Asuka Confirms Injury Recovery Progress Amidst Extended Hiatus

Asuka’s busy wrestling schedule has affected her health, prompting her to have knee surgery recently. Despite this setback, she has been actively focusing on her rehabilitation and has now confirmed her injury recovery progress during her hiatus.

Asuka had previously shared that she would be stepping away from WWE television to focus on recovering from a persistent knee issue. This problem first became noticeable a few months ago during a SmackDown segment when Asuka was seen limping. The Empress of Tomorrow underwent knee surgery and embarked on a rigorous rehabilitation process, with the goal of returning to the ring as soon as possible.

While speaking on her YouTube channel, Asuka revealed that her knee rehabilitation is going well. She attended WWE shows in Osaka and Tokyo in July and spent about two weeks in Osaka to focus on her recovery. At first, she had trouble finding a good place for rehabilitation in Japan. Luckily, an athletic trainer from the Tampa Bay Rays connected her with Dr. Itami at the Takatsuki Red Cross Hospital.

Asuka had knee surgery in June, and when she arrived in Osaka, she had just stopped using a cane but was still in pain and walking awkwardly. Her American physical therapist told her she needed to improve her walking technique. Dr. Itami was very kind and supportive, and Asuka thought he might have been surprised by how she walked.

Thanks to Dr. Itami’s help, Asuka started to walk better each day. At first, she was told she had forgotten how to walk, which she found hard to believe. She had never been to Takatsuki before, but she knew it was known for its clean air. While in the hospital, she found everyone, including Dr. Itami and the other staff, to be very nice and friendly, which made her appreciate Japanese healthcare.

After just two weeks in Japan, Asuka felt a big improvement in her knee. She returned to America, where the same doctor who had done her shoulder surgery also operated on her knee. Asuka said her knee is healing well, and she is now doing rehabilitation exercises in the pool. She is excited about returning to the ring soon.

“It’s been a while. There were WWE shows in Osaka and Tokyo in July this year. I was staying in Osaka for about two weeks. At that time, I needed to rehabilitate my knee. However, I was having trouble finding out where I could do that. I know an athletic trainer for the MLB Tampa Bay Rays. I told him that if there was a doctor in Japan who could support my rehabilitation, I would like him to introduce me to them.

He introduced me to Dr. Itami at the Takatsuki Red Cross Hospital in Osaka. I’d like to show you a little bit of what my rehabilitation was like at the time. I had surgery in June. One month after that surgery, I went to Osaka. Before I went to Osaka, I was doing rehabilitation in America. I went to Osaka just as I had stopped using a cane.

At that time, I was still in pain and walking in a very strange way. At the time, the American PT Dr. told me that I needed to fix the way I was walking. Dr. Itami at Takatsuki Red Cross Hospital was very kind. He understood my situation and decided to support me. I think Professor Itami was probably surprised to see me walking in such a strange way. Dr. Itami’s instructions and rehabilitation helped me to improve my walking day by day. At the first diagnosis, I was told that I had forgotten how to walk.

I thought that couldn’t be true. But… I seem to have forgotten how to walk. I had never been to the town of Takatsuki. I only had the image that it was near Kyoto. It seems like a place famous for its clean air. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a hospital in Japan, but everyone is so kind.

Doctor Itami, of course, Doctor Hamada, the other doctors, the reception staff, everyone was kind and friendly. I realized that Japanese hospitals are this kind, kind, and polite. I felt that Japan is good after all. I felt that my knee had improved so much after only two weeks in Japan. After that, I returned to America.

The same doctor who operated on my shoulder before operated on me. My knee is recovering very well. Please wait for my return. I’m going to the pool now for knee rehabilitation.”

Asuka last wrestled at WWE Backlash, teaming with Kairi Sane to take on Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair. We have also reported that Asuka is not expected to make her return to the ring this year. Regardless, fans continue to hope that Asuka recovers sooner than expected and goes back to doing what she loves the most.

Do you feel Asuka will return to in-ring action sooner rather than later? Sound off in the comments section below!

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