Monday, February 28, 2011

Habs pickup goalie and White sent to 'Dogs; "the knee amigos" ushered away

"Upon landing in Atlanta, defencemen Andrei Markov, Josh Gorges and Jaroslav Spacek were ushered away along with athletic therapist Graham Rynbend, presumably for medical appointments. Markov and Gorges are both coming off season-ending knee surgery, while Spacek's probably having his "lower-body" injury examined too. The trio has been nicknamed "the knee amigos" by the voice of the Canadiens, CJAD's Rick Moffat."

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Sheridan students rally to raise funds for Cuileann McKenzie’s liberation treatment

Kirsty McKenzie is a respected faculty member of Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Applied Health Sciences (Athletic Therapy) program.  Many who have attended her classes over the years are aware that her sister, Cuileann McKenzie, suffers from multiple sclerosis.  From teary Tuesdays to weepy Wednesdays, Kirsty has shared moments of inspiration and sadness about her sister.

Recent research conducted by Italian vascular surgeon, Paolo Zamboni, shows that chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) exists in the majority of MS patients.  This condition is characterized by abnormal blood flow from the brain to the heart.  Shear stress in the veins result in drainage reflux.  It is thought that this leads to unusually high concentrations of iron in the thalamus and basal gangli.  Iron deposits in the brain can cause inflammation and cell death.

Liberation treatment attempts to resolve CCSVI using angioplasty.  Under conscious sedation, a small balloon is inflated in the veins to remove blockages.  The risky procedure has produced some astounding results in relieving MS symptoms and improving quality of life.  In particular, it has been known to stop further MS attacks, improve movement and reduce fatigue.

Liberation treatment is currently not available in Canada due to the limited research.  Cuileann  traveled to Rhode Island with Pam, her mom, and Dawn, her support worker, to undergo the surgery.  As you can imagine, it is a costly venture for the surgery alone, not to mention the added expense of travel.

Rachel Leroux and Jaclyn Arduini, 4th year students of Sheridan’s Athletic Therapy program, are holding a fundraiser to help with Cuileann’s expenses.  Yoga classes, dubbed “The McKenzie Method – Yoga for Liberation”, will be held on Mon, March 14 and Tue, March 15.  Both sessions are held at 2pm in Sheridan College’s (Brampton campus) group fitness studio.  All are welcome to attend.  A $5 donation is recommended.

On February 22, Cuileann McKenzie underwent liberation procedure.  Cuileann’s mom, Pam, reports the initial results:
When I walked into the recovery room, my eyes were immediately drawn to Cuileann's legs that were relaxed with about 18" between her knees. (Normally spasticity causes her legs to press tightly against each other when she is resting in bed.) My normally pale daughter had a healthy pink glow and a big smile.
As afternoon turned into evening, it became clear that her overall range of motion had improved. This was especially noticeable when after taking a phone call from her bed in the hotel room, Cuileann swung her right arm over to the phone base on the left bedside table and hung up the phone without thinking twice about it. Previously, this would have been very difficult for her. Since that time we have noticed that her spasticity continues to show signs of improving.
as I was unpacking a few things I heard some distant conversation as Cuileann chatted on the phone with a friend. What started out as a chat in Cuileann's normal slow, deliberate tempo soon was soon turning into a very animated chatter - something that I haven't heard for several years. What a beautiful sound! Possibly a sign that the "brain fog" was lifting.
I opened the door to Cuileann's room to wish her good morning and found that most of the covers had poured onto the floor. This had never happened before. In the past, because of her spasticity, Cuileann would have had a very difficult time turning over in bed. But on that particular night she found herself moving around in bed more than usual.
Cuileann walked, with the help of her walker and walk aids (small devices that are worn beneath each knee and send an electrical current which helps her hold up her toes up when she takes a step, eliminating footdrop), non-stop for a distance of over 250 ft. - farther than she has walked in about 2 years.
On behalf of Sheridan AT students, we wish Cuileann continued improvements!

MacNeil scores in Nick of time

"Consider it a triumph for Ben Shutron. Five months and eight days after suffering a broken right leg, the 22-year-old defenceman was back on the blueline - in the starting lineup no less - for the V-Reds in the semifinal opener.

That first shift, months in the making, lasted just 27 seconds. But it represented the culmination of a whole winter of hard work by Shutron, by athletic therapist Joe Glenn, by two student trainers named Matt Cochrane and Tyson Stewart - and the power of a positive thinking."

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Sunday, February 27, 2011

Leafs lose Reimer in second period of Thrashers game

"On two subsequent television timeouts, Reimer skated to the bench to consult with team athletic therapist Andy Playter. Giguere, who is coming back from nagging groin issues, stretched and warmed up in the corridor behind the bench while Reimer continued playing."

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"Making his seventh straight start in goal, Reimer immediately fell to the ice upon impact from Kane, but he remained in the game. After a string of impressive saves, the rookie approached the Leaf bench during the first TV timeout, engaging in a long conversation with the team’s head athletic therapist, Andy Playter. At that point, Giguere was notified of the strong likelihood of his presence being required. “They told me that maybe [I was needed], so just go get warmed up and we’ll how Reims is going to feel as it goes,” said Giguere. During the next TV timeout, Reimer approached the bench again and after a quick chat with Playter, left the game for good. Early indications point to his neck as the bearer of the blow, but the injury is not thought to be serious."

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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Chapman on the mend, but still foggy

"Chapman explained how his teammates told him of the trouble he experienced while trying to get off of the ice that day, and how he needed to be "held up" in order to make it to the Hounds bench.

His teammates also informed him that he was making very little sense while trying to communicate with them and with the coaches and athletic therapist Chris Linder, before being taken to hospital.

"I kind of remember getting checked out at the hospital and I remember my mother (Michelle) picking me up at the hospital," said Chapman, whose mother drove him to the Hounds bus, where he made the return trip to his hockey home. "But it seemed as if It was just a 10-minute bus ride. It felt like we were home before I knew it."

Since then, Chapman, who has two goals and two assists in 37 games in his rookie season, has been bothered by an upset stomach and recurring headaches."

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Sunday, February 20, 2011

Back atop the division

"Rockets athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn gets a pat on back for stopping a cut after Bennett hits Barrie in the face with the blade of his stick. Barrie left the ice bleeding but returned moments later no worse for wear as Thorburn stopped the bleeding with a little bit of his magic."

Regehr gets some revenge on Burris

"Defenceman Cory Sarich is also a massive Riders supporter. Schad Richea, the assistant athletic therapist, is diehard for the men in green."

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Saturday, February 19, 2011

Frenetic race adds to NHL Heritage Classic spectacle

"The Canadiens also can count on the experience of team equipment manager Pierre Gervais and athletic therapist Graham Rynbend, who were with the club when they prevailed 4-3 over the Oilers in the extreme cold at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium in the 2003 NHL Heritage Classic. Among the innovations they hatched to assist their players under such difficult circumstances: frequent runs from the dressing room to the bench to provide perfectly warmed tea and chicken broth."

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The suck-it-up culture has to change

"Luc Leblanc, the certified athletic therapist for the Hamilton Bulldogs says the culture is starting to change. “Everybody seems to talk about it (concussions) now.” 

He has been with the Montreal Canadiens organization, which oversees the Bulldogs, for nine years and has noticed a change. He sees about three or four concussions on average every year. He, too, stresses the need for increased awareness."

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Friday, February 18, 2011

VANSTONE: From survival mode to success, Greg Marshall has seen it all

""A lot of things have changed, but there's still some familiar faces,'' Marshall notes. "Geno's one. There's (athletic therapist) Ivan Gutfriend and Chris Szarka. Jeremy O'Day was here playing. Now he's going to be part of the organization. Brendan Taman was here in a different role.

"There's a number of (familiar) people around the office, but just the way the club does business, from the top down to the bottom, has changed radically. That has led to the success that they've been able to achieve the last little while. Our job is to keep the train on the tracks.''"

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Spits to pay homage to Mickey Renaud

"Jones is one of many in the organization that cling to Renaud's memory in a quiet way.

President Bob Boughner, vice-president and general manager Warren Rychel, Jones, associate coach D.J. Smith and athletic therapist Joey Garland each has a picture of Renaud in their respective office.

While they have daily reminders, the preparation leading up to tonight's event can bring emotions to the surface."

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Thursday, February 17, 2011

Flames gear guy DePasquale has them prepared for anything

"DePasquale and his team, which also includes fellow equipment manager Corey Osmak and athletic therapist Schad Richea among others, are trying to take care of every minor detail long before the puck drops on Sunday."

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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Leafs insist Grabovski did not suffer a concussion

"“Our trainer, Andy Playter, is first rate. (He) went right to Grabovski and said: ‘how are you?’ He had total recall. He said that puck hit the crossbar. He had total recall of the situation, no blackout, no loss of memory, no dizziness, no nausea.

“When he (Playter) asked if he was good to go, he (Grabovski) said: ‘Yeah, got it in the jaw.’ No symptoms.”"

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CSA Announces 2011 CONCACAF U17 Men’s Roster

"Canada has announced its roster for the upcoming 2011 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship."

Athletic Therapist / Thérapeute du sport : Dwayne Laing
Athletic Therapist / Thérapeute du sport : Carlo Di Nardo


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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Two Laurentian runners compete in Boston

"The Valentine Invitational is a huge meet and it was a great opportunity to have Emma and Steph compete against some of the best NCAA Division I schools on the East coast," head coach Dick Moss said.

"The best thing about Emma's performance is that she'll run much faster," Moss added. "She twinged a hamstring two weeks ago and has been doing adapted training since then. We weren't sure she'd be ready to race this weekend, but our osteopath, Rickey Goudreau, and athletic therapist, Shawn Charron, have done a great job and her leg felt 100 per cent. And Stephanie really went for it. Her split time of 5:07 for the 1,500 was extremely aggressive." 


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Monday, February 14, 2011

Habs' staff knows how to prepare for Heritage Classic

"Pierre Gervais and Graham Rynbend have been down this road before, and the first time that road was about as difficult as they come.

Gervais, the Montreal Canadiens' equipment manager, and Rynbend, the team's head athletic therapist, faced one of the biggest challenges of their respective careers when the original Heritage Classic was held at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium in November 2003.
"

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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Athletic therapist Thorburn 'pulse' of team

"While monitoring the daily habits of the team is a vital part of (Jeff) Thorburn's duties, his most important role is the rehabilitation of injured players and getting them back in the lineup as quickly as possible without risking their long-term health.

Thorburn is hoping he won't be a busy man in the medical room in the coming months but if he is, the Rockets are secure in the knowledge that the players are in good hands."

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Healthier Windsor Spitfires face Attack

"The 20-year-old Johnston has been out since Jan. 27 after taking a Ryan Ellis slapshot off the ribs while trying to screen the opposition goalie.

“When (Ellis) shoots, you don’t want to be screening,” said Johnston, who is wearing modified shoulder pads for extra protection. “Right away, it knocked the wind right out of me.

“I tried to catch my breath and (athletic therapist) Joey (Garland) was talking to me, but I couldn’t say anything. When I did start talking, I was coughing up blood.”"

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Sting gets help during struggles

"Knights athletic therapist Andy Scott said there were nine cases of flu on the trip. To make it worse, the team bus kept breaking down and eventually had to be replaced.Read More...

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Game your way to better health

"With such routines, you can build strength, flexibility, balance and aerobic ability, Upper Canada Sports Medicine athletic therapist Kelly Bonhomme says. 

Incorporating all four elements is important to a well-balanced workout routine, she adds.
"


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Athletes and support staff represent Melfort and area at Canada Winter Games

"(Kari) Heibert will be working with Team Saskatchewan in hockey but representing the Halifax host committee.

"I am going to be there as an athletic therapist. I am actually there as part of the host medical team. So it is for Team Halifax. I was nominated by Sask Hockey to be there with hockey," Heibert explained.

She will represent the host committee and wear their uniform all while serving with Team Saskatchewan. 

"All of my time will be spent with the boys' hockey and the girls' hockey, the guys are under 16, they are first year midget, and the girls are under 18, they are all midgets," she said.

"I am an athletic therapist. I have been involved in athletic therapy since university as a student, in 1995-1996. I became certified as a therapist in 2002," Hiebert said.

"I like hockey and that is what I have been working with," she added.

She explained that an athletic therapist, on the clinical side, works with people with muscle, joint or bone injuries, accesses and assigns rehab programs. At the Winter Games she will be more like a team trainer.


...

It will be her job to decide whether players can continue to play with injuries.

"That is a pretty big honour to be there, sometimes depending on the injury and the situation they may play through with that injury versus in a regular season game because the pressure is on. In Halifax it will be just about keeping them as put together as possible," she said.

She has worked with the Saskatchewan Hockey Association since returning to Saskatchewan in 2005.

"This is my second Winter Games, I also went to Whitehorse in 2007. I was also involved in the Canada Summer Games when they were in Regina, and I have been involved in an assortment of other major games," she said."

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Trainer Chris Puskas heads to McMaster after 13 years with Ticats

"After 13 seasons with the Tiger-Cats, head athletic therapist Chris Puskas has left the organization to accept a similar position at McMaster University.

Puskas originally joined the Ticats in 1998 following four years with the Toronto Argonauts athletic therapy staff.

“I’m ready for a new challenge and working at McMaster is a great opportunity,” said Puskas, who was part of Grey Cup championship teams with both Hamilton and Toronto.  “McMaster has absolutely first-class facilities so it’s a great environment to work in.  I think adjusting to dealing with student-athletes rather than professionals will be a challenge as the motivations are different, and the pros don’t have to deal with as many outside distractions as students.  I’m very excited about starting this new stage of my career.”

The Ticats search for a Puskas' replacement will begin soon.
"

McMaster press release

Ticats blog

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Thursday, February 3, 2011

To work with them is surreal

"Victoria Cleary is using her skills as a certified athletic therapist this week to help national level athletes improve their performance, and their chances at the podium at the London 2012 Olympic Games.Read More...

How posture can make you project confidence, even when you’re not

Deanna Hansen, certified athletic therapist, blogs about posture and confidence.  Read More...

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Lazeo 'inspired guys’

"He thanked Stampeders GM/head coach John Hufnagel, athletic therapist Pat Clayton, equipment manager George Hopkins and a host of teammates past and present.Read More...

Wolves ride hot goalie to shootout win over Hounds

"Thibodeau, who was being treated by athletic therapist Chris Linder after Tuesday's game, won't accompany his teammates on the road.Read More...

Discover the next generation of body work

"Introducing Fluid Isometrics: a unique system for making your body work clients feel great AND actually reverse the conditions from which they suffer.

This cutting-edge body work system was developed by Certified Athletic Therapist, Deanna Hansen. It goes beyond the basics you learned in school and enters the realm of life changing performance. What does this mean?"

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Tuesday, February 1, 2011

See a therapist!

Rod Pedersen, the voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, blogs about the CATA's media release on concussions.  Read More...

School honours top students and student-athletes

Brandon Downing awarded the Dr. Charles Bull Athletic Therapy Scholarship at York University.  Read More...