PUEBLO, Colo. (June 18, 2010) - Robson Palermo remains confident he can contend for this year’s World Championship, despite tearing his left biceps last week at a Touring Pro event in Bastrop, Texas.
The Brazilian, who is currently ranked fifth in the world standings, covered his bull for 88 points before being stepped on after dismounting.
“I jumped off bad,” Palermo explained, “and the bull stepped on my biceps. … I’m lucky, [but] it looks really bad.”
According to Dr. Tandy Freeman, who exchanged text messages with www.pbr.com while traveling overseas, Palermo was injured just above the elbow where the muscle attaches to the tendon. Freeman, who examined Palermo earlier this week, said he tore “about 50 percent of the muscle thickness.”
While the tendon was not damaged, Freeman added that “muscle doesn’t sew very well.”
“Tendon avulsions can be fixed and heal with complete recovery,” said Freeman. “[The] downside is being out for six months. This injury is more like six weeks and not a really good surgical option. [Palermo] will likely have some residual weakness.”
Palermo, who has been working out with a personal trainer two to three times a week, said that he is traveling back to Brazil this weekend for a two-week visit with family and friends. He intends to continue working with another South American trainer while he’s away because he “doesn’t want to stop working out and wait for it to heal up.”
He said that in the past four weeks, he’s dropped more weight, increased his flexibility, and “feels stronger.”
Palermo acknowledged that he can ill-afford to miss any events, noting there are only 10 Built Ford Tough Series events remaining before the World Finals, and the Top 10 riders will receive a bonus bull at the final five events.
“I’m really trying to focus on the world title,” Palermo said. “I don’t want to give up now just because I got injured. I want to work, get back and try to win.”
It’s unlikely that he would be able to compete in Tulsa, Okla., in mid-July, though he is hopeful the injury will respond favorably to rehab in time for the late-July event in San Antonio. Freeman said that it’s likely Palermo will miss both events before returning in Nashville, Tenn.
“I’d like to come back early,” added Palermo, “but I don’t know.”
