CARSON, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Galaxy's Edson Buddle had one of his best seasons in 2008 with 15 goals, third in MLS behind Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan and FC Dallas' Kenny Cooper. Buddle said he feels ready for an encore in 2009.
The reason for his enthusiasm has to do with the fact he's feeling injury-free, which is a major improvement from his history of foot problems. He has spent much of the last six years battling sore Achilles tendons, and he thinks he finally found the solution late last year.
Buddle, who turns 28 on May 21, underwent a blood therapy called PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma). The plasma was injected directly into both of his tendons to facilitate healing and improved blood flow, and Buddle said he's already noticed a difference.
"It's good," he said. "I got through the first week, and I want to get through this one. I could tell the difference a week or so after I had it done. This should be a year when it's probably 90 percent better."
Buddle said he originally injured both Achilles in 2003 while training for the U.S. Olympic team at The Home Depot Center. The accumulation of two-a-day practices eventually proved to be too much, he said, and he's had problems ever since.
He did score 15 goals (second to Donovan's league-high 20) and had three assists in 26 starts last season but, true to form, his feet started to give him trouble late in the regular season.
"It's been the same every year," he said. "Toward the end of the year it bothers me and picks up. It's like it has a mind of its own ... some days it's good while other days it's not so good. I've tried to capitalize on those times it's feeling great. When it's feeling bad, I try to ice it and just stay on top of it."
Buddle laughed when asked if his feet bother him more on cold days -- "Fortunately, we don't have many of those here in Los Angeles," he said -- but he said it often took him anywhere from 20-30 minutes before he could get going in the morning.
He tried various other suggestions -- hydrating, stretching and keeping the tendons lengthened as much as possible -- but they often went to no avail. He decided last November to undergo the PRP, something he'd never heard of before, because he was close to feeling desperate. The fact that the procedure might have cost him a possible call-up to the U.S. national team for a recent friendly against Sweden was of no concern to him.
But his feet were.
"I've tried just about everything else," he said of undergoing the procedure in early November. "I wanted to give it a shot."
He finally was cleared by doctors on Dec. 19 to resume workouts, and Buddle took it easy during his first week of training camp. Now that he got through it in one piece, he's getting a little anxious to starting pushing it. He feels he's ready to have an even bigger season than what he had in 2008, thanks to his improved feet.
"I'd like to have another good year, and I think I can," he said. "Last year was a good one for me, but it was bittersweet because the team struggled. Collectively, you always want to do well.
"I'm looking forward to this season. With all of the new players in here, I think we can jell. We'll see what happens."
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