Lots to Report This Week!
December 22, 2011
I had a great productive week:
Physio therapy - Dr. Aiello has done an amazing job on my ankle and it’s getting so much better. I’ve even got used to the acupuncture 
It’s the first time that I’ve had an injury that I haven’t been discouraged since he’s given me a wide range of exercises to do on my own. I’ve been going to the gym everyday and working really hard with keeping up my cardio and I feel a lot stronger with the weight training. Spider Tech bandages have been extremely helpful and provided me with the necessary bandages that I need. They are the so much more comfortable to wear. I get all the support of normal braces but they allow full range of motion.
The tape comes in different colours and shapes that are designed for each part of the body
Javelin – I’ve been able to do most of the javelin drills during the last month except for the running, jumping and pivoting. This week was really exciting because I got to meet new people that Bill has coached over the years. Some of them are coming back after being away at university and others are returning after a few years break. They are such a talented group of athletes and it’s a great environment to be in. My strength training is going very well and I know that it will really help with my distances. One of Bill’s previous throwers (Cheryl Coker) came to visit. He was her coach in the the 1980′s and he said that she was one of his best throwers ever! It was inspirational. She is now a biomechanics and motor learning professor at the university in New Hampshire. She was watching our movements very closely so I really didn’t want to mess up. Bill wants us to use an application on our IPhones called Coach’s Eye to help perfect our movements. It’s the coolest app ever. You film your movements and it plays back in slow motion or you can freeze each frame and then draw lines of what the proper technique is. I am going to use this app not only for Javelin but also for my taekwon-do pattern training. Check out their site. I love how technology and science play such an important role in training.
Taekwon-Do - I’ve really missed TKD but it’s too hard with all the pivoting and direct contact on my ankle. This week was the first time that I tried a pattern. It felt so good just being back in my dobok. It’s like my second skin My balance wasn’t the greatest but I know it will be fine. At least there was not pain. I was especially happy to be wearing the Spider Tech tape for extra support. Now I just have to start SLOWLY with the kicking drills on the paddles to see how that feels. Paddles are great since they move with the foot so it’s not such a hard impact. I will train on my own over the Christmas holidays so I can be ready to resume my normal classes and training.
Soccer – is the last sport that I’m able to try according to Dr. Aiello. He doesn’t want me playing at least until January. My OSU Force soccer team leaves for Florida next week to play in the Disney Cup Showcase Tournament. We’ve been training extra hard over the last couple of months (on and off the field) to prepare for this. This is a great opportunity to be seen by University scouts. I really hope that they do well and I can’t wait to hear all about it when they get back. Good luck ladies
All in all, I’m very happy with the way things are progressing and I am looking forward to the holidays to take in some extra training time and to fully heal my ankle. I have so much to look forward to in 2012!!!
The Turning Point in My Recovery!!! :)
December 13, 2011
What a great night!!! I started by going to physio and got some really hopeful news. My ankle is getting better and healing nicely so I get to slowly start trying some of my normal workout activities to test my ankle out and to start getting back into certain aspects of my training that won’t hurt my ankle.
At javelin tonight, I got to try some of my running drills and my ankle was feeling good so I was more than excited! I was able to pick up some speed and started to feel the rush. It’s so cool because I was going so fast and the adrenaline kicked in and I really wanted to just explode and let the javelin fly. It was amazing for my confidence and attitude towards the injury. It was also a great night for everyone in the javelin group. We all had our own little eureka moments and I think coach Bill was happy with everything too
I’m being patient, optimistic and trying to stay mentally focused in my sports even though I’m not participating fully. That way, when I get back it won’t feel like I missed 4 or 5 weeks.
It’s so convenient that Dr. Aiello works in the same dome as I train with the Lions Track and Field club. After my physio session was over I was told to go to the track and try specific drills which was exciting and then I had to go back to report how everything felt. It was reassuring that I was progressing and not doing any damage.
I still can’t play soccer or do much taekwon-do because they are such impact sports and require a lot of pivoting but I can start doing some javelin drills to ease my way back into things. I can’t wait to get back to all of my sports. I miss playing soccer and taekwon-do so much. It’s reassuring because I feel like I have a full team of people helping me heal and get better. I still feel apart of everything. Tonight was a fantastic start and turning point in my recovery and it’s only going to get better!
Thank You Samguk TKD in Montreal for Your Hospitality
December 7, 2011
One of the best things about Taekwon-Do are the friendships that you develop over the years no matter where you live. You develop a special bond since you share the same passion for the art and you train and travel so much together.
Last weekend I took the Voyageur bus to Montreal to spend time with the students from Samguk TKD. They had a tournament for coloured belts and my best friend Stephanie Boivin was receiving her 2nd degree black belt certificate. I knew several of the other students who were also getting promoted so I wanted to be there.
Samguk started with a testing for the ‘Little Dragons’. OMG these kids are adorable! They are 3-5 years old and they are so cute!!!! I started TKD when I was 3 years old so I can remember just what I was like at that age. The proud parents were so cute to watch too. I’m sure I’ll be the same some day
Mr. Filion gave out some very nice awards of recognition as well. Stephanie Boivin and Philip Boyd received the ‘Athletes of the Year’ award for their dedication to their training and instruction. Philip has competed at several World Championships and Stephanie has competed at two World Championships as well as making the transitions to CEGEP while keeping their school marks up. It was very classy gesture from Mr. Filion. Every year as I get older I can understand how much harder it is to keep a good balance between training, competing, school, work, coaching, friends and family, let alone having any ‘down’ time and that is why these awards of recognition are so important. People don’t realize how much time is devoted or the sacrifices you have to make to compete at this level.
Stephanie receiving her special award from Mr. Filion
Mr. Filion also formally introduced me to everyone telling them about my medals at the World Championships. I felt a bit awkward but I have to admit it also felt really nice
I was asked to give a pattern demonstration with some other black belts to show the “Little Dragons’ and the colored belts what they could work towards. My ankle is still injured so my pattern certainly was not the greatest but I still wanted to be a part of it. I still can’t do any motions where pivoting my foot is involved so I didn’t do any of the kicking drills, sparring or specialty demonstration.
The Specialty Techniques Demonstration was cool
Alex is so great with the kids!
The evening was followed by a fun dinner banquet to celebrate everyone’s accomplishments and I had an absolute blast. Everyone is so nice and they always make me feel so welcome every time I go.
Spending time with friends like Stephanie, Philip, and my other good friend Alex Matta brought back memories of travelling together for the World Championships. Alex even made me chocolate chip cookies!!!! It’s our little ‘inside thing’ from New Zealand and it meant a lot to me. Thanks Alex, you’re so sweet
‘Life is like a cookie….you can either focus on all the crumbs that you drop or you can savour the delicious chocolate chips. I prefer to savour the chocolate chips!!!!’ – Kayla Maduk
Getting to know Michelle and Maude better and other students was also fun. Age doesn’t matter in TKD. Since everyone trains together it’s not like you are separated by age category like in my other ‘team’ events. Some of my best friends are twice my age.
I can’t wait to go back and visit again soon. Thanks everyone for your great hospitality.
How to Work Through Injuries
December 6, 2011
Everyone is QUICK to say ‘injuries are all part of being an athlete’. However, when you are the athlete with the injury there is NOTHING QUICK about it 
Two weeks ago while I was in a soccer game I got kicked hard in the ankle and as a result I also rolled it at the same time. After giving it a week of rest with no improvement I had x-rays to rule out the possibility of any chips or fractures. It ends up that I have an injured deltoid ligament due to an inversion compression force. The synovium has been irritated and is inflamed and my tibialis posterior is also strained. My ankle is also bruised from the impact.
Any coach will tell you that once you find a good network of sports doctors and a physiotherapist you should stick with them! I feel very lucky to have found a doctor who has me on a good recovery plan. Dr. Anthony Aiello works out of the Louis Riel Sport Medicine Centre which is also where I train with the Lions Club. He really understands that I can’t afford to sit around and wait to get better. I need to keep my strength and cardio during an injury so I can get back as quickly as possible. I’ve never had a doctor give me such detailed exercises before combined with ART massage, acupuncture, and TENS.
Ice, Ice and More Ice
Gotta Say I'm NOT a fan of the 7 Needles in My Foot!
Love This Spider Tech Tape for Support
Everyday, I chart my exercises and progress so I don’t get discouraged. Dr. Aiello really wants me to record all the little improvements so he can pin point what to work on. In order to maintain my cardio and strength I use the stationary bike and weights every day. My javelin coach Bill Heikkila, sends me videos regularly to watch so I’m still learning and has me doing as many of the drills that we normally do that don’t require any pivoting. It’s really nice to have the support of coaches. My soccer coaches and team mates have been great but I can’t stand sitting on the sidelines as they play. I’m freaking out a bit about TKD since I miss it so much. Just about everything I do in TKD requires the full ankle movement.
Since I can’t participate in gym class I am able to go to the attached community sports centre where they have a full gym/weight room and work on my own. I was really happy that they agreed to let me go.
Dr. Aiello put on this amazing bright blue tape called ‘Spider Tech’. It’s waterproof and you keep in on for about a week. I’m afraid what it’s going to feel like when he takes it off in a couple of days since my ankle feels so much more secure with it on. It’s better than a brace since it doesn’t limit your movement but it gives you the support.
I’m sure if I do everything I’m told and keep a positive mind set knowing that I’m still at least doing some sort of training I will be back to normal soon. I have way too many big goals that I’m working towards for this to get in my way.
