Doc aids runner’s injury comeback, gains pal

AFTER TEARING his Achilles tendon in March, Michael Bozzo appeared a better bet for a three-legged race than the New York Marathon this fall.

And then he met Dr. Kevin Jiang, orthopedic surgeon and fellow distance runner.

The New York-Presbyterian physician put Bozzo back together again, overseeing a rapid recovery process that allows the patient to participate this Sunday in the 26.2-mile, five-borough race.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” said Bozzo, 41, manager of client services at the U.S. Open. “The injury itself, I feel fantastic. My right leg feels strong.”

As an added bonus, Jiang intends to run much of the race alongside Bozzo — with both aiming for a sub-four-hour time. The doctor said he knew right away that Bozzo (above left, with Jiang) could pull off a recovery beyond the capacity of the average guy.

“He’s a very active individual and very dedicated to getting back, which is the most important thing for the accelerated program,” said Jiang, 35. “It’s (an) ... accelerated rehab, and I could tell he was an ideal candidate.”

Bozzo was playing tennis March 8 when he charged the net for a return. He heard a loud “pop” and knew instantly there was a problem.

“It felt like a snap,” he recalled. “There was no immediate pain. It just went numb and sore immediately . ... They actually had to take me off the court in a wheelchair.”

A torn Achilles tendon splits about midway between where it attaches to the heel bone and the calf muscle. It is the largest tendon in the body.

The doctor and the patient met, with Jiang offering encouragement, performing surgery and presenting a solid plan for recovery by Nov. 5.

“He made me feel confident and comfortable that I could if I just stuck with it,” said Bozzo. “And here we are.”

Surgery was done two weeks after the injury, and Bozzo was in physical therapy one week later.

Just last week, fast friends Bozzo and Jiang completed an 18-mile run in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park as part of their training.

“I totally understand what he’s going through,” the orthopedist said. “The same fears I have of getting injured.”