Another layer of help to athletes

Noisy crowd at our last game at the Paralympics. Some people in the crowd had tears in their eyes when the women pulled the banner after the first game.

As physicians, we are part of the team to help assure the health of the athletes is optimized for their performance. Basically we try to keep them healthy. We deal with injuries and illnesses as they appear.

The therapy staff is real busy with daily management of all sorts of physical ailments, new and chronic.

If you are at a Formula 1 race, car mechanics are crucial for the performance of the pilot.

If you are at bike races, the mechanic is also crucial for the athletes' bikes being optimized and tuned for the race.

Here at the Paralympics, as at other international para-sport events like the Parapan Am games, there is also that extra layer of support usually offered by the very busy car from Ottobock.

Ottobock can fix pretty much everything

They are involved in more than simply fixing things

They have their main shop in the Village and a small shop at every venue. They even have a mini welding unit at the WC rugby venue as their chairs are like metal tanks and often need more than an extra screw. They need bodywork.

Athletes may get the best service they have ever encountered when they arrive here form countries where these services are limited. It's easy to see as we have been amongst thousands of athletes with prosthetics and chairs that some have the best possible (USA, Canada, some European  countries) but there are some that are barely holding on and one will note the country of the athlete is often small and would be considered third world economy.

The same could go for prosthetics where a high tech articulated leg with computer elements can be seen on some athletes and some other ones have basic limbs holding on with leather straps.



























As of yesterday, they were up too 2054 jobs done. Not for an event that has been ongoing for less than 2 weeks. Long hours indeed.

Happy at work

Last night I went to watch Canada against Australia in WC rugby. I knew it would be a loud crowd as all arenas are extremely loud but this match has been awaited for. They met in the gold medal game in London and Australia won.
WC rugby is played on an indoor court. The ball, like in field rugby, has to be brought across the end line by a player. There are various levels of disability in the players and they are scored with numbers similar to WCBB. 4 players can be on the court and the total points cannot be higher than 8.
Here's some interesting trivia. It was invented by 5 Canadians in Winnipeg in 1976. At that time WCBB was quite popular but many individuals with partial quadriplegia or other limb altering effects from congenital conditions, neuromuscular conditions or amputations couldn't play as they weren't able to shoot, pass or dribble well enough. They founded this sport originally called "murderball" and a great documentary was made following the USA team. It's called "Murderball". You should find it and watch it. It's a good initiation of the sport.

Players have to have a disability involving at least 3 limbs. Some of the faster and hardest hitting players usually have amputation or congenital conditions which allows them to maintain their strength. Partial quads have residual functions of their biceps and other varying upper limb function which explains their low chair (they don't have the ability to hold themselves up as they have no core muscular control).
It is a wild sport with a lot of contact and banging chairs. The crowd goes crazy when an athlete is flipped! This would typically terrify the non-initiated viewer but it gets the crowd going!

Australia prevailed yesterday after a 3 minute overtime period. They won by one point. Now the Canadians need to face the USA to advance.

Zak Madell is the obvious pillar of our Canadian team

I've seen this lad, Ryley Blatt, play dominantly in 2008. He was only 19! These are already his 4th Paralympic Games

So now we are dwindling dow. This morning it's packing time. The worst part of the games. Complicated inventories, manifests for customs....If we all get together and get it done quickly, then I'll try and get some free time tomorrow before closing ceremonies.