The sweat starts to bead up on his forehead.

Sunday, March 12, 2000

The sweat starts to bead up on his forehead. He breathes in and out with each repetition. Exhausted, he leans back to rest, but only momentarily.

After his brief break, it’s on to the next station for more lifting and exercise. But he never utters a word of complaint.

Just before the workout ends, David Coburn goes to the back room and brings out a white, rectangular box. It’s a white-iced cake with an Ohio State emblem. It reads, "Good Luck Redgie."

The gift is a small way for the therapists at Ironton Physical Therapy to reward Redgie Arden.

For the past 16 weeks, Arden has been working an hour and a half each day, three days a week, to rehabilitate his left knee and shoulder, both injured during the football season.

The 6-foot-6 Arden, a junior at Ironton High School who has already given a non-binding verbal commitment to Ohio State, is happy his rehab work is complete, but he knows the overall work is far from finished.

"It’s been hard, but like Doc (Coburn) said, it was going to take some time. I can’t rush back," said Arden.

The knee surgery took place last Nov. 11. Two weeks later Arden began his rehab work. He then had shoulder surgery to remove part of a ligament and shave part of the bone. Each rehab stint was eight weeks long.

Coburn said Arden has progressed extremely well and should be 100 percent by football season.

"He’s getting his strength back in his legs. He was squatting 355, but now he’s at 320 and it’s only his second week to squat again," said Coburn. "He’ll get it back quick.

"The big thing about Redgie is his work ethic. It makes it so easy for him to come back."

Arden credits a lot of his rapid rehab to Joe Isaac, Scott Coffman, and Coburn. The trio not only help athletes return to shape after injuries, but work to keep the general public fit and healthy.

"Joe, Dave, and Scott are the reason I’m doing so well. They’ve pushed me pretty hard. They encouraged me and kept my spirits up when I had my surgeries. These guys are great," said Arden.

The surgeries were performed by Dr. John Leach, a former Ironton athlete who is considered one of the top orthopedic surgeons in the country. Arden offered thanks to him as well.

"The knee is about 100 percent. If it wasn’t for the scar, I wouldn’t know it had been hurt. It feels great," said Arden.

Coburn said "right now Redgie’s left shoulder is stronger than his right because he’s been concentrating on it."

Not only has the work at Ironton Physical Therapy helped get Arden back in shape, but he said the weight-gain program has been successful, too.

Arden weighed 210 at the end of last football season and was only 221 during weigh-ins at the athletic physicals. He is now 231.

"(Coburn) has had me on a weight-gain program and it’s really helped me out. I couldn’t gain any weight for a long time. Now I’m 231 and I plan to get up to 250," said Arden.

Another area where Arden wants to gain is in his weightlifting program.

The injuries and surgery cost him time to lift and his totals have dropped. Arden admits it was discouraging when he tried to restart his lifting workouts.

"I was so disappointed that I’d dropped so much weight, but once I started going up in weight I’ll be more focused," said Arden.

Arden said he was about 80 pounds behind in his squats.

"I’m not that close to where I was, but I am getting closer. It’s going to take some time," Arden said.

Arden was a first team all-district selection last fall and special mention All-Ohio in Division IV.

His season-ending knee injury came early in the second half in a game at Belfry, Ky. He missed the final game and all five playoff games.

Ironton finished as the state runners-up, losing 16-14 to Sandusky Perkins in the championship game.