Rio Ferdinand reveals periodic wheelchair use due to career-related back injuries

Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has disclosed that he suffers from severe chronic back pain resulting from his professional football career. The 47-year-old, who retired in 2015 after nearly 600 matches, admitted to using pain-killing injections and medication for six years to continue playing. Ferdinand, now residing in Dubai with his wife Kate and five children, stated that the pain occasionally requires hospitalization or the use of a wheelchair for several days. Despite recently appearing on a fitness magazine cover, he describes the reality of his condition as exhausting and unpredictable. He is currently following a holistic rehabilitation program involving a physiotherapist and a personal trainer. These health issues have persisted since his relocation to the United Arab Emirates approximately six months ago. The former athlete noted that the sudden onset of pain remains a significant challenge in his daily life.