Vivo Cura Health and Calgary Foothills Soccer Club: A Player-focused Partnership

Since announcing our relationship with Vivo Cura Health in January 2025, Foothills has been steadily building a stronger support system around player health, injury prevention, and performance. This season, that work has taken a major step forward with comprehensive baseline medical testing for our APDL players.

Who Is Vivo Cura?

Vivo Cura Health is a multidisciplinary pain and performance clinic that helps patients manage and rehabilitate muscle, bone, and joint pain. Their team includes:

  • Sports Medicine Physicians

  • Physiotherapists

  • Nurse Practitioners

Working together with our Performance Department team, they provide coordinated, athlete-focused care that supports injury prevention, treatment, and safe return-to-play planning.

Why Foothills Works with Vivo Cura

Foothills and Vivo Cura share a long-term vision for athlete well-being and development. Through this relationship, we aim to:

  • Create an environment where athletes can achieve their highest performance.

  • Ensure responsible, reliable, and rapid access to specialized care for players and families.

  • Provide faster recovery and safer return-to-play through evidence-based medical support.

 

An A–B–C–D Approach to Safer, Stronger Athletes

Vivo Cura’s care model aligns closely with our Performance Department’s commitment to athlete-centered support. Their framework focuses on:

A – Access: Rapid, personalized, and prioritized care.
B – Best Practices: Treatment grounded in research and evidence-based standards.
C – Communication: Clear, consistent updates shared among athletes, families, coaches, and the medical team.
D – Development: Tracking physical data, monitoring risk factors, and helping players sustainably progress through their long-term development pathway.

APDL Baseline Medical Testing – November 10

As part of this ongoing work, Foothills and Vivo Cura hosted comprehensive baseline medical testing for all APDL players on November 10. The full day at Vivo Cura’s clinic was reserved exclusively for Foothills athletes.

Players completed a suite of baseline assessments designed to establish individualized performance and health profiles. These profiles will support:

  • more accurate monitoring throughout the season,

  • earlier identification of potential risk factors, and

  • informed, efficient return-to-play decision-making when injuries occur.

Parents were asked to complete a medical intake form ahead of time, and clinic staff provided clear scheduling and preparation instructions so families knew exactly what to expect.

Parent Perspective: Kaci and Will’s Baseline Experience

Kaci’s family shared this after the baseline testing at Vivo Cura. “For our family, the Vivo Cura experience has been terrific. Our questions were answered by professionals who truly understand sport and its challenges. One of the greatest benefits is having rapid access to doctors who already know Kaci’s baseline. That familiarity means quicker, more personalized treatment if an injury ever occurs.

Baseline testing with Vivo Cura is an outstanding, proactive initiative from Foothills. Knowing exactly where an athlete is at today provides a clear roadmap for treatment and recovery should something happen. In my opinion, it’s a program every parent should take advantage of to help keep our athletes healthy and safe.”

Will’s experience was positive as well. “Will’s physical was helpful and informative. The Vivo Cura staff made him feel comfortable and well cared for throughout the appointment. Having access to multiple disciplines, including a sports medicine doctor, provided a truly holistic perspective on his development as an athlete. This collaborative approach allowed us to better understand his current profile, areas of strength, and the next steps to support his growth. We are grateful for such a beneficial and worthwhile experience.”

Looking Ahead

The growing Foothills–Vivo Cura relationship reinforces the club’s commitment to proactive, high-quality, athlete-centered performance support. By integrating medical expertise with technical, tactical, physical, and psychological development, we are working to create safer, stronger, and more resilient players at every stage of the pathway.

Foothills extends a sincere thank-you to the entire Vivo Cura team for their continued dedication to our athletes’ health and performance.

For more information about the Foothills and Vivo Cura relationship, reach out to Jamieson Sawka, Performance Director, at jamieson@gofoothills.ca.

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