Certified Athletic Therapists (CAT(C)) are probably best known for their immediate on-field emergency
care of professional and elite athletes. The first to respond when someone gets injured, they are
experts at injury assessment and rehabilitation. Athletic Therapists use those same skills to assess and
effectively treat and rehabilitate the everyday individual. They are experts in injury prevention and
rehabilitation of bone, muscle, and joint injuries.
Athletic Therapy uses the Sports Medicine Model of care to treat a wide variety of patients, from kids
with concussions to seniors recovering from hip replacement surgery, using various manual therapies,
modalities, exercise prescription, bracing, and taping. Using individualized treatment plans, the Athletic
Therapist’s goal is to help clients return to their activities, whether that means playing competitive
sports or walking to the mailbox and back.
Certified Athletic Therapists are continually trained to bring the best for their patients. The Canadian
Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) oversees the certification process for Certified Athletic Therapists
across the country. Certified Athletic Therapists must: have completed a CATA-accredited Athletic
Therapy program, including on-field and in-clinic practical training, possess a Bachelor’s Degree, have
successfully passed the National Certification Examination, maintain First Responder and/or Basic Life
Support Certifications, maintain Professional Liability Insurance, and obtain 21 units of Continuing
Education every 3 years.
Injuries that Athletic Therapy can effectively treat include: sprains and strains to ligaments and muscles,
rotator cuff tears, tennis and golfer’s elbow, frozen shoulder, disk herniation, shin splints, fractures and
dislocations, meniscus tears, carpal tunnel syndrome, neuropathy, ACL tears, pre- and post-surgical
rehabilitation, lower back pain, Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) injuries/claims, whiplash/motor
vehicle accidents (MPIC claims).
Athletic Therapy treatments may include, but are not limited to: modalities (heat, cold, ultrasound,
electrotherapy, taping), manual therapy (massage, cupping, myofascial release, joint mobilization,
strain-counterstrain, soft tissue release, RAPID NeuroFascial Reset, stretching (active, passive, PNF),
exercise prescription, custom made medical orthotics.
Available only at our St. Anne’s clinic.