Thanks to our YaoMania! correspondent Raymond in China, we now have translations of articles describing more of Yao’s recovery. Thanks Raymond!

Translation of Sohu article from April 21st:

It has been almost a week since Yao Ming‘s surgery. How is he doing? How is his wound? With these questions in mind, Sohu Sports interviewed Erik Zhang Mingji, leader of Team Yao.

According to Zhang Mingji, Yao Ming is doing great in his recovery. There is a little pain on the part (the left foot) that had gone under the knife, and he is also in a good mood. The stitches on his injured foot would be removed probably tomorrow.

Zhang also suggested that there will be 3 stages for Yao’s recovery plan. For Stage 1, Yao Ming will just need complete rest. For Stage 2, he will receive some physical therapy to speed up the circulation. Then for Stage 3, it will be strength and conditioning exercises to return to competitive shape and form. Currently, the plan is that Stage 3 will be conducted in China.

Zhang also mentioned Team Yao will send a request to the China Basketball Association to hire an experienced orthopedist to communicate with Yao Ming’s doctor in Houston to speed up his recovery. Also, Team Yao had tentatively decided that Yao Ming will return to China by mid-June, and had chosen the National Training Bureau (in Beijing) to be the venue where he will reside during his recuperation.

Yao Ming can now walk with crutches. Because it’s inconvenient for him to walk, and because he can’t take a long-haul flight, Team Yao politely declined a White House invitation for Yao Ming to attend the presidential banquet to welcome President Hu Jintao.

There had been previous reports that the Houston Rockets had turned down the CBA’s request to send doctors over to USA to inspect Yao Ming’s injury, and that the Rockets intended to stall his return (to China). When asked about this by the Sohu reporter, Zhang Mingji said those reports were totally mock-up nonsense. He said the doctor responsible for Yao Ming’s surgery called him up immediately after the surgery to update him regarding Yao Ming’s recuperation. This doctor earnestly told him that the Rockets will try to heal Yao Ming in the shortest time possible. He could not gurantee or predict the exact timing for Yao Ming’s recovery, but said they will try their best. Team Yao had also contacted the management of the Houston Rockets, who made it clear they would not intervene in Yao Ming’s return to China.

Also it was the reporter’s understanding that according to Hu Jiashi, Deputy Director of Chinese Basketball Management Centre, the CBA had never asked to send over doctors to the USA for Yao Ming’s surgery. And right after Yao Ming’s surgery, the CBA had also communicated with Team Yao numerous times, reiterating that they will not force Yao Ming into any games or tournaments. They also wanted to relay through Team Yao to Yao Ming the message that they hope he will not feel any pressure during his recuperation, and that he will only return to the court when he is 100% recovered. In short, the CBA will observe and respect scientific rules and principles, and will not issue any so-called “Return Timetable” to Yao Ming.

Team Yao also relayed Yao Ming’s appreciation to the Chinese Basketball Management Centre for the care and concern they showed before and after his surgery, and he also wants to express his thankfulness for all the good wishes from all his fans.

Translation of Tom.com article from April 22nd:

In the blink of an eye, a week has passed since Yao Ming had the surgery on his left foot. Because the surgery adopted some of the world’s most advanced technology, and was coupled with some auxiliary Chinese medical treatment in the past 5 days at his home, Yao Ming is recovering fast on his wound. The 4 stitches on his left foot were removed yesterday.

Erik Zhang Mingji, leader of Team Yao, during an interview with the reporters yesterday, said: “It was due to proper treatment, and the optimism of Yao Ming right after the surgery that his recovery has surpassed our expectations. Even though the parts that were operated on are still swollen, they are expected, and it is within our expectation that the swelling should vanish in a few days time.” To speed up the recovery, Yao Ming now frequently has massaged the swollen parts, and the doctor in charge also comes to his home on a daily basis for physical therapy using ice packs to treat his sore foot.

Erik Zhang Mingji also indicated that Stage 2 of Yao Ming’s recuperation will start soon now that his stitches have been removed. In a few days time, Yao Ming will start to recieve more comprehensive physical therapy to speed up the circulation, relax the muscles, and expedite blood circulation on his left foot. Erik Zhang Mingji also happily reported that Yao Ming could now walk with the help of a pair of tailor-made crutches.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 23rd, 2006 at 7:19 pm and is filed under Rockets' off-season. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.