What could Hamlin’s road to recovery look like?

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Damar Hamlin is back in Buffalo, where he continues to recover after suffering cardiac arrest on the field.

So, what’s next for Hamlin? Deanna Hostler, who serves as a clinical assistant professor at the University at Buffalo’s Department of Rehabilitation Science, joined News 4’s Wake Up! to discuss this.

After a patient suffers cardiac arrest, they’ll need to go through therapy. This can mean physical, occupational — and sometimes — speech therapy. Physical therapy looks to restore things like strength, balance and conditioning.

“It is very individual,” Hostler said of the various recovery outcomes and timelines.

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Cardiac arrest is typically the result of an electrical problem with the heart. According to his doctors at UC Medical Center, the best-case scenario for Hamlin is getting him back to the health he was in before kickoff in the Bills vs. Bengals game.

But how often is a person able to get back to 100 percent? Hostler said it just depends on the person. And the timeline can be short or long. A person’s physical health before suffering cardiac arrest plays a big factor in it.

“I would anticipate that Damar has all the positives in his favor right now,” Hostler told News 4.

Watch the full interview in the video above.