Dr. Sharif Tabbah wasn’t surprised by the news.
This past week, the Patriots signed Stefon Diggs to a 3-year, $69 million contract. The co-founder and lead physical therapist at Alkeme Sports RX, Tabbah has been working with the Pro Bowl receiver since he underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL. He knew once the Patriots examined Diggs’ knee, they’d like what they saw.
Over the last five months, surrounded by other NFL stars, Diggs has been working hard to get his body back to where it was pre-injury. When he visited with the Patriots two weeks ago, the team took him to dinner to get to know the four-time Pro Bowler, but the real test came the next day – a physical to see what state his knee was in.
The Patriots felt so good about the receiver’s health that a multi-year contract, with $26 million guaranteed, soon followed.
For Tabbah, good news was expected.
“Honestly, I’ve done this for 14 years. I’ve never seen someone look as good as he does this early. I mean, it’s insane,” Tabbah said. “I gotta stop telling him that, so he doesn’t get too excited. But he’s been doing great. It’s been a lot of fun to work with him.”
Tabbah’s been working with professional athletes for more than a decade. Still, watching Diggs put in work, and seeing how fast his body has adapted post-surgery has been eye-opening.
Between three and five days a week, the receiver has been on a mission. Working alongside CeeDee Lamb, Rashee Rice, Jerry Jeudy, Kenny Pickett, and Geno Smith, Diggs has pushed himself and stood out among his peers.
Diggs told his physical therapist things were getting close with the Patriots, so when the deal was finalized last Tuesday, he wasn’t shocked. The surprise came when the 31-year-old walked through the doors the next morning at the Davie, Fla., location.
“I’m like, ‘Oh, I thought you’d be in New England today?” Tabbah said. “He’s like, ‘Nah, I’ll go up there at some point but let’s keep working.‘”
Diggs PT
Stefon Diggs has been rehabbing his knee with Dr. Sharif Tabbah at Alkeme Sports RX in Davie, Fla.Courtesy of Sharif Tabbah
Stefon Diggs’ road to recovery
Diggs relationship with Tabbah began while preparing for the 2015 NFL Draft. Around six years ago, the pair reconnected while the receiver filmed a commercial.
After that, the two lost touch – or so Tabbah thought.
Last year, Diggs suffered a torn ACL in his right knee on Oct. 27. At the time, he was seventh in the NFL in receptions. After his surgery, he reached out to Tabbah about his recovery and physical therapy.
“He was just like, ‘I always had you in mind. I’ve been watching everything you’ve been doing all these years, and when the day came that I needed you, you’re the first person I was gonna call,‘” Tabbah said.
In addition to training equipment, Alkeme Sports RX has a turf field and a pool. Within a week of Diggs’ surgery, he was in Florida to start his recovery.
The process can be grueling. People are often hesitant when coming off a major knee injury. Over time, Tabbah saw Diggs’ confidence return and once he felt comfortable with his knee, the receiver’s health began to rapidly improve.
A typical day for Diggs starts with tissue work and mobility. The PTs do scar tissue mobilization and use direct-current stimulation to “increase muscle activation and motor recruitment.” The team puts Diggs through corrective exercises and works with him on other parts of his body.
The receiver goes through a series of balance and hand-eye coordination exercises and then lifts weights in the gym. There, they focus on either the lower body or upper body, switching every week.
Diggs also works on a turf field, where he works on his running mechanics and acceleration. He’ll push sleds, go through ladder exercises, and even catch passes from quarterbacks. Once a week, Tabbah takes him through a pool workout. This is a safe environment where Diggs has been able to get back to jumping and cutting. As they progress, he’s worked on his endurance.
Last week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Diggs is on schedule to be ready to play for the Patriots in Week 1.
“He looks excellent. He’s definitely ahead of schedule,” Tabbah said. “We’re just kind of now focusing on being cautious and taking our time with certain higher-level things, but still allowing him to progress and keep moving him forward, as we just continue to be smart about it. But he looks excellent. He’s very strong. He’s already explosive. We’re kind of cleaning up some things on the mechanics side, and just kind of improving movement and just gradually reintroducing more to build endurance and things like that. But he’s an excellent spot now.”
On Friday, Diggs gave Tabbah a shout out when asked about his recovery.
“I’m ahead of schedule. I’m trying to stay ahead of schedule,” Diggs said. “I’ve been pretty serious about the grind process, as far as the rehab and everything. Shout out to Dr. Reef [Sharif Tabbah]. I’m ahead of schedule right now. Trying to stay there at this point.”
Diggs PT
Stefon Diggs has been rehabbing his knee with Dr. Sharif Tabbah at Alkeme Sports RX in Davie, Fla.Courtesy of Sharif Tabbah
Big plans for Stefon Diggs
To properly measure where Diggs is physically, every couple of weeks the staff at Alkeme takes measurements to get the exact amount of force output, rate of force development, and power in the receiver’s legs.
This allows them to know how far his right leg is from his left. Tabbah said his rate of recovery has been impressive, so has his confidence in his recovering knee.
“Just to see how those numbers continue to climb every couple of weeks when we retest has been amazing,” Tabbah said. “And just how quickly he would gain confidence in single-legs balance, single-leg strength is one thing, but the power. When we got back to jumps he was nervous, and then by the end of the day, he felt more confident with it, like that was so fast… He just like, ‘Alright, I’m not worried about that. What else?‘”
On top of his work ethic, Diggs has been a motivator and mentor in the gym. In Davie, there are a handful of NFL players, future draft picks and college athletes.
Diggs has been a leader and positive to the other athletes training or rehabbing. He motivates other athletes and often gets those around him to increase their intensity.
As he’s progressed, Tabbah shared several videos showing Diggs squatting, running, catching passes, and working out in a pool. He wants to show the NFL that this receiver was getting back to normal.
“Trying to work a little smarter. I’m a hard worker,” Diggs said. “So I try to put a lot on my plate at one time but I’m trying to reel it back a little bit. Just be a little more smarter.”
Up next, Tabbah will increase the intensity and work to get Diggs back - ready to help the Patriots and surprise anyone who thinks a 31-year-old receiver coming off an injury is washed up.
“I told him, ‘I don’t want to get you back to 100%. I want to get you back to 110%,‘” Tabbah said. Like I want to actually have you leave here better than you were before your injury. That’s our goal.”
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