Extreme Athlete Rehab

There are a fair number of people out there who believe that athletes are ridiculously overpaid for what they see as an “easy” job. Well, certain athletes may be overpaid, but there’s nothing easy about the jobs they do. 

Although the pay and perks that go along with being a professional athlete far exceed anything us normals will ever experience, they are under almost constant threat of serious injury. Some are just standard aches and pains, but others are far more serious. 

Injuries that athletes sustain on the job are, frankly, on another level than that sprained ankle you sustained last year stumbling down the stairs after a night of drinking. Because of that, sometimes they require pretty extreme rehab to recovery. 

And if there’s something graphic or otherwise unpleasant, you can count on plenty of athletes to share it on social media. Here’s some of the most extreme athlete rehab showcased on Instagram. 

LeBron James, Miami Heat

Instagram ID: kingjames

Caption: Training camp ain’t nothing nice! #MyFaceTellItAll #ThisTubColdAsYouKnowWhat #StriveForGreatness

Heat superstar LeBron James has been remarkably healthy throughout his career to date. Probably because he knows how to take care of his body—which includes regular dates with the cold tub.

Bruce Irvin, Seattle Seahawks

Instagram ID: bruceirvin51

Caption: Day 1 of rehab! Let’s get it! Watch me work! #comebackkidd 

Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin had a Super Bowl championship to lift his spirits during his offseason rehab. 

Darnell Dockett, Arizona Cardinals

Instagram ID: dockett90

Caption: There is a price to for everything! Some people will never understand!

Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett must have been at least a little nervous with so many needles being so close to his…bathing suit area. 

Jose Reyes, Toronto Blue Jays

Instagram ID: lamelaza_7

Caption: Good morning my beautiful ppl. Woke up in a great mood and very energized feeling like the sun is shining brighter than ever today... On that note therapy session ankle is getting strong and healthy I must thank god for this one I know he's rubbing his healing hands I can feel it!!! Remember he who loses money loses much, he who loses a friend loses more but he who loses faith loses it all!!! Never stop believing in god and yourself for you 2 guys are the perfect team #blessings#bendiciones

This friendly foot massage is by far the most enjoyable part of Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes’ rehab after suffering a broken ankle. Eventually he got the cast off, but trainers kept him pretty busy throughout his recovery. 

DeMarcus Ware, Denver Broncos

Instagram ID: demarcusware

Caption: #ColdTub #Brrrr

Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware is another athlete who routinely braves the frigid waters of a metal tub filled with ice. Eventually he did crawl into that nightmare. 

Connor Barwin, Philadelphia Eagles

Instagram ID: connorbarwin98

Caption: Thanks for cutting my pants off so I could shower @pattymcgroin #TBT

Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin had some serious rehab to do after sustaining a gruesome ankle injury. Check out other portions of his injury and rehab here, here, here and here (NSFW). 

Joe Crawford, Former NBA Player

Instagram ID: faygo_joe

Caption: Journey back #rehab #regulars***

Former NBA player Joe Crawford suffered a knee injury last year and these puffy pants (which look like they may promote circulation, but I have no idea) was just a part of his rehab plan. Probably the easiest part. 

James Harrison, NFL Free Agent

Instagram ID: jharrison9292

Caption: Dry needling time…. 4 and 6 inch needles in the glutes, hamstrings and quads!

Free-agent linebacker James Harrison’s Instagram page is, more or less, a chronicle of all the needles that are jammed in his body on a regular basis. Spoiler alert: There’s a lot, and apparently 4-6 inches. 

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

Instagram ID: dwyanewade

Caption: Coming off of knee surgery you have to work harder just to get back to where you were b4. If you wanna be better you take #NoDaysoff

Heat superstar Dwyane Wade’s chronically enfeebled knees require almost constant rehab throughout the season, and likely the offseason. In addition to specialized workouts, he hits up the cold tub regularly and gets acupuncture. 

Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians

Instagram ID: jasonkipnis22

Caption: #Rehab #pooltherapy #comingbackstronger #stillmakingthatASG

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis rehabs in the pool, which is the ultimate low impact workout. Too bad there’s no magical rehab for nasty stuff like this. Ouch. 

JaVale McGee, Denver Nuggets

Instagram ID: javalemcgee_34

Caption: #ROADTORECOVERY #BIONICMAN #WITHMYACE#ALLSTAR2015 #UPWALKINGALREADY #JUGLIFE#SHEFEDMEICECHIPSTHO#36INCHVERTICALTO35INCHES #BIGPAMHERE#THEGRINDISREAL #NODISTRACTIONS #FOCUSED#DEDICATED #LOYAL #DENVER

Nuggets center JaVale McGee had some work to do in the rehab department after a knee injury earlier this year. 

Kameron Chancellor, Seattle Seahawks

Instagram ID: bambamkam

Caption: It’s all about recovery… #trainingcamp

Seahawks strong safety Kameron Chancellor was taking care of a leg injury during the 2013 training camp. Why his legs had to be straight up in the air is anybody’s guess. 

Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

Instagram ID: kevinlove

Caption: Broke my hand but can’t break my heart. What’s your excuse?

Wow. Timberwolves forward Kevin Love’s dedication to his rehab is impressive, but why’s he gotta call all of us out?! That’s just not nice.

Nazr Mohammed, Chicago Bulls

Instagram ID: nazrmohammed

Caption: Damn!!!! The secrets out lol #HowIStaySoYouthful#16yrsInTheNBAGoingOn20 lol #BeamMeUpScotty#ButDontForgetMyHeadThisTime lol#GettingMyTanOnForTheSummer#TryToAchieveTheUltimateColorIfPurple lol#VitaminDTreatment #Recovery

Apparently tanning is part of the Bulls’ Nazr Mohammed’s rest and recovery program. As far as tanning booths go, that is definitely the most extreme one we’ve ever seen. 

Von Miller, Denver Broncos

Instagram ID: millerlite40

Caption: They said I can play this weekend .. I'm only interested with the impossible..

That is quite a scene. Quite a scene, indeed. Broncos linebacker Von Miller must have been high on painkillers when he wrote that caption. 

Jay Barnes, CFL

Instagram ID: jaybarnes81

Caption: Neurotopia Training. Google it. NZT w/o the pill

CFL football player Jay Barnes’ demonstrating the most extreme athlete rehab we’ve seen yet. I Googled it like he suggested, but it wasn’t all that much help. 

Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays

Instagram ID: joeybats19

Caption: How bad do you want it? #NoExcuses 

Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista must want it pretty bad to sit in 50 degree water. Yikes. 

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Instagram ID: kobebryant

Caption: Walking in my “medical mamba” shoes made by Nike in 2 weeks with extra support for the Achilles #alterG #bootoff!

Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has been rehabbing his torn Achilles and another injury he suffered two games into his comeback for a full calendar year at this point. Long enough that he’s got his own signature rehab contraptions courtesy of Nike.

Lindsey Vonn, Olympic Skier

Instagram ID: lindseyvonn

Caption: You can always become better. #inspired #sochiolympics2014 #hardworkpaysoff

American alpine skier Lindsey Vonn worked like crazy to rehab this gruesome knee injury in time for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Unfortunately she suffered an additional injury and was unable to compete. 

Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets

Instagram ID: dwighthoward

Caption: Gettem

Rockets big man Dwight Howard is just one of countless athletes who regularly receive acupuncture to rehab and treat various ailments. The photos are jarring, but the actual video is a lot more extreme. 

Adrian Clayborn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Instagram ID: ajaclay94

Caption: #Hyperbaric chamber selfie lol #idontlikethis #imnervousass***

Buccaneers defensive end Adrian Clayborn didn’t respond particularly well to the hyperbaric chamber at first, but obviously he wasn’t too panicked about the whole thing. 

P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens

Instagram ID: subbanator

Caption: Last treatment with @DrMikePrebeg of the summer! What would I do without you?! #magicmike #nopainnogain

Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban doesn’t say why, exactly, his body is covered in what looks like needles hooked up to electrical wires, but it’s not like a reason would make it any less jarring. 

Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks

Instagram ID: carmeloanthony

Caption: With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. ThisisMelo

I have no idea what soon-to-be free agent Carmelo Anthony is sitting in right there. It can’t be a standard cold tub—unless it’s filled with with liquid nitrogen. Then again, there are chemical tanks of some sort sitting next to that thing.