Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is using AI-powered in-shoe sensors to manage his recovery from a complex knee injury that kept him off the ice for three years.
The technology, developed by Vancouver-based Plantiga, tracks asymmetry, stride patterns, and movement during training and games.
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“This detects any red flags before I even feel them,” said Landeskog, a left wing for the Avalanche.
The system alerts the 33-year-old forward to physical warning signs before overexertion leads to a setback.
Plantiga’s platform is also used across the NBA, NFL, WNBA, MLB, and collegiate sports to analyze foot-surface interaction.
How the Technology Works
“What we’re trying to detect is the smoke before the fire,” said Matthew Jordan, scientific adviser to Plantiga.
“We can see this in the data before you reach that tipping point,” he added.
Landeskog initially injured his knee during the 2020 postseason. He underwent cartilage replacement surgery on May 10, 2023.
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He connected with Plantiga through his strength coach and met Jordan during a road game in Calgary.
“We discussed his injury and his frustration with the process,” Jordan recalled. “The tunnel was dark and long — there was no light.”
To encourage Landeskog, Jordan introduced him to a Canadian skier who successfully recovered from a similar knee injury.
“It was a relief for Gabe to know that another athlete out there had been able to conquer this injury,” Jordan said.
The tracking system uses an intelligence layer named “Norman” to identify subtle biomechanical shifts, keeping Landeskog within a safe operating zone.
“There’s this fine Goldilocks zone that we help him stay in,” said Quin Sandler, founder of Plantiga. “Honestly he’s been killing it.”
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Landeskog returned to the NHL lineup during the previous season’s playoffs after missing 1,032 days. He recorded 14 goals and 21 assists over 60 regular-season games.
