Inside Man: Packers Nate Palmer's Winning Remedy For Fear? "Trust Your Training" - BlackDoctor.org

The start of football season never seems to get here quick enough for die hard football fans. Now, consider the anticipation of a star player who's been sidelined with an injury the entire last season. Nate Palmer will the first to tell you that September couldn't get here quick enough! Palmer, now playing inside linebacker with the Green Bay Packers made his long-awaited return to the field and his team this fall after spending all of last season rehabbing an MCL injury.

Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury is an injury to the ligament on the inner part of the knee. This ligament keeps your shin bone (tibia) in place. It can be a stretch, partial tear, or complete tear of the ligament. In Palmer's case, his was a partial tear he suffered during the final preseason game of 2014-15.

"That was my first time not playing football since high school. I broke my ankle my junior year of high school and missed the season," Palmer said in interview with The Journal Sentinel before his first game of the season.

Now, with the injury behind him the Chicago native (and former Simeon classmate with Derrick Rose) is back doing what he loves and from the early look of things he's playing just as well as he feels these days. During training camp, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy described Palmer as, "just a natural football player".

BlackDoctor.org recently caught up with Palmer to learn about his road to recovery and what he's doing to stay uplifted in the game of Life.

BlackDoctor.org: Do you remember your first thoughts when you were told you'd torn your MCL?

NP: Yes, my first thought was that I knew I tore something in my knee, but didn't know to what extent.

BlackDoctor.org: What was the rehab process like for your? What did it involve?

NP: My rehab involved various healing techniques. I did physical rehab 4-5 days a week. During this portion I focused on strengthening the surrounding muscles to help support the knee. Each day I focused on a different muscle group. Example, Mondays I would do glutes and hips; Tuesday I would do hamstring and quads; Wednesday core and so on. Also, I did PRP injection, which is where they take the blood out your arm, spin it down and take the plasma and inject it back into the site of injury. I did things like acupuncture , chiropractic work and other Chinese medicine stuff, too.BlackDoctor.org: What were the challenges mentally and emotionally dealing with your injury and the rehab process?

NP: The emotional challenges were the hardest for me. This was my first time since high school actually being hurt and having to miss substantial time so I really struggled, especially seeing my team excel and almost making it to the Super Bowl. I would've loved to be out there battling with them, but it wasn't my time and over the course of the season I understood that and knew my role was to support and help the individuals who were playing week to week.

BlackDoctor.org: What things did you do to stay motivated and encouraged?

NP: I stayed in constant contact with my father. He had been and will always be my biggest support system. I talked with my friends - Evan Frierson who had a season ending injury our rookie year and my other friend who plays for the Titans.

BlackDoctor.org: How do you handle the pressure of being in top physical condition for a living?

NP: I really don't think it's a lot of pressure to stay in top shape. If you're a competitor, naturally, you'll wanna work yourself into the best shape so you can try and be the best you can. Also, I think it makes working out easier knowing you're living out your dream. If you had your dream job and someone told you that one half of it was being in shape you'll make sure you're in shape.

BlackDoctor.org: Did you feel any fear or uncertainty about getting back on the field?

NP: Yes, I had [some] uncertainty when it came back to getting on the field, but just like in football you have to trust your training. In this case, I had to trust my rehab and my trainers. I knew they wouldn't put me in a position to fail nor would they put me in a position hurt myself again.

BlackDoctor.org: What is your general fitness regimen and diet?

NP: My diet is pretty straightforward. No red meat or pork and carbs once a day if any. I follow the motto, "the less legs it has the better it is for you". My fitness routine is somewhat complex but it consists of cardio, strength training, core and I've added boxing and yoga again. Each day I do some type of cardio, core and strength. 2-3 days out the week I try to engage in boxing or yoga. I also do position specific work 2-3 times a week after I'm done with my workout. I typically work out 4-5 days but some weeks I get 6 workouts in.

BlackDoctor.org: What's your snack food weakness?

NP: Haha! My weakness is any type of cakes. I love doughnuts, like, LOVE them. I also love Swedish fish.

BlackDoctor.org: What helps you to snack less and stick to a diet?

NP: The one thing that helps me snack less is is not buying them and not keeping snacks in my house, 'cuz I know if I don't have them and want them I won't go to the store just to buy them.

BlackDoctor.org: What advice do you have for other young athletes looking to play professionally, or about fitness in general?

NP: Honestly, when people ask me this I can talk for days because some people think that there's a blueprint to being successful when it come to sports. In reality there's not. I wish I can say do x, y and z and you'll be there, but I can't. There's one thing I know I prided myself on and one thing that [worked] for me and that's hard work. I think it's the best and only advice because in the end if you give it your all and it's not good enough at least you can look yourself in the mirror and be like, 'Well, I know I gave it my everything,' and you can be satisfied with that.

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