INNISFAIL - Staying healthy and in top form is important for any athlete.
That's what registered massage therapist Meagyn Green is helping the Innisfail Eagles do this season.
“We want to make sure the guys are healthy and ready to play,” said Green. “First and foremost are the off-ice activities and making sure they're keeping themselves healthy, doing proper exercise and stretches off the ice and maintaining maximum fitness.”
Green, 25, a registered massage therapist, covered a couple of Eagles games last year but joined the Birds late last summer for her first full-time season.
She studied at Red Deer College and later at the University of Calgary. Green worked at Collegiate Sports Medicine in Red Deer while taking her massage therapy course part-time at the Northern Institute of Massage Therapy.
In addition to schooling, Green brings several years of experience with her to her new role, dating back to her high school days where she helped with a variety of sports teams. Since then she has worked with AAA Bantam, AAA Midget and Junior B hockey players, as well as lacrosse, girls soccer and football teams.
In her role with the Eagles, Green could work with a number of different injuries this season, ranging from sprains to concussions.
“With lower body injuries we're looking at sprained ankles or a bruised bone with a blocked shot, and with upper body we're probably looking at shoulder strains and sprains, possible dislocations, or a couple of bruised ribs here and there,” she said.
“There's a lot of very useful techniques that work. They really help to get the blood flowing, help with circulation and healing.”
Providing treatment, both immediately during a game and throughout the following weeks at practices, is an important component of recovering after an injury, said Green, noting she is with the team at practices, on the road and at home games.
“I enjoy being here and I feel very welcomed,” she said. “It's very rewarding seeing somebody get back to something they love to do,” said Green. “It's a great atmosphere to be around. It's like a family.”
Meagyn Green
"It's very rewarding seeing somebody get back to something they love to do."
