Minn.'s Dayton Slowed By Hip Muscle Injury

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP/WCCO) -- Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is being slowed by a hip-muscle tear that an aide says could limit his public schedule while he recovers.

Deputy Chief of Staff Bob Hume says the 66-year-old governor injured the muscle over the weekend and was checked out at the Mayo Clinic on Monday. He was prescribed a physical therapy regimen but is still experiencing discomfort. Dayton canceled a scheduled appearance Wednesday at a business ribbon cutting.

Last winter, the first-term Democrat was sidelined for weeks by major back surgery.

Hume says Dayton will keep a public schedule "off and on" but keep up with his workload even if he's not at the Capitol.

Hume says he doesn't know what activity caused the injury, which came soon after Dayton returned from an overseas trade trip.

Dayton released this statement Wednesday afternoon:

"Early Saturday afternoon, I was hurrying down the stairs at the Residence to go to a DFL beanbag event. Since it was very casual, I had on my jeans and sneakers. I took the bottom two steps together, landed on my left leg, and pivoted toward the hallway. Suddenly I felt and heard a loud "pop" in front of my left hipbone, followed by a spasm of pain. The problem was more than the pain, though. I couldn't walk normally. I had little strength in my left leg.

I rested it all day Sunday; then Monday morning arranged to go to the Mayo Clinic for an evaluation. They took x-rays, conducted other tests, and concluded that I had torn the Sartorius muscle in my left hip. I had both injured the muscle and also torn it (detached it) from my left hipbone. It is not a major muscle; but it is a weight-bearing and stabilizing muscle, which explains my instability, which will persist until other muscles are trained to take over its functions.

The doctors concluded there was no apparent damage to the hipbone, no stress fracture, etc. That was the good news. They recommended rest, physical therapy, ice and anti-inflammatories, and the use of a cane or a crutch for the next couple weeks. If there is not noticeable improvement, I am to return to them."

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