Originally published at: https://discgolf.ultiworld.com/livewire/lizotte-will-not-be-ready-for-season-start-continues-shoulder-rehab/
Simon Lizotte
After battling persistent elbow pain in his right throwing arm since early last season, Simon Lizotte announced that despite months of rehabilitation he will not be returning to competition until April 2021 at the earliest.
“I’m not allowed to throw for three weeks now,” said Lizotte of his current plan. “After the next three weeks I’m starting an eight week build up to throw again. Starting light and going harder and harder every week. That means I will not be able to compete until April. I am not 100% sure yet if I will jump on tour in April or try and play some local events first and start the tour on the west coast swing in May. That is to be determined.”
Lizotte has been working with a variety of trainers over the past three months, including Disc Golf Strong’s Seth Munsey. After setting an initial plan for five gym sessions per week and multiple visits to chiropractors, masseurs, and physical therapists each month, pain had subsided but persisted when Lizotte resumed throwing close to full power shots this month. He talked with Munsey and Discmania CEO Jussi Meresmaa on alternative solutions.
“We decided that maybe I should try the one thing I haven’t tried. Nothing… just do absolutely nothing. Sit on the couch and play video games. No throwing, no gym, no nothing. Just let it rest and focus on better nutrition,” said Lizotte. “After the week I went back to my physical therapy and my elbow was feeling way better. I was throwing harder shots with less pain. First real positive feeling in a while about this situation.”
Last year, Lizotte had MRIs and x-rays on his elbow that came back inconclusive, and he was told it was an “overuse” injury that can be more difficult to accurately treat. Lizotte thinks pushing too hard to create YouTube content during the season’s postponement was a major factor.
“My elbow pain started very early last year which forced me to stop throwing any forehands, because those became too painful,” said Lizotte. “I was doing okay from Vegas to Waco, but during the lockdown and the countless hours of working on my YouTube channel, I was simply overdoing things physically. All the ace runs, trick shots and challenges. I knew at the time it wasn’t clever to keep pushing like that, but I felt like now was the time to grow my YouTube channel and take full advantage of the situation we were all in. So I just kept going and going. My elbow was getting worse every week during that time.”