Summary
Alex McKechnie, a physiotherapist from Glasgow, moved to Vancouver in 1974 and became a leading figure in sports medicine. He developed new methods to help athletes recover from injuries and is the only Briton to have won an NBA championship ring as sideline staff. At 74, he continues to be highly sought after in the NBA.
Key Facts
- Alex McKechnie is a physiotherapist from Glasgow who moved to Canada in 1974.
- He initially moved with $300 and no job but soon found work in a hospital and then at a university.
- McKechnie specialized in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, which were career-threatening at the time.
- He developed innovative rehabilitation techniques focusing on core strength and pelvic control using elastic bands.
- He invented a wobble board for core strength training, which Reebok later sold worldwide.
- McKechnie helped NBA star Shaquille O'Neal avoid surgery for a strained abdominal muscle.
- He is the only Briton to win an NBA championship ring as part of the sideline staff and has six rings.
- At 74, he remains highly in demand for his expertise in treating sports injuries.
