Canadian Sport Institute Calgary's Director of Strength & Conditioning, Matt Jordan, has had an interest in Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries for many years. As a Ph.D candidate at the University of Calgary and the sport science lead for Alpine Canada, the research Matt is conducting on ACL injuries will endeavour to assist Alpine athletes have fewer of these.

Slopestyle skier Max Moffatt and his mother moved to Calgary, from Ontario, a few weeks before the beginning of high school to reduce his travel to and from Calgary- based training camps and take advantage of flexible education opportunities the National Sport School (NSS) offers. Max fell during training early in the fall tearing his right meniscus. As a member of the Development National Team the injury occurred at the worst possible time; the beginning of the competitive season. There is never a good time for an injury and this was clearly not part of the transition plan.

The 16 year-old has been in recovery-mode since the injury. He is guided by CSIC staff Kevin Wagner, Lisa Hoffart, his physiotherapists and Steven Brazil, his strength and conditioning coach, to ensure this young athlete is back on his feet as soon as possible.

Max was not allowed to put weight on his foot for the first 2 months of his recovery. The HydroWorx Underwater Treadmill (a world class rehabilitation technology offered at the WinSport Medicine Clinic) was an instrumental piece of equipment for Max to access so that he could exercise to maintain strength during this phase of recovery. The treadmill permits no more than 50% of Max's body weight on his leg at any given moment. Max typically uses it twice a week, constantly attempting new movements he was unable perform in the earlier stages of recovery, some which are surprisingly similar to those he performs on his skis. A swimmer from the NSS provided Max with a flutter board which reproduces similar sensations to his sport while under water. Physiotherapist Hoffart believes Max will regain full motion without risk of re-injury by using this technology.

*Watch Underwater Video-1

*Watch Underwater Video-2

It is known that an athlete's core weakens when there is an extensive use of crutches. Strength coach Steve Brazil focused on those core muscles as the first part of his rehabilitation. Now that he is off crutches, Max is working on building his overall strength back to prepare him for on-snow training when he is cleared to train by his physician.

Max's coach is grateful to the CSI team implementing Max's rehabilitation and is confident he will be in form again to compete at the end of the season. Max is thrilled with the treatment direction CSIC is coordinating noting "even though I never want to be injured again, if it has to happen I'd hope it happens here; the facility and people are amazing and I feel like I have the best support I could get."

CSIC team wishes Max a fast recovery!

Canadian Sport Institute Calgary: @csicalgary

Photo by Dave Holland: @csicalgaryphoto

Dr. Brian Benson completed his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Epidemiology with a focus on sport-related concussion and is a leader in the field. WinSport Medicine Clinic and Canadian Sport Institute Calgary (CSIC) offered him the opportunity to continue his research and clinical practice as part of its broader focus on athlete assessment, management and prevention. Dr. Benson, the Director of Sport Medicine for CSIC says that for concussed individuals "timely access to the best possible clinical care is critical to ensure an optimal recovery and safe return to play".

The Canadian Sledge Hockey team started 2015 with a training camp hosted in Calgary from January 11th to the 17th. Made up of 19 players from across the country, their training centre is now at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park. Henceforth, Calgary is the city that the Canadian Sledge Hockey team can call "home", says assistant coach Ron Choules.

CSI Calgary's Integrated Support Team is leading the implementation of the team's programming. During this initial training camp, the IST acquired data on the ice and in the lab. Speed, aerobic fitness, shooting accuracy, body composition and strength were measured over a two day period.

Since the Sledge Hockey Team's transition following Sochi in late fall 2014, this is the first opportunity the team has had to do baseline testing, says Erin Sargent, the exercise physiologist who is leading the testing. She also noted that these tests will help to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each individual athlete from an overall fitness standpoint.

Andy Van Neutegem, the team's General Manager, says that the expertise at CSI Calgary will benefit the team and the data will be a powerful tool used to guide team programming. Moving forward, the athletes will regroup 6 to 8 times a year for a duration of 7 to 9 days to train and partake in testing, which should lead to improved performances and a better understanding of the variables to success for future games. After each training camp, the individual athletes will have a customized plan, which includes nutrition, strength and mental preparation. They can then train in their hometowns with a comprehensive approach for the whole team to address areas needing improvement.

For IST members Erin Sargent, Kelly Quipp, Jessica Kryski, Jeff Osadec and John Horton, the goal is to create a sledge hockey player profile in order to define a standard for the national team. Chris Osmond, their strength and conditioning coach, assisted with the testing and will design individualized programs for each athlete.

At present, the team is preparing for the World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Leduc, Alberta from February 1st – 7th. They will be back in Calgary the first week of March to train and have their progress evaluated. The team's next tournament takes place from March 22nd-29th in North Carolina in preparation for the 2015 World Championships from April 24th to May 1st in Buffalo, NY.

Canadian Sport Institute Calgary: @csicalgary

Photo by Dave Holland: @csicalgaryphoto