Athletic Therapy The Canadian Athletic Therapist Association (CATA)
is an organization devoted to the health care of the
physically active individual. Certified members have
successfully completed a comprehensive theory exam
and a subsequent oral/practical exam developed and
administered by the certification board of the
CATA.
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.
The provision of on-field immediate care of athletic
injuries by a Certified Athletic Therapist includes:
injury assessment, basic emergency life support,
recognition and management of acute traumatic
neurological dysfunction, provision of first aid,
preparation for entrance into appropriate health
care delivery systems, or, where appropriate,
utilization of techniques facilitating a safe return
to participation.
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 CATA certification process is one of the most
stringent in the Canadian health care system. To
achieve the status of Certified Athletic Therapist,
a candidate must first meet the academic
requirements of a CATA approved Athletic Therapy
curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree at an
accredited post secondary institution. 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 "Maintenance of
Certification".
The CATA requires an internship of at least 1200
hours of practical experience under supervision of a
Certified Athletic Therapist. Once these criteria
are met, a candidate is qualified to attempt the
comprehensive written exam and a practical exam
covering emergency care, supportive taping/bracing,
modalities, injury assessment and rehabilitation. As
of January 1st, 2003, all certification candidates
were required to have a valid First Responder, EMR,
or Industrial First Aid certificate when applying
for the CATA written or practical exam. A First
Responder, EMR, or Industrial First Aid certificate
must also be valid at the time of the actual exam.
After successful completion of the exam, candidates
receive the title Certified Athletic Therapist,
designated by the letters CAT(C) and the privileges
associated with this recognition.
Who do pro athletes trust?
The vast majority of injury therapists on sports
teams are athletic therapists (or ATs). Athletic
trainers in the USA have a similar skill set to
athletic therapists in Canada, but there are
differences. Occasionally ATs also have additional
certifications. Most teams carry athletic therapists
and team doctors because of the benefit that
athletes get with the wide range of services of ATs.
The owners of sports teams trust ATs to get their
athletes back in the game sooner and at higher
levels of performance. They specialize in assessing,
treating and conditioning athletes with injuries as
well as in the prevention of injuries.
Examples of the rehabilitation staff working
for professional sports teams |
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Local Teams
Vancouver Canucks
Head Athletic Therapist Mike Burnstein (also Team
Canada)
Athletic Therapist Jon Sanderson (Team Canada, BC
Lions)
Athletic Therapist Marty Dudgeon (Toronto Maple
Leafs)
Vancouver Giants
Cory Cameron - Athletic Trainer
Chilliwack Bruins
Matt Auerbach - Athletic Trainer
BC Lions
Bill Reishelt Head Athletic Therapist
Kevin Phillips - Assistant Athletic Therapist
NHL
Calgary Flames
Morris Boyer - Head Athletic Therapist
Mark DePasquale - Athletic Therapist
Gerry Kurly Kurylowich - Assistant Athletic
Therapist
Detroit Red Wings
Piet Van Zant - Head Athletic Therapist
Russ Baumann - Assistant Athletic Therapist
Montreal Canadiens
Graham Rynbend - Head Athletic Therapist
Nick Addey-Jibb - Athletic Therapist
Pittsburg Penguins
Chris Stewart Head Athletic Trainer
Scott Adams Assistant Athletic Trainer
Toronto Maple
Leafs
Rudy Cantu Head Athletic Therapist
Steve Dias Assistant Athletic Therapist
Atlanta Thrashers
Tommy Alva Head Athletic Therapist
Stephen Roberts Assistant Athletic Trainer
NFL
Arizona Cardinals
Freddie Carabajal Athletic Trainer
Jeff Herndon Athletic Trainer
Jim Shearer Athletic Trainer
Dallas Cowboys
Jim Maurer - Head Athletic Trainer
Britt Brown - Associate Athletic Trainer
Greg Gaither - Associate Athletic Trainer
Philadelphia
Eagles
Rick Burkholder - Head Athletic Trainer
Pittsburg Steelers
John Norwig Head Athletic Trainer
Ryan Grove Assistant Athletic Trainer
Ariko Iso Assistant Athletic Trainer
New York Giants
Ronnie Barnes - Head Athletic Trainer
MLB
Boston Red Sox
James W. (Jim) Rowe Jr - Medical Operations &
Athletic Trainer
Paul Lessard - Head Athletic Trainer
Mike Reinold - Assistant Athletic Trainer
Philadelphia Phillies
Scott Sheridan Athletic Therapist
Mark Anderson Assistant Athletic Therapist
Seattle Mariners
Rick Griffin Head Athletic Trainer
Rob Nodine Assistant Athletic Trainer
Takayoshi Morimoto Assistant Athletic Trainer
Tampa Bay Rays
Ron Porterfield Head Athletic Trainer
Paul Harker Assistant Athletic Trainer
Toronto Blue Jays
George Poulis - Head Athletic Therapist
Dave Abraham - Assistant Athletic Therapist
Golf
Tiger Woods
Ken Kleven Athletic Trainer
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NBA
Boston Celtics
Ed Lacerte - Athletic Therapist
LA Lakers
Gary Vitti Athletic Therapist
Miami Heat
Ron Culp - Head Athletic Trainer
Jay Sabol - Assistant Athletic Trainer
Phoenix Suns
Joe Proski - Head Athletic Trainer
San Antonio Spurs
Will Sevening - Head Athletic Therapist
CFL
Calgary Stampeders
Mike Gudmundson Assistant Athletic Therapist
Edmonton Eskimos
TD Forss Head Athletic Therapist
Nate Hay Assistant Athletic Therapist
Montreal Allouettes
Rodney Sassi Head Athletic Therapist
Max Hanna Athletic Therapist
Jennifer Perkins Athletic Therapist
Saskatchewan RoughRiders
Ivan Gutfriend Athletic Therapist
Trevor Len Assistant Athletic Therapist
Toronto Argonauts
Erin Brooks Head Athletic Therapist
Amit Sindhwani - Assistant Head Athletic Therapist
Helen Holubec Assistant Athletic Therapist
Winnipeg Bluebombers
Alain Couture Head Athletic Therapist
Hamilton Tiger
Cats
Chris Puskas Head Athletic Therapist
Chellaine Shockness Assistant Athletic Therapist
NLL
Calgary Roughnecks
Neil Hergott Athletic Therapist
Rhamona Humphrey Athletic Therapist
Toronto Rock
Dave Murray Athletic Therapist
Matt Rushton Assistant Athletic Therapist
National Teams
Baseball Canada
Scott Shannon Athletic Trainer
Tommy Craig Athletic Trainer
USA Swimming
John Cavanaugh Athletic Therapist
Ian McLeod Athletic Therapist
Canadian Rugby
Deborah Skelton Head Athletic Therapist
Kathleen deJesus Athletic Therapist
Deanna Schick Athletic Therapist
Canadian Men U17 Soccer
Dwayne Laing Athletic Therapist
Canadian Womens National Soccer
Rebecca Swan Athletic Therapist
Wendy Laythorpe Athletic Therapist
Canadian Womens U19 National Soccer
Cassandra Zinkowski - Athletic Therapist
Volleyball Canada (Mens)
Dave Blatz Athletic Therapist
James Sawchuk Athletic Therapist
Volleyball Canada (Female)
Elizabeth Proskurnik Athletic Therapist
Ben Trunzo Athletic Therapist
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