DENVER (AP) - Gabriel Landeskog, the captain of the Colorado Avalanche, employs small sensors placed in the insoles of his skates during both practices and games. These sensors, which he also wears in his training sneakers and while walking his dog, gather valuable biomechanical data that have aided him in navigating a challenging path back to his hockey career after a three-year hiatus due to a complex knee injury.
The data collected through these sensors includes various metrics, such as movement patterns, asymmetry, and whether he is favoring his surgically repaired right knee. It also analyzes his workloads during games and practices, stride characteristics, and how his feet interact with different surfaces, whether on the ground or ice. This comprehensive data helps Landeskog understand when he is at peak performance and when he needs to take a break, effectively preventing overexertion that could lead to setbacks in his recovery and training.
“This detects any red flags before I even feel them,” said Landeskog, particularly in the context of the Avalanche trailing the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final, where he has contributed with two goals out of the team’s six. He expressed gratitude for the technology, stating it has been “super important” and a significant aid in his rehabilitation process.
The technology he utilizes comes from Plantiga, an innovative AI-driven movement platform designed to assist athletes in optimizing performance and minimizing injury risk. Besides NHL players like Landeskog, Plantiga’s technology is also trusted by teams and players in the NBA, NFL, WNBA, and MLB, as well as various college athletes and casual weekend athletes.
Matthew Jordan, Plantiga's vice president of performance science and a professor at the University of Calgary, explained the goal of their technology: “What we’re trying to detect is the smoke before the fire.” By monitoring key performance indicators, Plantiga aims to identify issues before athletes experience significant pain or injury, allowing for preventive measures to be taken.
Landeskog’s knee troubles began during the 2020 playoffs when an accidental skate blade cut led to prolonged issues and ultimately a full season absence. After undergoing cartilage replacement surgery on May 10, 2023, Landeskog was introduced to Plantiga in the spring of 2024 through Avalanche strength and conditioning coach Marcin Goszczynski. A meeting between Landeskog and Jordan during an Avalanche game in Calgary initiated this collaboration, marking a pivotal moment in his rehabilitation journey.
Jordan recalled the discussions surrounding Landeskog's injury, noting the challenges he faced and the importance of sharing experiences with other athletes who had suffered similar setbacks. By utilizing “Norman,” a movement intelligence layer named in honor of Plantiga’s co-founder’s late father, Landeskog’s biomechanics can be scrutinized in real-time to identify potential concerns. This proactive approach aims to keep him within an optimal performance zone without overstraining his knee.
Landeskog made his return during Game 3 of the playoffs against Dallas, marking his first NHL appearance in over 1,032 days. His comeback has been promising, as he recorded 14 goals and 21 assists in 60 games during the regular season this year. Throughout the season, Jordan meticulously monitors Landeskog’s skating, looking for abnormalities that may indicate fatigue or injury risk.
This method resembles the functionality of the Oura Ring, which tracks health and wellness metrics, but Plantiga's system offers a higher level of detail by capturing human movement with significantly greater granularity through advanced inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors that provide up to 400 data points per second. Jordan describes it as a “supercharged human movement measuring device.”
To establish a baseline for Landeskog’s biomechanics, his regular walks with his dogs, including his late companion Zoey and his current dog Mila, have played an essential role in data collection. This approach allows for the early detection of minor changes in walking patterns that could signal more significant issues before they escalate.
With this data-driven approach, Landeskog has been able to replace the guesswork in his training. He previously faced situations where he would feel optimistic about his performance, only to overexert himself and flare up his knee, resulting in setbacks. Now, he adheres to the recommendations derived from the data, contributing to his candidacy for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication in the NHL. “I’m humbled and honored by it, but I think for me, the ultimate prize I’ve already won,” Landeskog remarked, emphasizing his gratitude for being able to continue playing hockey.
