Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
At 6 ft., 235 pounds, Brett Armentrout was an imposing figure on the football field for the Radford Bobcats until a season-ending injury this past season that turned into a career-ending injury.
Just nine months ago, Brett Armentrout was putting on his pads and walking on the football field at Radford High School. His life has changed drastically.
What he thought was a slight hit from the side turned into a major injury that would bring his career on the gridiron to a screeching halt. He tried to play for at least two more games, but the injury started to slow him down and doctors told him the worse –he needed surgery for a torn hip labrum.
This also meant he could never play football again. Family and friends are proud of how Brett held his head high and tackled the matter just like he had tackled opponents for the past four years.
He said he was motivated from within.
“Just knowing that I’m going to have to live with this hip the rest of my life, so the fact that I didn’t want to be held back my whole life motivated me to work harder.”
Now, doctors have given him thumbs up after four months of rehab. He completed his final session earlier this week after four long months.
“The doctor said I’m good to go, but if the hip does bother me I should listen to it and stop what I’m doing for the time being,” he said.
There have been plenty of stretches, squats, lunges, stationary bike, and a lot of other isolated movement techniques he can’t even remember.
Brett Armentrout gives the thumbs up during his last rehab sessions with doctors and nurses.
For the most part, he is just glad to be able to walk again. But despite the successful surgery, he can never play football again. Something, he had to come to grip with. Doctors have told him that includes no contact sports of any type.
For the most part, he is just glad to be able to walk again. But despite the successful surgery, he can never play football again. Something, he had to come to grip with. Doctors have told him that includes no contact sports of any type.
“No contact sports, my left hip (the one that I did not have surgery on) is still impinged, giving it a high chance to tear my other labrum if I am involved in contact sports,” Armentrout said.
He continues to lift weights, something that has become second habit for the young man that set all kinds of weightlifting records at Radford High School. Armentrout has also made a choice for his future without football.
He has enrolled at Radford University and has received an academic scholarship because of his efforts off the field, and plans to major in business marketing.
“Business has always caught my attention because you get what you put in. So if I work hard enough I can accomplish what I want through business,” he said.
What advice does he have for others facing the similar injury on situation?
“Just to know that there are brighter days to come. The surgery is no fun, but just knowing there better days in the future really helped me get through those tough times. And the rehab is for you, it may feel like you’re just working out but it really helped me keep from going crazy from being stuck inside all day. So I recommend to just embrace the therapy,” he concluded.