What is the practice of Athletic Therapy?
How does Athletic Therapy differ from other therapy professions?What is the practice of Athletic Therapy?
From the CATA website:
The Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) is an organization devoted to the health care of Canadians. Certified Athletic Therapists, CAT(C)s, in cooperation with 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 all Canadians. Concomitant with the execution of this role, the Athletic Therapist nurtures an attitude of positive health.
The scope of practice of a Certified Athletic Therapist starts with the in-depth knowledge, education and training in the areas of the human musculoskeletal system, exercise physiology, biomechanics, and basic emergency care. Within this, the scope of practice is divided into five practice domains representing the core areas of competency that the CATA accredited institutions follow in educating Certification Candidates to become entry level, practicing Certified Athletic Therapists.
The five practice domains are as follows:
- Prevention
- Assessment
- Intervention
- Practice Management
- Professional Responsibility
As a rule, Athletic Therapists (AT), from a preventative perspective, will use some different assessment tools, and strategies to elicit different qualities from the athlete to establish a baseline level of strength, mobility, range of motion, and motor control.
The Body Tech’s protocols are focused on ensuring that the athlete’s strength levels are always considered within the rehabilitation experience. A fine balance is kept between keeping strength strategies within the continuum of care, as well as proceeding with caution and care for the injured structures.
