Shriners offering comprehensive care for youth injured while playing sports

Marie-Philip Poulin knows a thing or two about sports injuries.

The three-time Olympic gold medallist suffered a knee injury in 2019 that forced her to miss most of the world championship in Finland.

Poulin, who works as a player development consultant with the Montreal Canadiens, shared her experience with that injury – and the healing process – Wednesday at the Verdun Auditorium.

It was part of a media event hosted by the Shriners Hospitals for Children – Canada.

“At such a young age when you get injured, you don’t necessarily know where to start, where to go. And when you have a program like this that allows you to go and see what’s happening and have the right resources there to know what’s needed. I think that’s huge,” said Poulin.

A new team at the Shriners wants to get young athletes – like Alison Koeppe, who injured themselves playing sports, back on their feet as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Requiring no referral, the care will make sure that children or teens receive full physical and psychological treatment.

“They really made sure that like I was 1,000% ready to go back to the sport,” said Koeppe.

“It’s the first in Canada to have this kind of interdisciplinary program. And we have a team of nutritionists, sports psychologists, physiotherapists, sports reintegration. There is a big team around us ready to help the kids heal,” said Dr. Thierry Pauyo, Orthopedic surgeon, Shriners Hospitals for Children

Koeppe wouldn’t have known the pain she felt in her knees for the last three years was a torn ACL if it weren’t for an MRI scan at the Schriners. She says her experience is common among young athletes, who don’t get diagnosed and treated for their injuries until much later.

The Shriners says it is revolutionizing pediatric sports medicine care in Canada for children and teenagers. Care is being offered to youth who injure themselves while playing sports – with no referral and free of charge.

Some of the treatment offered includes physiotherapy, nutritional and psychological services when related to the sports injury.

“It was honestly like a super smooth transition. Dr. Pauyo, my surgeon, was explaining everything before the surgery even happened. Like how to walk on crutches, how like the anesthesia is going to be in the nerve block,” added Koeppe. “And I also had physio at the hospital, so I wasn’t like applying to go to like other physios outside. It was just all in the hospital.”

“Kids and teens don’t have to be high-performing athletes to be eligible,” a hospital spokesperson said in a statement.

“We’re ready to see the kids, ready to help them get better. And also ready to come to your local community to provide some educational component,” said Dr. Pauyo.