How similar are athletic therapy and physiotherapy?
Here at Academy Massage this is a question we are frequently
asked by those clients seeking the correct course of therapy for pains and/or
injuries they might have incurred through various physical mishaps. In fact, as
far as treatment procedures go, there is very little difference as both employ
manual therapy, modalities, acupuncture and prescribe proper exercise.
The main difference between Athletic (or Sports) Therapy and
Physiotherapy is in the education and training as each has a specific scope of
practice and designation: A Certified Athletic Therapist in Canada is CAT(C),
and a licensed physiotherapist is PT. In this, the first installment of our
two-part May blog, we will discuss the practice of Athletic Therapy.
A Certified Athletic Therapist specializes in injury
prevention and the immediate care and rehabilitation, should an injury occur,
specifically as it relates to team sports or one's individual athletic regimen,
be that running, swimming, handball, a strenuous workout at the gym - or even
training for an upcoming marathon or triathlon. The prevention program includes
musculoskeletal (the muscles, bones and joints of the body) and postural
evaluation, a warm-up procedure and conditioning, prophylactic or supportive
taping, proper equipment selection, fitting and repair, and adapting the
individual to the activity, environment, and facilities. They are also likely
to be participants in sports and therefore understand these specific injuries
and the demands placed upon athletes in order to compete.
The Athletic Therapist is also trained to assess, evaluate
and provide the proper treatment to acute sports trauma. This may include applying
on-site first aid or preparation for entry into an appropriate health facility.
Athletic therapists frequently employ an aggressive treatment protocol to facilitate
the healing process, and have yielded quite successful results. Because of
their overall effectiveness in trauma prevention and injury management,
Athletic Therapists work closely with professional and national teams, and also
in sports clinics across the country.
The education and training is comprehensive and intensive.
Athletic Therapists must possess an undergraduate degree from an accredited
institution as well as an advanced certification in Athletic Therapy. In
addition, they are required to intern at least 1200 hours of practical
experience divided into 600 hours of clinical and 600 hours of on-field
experience under supervision of a Certified Athletic Therapist. Once candidates
have completed these internship hours, hold a valid CPR and First Aid
Certificate, and have written support from their supervisor, they are required
to write a three-hour examination.
Candidates must also complete two practical exams which
focus on emergency care, modalities, assessment, taping, and rehabilitation.
After successful completion, they must maintain good standing with the Canadian
Athletic Therapy Association to receive the CAT(C) designation. It is a demanding
training schedule that is necessary to ensure injuries are both properly evaluated
and attended to.
Whether preparing for an athletic event or suffering pain
from a sports-related injury, we recommend that you book an appointment with
Academy Massage to discuss with one of our certified and qualified Athletic
Therapists the treatment best for you.
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