MEDIA

Articles in Print

Sawa T.M. (1982) A biomechanical treatment of a patellar malalignment syndrome. J Can Chiropractic Assoc., 26: 69-70

Sawa, T.M. (1992).An alternate conservative management of shoulder dislocations and subluxations. Journal of Athletic Training. 27, 366-369.

Miliokas, N. Sawa out to change hockey. (1988, 06 25). The Leader-Post, p. D2.

Kalchman, L. Rough-house hockey tactics push coach into retirement. Toronto Star.

The Hockey Handbook: The Book That Taught The Russians Hockey

- by Lloyd Percival, Revised by Wayne Major and RobertThom

Excerpt from back cover:

"You are holding in your hands what is probably the best book ever written about how to play hockey.

When Lloyd Percival wrote the original version of this book in 1951, the NHL virtually ignored it. As Jim Proudfoot of The Toronto Star wrote after Percival's death: "He was a genius we overlooked."

The Soviets, however, did not overlook the book. It became their "bible," and the legendary Russian coach Anatoli Tarasov wrote to Lloyd Percival: "Your wonderful book which introduced us to the mysteries of Canadian hockey, I have read it like a schoolboy."

This new edition of the great hockey classic has been revised. It now includes, for instance, an updated chapter on Training and Conditioning to which Dr. Tom Sawa of Toronto has brought the most recent knowledge.

This book is a must for
• every coach, of every age group
• every player who wants to improve
• every parent of a young hockey player
• and every fan who wants to learn more about the secrets of this wonderful game.

Wayne Major is the founder of the "Hockey Coaching Journal" and is a practising coach. This revised edition fulfils a five-year dream of re-publishing The Hockey Handbook for a new and wider audience.

Bob Thom is an Advanced Level coach, with twenty years' coaching experience. He is also an instructor in the National Coaching Certification Program."

New Brace Protects While Shoulder Heals -The Toronto Star
February 18 1988
Author: Lois Kalchman Special to The Star
Section: Sports Page: B20

The Sawa shoulder orthosis (brace) is the latest effort to minimize the effect of injuries in hockey and other sports.
"Shoulder separations and dislocations account for 30 to 40 per cent of all hockey injuries," says inventor Tom Sawa, a Mississauga chiropractor who is one of five sport chiropractors in Canada.
"This does not replace good therapy or therapeutic recovery. It eliminates taping of the shoulder and the skin irritation from wraps and tape that sport trainers are using now."
A unique joint
Sawa says it took seven years and $125,000 to develop, plus a lot of expertise from Cooper Canada Ltd. the largest manufacturers of hockey equipment in the world. The brace was introduced by the Hood company at the North American Orthopedics Appliance show in Newport Beach, Calif., just two weeks ago.
"The shoulder is a unique joint," Sawa said. "It is not connected to the body except by ligaments, capsule and muscles. Whereas most braces immobilize the joints totally, this just restricts the range of motion that causes the injury yet it allows a normal range in other directions. It acts like the existing ligaments and muscles surrounding the injured area."
Dr. James Waddell, chief of orthopedics at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto has seen the short, tight-fitting jacket.
"It has some merit," Waddell said. "It is not a piece of protective equipment like a football helmet. It is not for everyone; the fitting is critical," he said. "The idea is to add extra support to the shoulder while it is recovering."
Minimizes risk
Waddell says that after an injury there is a predisposition to further injury for up to six months.
"The biggest problem is these young players who want to play again before they are ready and this minimizes the risk," he said. "It is a checkrein for the motion of the shoulder. The concept is to allow certain movement while healing."
Waddell says he has seen some of Sawa's patients and they report the brace is comfortable.
The material is a hypo-allergenic blend of cotton and rubber and comes in five sizes from small (up to 34-inch chest) to the extra large at 44 to 48 inches. It is washable in cold water, costs just under $200, and should be fitted by a physician, therapists or special fitters in medical or medical sport stores.
Hood representative Ray Christie says the company is looking at manufacturing the brace from neoprene as well, which would allow swimmers and divers to use it.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.