Rutherford demands training changes
Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford, concerned about his team's run of injuries in recent seasons, has instructed strength and conditioning coach Pete Friesen to make sweeping changes to the off-season conditioning regimen for the players.
Rutherford has broached the subject in various ways the last few weeks, including in an interview this week with TSN. And he was blunt today.
"I've given my opinion cautiously the last few years, because it's a long way from my expertise," Rutherford said. "But with the amount of injuries we've had, we have to do something different. There's some reason we've had so many and it's not coincidence.
"I'm not saying don't train. But in my opinion, athletes today may over-train. There have been a lot more injuries in the past decade, especially in hockey."
Friesen is in his 11th season as athletic therapist and strength and conditioning coach and his workouts and training regimen are demanding. Rutherford said he wants Friesen to research different training approaches and have a new off-season program in place after this season.
Rutherford said he wants to limit off-ice stress testing, such as running steps, and wants Friesen to develop training programs suited for each individual player.
"We have the same training program for all players, whether they're 40 or 18, goalie, defenseman or forward," Rutherford said. "We need to do something different."
Canes forward Justin Williams was lost for four to six months after an Achilles tendon tear late last month. Williams was training at an off-site training facility and the injury said to be a "fluke."
Rutherford said he would not bar the players from using such facilities, nor would he ask the players not to participate in the Friesen 5K Fun Run, a charity event held before training camp begins. Center Rod Brind'Amour reinjured his left knee during this year's event and missed much of camp following surgery.
"It could have been a fluke," Rutherford said of Williams' injury. "But it seems to me all hockey players don't have to be triathletes. To say you're in great shape doesn't do any good if you're in great shape and sitting in the press box injured during games."
Chip Alexander
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is in his second season as the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at chip.alexander@newsobserver.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @ice_chip.
Comments
Starting from the ground up
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 22:19 — Lifetime Trainer (not verified)I don't think over training is the issue with the players but loss of functionality with their movements. Has anyone on staff considered pulling the players aside and giving them a proper posture assessment to see if their body is in proper alignment. As a trainer, this is the FIRST thing I do to see if a person is ready to even lift ANY weight. Strength and Conditioning coaches, NSCA CSCS coaches, are trained with more olympic style movements in mind (ie., explosive power, heavy lifting, lower reps). I don't know what the training program variables include, but the staff needs to take the approach of treating every player like they already have an injury and rebuild their off season program with the mindset of building their training from the ground up, literally. Studies have shown that weakness in the ankles and knees and poor balance have a direct influence on core stability, lack of shoulder ROM, and a poor pelvo-ocular reflex* (article link below). Focus on balance training, self myofascial stretching, controlled unstable movements. Look, hockey is a sport where players are constantly off balance moving side to side, up and down, taking blunt force trauma. Are the players training the same way or do they simply lift weights. My point is this. It's a matter of training the players in unorthodox routines because that's how they move and hit on the ice. The staff should look into bringing the CEO of NASM in or hire a NASM-PES and CES specialist.
I'd be happy to come in and evaluate....
*core stability link (National Academy of Sports Medicine):
http://books.google.com/books?id=-qW8oV-SXo4C&pg=PA201&lpg=PA201&dq=pelv...
Brind'Amour's Injury
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 22:12 — Will (not verified)I'm pretty sure he didn't re-injure his knee.
Didn't it lead to the discovery of torn cartilage?
Injuries
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 15:55 — Anonymous (not verified)OK, as we all know, contact sports lead to injuries. I don't think the injuries during the season can directly be related to training...Cullen's concussion, Brind"Amour's knee, Walker's chest...were all contact injuries. Any sport will have injuries during conditioning/preseason training. It happens in football and hockey, especially, because of the adapting to contact the players must go through. Blaming every injury or problem on over-training is not correct. Williams' injury caused all of this to explode both in the press, which Rutherford should not have done, and on chat boards. If he would have not been injured, this would not be an issue. I still say that you put guys Whitney's size and Ruutu's size on the ice with 6'2 and 6'3 guys and they will get injured. As size and strength increase, so will injuries. Every fan dreads seeing and injury to a player, especially a potential star, but they happen and will continue to happen. It's the nature of this sport and every team is a victim of injuries. Also, if the same training is so good for goalies and shift players, why has Ward not been injured? Shouldn't be played out by the GM in the press. May be a good issue for a reporter to address, but keep team business with the team.
Props to Mr. Rutherford
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 12:38 — Anonymous (not verified)I'm glad that this is finally being addressed. I think Jim hit the nail on the head with his comment on "over-training." This is a concept many people have no knowledge of, but there is a point at which training becomes counter-productive, actually making athletes more susceptible to injuries. Also, the right exercises need to be done to preserve flexibility while strengthing muscle groups that protect joints. I remember an article earlier in the summer about Brind'Amour's knee rehab. It was either a doctor or a trainer that commented on Rod's lack of core flexibility due to the tightness of his muscles. Building muscle in the right places, maintaining flexibility, & allowing for adequte rest & recuperative periods will help protect against many injuries, even some that occur as "freak" or "fluke" accidents.
Right on
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 14:18 — corner sitter (not verified)Yes, I think you nailed it, Anonymous13:38.
I sometimes wonder if guys that are a bit "loose" in certains areas is not a benefit? You know, if your muscles are not so tight, maybe the joint can move a bit without ripping on some tendon/ligament that is pulling against the muscle?
I'm no physiologist, but if I were, or thinking of getting an advanced degree here, I would see an opportunity for research.
And each sport is surely different. That's another area that needs to be studied more in depth.
Injuries
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 11:48 — Chris (not verified)JR is 100% right. It's not just Brind'Amour & Williams, it's been Ruutu & Whitney as well who have been hampered by preseason injuries and probably will be for the rest of the season. Man games lost to overtraining is unacceptable and for JR to take any other course of action that he has would be negligent.
Friesen
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 10:24 — Anonymous (not verified)Oh, this explains Walker hurting his wrist in a fight. Or Cullen's injury last year. As for Williams, twisting doing the "gassers" he was running is what did it. That is a common injury with tennis players, so stay away from the courts, guys. I have run dozens and dozens for races and helped on over 100 and an injury like Brind'Amour's is unheard of. I'm 100% sure that was caused by weakness in the ligaments as a result of his surgery. I even asked an orthopedists if he had heard of that type of injury from straight ahead running and he said, "no".
As another poster said, players work out on their own or with other trainers as Brind'Amour said he did after his surgery.
This isn't news, but hockey is a violent sport, as is football. Players can make good money and will do whatever they can to be the best they can be and extend their careers. That means pushing themselves. They strive to be faster and stronger which translates into more violent collisons and more injuries.
Win and everything is great. Lose and you start pointing fingers. This is a good example.
Plus, look and the size of many of the Canes...5'9" and 5'10" fill the roster. That is a big factor in the injuries.
Both Canes players and opposing teams have commented on how well conditioned the team is, especially in the 3rd period. Go Friesen. You know how to motivate and train these guys and everyone knows that.
Friesen? One has to
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 15:02 — Anonymous (not verified)Friesen? One has to wonder, you seem to be taking the cristicism personally. No one would argue that some of the injuries are 'flukes' like Coles soccer injury or just part and parcel of the game. However, it is not outside the bounds for the GM to question a practice that he feels may not be working for the team. No one said Friesen has done a poor job or that he is incompetent. Rutherford has just decided another approach would be more appropriate for this team. Frankly, I would think that Friesen would welcome the challenge. They probably should have been doing more specialized training anyway. It just makes common sense. I would be curious to know what other teams do as part of their training regimens.
It's about time. I agree
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 09:54 — Jim (not verified)It's about time. I agree with Canes GM. I am a season ticket holder, I am paying to see all the players. This is three years in a row now, top line players out for 3-6 months. If these players are injury prone, time to bring in different players. Go Canes!
Wow. Friesen has gotten
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 09:29 — caneshockeyfanWow. Friesen has gotten nothing but praise in the press to this point. Now JR is throwing him under the bus? Shouldn't this be an internal issue?
But, yeah, it makes sense that there should be different approaches for different ages and the goaltenders should probably work on things specific to that position. Standing in a sustained crouch, for example, is specific to that position.
JR certainly didnt throw PF
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 10:10 — Anonymous (not verified)JR certainly didnt throw PF under the bus, he simply said things need to change and its PF's job to change it.
If the team kept losing games he would do the same with the coaching staff. if the goalies kept letting in too many goals he'd do the same with the goalies.
this is something that has gone on far too long. one season of lukes is bad but understanable, each team has 'em, but 2 in a row... going on 3... something has to change.
no one is saying its all PF's fault, but when it is time to correct it, it then falls on PFs shoulders... its his job.
"But it seems to me all
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 12:39 — caneshockeyfan"But it seems to me all hockey players don't have to be triathletes."
I interpret this quote as being thrown under the bus. I agree that PF is accountable, to an extent, for the health and conditioning of the players, but I still maintain that this should've remained an internal issue. If anything JR could have said something like, "We're evaluating how off-season training regimens are affecting player injuries." And you wouldn't come away thinking he's blaming Friesen. A good manager doesn't embarass his employees.
Triathlete comment
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 14:13 — corner sitter (not verified)Maybe I read too much into what JR is saying, but isn't he commenting on all the cross-training these guys do. "stairs" and what have you?
The old timers just skated... a lot. Maybe JR is asking for a focus on the routines.
Maybe all the lifting and stairs is not doing good. Perhaps it works against the kind of strengths needed on the ice?
Seriously??
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 09:16 — Anonymous (not verified)At first glance what JR is suggesting seems very reasonable. Individual training programs targetted at each athlete. Reduction in injuires. Ok. I am with you. BUT - "Rutherford said he would not bar the players from using such facilities, nor would he ask the players not to participate in the Friesen 5K Fun Run" Seriously?? Maybe he should tell each player whether they can play golf during the summer? That should go over well with the players. This comment reaks of a control freak. Good God! I hope not. And regarding Roddy's knee surgery it had nothing to do with the fun run as Chip says. Here's a quote from JR in Chip's blog entry on 9/16 - "It was a little house-cleaning procedure," general manager Jim Rutherford said. "It was expected. We felt it was best to have it performed now instead of, say, the start of the season." (so it was EXPECTED!) So let's not blame training, conditioning or the Fun Run for Roddy's surgery this year. Again, it's not that I am not in favor of individualized workouts to prevent future injuries but let's present the facts as they are. Go Canes!!
good for JR It doesn't sound
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 09:03 — Anonymous (not verified)good for JR
It doesn't sound like he is calling PF out specifically, yet he is in the right to curb this injury issue that has hurt the team for several seasons now... even in 06. Even simple stretching regiments can curb tweaks and pulls, and that is something most athletes tend to skimp on.
there is enough blame to go around here on all parties, so its best to make it an issue and work to resolve it.
Oh yeah? Stretching is
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 14:09 — corner sitter (not verified)Oh yeah? Stretching is good? Who says so?
See, the subject isn't so cut and dried. Some recent studies have questioned the value of stretching. (http://saveyourself.ca/articles/stretching.php) Some studies recommend slow warm ups over stretching.
There's a lot of conflicting advice out there, and not enough hard data.
I think JR has a point here.
It is anectotal... But Babe Ruth probably never stretched a day in his life, unless it was to reach for the next beer.
Workout Diversity
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 08:40 — JRs_Fault"We have the same training program for all players, whether they're 40 or 18, goalie, defenseman or forward," Rutherford said. "We need to do something different."
Man, if this is really true (seems like a gross over-simplification to me), then something should be done... not next summer, but now.
One thing that's missing from JR's comments is the fact that many (most?) of these guys are training outside of Friesen's scope much of the summer on their own/with other trainers.
As noted, he's been giving this same speech in several media outlets
since Williams' injury. It will be interesting to see how this shakes
out, but he seems to be tying Friesen's noose in the press.
I'm Going to
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 08:33 — esteban1949see my cardiologist...as i about had a stroke...as i do agree on this with JR...each player is a wee bit different than the others...as JR said..we do need some changes in training regiments...not everyone can or should do the same things a goalie would need ...but again...I'm a fan...what do i know ? now where are those Nitro pills at...my blood pressure is still too high!!! Maybe i should go run some steps ??
Go Canes !