Athletic fundraiser

"Kingston's Run for Gold takes place on Saturday at Sangers' Farm in Glenburnie (1255 Unity Rd.).

The event, hosted by the Kingston Athletic Therapy Centre and J&J Cycle, will raise money for three Kingston athletes to attend world championships next year — dancer Stephanie Rychlo, mountain biker Kyle Sangers and trampolinist Brett Babcock."

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Nanaimo therapist will travel with national team to Mexico

"A Nanaimo sports therapist is accompanying the Canadian women's national field hockey team to the Pan-Am Games this week.

Noreen Ortilla is one of the official athletic therapists for the squad in Guadalajara, Mexico. Ortilla, owner of Elite Performance Athletic Therapy in Nanaimo, has been working with the team for the past three years and this year Canada can qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.

She has traveled with the women for many other international competitions, but this trip is special, Ortilla explained.

"This will be my first major games with this particular team," Ortilla said. "There are only a few hundred staff around the country that are privileged to share time with these amaz-ing people, all national team athletes."

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Sports Medicine with Jill Bruder

"For Jill Bruder, Pincher Creek athletic therapist, at Reaction Athletic Therapy, she described the adrenaline surge that pumps through her body when an athlete falls on the field.

Trained as an EMR, Bruder said both herself and members of her team are first responders on the field when an individual injures themselves. For the past 11 years, Bruder—as an athletic therapist—has travelled with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Sports Medicine Team to rodeos across Western Canada.

Just as she has travelled to the Calgary Stampede, Bruder and her team—made up of chiropractors, massage therapists and sports medicine doctors—have visited rodeo events in Edmonton, Stavely and Pincher Creek as well.

"I do take a little bit of pride if I'm at a rodeo and I, for instance, tape somebody's knee and they ride for 8 seconds and win the rodeo," she explained. "I helped that happen, whether or not it's true, I don't know, but I always like to think it is.""

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Seafair adopts concussion protocol

"To effectively implement the protocol the association needs to first establish a baseline. It started this process last weekend by joining forcing with Richmond-based Evolution Sport Therapy, whose athletic therapy team tested players from two of Seafair’s Atom Division and Midget rep teams at its clinic. Using the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2 (SCAT2), which represents a standardized method of evaluating injured athletes aged 10 and over for a concussion, players were put through a series of cognitive and physical evaluations from which a baseline score was established. The score, which varies from player to player, can be a valuable tool if the player suffers a concussion in the future.

The players also participated in functional screening tests, a ranking and grading system that documents movement patterns for each individual that are vital to normal function."

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The athletic therapy clinic in Concordia's new PERFORM Centre is now open

"People suffering from an activity-related injury can now look to the PERFORM Centre for relief. A new state-of-the-art athletic therapy clinic is now open on Concordia’s Loyola Campus and ready to deliver prompt and professional care to staff and faculty, students as well as the general public while offering exercise science students an innovative internship experience.

“The mission of our clinic is to provide students with challenging clinical situations that will give them valuable know-how for when they become athletic therapists,” explains Deborah Cross, PERFORM’s athletic therapy manager. “We are training interns to return our patients back to play or work as quickly and as safely as possible.”All athletic therapy services and treatments are developed and delivered by internship students in their final year of the exercise science program. Certified athletic therapists supervise and mentor the interns to ensure that they benefit from a practical and real-world educational experience while clients of the clinic receive the best possible treatment. 

When members of the public come to the athletic therapy clinic with torn ligaments or sprained ankles, they are met by a student intern who will gather information on their medical history, do a physical assessment and arrive at a treatment plan. The student will then discuss the plan with their supervisor who will ensure that all appropriate tests and enquiries have been made. When a proper course of action is agreed upon, the treatment will proceed with ultrasound, heat, manual therapy, exercise or whichever methods have been decided upon. 

Mylène Saucier, one of PERFORM’s three new athletic therapy instructors, believes that the centre’s approach to internships goes beyond what is normally offered to students in this field. “Most placements focus on observation and following instruction,” says Saucier. “What we’re doing is guiding students as they develop the course of action to be taken and then following this through from assessment to treatment to discharge.”

Moreover, instructors, students and clients will benefit from the clinic’s first-class equipment. In addition to clinical tables, ultrasound and the like, the facility also houses a SwimEx pool — one of only three in the city. The pool allows therapists and students to deliver treatments to those suffering from weight bearing issues or who are recovering from surgeries. It also enables people with multiple sclerosis or arthritis to exercise more comfortably."

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Olds College offers athletic therapy services

"New to Olds College for the 2011/2012 season is the addition of Athletic Therapy services to the athletics department. The athletes will have access to Athletic Therapists in the clinic and some coverage at tournaments as well. Rebecca Spiers will be providing most of the services as well as Jeff Roy assisting in the clinic and covering some tournaments. As Olds College moves toward ACAC competition in the near future, it is important that our athletes be exposed to the proper care and prevention for their injuries.

Collegiate Sports Medicine (Olds) is new to Olds and looks forward to working together with Olds College to keep the athletes competing. All services are available to the general public and they also have massage therapy and physician services available."

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Park Hotel becomes rehab clinic

"The site of the former Park Hotel is about to get a new lease on life.

Starting in September, what used to be a bar will be open for business as a health clinic, specializing in treating sports injuries and rehabilitation.

Danièle Gervais, who will be running the Optimum Health Center, located at 519 Notre Dame Ave., said she hopes it starts a revitalization of the area.

"It's actually my dad who bought the building. I recently graduated, just in April, and I was looking for a job in Sudbury. I'm from the north and I wanted to stay here, but I couldn't find one, so my dad gave me an opportunity to open up in this space."

Gervais has two degrees, one in kinesiology from Laurentian University and another in athletic therapy from Sheridan College.

For now, it will just be her working in the centre, but she hopes to eventually be able to expand."
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"Gervais is preparing to open the clinic close to two months after Laurentian University announced the closing of its Voyageur Athletic Therapy Clinic, something she says "reflects badly" on the athletic therapy profession.

"I think (opening the centre) means a great deal, because the university just closed its therapy clinic ... For Sudbury, I feel like I'd like to bring something that's already (being done) down south, because I graduated from Brampton and down there even Oakville high schools have athletic therapists on site. I'm hoping that opening this clinic will bring awareness to Sudbury of how sporting events can be dangerous and how I can help with that.

"I think it's going to be a great opportunity and I'm really looking forward to working with athletes in Sudbury.""

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Finding the root of foot pain

"Facing drastic surgery with no guarantee of success, Fulton was intrigued to learn Nelson is now one of 10 places in Canada — and easily the smallest — with access to a 3D gait analysis system developed by the University of Calgary’s running injury clinic."
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"One day last month at Nelson’s OPTM Athletic Therapy, Fulton put on the reflectors and went for a jog. Ferber says it doesn’t take long to get a picture of what’s going on."
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"Therapist Shauna Leduc of OPTM says she heard about the technology while attending Mount Royal College in Calgary and was excited to bring it to Nelson.

“People are coming in and feeling everything’s wrong. But they see the report and [realize] ‘I’m doing some things right!’ That’s a great message,” she says.

Leduc says the system removes a lot of guesswork and helps clients understand why solving a foot ailment may actually require working on a different body part.

Although the unit will be the only one in the Kootenays, she says it isn’t restricted to her own clients.

“We want to create a referral network for the most difficult patients. [Other therapists] can send them to me and I will do the report for them and give it back. We’re lucky to have this tool. Let’s all find a way to use it.”"

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Laurentian wrong to close clinic

Wendy Hampson's Letter to the Editor of The Sudbury Star::

"I feel it necessary to clarify a few facts that have been swirling in the media since the closure of the Voyageur Athletic Therapy Clinic at Laurentian University on June 29.

The university has stated in the media that it was surprised to discover Laurentian was the only university left that fully subsidizes a clinic.

Preliminary research indicates that of 26 responses to date to a survey of 51 universities in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, 26 universities fund an on-campus athletic therapy clinic. Eleven clinics are 100% funded by the university with no expectation to generate revenue.

Thirteen are funded by the university with some expectation to generate revenue."

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Letter from Sudbury Gladiators to LU

"Mr Giroux:

My name is André Paquette and I am a Certified Athletic Therapist working for Lifemark Physiotherapy and the Sudbury Gladiators Football Club. I was recently informed of the closing of the Voyageur Athletic Therapy Clinic and the dismissal of my colleague, Wendy Hampson. 

Being from Sudbury, Ontario, I met with Wendy whom was fewer and far between the only Athletic Therapist within this community. She had an impact on my decision to continue my studies within the highly rewarding Athletic Therapy profession. I decided to attend the University of Winnipeg for my journey to become a Certified Athletic Therapist.

My clinical internship at the University of Winnipeg Athletic Therapy Centre, which is fully funded by the University, has allowed me to apply my knowledge, gain experience and expand my skills while under the direct supervision of Athletic Therapists, whom were my professors and future colleagues. The University of Winnipeg Athletic Therapy Centre is a teaching and treating facility, where the three Athletic Therapists at the time, and recently expanded to five Athletic Therapists, share their wealth of knowledge, thereby educating, demonstrating and allowing athletic therapy students to practice their hands-on application of techniques."

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Former Olympian speaks out against LU job cuts

"Laurentian University's decision to declare 20 jobs "redundant" is making serious waves, from the Laurentian University Staff Union (LUSU) to 1984 Canadian Olympic double gold medalist Alex Baumann.

The job redundancies contributed to a balanced budget for the university, but also meant the closure of the Voyageur Athletic Therapy Clinic.

Baumann sent a letter to Laurentian University president Dominic Giroux expressing his "deep regret" after hearing of the decision to close the clinic.
In the letter, Baumann credits the clinic as being an integral part of his training prior to winning Olympic gold and added: "If there is any way to reverse this position, I would be fully supportive."

Among those found by the university to be redundant was Wendy Hampson, head athletic therapist who worked at the clinic for 33 years, according to LUSU president Tracy Oost.""

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Laurentian should keep therapy clinic open

"We are writing to express our concern about the closure of the athletic therapy clinic at Laurentian University.

First and foremost, this clinic is an absolutely essential service for all Laurentian athletes, be they physical education majors or members of a varsity team such as the basketball team. They need an onsite facility where they can be treated expertly and immediately in order that they can return as quickly as possible to their studies or to the team.

A student should not have to look off-campus for therapy, since a typical treatment at $55 and up is too costly and it usually takes two to three weeks to get an appointment.

I also fear that visiting teams may be hesitant to bring their athletes to a facility where there is no medical support for them."

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Schad Richea's Letter to President of Laurentian University

July 14, 2011
Dominic Giroux
President, Laurentian University
Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6
Canada


Mr. Giroux:

My name is Schad Richea. Currently, I am the Assistant Athletic Therapist for the Calgary Flames. Previously to my work here, I was the Head Athletic Therapist at the University of Calgary. I recently have become aware of the terrible situation with Laurentian Athletics and the dismissal of my colleague Wendy Hampson CAT(C). This letter is meant to show the deplorable situation your Athletics Department is now in with this very ignorant decision.

Athletic Therapy services for varsity athletics is redundant at Laurentian? Who is going to coordinate and cover the on-court/field/ice practices and games for your student athletes? Who is going to accept this liability when someone is hurt with nobody there? Who is going to coordinate the pre-season medicals for your student athletes? Do you think you can simply “piece work” this type of care? Who is going to help your coaches decide who is in or out of the line-up? Who is going to mentor Athletic Therapy students with experiential learning? Who is going to provide a very important link between the community and Laurentian University with regards to being a voice for Athletic Therapy expertise for active citizens of Sudbury? Wendy Hampson is world renown and a great leader! This decision seems purely political and budgetary with no prudence as to other models which are best for the student athlete at Laurentian.

Here with the Flames, the NHL athletes have the means to access an array of specialist providers: Sport Medicine Physicians, Orthopedic Surgeons, Dentists, nutritionists, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc. However, these medical professionals do not deal with the day to day activities, treatments, rehab, coordination of care, etc. This is paramount to compete at a maximum level. We handle all of this! Jarome Iginla doesn’t see me as redundant!

There are many ways to fund an Athletic Therapy program for Laurentian University varsity athletics. By simply “gassing it” and patching you have given up and your student athletes will suffer. Also, you have passed the buck for Laurentian Athletics medical coverage to other CIS universities in your conference (it would seem both home and away). I plead you take a look at this situation and tactfully evaluate its impact.


Sincerely:

Schad Richea MEd.,BSc., ATC, CAT(C)
Assistant Athletic Therapist - Calgary Flames Hockey Club

Ravens offseason update

"This season, the Ravens are also welcoming back longtime athletic therapist, Nadine Smith, from maternity leave."

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