JULY 1, 2008
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Training with Todd Presented by PerformXracing.com |
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Kyle McGlynn sat out the first two rounds of the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals to allow his fractured collarbone to heal. He returned in Morden, where be battled through bad starts and crashes to finish 21-12 in MX2. The next round in Regina went much better with a 10-7 for 8th overall. |
By Todd Schumlick
Photos by James Lissimore
Hello, RXC readers! With three of the riders that I’m training (Colton Facciotti, Kyle McGlynn, and Missy Hackett) breaking clavicles (collarbones) earlier this season, I figured such an injury might be a good topic to discuss. Currently, all three riders have made a return to their respective series, but each had to miss a round or two due to injury. Let me breakdown the circumstances and details of Kyle’s return to racing, as both Colton and Missy followed nearly the same protocol….
After ten weeks of training and coaching Kyle McGlynn in California, the Team PerformX rider, unfortunately, sustained a clavicle fracture during his first week (end of April) of returning home to Grande Prairie, Alberta. Damn hard pack! X-rays showed a complete, yet clean, fracture, which the doctor recommended not having any surgery on.
With only four weeks until Round 1 in Ste-Julie, we pretty much knew it wasn’t going to happen. Two days after the injury, I had Kyle back in the gym completing his pre-season weight training and cardiovascular routines. We changed all upper body exercises to specific single arm movements, and trained only his right (non-injured) side. Research has proven that this increases healing by up to 50 percent. Lower body training only required slight changes, and cardiovascular was as per normal. Not only did the training keep us on track conditioning-wise, but also all the circulation and oxygenation promoted quicker healing to the injury.
In my own experience, the training is as successful as hyperbaric therapy, but with the added benefits of conditioning. It’s also a heck of a lot cheaper! X-rays after two weeks showed the straightening and calcification (bone growth) of the fracture, and we began some light resistance on his left (injured) side. Not only did this promote some much-needed strength and conditioning of Kyle’s muscular and neuromuscular system, but it also gave us a gauge of when Kyle would be ready to ride again.
With a kinesiology degree and 10 years experience as a “motocross trainer,” I try to provide the riders with the guidance and confidence as to when they should be ready to get back on the bike. It was during the fourth week that we both agreed Kyle was ready to handle some light riding; he was able to put in a couple of light days (50 percent speed, no jumping/whoops) at the track. X-rays at this time also showed some good mending. This is a tricky period for a rider, as the time on the bike promotes some form of therapy and conditioning, but it also means running the risk of falling and re-fracturing the partially healed bone.
During week five, Kyle was able to put in four days on the track around 70 percent of his speed and started light jumping but still no whoops. At this point, his physical limitations were all but gone and it was now time to deal with the mental and technical shortcomings of an injury.
Now six weeks post-injury, and one week to go before Kyle’s debut at Round 3 of the MX2 series in Morden, I had a specific protocol and plan in place. Our goal was to find as much speed and performance on bike as possible—all in one week. How did it go? After observing Kyle’s progression in California, I could see him riding at 75 percent during practice and qualifying at Morden. We discussed the strategy for the second moto and let the chips fall where they may.
In moto one, Kyle fell right at the beginning and worked his way from 40th to a 21st place finish. Riding at about 75 percent provided some confidence in his abilities. We discussed some strategy for moto two, and agreed to push speed to about 80 percent. Not being used to racing and pushing with a group, Kyle once again fell during the start of the race, but worked his way from about 35th to a 12th place finish. He also lowered his lap times by three seconds, while most of the field maintained their lap times from the first moto.
We both agreed that it was a successful start to his racing and made some goals for the week. We then headed out to Swift Current, Saskatchewan with Shawn Maffenbeier and Kyle Murphy to ride some hard pack. With all of our goals met during the week of training and riding in Swift Current, it was off to Round 4 of the series in Regina. Practice and qualifying went as planned, as Kyle pushed at about 80 percent. With the same strategy for moto one, he started about 17th, and worked his way to a 10th place finish. Once again, we discussed a strategy for moto two, and agreed that Kyle would push a little harder.
Kyle came around the first corner in 13th place and ended up finishing seventh for eighth overall. With the sixth fastest lap time, we once again agreed that all goals had been met. Immediately following the race, we set new goals: practice starts and make a few critical changes to bike set-up (thanks to factory KTM’s assistance).
We’re now two weeks until Round 5 in Nanaimo. When will Kyle be ready to ride to his full ability? Only when he and I agree that we have met the demands of riding at that level, as this to me is the most important part of the strategizing, planning, and succeeding.
If anyone has any further questions or thoughts, please feel free to contact me at info@performxracing.com.
