Nadal's long-term health again center of debate

USA Today—August 16, 2012   

Rafael Nadal's U.S. Open withdrawal Wednesday widened the door for a trio of heavy favorites but also sparked new worries about his long-term health.

While most players around the grounds at the Western & Southern Open expressed concern for his well being and expect him to be back at full force, others felt his prospects of catching Roger Federer's record 17 majors (and counting) had dimmed because of what appears to be chronic tendinitis in his knees.

Joshua Dines, a member of the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and a team doctor for the U.S. Davis Cup tennis team, says patellar tendinitis gets better 90% of the time with rest and treatment.

"The problem is that this has been ongoing," said Dines, who has not treated Nadal but often deals with tennis injuries. "The conservative approach, which they have been taking, doesn't seem to be working."

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