Events Calendar
In This Section
10 runs barely enough in Tribe's win
Laffey looks strong; Contreras stronger
Sowers may be headed to the bullpen
Indians notebook: Minor setback means Triple-A for Carmona
Sowers may be headed to the bullpen
It's the same old story for Sowers and Tribe in loss
Most Read Stories
Akron police investigate teen mob attack on family
Woman, 75, charged with beating fawn to death
Akron woman found dead at Brimfield Township store
Man shot outside his Akron home during robbery attempt
Man shot in back near Akron park
Man admits repeatedly biting 2-year-old
Tragic day puts man on path to be Pinnacle owner
Blogs:
Pets:
Dogs' Bark: Not fair! Study shows pups get jealous
The Heldenfiles:
HTTP Error 403
Patrick McManamon:
More on Varejao
Akron Zips:
Opponent outlook: Kent State
Browns Bulletin:
Quick thought on Browns rookies
Tribe Matters:
Wedge challenges relievers
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Kent State Sports:
Men's Basketball Scheduling update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Andy’s Signed According to ESPN
All Da King's Men:
Does Medicare Have Lower Administrative Costs ?
Blog of Mass Destruction:
CIA Did Mislead Congress
Akron Law Café:
Breaking Story: CIA Lied to Congress about Secret Program
Varsity Letters:
East basketball update
See Jane Style:
Oh Baby!
Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Closings….Not the Good Kind!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Margy inquires-when is a Taste of Hudson?
Sound Check:
LeVert II live performance Saturday night — "Dedication" album due July 13,
HRLite House:
DDI One of Best Places to Work
Akron Gamer:
First 24 'Guitar Hero 5' songs announced
Westbrook becoming an expert in medicine
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Saturday, Sep 06, 2008
KANSAS CITY, MO.: Jake Westbrook might want to think about opening his own medical practice after this season.
He has suffered three injuries, two requiring surgery, including a hip-joint problem that was corrected by Dr. Thomas Byrd on Friday in Nashville, Tenn. Byrd performed an arthroscopy to clean out the hip joint and shave the top of the femur that fits into the joint.
Westbrook will walk with crutches for four weeks, then resume his physical therapy. He already was working out as part of his recovery from Tommy John surgery in June. His latest trip to the operating room should not delay or hinder his return to the Indians' rotation around midseason 2009.
What did Westbrook do to bring on the hip problem? Nothing. It's just the way his body is constructed.
''Over the course of his life, there has been bone growth on top of the femur to buffer some of the stress [from movement of the hip],'' head trainer Lonnie Soloff said. ''It's just his body type, how he is built.''
In other words, it might have happened to him even if he weren't a major-league pitcher.
The injury is not considered to be serious that is, the additional bone on the femur did not arise because Westbrook has arthritis in the area. He does not have bone rubbing on bone.
Nor will post-surgery healing prolong Westbrook's recovery from the elbow reconstruction operation. Because the recuperation period for Tommy John surgery is so long, it's unlikely the hip surgery will have any real impact on Westbrook's throwing program.
''I talked to Dr. Byrd,'' Soloff said. ''He usually allows that [throwing] after 21/2 to three months out. That would put it around Thanksgiving or a little after. So it might delay Jake's throwing program by a couple of weeks. It is not an issue.''
Westbrook is to return to Cleveland and continue his physical therapy program.
''In addition to finishing his rehabbing, he'll come to Cleveland for monthly rechecks in the winter,'' Soloff said. ''He also will report early to spring training.''
Even before his elbow began to ache, Westbrook had to deal with a strained oblique muscle early in the season.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
KANSAS CITY, MO.: Jake Westbrook might want to think about opening his own medical practice after this season.
Get the full article here.

