WE Health & Wellness

Athletic Therapy Services

Certified Athletic Therapists are highly skilled health care professionals who provide immediate treatment to musculoskeletal injuries. They employ a sports medicine model of rehabilitation to physical injuries incurred from sports, recreation, accidents, daily activities or occupation. Early exercise prescription is often given to aggressively heal soft tissue injuries and to maintain/increase mobility.

At WE Health & Wellness our Athletic Therapist completes a thorough assessment and ensures each client receives an individualized treatment program to assist them in meeting their personal goals. A great deal of manual therapy is incorporated into treatments. Our therapist works directly with you to prescribe and teach exercises that will help you achieve your rehabilitation goals.

Athletic Therapy treatments are always one on one and usually 30-60 minutes in length. Treatments consist of manual therapy, exercise prescription, and the use of traditional modalities (ultrasound, IFC, TENS, NMES). Other techniques but not limited to: joint mobilization, myofascial release, soft tissue release, core strengthening, postural correction and therapist assisted stretching.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Athletic Therapy different from Physiotherapy?

Certified Athletic Therapists specialize in orthopedic assessments and rehabilitation of all physical injuries as well as sport specific exercise rehabilitation. Athletic Therapy is based on the sports medicine model of rehabilitation and does not involve the study of neurological, respiratory, or cardiovascular rehabilitation.

Will my extended health care plan reimburse me for Athletic Therapy treatments?

Most extended health care companies will cover Athletic Therapy treatments. If your claim is denied there are forms from the Canadian Athletic Therapist Association for you to send to your extended health care company, as well as the human resource person at your work, to request the services to be added to your plan.

Scope Of Practice

The Canadian Athletic Therapist Association (CATA) is an organization devoted to the health care of the physically active individual. A Certified Athletic Therapist must have fulfilled the academic, and practical requirements as outlined in the document entitled 'Procedures for Certification'. Certified members have successfully completed a comprehensive theory exam, and a subsequent oral/practical exam developed and administered by the certification board of the CATA.

The Scope of Practice of a Certified Athletic Therapist includes the prevention, immediate care, and reconditioning of musculoskeletal injuries. Prevention includes musculoskeletal and postural evaluation, equipment selection, fitting and repair, warm-up, conditioning programs, prophylactic or supportive taping, and adapting to the activity environment and facilities.The provision of on field immediate care of athletic injuries by a Certified Athletic Therapist includes: injury assessment, basic emergency life support, recognition and management of acute traumatic neurological dysfunction, provision of first aid, preparation for entrance into appropriate health care delivery systems, or, where appropriate, utilization of techniques facilitating a safe return to participation.

A Certified Athletic Therapist assesses injuries and conditions, uses contemporary rehabilitative techniques, therapeutic modalities, soft tissue mobilization, physical reconditioning, and supportive strapping procedures to promote an environment conducive to optimal healing in preparing the individual for safe reintegration into an active lifestyle.

The Athletic Therapist, in cooperation with all performance enhancement personnel, and members of the health care delivery team, is an integral part of a total service to maximize the performance and welfare of the individual. Concomitant with the execution of this role, the Athletic Therapist nurtures an attitude of positive health.The Certified Athletic Therapist must present annual documentation demonstrating continued professional development to maintain their status with the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association. Guidelines are presented in the document entitled 'Maintenance of Certification'.