brazilian Championship.

“The stages go through an initial phase aimed at stimulating tissue regeneration and controlling pain, swelling, and inflammation. In the intermediate phase, the focus is on muscle activation, mobility recovery, and progressing to strength and functional training. In the reconditioning phase, there is a need to increase muscle strength, perform more complex exercises, introduce sensorimotor training, and gradually return to sport-specific work on the field,” the specialist detailed.

“In the sport-specific phase, the focus is on increasing load and intensity (high-speed running, sprints, changes of direction, acceleration and deceleration, kicking, movements with the ball, introduction to chaos). In the transition and return-to-sport phase (Return to play – RTP), more specific and intense training is needed to improve the capacity of the injured tissue as well as the athlete as a whole through physical reconditioning. For all of this, there is a checklist to be completed in an attempt to minimize the risk of new injuries and ensure a safer return to competitive sport,” he added.

Is there a risk of missing the World Cup?

Finally, Fábio Feitosa commented on whether there is any risk of Memphis missing the World Cup. The Dutchman had in fact been called up by the Netherlands for the March friendlies, but was ultimately withdrawn by coach Ronald Koeman after the injury diagnosis.

In the physiotherapist’s view, Memphis should not miss the World Cup, but Corinthians and the Netherlands must reach a consensus and proceed cautiously in the player’s return to the pitch so that the Dutchman does not suffer a recurrence.

“We have approximately 10 weeks until the World Cup. For this athlete to be able to play at his best level, strategies must be considered for a progressive and controlled return with that tournament in mind. To achieve this, communication between the coaching staffs and health departments of the national team and the club is essential so that the athlete can safely resume his activities,” the physiotherapist concluded.

Corinthians’ upcoming matches

Fluminense x Corinthians (ninth round of the Brazilian Championship) Date and time: 04/01 (Wednesday), at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) Venue: Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

Corinthians x Internacional (tenth round of the Brazilian Championship) Date and time: 04/05 (Sunday), at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time) Venue: Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo (SP)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.