TORONTO (AP) -Raptors guard T.J. Ford was cleared to resume workouts Wednesday after visiting a spine specialist in Cleveland.
It isn’t immediately known when Ford, injured last month during a game at Atlanta, will begin working out again. There is also no timetable for his return to the Raptors.
“The prognosis is looking good for a full recovery and a return to basketball,” Raptors director of media relations Jim LaBumbard said after Toronto beat Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
Ford will return home to Houston and work out with former NBA player John Lucas. Ford and Lucas also worked out together after Ford was injured in 2004.
Ford had to be carried off on a stretcher after hitting his head on the court when Atlanta rookie Al Horford knocked him to the court on Dec. 11. He suffered a stinger in the fall, an injury that causes a painful tingling in his arms and hands. Ford spent the night in hospital before being released the following morning.
Toronto is 6-7 since Ford’s injury.
In 2001, Ford was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the openings of the vertebra the spinal cord runs through. He was also injured in a February 2004 collision with Minnesota’s Mark Madsen, then missed the final 26 games of that season and the entire 2004-05 season with Milwaukee because of neck surgery.
Ford was sidelined by a stinger during last season’s first round playoff series against New Jersey. He missed six games earlier this season with a stinger in his left arm, the result of a Nov. 20 collision with Dallas’ Josh Howard. Ford, who returned to action on Dec. 7, is averaging 14.1 points and 6.8 assists.
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