What is Athletic Therapy?
Athletic Therapy is an orthopedic (meaning: related to the musculoskeletal system) discipline based on the Sports Medicine Model. Unlike physiotherapy, Athletic Therapy does not cover the neurological, respiratory, or cardiovascular systems. Focus areas in athletic therapy do include bone, muscle, and joint injuries, orthopedic assessment, sports injuries, and sport-specific rehabilitation techniques. In Canada, professionals who practice Athletic Therapy are recognized as Certified Athletic Therapists or CAT(C)s.
People often seek sports and Athletic Therapy in Winnipeg, MB when they’ve injured a muscle, bone, or joint playing sports. They want to return to competition as soon as possible. Athletic Therapy isn’t just for sports! People from all walks of life can benefit. Athletic Therapists simply want clients to return to their daily activities – whether it’s swimming laps every day or stocking shelves at work – as soon as possible.
The following are just a few scenarios in which a person may choose Athletic Therapy:
- An athlete with an injured joint has an important competition coming up and needs to recover as soon as possible.
- A senior recovering from hip replacement surgery wants to perform daily activities independently again, such as walking to the store.
- A child sprains their wrist on a ski trip wants to return to school and write well with their dominant hand.
- A hiker with a chronic muscle injury wants to manage their condition so that they can enjoy longer expeditions.
- A busy professional is injured in a motor vehicle accident on their way to work and doesn’t want to lose productivity.
Both professional and amateur athletes come to Jason Moniz, who is one of few Athletic Therapists in the Winnipeg, MB area. He has treated high-level and professional athletes from many organizations, including the National Hockey League, the Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Disney on Ice, and the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.
However, Athletic Therapy isn’t just for athletes – it can also help you if you have injuries from work-related accidents, falls, and other activities. If you’re not sure whether Athletic Therapy is right for you, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We would be happy to further explain its benefits and relevance to your unique situation.
What to Expect
Jason and his team of Athletic Therapists will discuss your injury with you to verify that athletic therapy procedures fit your needs. We recommend you come dressed in comfortable clothing such as T-shirt, shorts and running shoes. Depending on the nature and extent of your injury, your therapist may do any of the following:
- Assess the injury
- Train you in rehabilitative exercises in our onsite fitness and sports injury clinic
- Provide physical reconditioning practices
- Apply supportive strapping, orthotics, or taping
Techniques your therapist may use to treat you may include:
- Manual therapies – such as moving the joints in certain directions or speeds, stretching or asking you to move against provided resistance
- Soft tissue mobilization – a wide range of massage therapies to encourage the breakdown of scar tissue
- Reconditioning exercises – which may include exercises in flexibility, strength, and resistance
Through these procedures, your muscles, bones, and joints will begin to function normally again. Your Athletic therapist, Jason, will train you on how to regain motion as well as how to prevent future injuries. With Jason’s help, you can quickly return to your active lifestyle. The initial assessment ( 1 hr) costs $95, and follow-up visits (approx 45 mins) are $83 each. To learn more about athletic therapy, or to book your first appointment, request an appointment at South Sherbrook Therapy today!