Penguins' Crosby skating regularly in workouts

[RuthlessBurgher]

Sidney Crosby doing on-ice workouts
ESPN.com news services
Updated: July 15, 2011, 10:19 AM ET

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby is back on the ice in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as part of his regular summer program, the team and his agent told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Thursday.

Crosby missed the entire second half of last season after being diagnosed with a concussion Jan. 6.

His agent, Pat Brisson, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Crosby "has been skating for a while."

He last worked out on the ice in April before headaches returned and forced him to stop. People close to Crosby now believe those headaches were caused by a sinus infection, and not symptoms of the concussion, the Tribune-Review reported.

Crosby and Penguins general manager Ray Shero could not be reached for comment, the newspaper reported.

[url]http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/6771406/pittsburgh-penguins-sidney-crosby-returns-ice-workouts[/url]

[hawaiiansteel]

Updated: August 15, 2011

Symptoms still affecting Sidney Crosby

Associated Press


PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby's summer vacation is almost over. Still, there's no telling when the Pittsburgh Penguins star will return to work.

General manager Ray Shero said Monday the former MVP is still dealing with concussion-like symptoms and it's too soon to know if Crosby will be available when the Penguins open camp next month.

Crosby hasn't played in a game since Jan. 5, missing the rest of the regular season and Pittsburgh's first-round playoff loss to Tampa Bay as he slowly recovered from a concussion. He said in April he would be back for training camp, but with about a month to go before the team reports, Shero wouldn't guarantee No. 87 will be in uniform.

The 24-year-old Crosby has spent the summer in Canada working out on his own. Shero doesn't anticipate Crosby returning to Pittsburgh until a week before camp begins. Crosby will undergo a thorough evaluation before he's cleared to participate in full-contact drills.

"He won't be pushed to come back," Shero said.

Though Shero acknowledged Crosby has dealt with lingering symptoms "off and on" over the summer they have not prevented him from shutting down his workout program.

"The good news is he continues to work out, he's worked out hard during the summer," Shero said. "We'll see where we are come training camp."

Coach Dan Bylsma doesn't think the team will need to treat Crosby with kid gloves whenever he's cleared. Bylsma doesn't anticipate holding Crosby out of the preseason if his superstar has been OK'd by doctors.

"I don't think when Sidney Crosby is healthy and ready to go, he's not going to shy away from contact, nor is he going to shy away from competition," Bylsma said. "It would take quite a bit to keep him out of getting ready for the start of the regular season."

Crosby was in the midst of an MVP-type season before the injury, amassing 66 points (32 goals, 34 assists) in 41 games. He sustained hits in consecutive games in early January before being diagnosed with the concussion. He flirted with returning during the playoffs before a series of setbacks kept him off the ice.

Both Shero and Bylsma have been in frequent contact with Crosby since the season ended, with Shero saying most of their discussions have centered on the team, not Crosby's health.

Shero senses Crosby's frustration and doesn't think setting an arbitrary deadline for his return would do anybody any good.

"I want him to feel good about himself," Shero said. "He'll be back at some point to play hockey."

[url="http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/6863694/sidney-crosby-pittsburgh-penguins-had-post-concussion-symptoms-gm-says"]http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/68636 ... ms-gm-says[/url]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Penguins' Sidney Crosby had headaches
ESPN.com news services
Updated: August 25, 2011, 9:02 AM ET

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has visited multiple specialists recently as he attempts to shake lingering post-concussion symptoms, the team's website said Wednesday.

CTV News reported Monday that Crosby suspended his training after suffering a recurrence of concussion-like symptoms and wouldn't be ready when the Penguins open camp Sept. 16.

Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, denied the report, but the team said Wednesday that Crosby began suffering from headaches again when his workouts reached 90 percent.

"We always knew this was going to be a progressive recovery -- based on how he felt," Brisson said in Wednesday's statement. "With a concussion, there is not a finite recovery period like with a shoulder injury or a knee injury. That's why we've never even set a specific goal for a return date like the start of training camp or Oct. 1 or anything else. He will play when he is symptom free."

Crosby hasn't played in a game since Jan. 5, missing the end of the regular season and Pittsburgh's first-round playoff loss to Tampa Bay as he recovered from a concussion. Crosby said in April he would be back for training camp, but Brisson and Penguins general manager Ray Shero have both reiterated there is no timetable.

"I appreciate all the support I've received from my family, friends, teammates and fans and from the entire Penguins organization," Crosby said in a statement released by the team Wednesday. "I know they only want the best for my health, and for me to be fully ready when I return to game action."

Crosby was in the midst of an MVP-type season before the injury, with 66 points (32 goals, 34 assists) in 41 games. He sustained hits in consecutive games in early January before being diagnosed with the concussion. He flirted with returning during the playoffs before a series of setbacks kept him off the ice.

According to the team, Crosby is expected to arrive in Pittsburgh within the next few weeks to be evaluated before the start of camp.

"We wish we could provide more specific details about Sidney's recovery, but a concussion is a different kind of injury," Brisson said. "It's not something you can check with an X-ray. And you can't predict a recovery period. It's all about the way he feels."

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[url]http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/6893773/sidney-crosby-pittsburgh-penguins-had-headaches-visited-specialists[/url]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Crosby Expected to Make Full Recovery and Return to Game Action
No Time Frame or Date on Return
Wednesday, 09.07.2011 / 3:19 PM
Features By Sam Kasan

Penguins center Sidney Crosby has made “significant progress” the last three weeks and is expected to make a full recovery from a concussion he suffered in early January.

While there are no certainties involved with a concussion, Crosby and doctors are optimistic he will return to the ice, but there is still no timetable for when he will play again.

“I’m very optimistic that we’ll see Sid have a very long, fruitful NHL career,” said Dr. Michael Collins, director of UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program. “The prognosis is excellent that Sid will not have any long-term problems from this injury. I’m supremely confident of that issue. The return to play issue, I’m equally confident. I think we’ll get there. We’re not there yet and we have work to do before we get there.

“Recently Sid has made exceptional progress toward improving and becoming normal. In order for him to go back to play, he needs to be reconditioned 100 percent without having symptoms. … There is no timeline on this. We cannot predict when that will occur.”

“Mentally I feel good, probably the best I’ve felt,” Crosby said. “I’m really happy with the last three weeks. It’s been a tough road.”

Crosby, who was accompanied by general manager Ray Shero and his two concussion doctors, Dr. Collins and Dr. Ted Carrick at Wednesday's media conference, responded to Internet rumors that he was going to retire.

“Retirement? No,” Crosby said. “I always thought about the consequences of this injury and making sure I’m smart with it because at the end of the day (retirement) is the last thing I want. That being said, I did not give a whole lot of thought to (retiring).”

And after being asked of the possibility that he would never play again, Crosby responded: “Pretty slight. I wouldn’t bet on that.”

Dr. Carrick, director of Carrick Institute in Florida and distinguished professor of neurology at Life University in Georgia, said Crosby will make a full recovery and won’t have any long-term issues from the concussion.

“It’s Christmas for Sidney Crosby and the people who care for him,” Carrick said. “It’s Christmas because it’s a celebration. Our greatest direction is to ensure that Sid has a very fruitful and positive life, that he can do anything he wishes to do in hockey and after hockey. … This is going to have a very good outcome. Sid shouldn’t have any problems in the future.”

While there is no timetable for Crosby’s return, there is a “systematic process” regarding his return to play, according to Dr. Collins, who handles 4,000 concussion cases every year.

Crosby will continue his reconditioning, which is pushing himself at different levels of exertion (80 percent for example) and making sure there are no symptoms before progressing to higher exertion. Once Crosby reaches 100 percent exertion without “decrements in functioning,” the doctors will introduce light, moderate contact.

“We will introduce contact in a very careful way and we’re not even close to that right now,” Dr. Collins said. “We need to make sure Sid is able to recondition fully without any return of these symptoms. We’re going to measure him with ImPACT and our testing every step of the way. We’re going to make sure that we do this in a systematic, careful way. When he’s ready, we’ll know.”

Due to long-term health and recovery benefits, Crosby and company stressed that they will not introduce contact until the Penguins captain is at 100 percent.

“I think 90 percent is good, but at the same time if there are symptoms and things aren’t right, 90 percent isn’t really good enough,” Crosby said. “I’m probably putting myself into position to get hit and mess that system up a little bit more. I don’t want to do that. Maybe I could get by with 90 percent, maybe I couldn’t. But I’m not going to roll the dice on that.”

That assessment is shared by the Penguins brass and doctors.

“Outcomes are much better at 100 percent,” Dr. Collins said. “We’re not going to allow Sid to go back at 90 percent. I can guarantee you one thing, that he will be 100 percent normal before he goes back to play.

“I work with a lot of different organizations and a lot of different athletes who have concussions. With the Penguins, I’ve never seen a group of individuals more committed to making sure this is done right. It will be done right.”

“From the team standpoint, the 80, 90 percent we hear about, he will not return to play until he is 100 percent,” Shero said. “Here is a player over my five years who has played less than 80 percent with injuries, as many athletes do. But there is no 90 percent returning from a concussion.

“We’re looking forward to having him back. As I’ve said before, he will be worth the wait. He won’t be rushed. As we sit here today, we are pleased with his progress.”

[url]http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=587853[/url]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Crosby Cleared for Practice, But Not for Contact
Friday, 09.16.2011 / 11:23 AM
Features By Sam Kasan

Captain Sidney Crosby has been cleared to practice with the Penguins in training camp, however he will not take part in contact or scrimmages.

“I’m cleared to practice without contact. That’s good news for me. I’m excited to get going,” said Crosby, who continues to recover from a concussion suffered in early January. “Whatever symptoms I’ve had have been pretty minimal. To be able to get cleared to do this is good.”

“In terms of seeing Sidney Crosby on the ice in that jersey and participating in practice, it’s always good to see that,” head coach Bylsma said. “He’ll be out there with his teammates and participating.

“A lot of what he’s doing will be what he is comfortable with. He’ll be at the same pace and tempo as the other guys. Some of the contact drills he may not participate in.”

The Penguins players are broken into three groups of teams in camp, with two scrimmaging each day. Bylsma said that Crosby will be listed on the team that isn’t scrimmaging for each practice day.

Crosby will use the training camp practices to gauge his condition.

“I think camp will be a pretty good indication. It’s going to be pretty intense,” Crosby said. “Even without contact, I’m sure it’s going to be a pretty good pace. I’ll see how things go then.

“But I feel like I’ve done pretty good tests of exertion at different points and responded pretty well. I think the main thing is that I feel pretty comfortable and confident with where I’m at heading into camp here.”

There are still a few hurdles for Crosby to leap before he can begin contact. But he said that he isn’t sure when exactly that will transpire.

“I really don’t know,” he said. “As far as communication with doctors and things like that, I’ve been just kind of waiting to see what’s going to be Day 1 of camp and what their feeling was and telling them how I feel. So I haven’t gotten that far. I hope that everything goes well the next little bit and I’m not ruling (contact) out at all. But I think at this point, I’m just kind of worried about this step and just getting through it.”

Crosby’s main goal is to take training camp day by day.

“You don’t want to be evaluating yourself every minute out there,” he said. “You want to go out there and try to do the things you normally do and see how things go. That being said, if everything is going well, you’ve got to use that time to get ready and get back in shape and timing and all of that stuff. It’s been a long time since I’ve been out there with a group and it’s been intense, so I’m just looking forward to getting out there and doing that.”

[url]http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=588639[/url]