ATC | CAT(C) | DOMP | CSCS Injury Mechanism Specialist @InjuryExpertz Injury • Rehab • Return to Performance Looking for the connections others may have missed.
Joined April 2011
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20+ years in pro sport, rehab & performance.
I look at injuries differently.
Here I’ll break down:
• Athlete injury histories
• Complex & recurring injuries
• Return to performance
Not just WHAT happened, but WHY, and what might be getting missed.
Three major injuries. Same side. Coincidence?
2022: Right foot Lisfranc injury.
2024: Right iliac wing fracture.
2026: Right patellar tendon tear.
I hope these next 8–10 weeks involve more than biological treatment.
I’d be particularly interested in reassessing his right foot mechanics and any residual deficits from the Lisfranc injury.
Treating the tendon is one thing. Understanding why it failed is another.
Isaac Howard's knee-on-knee collision looked bad initially, but slowing down the footage suggests it may not be as severe as it first appeared.
Direct contact seems to be the primary concern, with a possible mild hyperextension component. I don't see an obvious significant rotational mechanism.
A contusion is certainly possible, although ligament involvement can't be ruled out from video alone.
Encouraging to hear the early reports are favourable.
Darren McConaghy retweeted
From @EdmontonOilers Mike Babcock on Isaac Howard "we dont think its as serious as we first thought".
Let's hope the third time's a charm for Chris Tanev.
After multiple injuries and setbacks over the past year, I'd be interested to know what objective assessments and return-to-play criteria have guided this latest decision, and whether anything has changed in his preparation.
Wishing Tanev a healthy and successful return.
Chris Tanev has been activated from injured reserve and will play in Toronto's game against the Vancouver Canucks tonight.
(via @NHL)
Darren McConaghy retweeted
Devin Cooley is week-to-week with a lower body injury, per head coach Ryan Huska.
Brennan Othmann (upper body) is day-to-day. #Flames
Darren McConaghy retweeted
Brock Faber’s return to play protocol has been cleared. No timetable yet, but he can start skating in a few days
Darren McConaghy retweeted
🚨 BREAKING: The Maple Leafs have officially listed F Kirill Marchenko as “week to week” with a lower-body injury and have recalled F Dakota Joshua from his AHL conditioning loan, per @LeafsPR
Rest of Leafs injuries:
🔹 Chris Tanev has been upgraded to day-to-day
🔹 John Tavares, Nick Blankenburg and Marshall Rifai remain week-to-week
#leafs
Devin Cooley has captivated us this week, and now suffers a concerning left knee injury.
The collision while in a deep butterfly position raises concern for ligamentous injury, particularly the MCL or ACL, depending on the rotational forces involved.
Hoping it's nothing serious.....
🚨 NHL INJURY UPDATE | OCT 28
• Kirill Marchenko (TOR): Lower body, week-to-week
• Zach Hyman (EDM): Neck injury, IR
• Jared McCann (SEA): Lower body, out 10 weeks
• Rasmus Ristolainen (PHI): Upper-body reinjury, out 2+ weeks
• Chris Tanev (TOR): Upper body, day-to-day
NHL INJURY UPDATE (2/3)
• Carter Hart (VGK): Injured during morning skate, being evaluated
• Kyle Capobianco (DAL): Lower body, out at least one week
• Taylor Hall (CAR): Upper-body injury
• Jiri Kulich (BUF): Concussion protocol
• John Tavares (TOR): Lower body, week-to-week
• John Marino (UTA): Upper body, week-to-week
• Elmer Söderblom (PIT): Upper body, day-to-day
This is impressive!
Matthew Schaefer became the first player in NHL HISTORY to play an entire five-minute overtime without leaving the ice, per @FriedgeHNIC 🤯
The 19-year-old finished with 32:16 of ice time and an assist in New York's shootout win over Nashville 😳
Could oxygen availability be an overlooked factor in concussion recovery?
Interesting connection here to the emerging research on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for TBI.
Commercial flying reduces oxygen pressure, while HBOT increases oxygen delivery to tissues.
Given the mitochondrial dysfunction and altered energy metabolism that can follow brain injury, it’s worth asking how changes in oxygen availability influence recovery.
The research remains inconclusive, but I think this is an area deserving much greater attention.
This article was not peer reviewed so take it with a couple grains of salt, but I was able to find a 2012 conference abstract on NFL and NHL players found that those who flew commercially soon after brain injury missed more games.
The authors suggested postponing flights by 48–72 hours until early symptoms ease.
Kirich took a big blow to the head, so likely just a precaution and is what it says
Interesting find I thought I’d share!
Kirill Marchenko's injury mechanism raises concern for an MCL sprain, with the left knee appearing to undergo valgus stress as he falls.
His skate wasn't fixed, which may have reduced the rotational forces through the knee.
Encouraging that he attempted another shift, although he ultimately left the game.
Worth noting he also missed time with a lower-body injury in February, but the location of that injury remains unclear.
Kirill Marchenko just went to the Maple Leafs dressing room after falling awkwardly on his leg
Praying it’s nothing serious…
#leafs
Darren McConaghy retweeted
Injury updates from Leafs GM John Chayka:
Chris Tanev "progressing nicely" & should rejoin practice soon
John Tavares resumed skating in Toronto
Dakota Joshua done conditioning stint & will be recalled soon
Max Domi skating on his own, remains out indefinitely
@TSN_Sports
Logan Thompson's injury history raises some interesting questions about his latest setback.
In 2018 with Brandon (WHL), he suffered a leg injury, missed the final five regular-season games, returned for the playoffs and reinjured it in Game 2, ending his season.
In February 2023 with Vegas, he suffered an apparent left-leg injury, missing 18 games. He returned in March, only to suffer another lower-body injury in his first game back. His rehabilitation subsequently stalled, with Bruce Cassidy acknowledging he wasn't responding well to the workload. He never played again that season.
In April 2025, a collision forced him into the splits, leaving him unable to bear weight on his left leg.
Now, another lower-body injury with apparent left-leg discomfort.
We don't know whether these injuries involve the same structures, but the repeated setbacks following return to play are concerning.
Is there an underlying issue with force production, load tolerance or unresolved deficits from previous injuries?
Sometimes the injury isn't the entire problem. It's what remains after the athlete returns to play.
Logan Thompson left practice after 45 minutes today, which could mean nothing and just be load management
It does not really confirm any diagnosis, but given the speculation of an adductor strain it could’ve been under recovered and loaded too early
Pain usually goes away with these strains in a couple days but can be felt with higher level activities for a couple weeks
The worst fear is a higher grade strain or insertional injury
I wrote an article on adductor strains that will help below!
Is traditional physical therapy losing the ability to think outside the protocol?
It's becoming increasingly similar to traditional medicine.
Diagnose. Follow the protocol. Treat the symptoms. Repeat.
More research. More technology. More certifications.
But less curiosity?
Are we treating individuals or simply managing diagnoses?
N=1.