Brazilian jiu-jitsu star Nicholas Meregali has provided a sobering update on the shoulder injury that led to his elimination from the recent ADCC tournament. In a statement released today, Meregali confirmed that he will require surgery and faces a lengthy recovery period.
“Surgery is ahead, and then 5 months of recovery,” Meregali stated. The extent of the damage is severe, with the grappler revealing, “The way I landed on the mats completely tore my ligaments, both anterior and posterior labral, and tendons.”
Meregali described the moment of injury during his quarterfinal match, explaining, “The moment I hit the mats, I tried to stop the match, but for those four seconds that followed, we kept going, despite my efforts.”
Despite the setback, Meregali is maintaining a positive outlook. “Life is life, and everything happens for a reason,” he said. “I’ll get through this tough time with my head held high, handling everything like the champion I am.”
The injury has forced a change in Meregali’s plans. He had intended to take a break from jiu-jitsu after ADCC, and now finds himself facing an involuntary hiatus. “I was planning to take a break from Jiu Jitsu after ADCC, and it seems like the universe had the same idea, just in a different way,” he reflected.
Looking ahead to his recovery, Meregali is determined to use this time productively. “These next five months will be long, but I’ll find ways to grow as a person and as an athlete,” he stated. The grappler likened his current situation to a season of life, saying, “Life has seasons, sometimes we’re in the summer when everything feels great, and other times we’re in the winter when we need to get through the cold. This is my winter, and I’ll wait patiently for a better season to come.”
This update comes after Meregali’s unexpected elimination from ADCC, which initially led to some confusion and disappointment for the athlete. The injury occurred during a takedown attempt by his opponent, resulting in Meregali landing awkwardly on his shoulder.
While Meregali anticipates 5 months of recovery, it’s more than likely he’s looking at double the amount of time.
The 5-month recovery period mentioned in Meregali’s statement likely refers to the main rehabilitation phase. However, for a complete return to high-level jiu-jitsu competition, a longer timeframe of 9-12 months or more would not be unusual.
- Surgery (Week 0): The first step is typically surgical repair of the damaged structures.
- Immediate post-surgery (Weeks 1-4):
- Arm immobilized in a sling
- Pain management
- Possible passive range of motion exercises under guidance
- Early recovery (Weeks 4-8):
- Gradual introduction of passive and active-assisted range of motion exercises
- Begin light isometric exercises
- Continue wearing sling except during therapy
- Mid-stage recovery (Months 2-4):
- Progressively increase range of motion
- Begin light strengthening exercises
- Gradual decrease in sling use
- Late-stage recovery (Months 4-6):
- Continue strengthening exercises
- Work on restoring full range of motion
- Begin functional exercises
- Return to activity (Months 6-9):
- Sport-specific training
- Gradual return to normal activities
- Full recovery (9-12 months or more):
- Continue strengthening and maintenance exercises
- Possible return to high-level athletic competition
