What is an Athletic Therapist?
Athletic Therapists specialize in prevention, assessment, and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. In my clinic, I am heavy on preventing further injury by assessing movement and biomechanics to optimize movement for your activities and promote a healthy lifestyle. Athletic Therapists are also trained in on-field emergency response. We are the missing link between injuring yourself in your sport to returning to play. If you get hurt in your sport, ATs assess if you can return to play, either support that injury with tape or other materials, if further assessment and rehabilitation is needed, we then get you rehabbed specifically for your sport/position for an easy return to play.
What is your speciality?
I specialize in whole body healing and movement while. As we know, the body all works together, and everything is connected from the tip of your toes to the top of your head! My number one goal in clinic is to keep your nervous system feeling safe so that your body can feel calm and in this state: heal. You also become aware of changes and feelings in your movements, joints and muscles when your nervous system is not stressed. I use a lot of modalities such as craniosacral therapy, therapeutic cupping, movement assessments and manual therapy to help you on your way to becoming pain free!
Can you help me prevent injuries?
Yes! This is one of my favourite things to help people with. Preventing injuries by feeling strong and aware of your body movements is something that I have been studying lately. Biomechanically the bones and joints work together and react to each other depending on the movement, sport or activity you are completing. Taking a look at your movements during your activity can give an indication if you need help preventing injury. Also, coming in for treatment before injury (like when it first start becoming into your awareness), can prevent that soreness from getting worse.
Are you covered under insurance?
Most insurance companies have Athletic Therapy coverage, it would depend on your plan. It’s advised to contact your insurance company to ask specificially if Athletic Therapy is covered under your plan. If it’s not, here are 2 template letters that you can send to your employer and/or insurance company to request AT coverage
LINK: Employee letter to Employer
LINK: Employee letter to Insurance Company
What are the qualifications needed to become an Athletic Therapist?
You need to enroll in a CATA (Canadian Athletic Therapists Association) accredited institution, and then you need to pass the national exam! To maintain the CAT(C) title, you need to maintain a First Responders certificate and/or a BLS certificate, pay your yearly dues and adhere to the Athletic Therapy scope of practice, by-laws, and codes of ethics and professional conduct.
Is an Athletic Therapist the same as an Athletic Trainer?
An Athletic Therapist is the term used in Canada. Our USA equivalent are called Athletic Trainers.
Is an Athletic Therapist the same as a Physiotherapist?
Our scopes of practices do overlap quite a bit, but we do differ in some areas. I can only speak on behalf of ATs, because we are experts in musculoskeletal injuries. Where I think Physios have a wider scope of practice that include nerve, chronic pain, and other specialties. Athletic Therapists are awesome at preventing, assessing, and treating active injuries. Athletic Therapists are also trained in on-field emergency response to make that on-field call to tape you up or take you out for further rehab/assessment. These skills can also be used in clinic to help strengthen the rehab and exercise progressions and movements to help plunk people right back into their sport or training.