Prat Out of Brace, to Begin Physical Therapy
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Flavien Prat
When doctors asked injured jockey Flavien Prat how far he could bend over following the removal of his body brace Nov. 12, the 23-year-old rider had a surprise for them.
He bent all the way over and touched the ground.
The feat was more than impressive, because less than two months ago, Prat fractured four vertebrae in his back during a nasty spill at Los Alamitos Race Course. He was expected to require at least three months in the body brace after he was released from Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Sept. 23.
BALAN: Prat Remains Hospitalized With Back Injury
Prat's agent Derek Lawson reports that the French jockey will begin physical therapy Nov. 13 and could be back riding horses in January.
"I originally thought it would be around March, but he healed up so quickly," Lawson said. "He's so far ahead of schedule—it hasn't even been two months since the accident. These guys are in such good shape that when they get hurt, they heal so quickly.
"If everything continues in a forward manner, he might not be ready for opening day (at Santa Anita Park), but he could be back for the first week of January."