climber – Ascension https://www.ascensioncalgary.com Strength and rehab training in Calgary. Mon, 09 Jan 2023 02:16:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.1 62793933 Zak McGurk https://www.ascensioncalgary.com/zak-mcgurk/ Wed, 06 Mar 2019 22:58:53 +0000 https://www.ascensioncalgary.com/?p=1725

Profile: Climber, Design Guru, Giant dog owner 

Injury: A really fucked leg

Issue: Falling

Shattered Tib Plateau, blown LCL, fractured ankle, two surgeries and 6 weeks in a wheel chair. Diagnoses: Straight up f*cked.  And thats probably how my leg would have stayed if it wasn’t for Ian and Ascension.

It took hard work, countless “zero” reps ( you’ll learn about these the hard way ) and lots of verbal abuse from Ian

At first, I was sceptical about working with Ian. It wasn’t until he approached me at the climbing gym and asked why I was doing the physio exercises I was doing. My response “because my physiotherapist told me too”. So he had me do one exercise. In 5 minutes I made more progress then I had made in five 1 hour sessions at physio. I signed up for a membership at Ascension the next day and drank the kool-aid.
Now buying a membership didn’t automatically fix my leg. It took hard work, countless “zero” reps ( you’ll learn about these the hard way ) and lots of verbal abuse from Ian. But all joking aside, he changed my life. The hard work and abuse was worth it. I made leaps and bounds and not just in the recovery of my knee. I went into training with Ian in a weak and frail state and I came out the other side, stronger than I had ever been.

Even though my leg is better now, I still train at Ascension today and will continue to train there until Ian kicks me out. This isn’t just because I believe Ian is an amazing trainer, it’s because of the atmosphere and all the incredibly talented people who train there. Ascension is always a motivating, humbling and inspiring place to be.

Zak McGurk

]]> 1725 Lynnette Oliver https://www.ascensioncalgary.com/lynnette-oliver/ Thu, 07 Feb 2019 04:29:58 +0000 https://www.ascensioncalgary.com/?p=1614

Profile: Runs, Swims, Climbs, Plays

Injury: Herniated Disc 

Issue: Easily distracted by dolphins

The minute to minute experience of being, well, not in pain, is unexplainable unless you have lived in that reality.

Ian’s ability to asses, collaborate with other team members, and treat injury is unmatched. Having seen numerous practitioners and taken to alternative therapies without relief, I cannot articulate the magic that is the change I have experienced. But beyond that, Ascension is a place where I’ve come to know community, regain a passion for movement, and a fervour for adventure.

Lynnette Oliver, RN

]]> 1614 Anna Cameron https://www.ascensioncalgary.com/anna-cameron/ Thu, 07 Feb 2019 04:24:57 +0000 https://www.ascensioncalgary.com/?p=1607

Profile: Surgeon, Runner, Occasional Climber, Lover of Books

Injury: Fractured one of those foot bones.

Issue: Frail Bones

On August 26, 2017 I took a lead fall and fractured my left talus. Not just broken in half but entirely displaced tearing most ligaments and tendons in my ankle, I needed  emergency surgery and two screws and a bone anchor to put the pieces back together. The outcome potential was dismal, 70% risk of avascular necrosis (meaning a collapse of the bone and an ankle fusion). My surgeon firmly suggested I forget the possibility of running again.
I spent three months non-weight bearing. By mid December I was finally hobbling around without crutches. By mid February I was backcountry skiing, but utterly unable to walk as soon as the ski boot was off. I knew I needed to rehab properly and other than mobilizing the joint, physio was doing nothing to rehab the rest my body that had spent months compensating for the useless left leg.

My surgeon firmly suggested I forget the possibility of running again.

After one day of backcountry skiing, I made it to a friend’s place barely walking due to the pain. Ian talked me into let him mobilize my ankle. Fifteen excruciating minutes later, I managed to walk out with barely a limp and minimal pain. Convinced, I joined Ascension and the regular torture sessions continued. Working on the ankle, the entire leg and all the compensatory overuse habits I had developed, Ian made sure my strength and balance returned. His fingers really are wooden and they leave bruises, but the range of motion and functional gains are well worth it.

A year later, I’m still rehabbing, working on strength and range of motion with Ian. But I rarely limp and I am running faster than I was prior to the fracture. My surgeon swears that I shouldn’t be able to do the things I can do.
So don’t tell my surgeon I’m climbing again…

Anna Cameron, MD

]]> 1607 Sarah Jury https://www.ascensioncalgary.com/sarah-jury/ Thu, 07 Feb 2019 04:16:50 +0000 https://www.ascensioncalgary.com/?p=1595

Profile: Physio, snowboarder, climber, red-head, debaucherous trouble maker. 

Injury: Knees

Issue: Stubborness

For years I had countless reasons not to join Ascension: I’m not a hardcore mountaineer, I’ll never manage 5am workouts, I’m too busy, Ian’s a pr*ck. And of course the most obvious reason: I’m a physiotherapist, I shouldn’t need someone to tell me how to workout.

 

However, within months of my third knee surgery I was facing the possibility of a fourth. I finally didn’t have a good enough reason NOT to join. After a year at Ascension I can honestly say I’ve never been more functional as an athlete. This was my first summer in four years without a fracture, ACL tear, or surgery and I credit Ascension (and Ian) for that. (And my surgeon, if he reads this).

Ian’s a pr*ck.

I’m still not a hardcore mountaineer, but I’ve never climbed stronger. 5am workouts suck, but I love the other weirdos who workout at that ungodly hour. I’m still too busy, but Ascension is a place I look forward to going to. Ian’s a pr*ck.

 

As for being a physiotherapist? I like to think I’m good at my job. But there comes a time when the rehab ends and the training begins. This is where the pr*ck comes in. When the acute phase passes you need someone who will take you past the dry needling, the ART, and the clamshells, and into the sweat, pain, and kettle bells. Ian provides the push, torture, and laughs necessary to distract you into a functional, challenging, and sport-specific workout. Whether you’re recovering from an injury or looking to take your performance to the next level, I wouldn’t hesitate to send you to Ascension.

 

Did I mention Ian’s a pr*ck?

Sarah Jury, MScPT

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