Rafa's doctor ... Dr Mikel Sanchez

Rafa's knee doctor - Dr Mikel Sanchez - was in the news today as he attended his book launch, held at the Spanish Olympic Headquarters. This book describes his revolutionary techniques resulting from 15 years of research and clinical practice with Plasma Rich Growth Factors. The book was written in collaboration with Eduardo Anitua who's the founder and director of the Biotechnology Institute, and also with the collaboration of the Spanish Olympic Committee.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections are of course what Rafa has been having since 2010 to aid with the recovery and repair of his damaged knee tendons.

In this interview with as.com the doctors talk about their treatments and of course, were asked about Rafa.

I found the background of the treatment rather interesting. Their method is to extract blood, centrifuging it to concentrate the proteins after they separate the part that doesn't re-generate the tissue, and then they re-inject it back into the patient's damaged tendon or muscle. The plasma is then used to stimulate the cells, and these cells then build tissue. This tissue effectively repairs and replaces that which has previously been worn out by a person's degenerative injuries.

The doctors presented their research and arguments to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, with the backing of the Spanish Anti-doping Agency and the COE (Spanish Olympic Committee). The doctors recall it as a tough meeting, where they described the biological principles and their results. However, the IOC unanimously decided to send a letter to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in order to state that the technique had nothing to do with doping. Within 24 hours, WADA removed it from the list of prohibited substances.

Interesting stuff.

The questions obviously moved onto Rafa and if they were treating him now. They confirmed this, however, they also said that what he had before is cured, and that this current injury is not a relapse, but something completely different. They describe the present injury as a partial tear in the patellar tendon and inflammation of the Hoffa's fat pad in the left knee.

In other words, yet another re-confirmation of all that has been released, and it backs up exactly what Dr Cotorro said last week.

The most satisfying thing they did say when asked of what Rafa's condition will be like when he returns was although they didn't have a crystal ball, they just consider this injury as a setback - and nothing else. They expect him to be back competing with no problems, because his knee joint is perfect.

Does that sound more hopeful or what? It sounds like just a question of time. We had Toni the other day saying the progress was slow and had been hampered because of the couple of niggles that Rafa has had with infection and the Hoffa pad hardening. But he'll get there.

I hope the Rafa fans reading this have found it quite interesting - and remember its for us that I like to try and glean information to post here. But I'm sure that the hatahs who also frequent this site will be cut and pasting the information I provide, and I expect it to be popping up all over some time soon. I'm sorry for mentioning that element here, readers, its just that these low-life factions are still out there ... as mentioned in Benito's outburst to the press during the US Open. I'm not able to understand the full nature of what's written in Spanish without the aid of a mangle, but its actually the first time I've heard it described by the doctors of what the PRP treatment actually is, and what the process was for them to get it approved.

And you do wonder, don't you, about what a Machiavellian pantomime this all is to continue to hoodwink the world whilst the hatahs know best. Because not only is Rafa staged managed, along with Toni, but Team Nadal also must enlist the esteemed acting skills of the Spanish team doctor with his well rehearsed presentations and one-liners delivered to the press. Today, the latest of the doctors involved in the cover up scheme spent all their time writing a book, just to deliver another public hoodwink and of course, the Spanish Olympic committee are also involved in the farce.

Sorry for my sarcasm, I've not had a good day. But it just riles me so much about the doubt and insinuations, the lies and the blame laid at that lovely young man. A man who has a degenerative foot problem, who used a simple insole treatment to try and protect and correct it, the result of which resulted in added pressure to the knees. The man who has played in pain since 2005.

I admire him so much. But back to the positives. The doctors seem confident of a good recovery, and that is great news. 2013 is going to be a good year ... I'm sure of it. Vamos!!