As an Athletic Therapy professional having treated hundreds of injured people, let’s think of Athletic Therapy as this:  if you are an active individual who has suffered an injury, athletic therapy can get you back and active again.

As a member of the The Canadian Athletic Therapist Association (CATA), here is a great, detailed, and technical definition.

“The Scope of Practice of a Certified Athletic Therapist includes the assessment, 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.”

A Certified Athletic Therapist assesses injuries and conditions, utilizes 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 co-operation 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 “Certification Maintenance”.