A physiotherapist’s specialist assessment of Jota’s recovery should probably reset expectations among the Celtic support because the biggest danger may come after the physical healing is complete.
Sports therapy lecturer and Kelty Hearts physiotherapist Daniel Biggs offered an insight into the rehabilitation process surrounding Jota’s injury.
And some of his comments were particularly revealing. The use of PRP treatment (Platelet-Rich Plasma) alone suggests this is not a straightforward recovery process.
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Jota’s Celtic battle could become psychological as much as physical
PRP treatment is a medical procedure commonly used in professional sport to try to speed up healing in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue injuries.
Here is how it works:
- A sample of the player’s blood is taken.
- The blood is placed in a centrifuge, which spins it at high speed.
- This separates the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood.
- The concentrated platelets are then injected directly into the injured area.
Platelets contain growth factors that help tissue repair and healing. The idea behind PRP is that increasing the concentration of those healing components around the injury can help recovery happen more effectively.
Biggs explained why PRP treatment is used in football rehabilitation.
“It’s widely used, and it’s a good treatment,” Biggs told The Celtic Way. “What happens is the platelets [tiny cell fragments in your blood that prevent bleeding] are collected as part of the blood and then separated out and then injected back into the injured area.
“It assists with healing at a better rate than not having it. It’s a clever treatment, particularly if Jota is out for longer than what we initially thought.
“There must be a lot of frustration on Jota’s part, I can imagine,” Biggs adds. “The loss of confidence, and you know what, I think there will be some doubt in there as well. Particularly if there are setbacks within the rehab, then there might be doubt coming through.
“Doubt develops, and not just when a return will happen, but whether the player will ever get back to the previous level.”
That final point is probably the most important part of the discussion. Elite footballers are used to trusting their bodies completely. Long-term injuries can damage that trust very quickly.
Celtic supporters may need patience with Jota
There is obvious excitement around Jota being back at Celtic, which naturally creates pressure around his recovery and eventual return. Supporters will want to see him back influencing games as quickly as possible.
But Biggs’ comments are a reminder that rehabilitation is rarely straightforward. Physical recovery is only one part of the process, especially after lengthy absences and setbacks.
Celtic will understandably want to protect Jota from rushing back too early. Returning to full confidence can sometimes take longer than returning to fitness.
That is why patience may become the most important part of Jota’s recovery story over the months ahead.
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