Coming back from an injury can be challenge, even for the professional athlete. Goddard High School’s Koby Burdett suffered an injury during a summer baseball game that would put him on an eventual course to surgery.
“In the summer of 2018 I was playing in a tournament in Kansas City. I had just hit a single and as I took my lead from first base, the pitcher decided to pick of. The throw went over the first baseman’s head and rolled down towards the right field fence. As I was advancing to second base, my coach started waving me towards third. The throw from the outfield was bang-bang at third base. To try and avoid the tag, I hooked the bag with my left arm on the right side of the base, as the ball was coming to the left side of the bag. I felt immediate pain throughout my shoulder. I stayed in the game for another two innings before my coach subbed for me. I sat out almost two weeks after that first incident. That slide was the first of many subluxations and dislocations,” said Burdett.
In 2019, another dislocation would sideline Burdett, but this time he would need more than just time to recover. “After a trip to the hospital this last summer because of a bad dislocation I went out to Advanced Orthopedics Associates in Wichita. Dr. Brennan Lucas determined I was going to need surgery on my labrum,” said Burdett. “I had surgery on July 7th of 2019 and I was cleared by October 21st. I attribute a lot of my recovery to APT. Every therapist at APT had my best interest in mind. They helped me through the process of getting range of motion back and strengthening my shoulder after surgery. All of my therapists held me accountable and made me look forward to every appointment.”
It was an injury that could have potentially put him out for sveral month’s, but with the help of Advanced PT, Burdett found his way back to the field sooner than later. “I am cleared to return to baseball activities. I am still working up to full speed on weights and lifting but that will come back with time. I will be playing Spring 2020 at GHS,” said Burdett.
This season Burdett and his teammates are expecting big things to happen on the field. “The boys that have been here since the beginning have one last shot to make it happen, so anyone who thinks we aren’t 100% committed to winning and playing at Eck Stadium in May is silly. We have a new head coach, Jim Foltz, that we couldn’t be more excited about. Foltz led GHS to a state title in 2004, and we’d love to add a 2020 state championship to his resume,” said Burdett.
