Life on the sidelines

"After attending every practice, these students will never see any game time. They’ll never throw for a touchdown, or make the winning shot. They spend the majority of their time on the sidelines watching the action as it unfolds. Yet these students are an integral component of Mustangs Athletics.

These are student trainers.

They gather in a Thames Hall lab on a Monday afternoon and sit eagerly listening to coordinator of athletic therapy services Rob Walsh. Today’s lesson: compartment syndrome and how to properly recognize it. Yet in this class, the importance of taking notes is not only to ace the course, but also so they can better treat Western Mustang athletes.

“It’s part of an injuries program that they’re in,” Walsh explains. “It’s sort of a stream within kinesiology, so it’s not like a volunteer thing, it’s part of their program.”"

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Spits notes: Posa sidelines, Kuhnhackl skates, Ryan's status

"The 19-year-old Posa is once again sidelined by a high ankle sprain suffered Sunday in Brampton against the Battalion.

Trying to get inside leverage on Brampton’s Barclay Goodrow, the two fell to the ice and slid into the boards.

“I heard it pop right away,” Posa said. “Joey (Garland, the team’s athletic therapist) came out and asked if it was my leg or ankle.”

Posa got rid of his crutches Thursday, but said there’s nothing to read into that.

“When I did it (as a rookie), I got rid of the crutches just as fast,” Posa said."

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Hitmen get their revenge

"Prior to the game, the Pats made a special presentation to athletic therapist Greg Mayer, who worked his 1,000th WHL game last Wednesday in Calgary ."

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Shoulder injury KO's Regin again

"Regin missed the first two games of the regular season after getting injured Sept. 27 against the Maple Leafs. He took extra time to make sure he was healed and his teammates know this injury isn’t going to be easy on him.

“That sucks for him and for the team as well,” said defenceman Erik Karlsson. “He’s played great and he’s gotten going again. (The latest injury) doesn’t help. I don’t know how bad it is, but it’s definitely hurting the team and hurting him as well.”

MacLean said this isn’t easy for Regin.

“I haven’t had an opportunity to speak with him, but everything I’ve heard from (athletic therapist) Gerry (Townend) he’s pretty down. Those were his words for it and it’s only natural,” said MacLean."

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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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Local Athletic Therapists Gloating Working for the Jets

"Four athletic therapists from Manitoba have landed their dream job by working with the Winnipeg Jets.

Having the best seats in the house, the team’s training staff tends to any injuries players may experience on the ice, and helps keep the athletes in top physical condition all season long.

“Growing up in Manitoba, there was no better feeling standing on the Winnipeg Jets bench in front of 15,000+ emotionally charged fans,” said head athletic therapist Rob Milette. “It was electric in there I will remember that vividly for the rest of my life.”

October 9 was a special day for everyone on the team, as the reborn hockey club made their first real debut of the regular season.

Fellow athletic therapist Brad Shaw moved back to the province after working with the Kootenay Ice in the Canadian Hockey League.

“The atmosphere was something you can’t begin to explain and to be a part of it was pretty surreal,” Shaw said, reflecting on the home opener.

It wasn’t a huge adjustment for the guys, who were all formally part of the Manitoba Moose organization, but a move into the NHL was nothing to scoff at. The staff — all members of the Manitoba Athletic Therapists Association — have since settled into their offices at the MTS Iceplex."

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Head injuries go to House of Commons

"Queen’s Athletic Therapy co-ordinator Vicky Wiltshire said it’s important to promote concussion education. She said the higher number of reported concussions among Queen’s athletes might have to do with an increased awareness about the dangers of head injuries.

“It’s really hard to tell whether there are more concussions happening or we’re just seeing more because we’re better educated,” she said, adding that coaches don’t say “it’s just a bell-ringer” anymore.

“People are at least starting to open their eyes,” she said.

Athletic Therapy follows the Concussion in Sport Group guidelines to evaluate concussed athletes, concluding daily check-ups until symptoms clear up. If symptoms persist, athletes are referred to sports medicine physicians.

Wiltshire said most athletes recover within a week but some have suffered long-term effects.

“We have a very small number of athletes who, weeks later, can’t sit through a lecture without getting a headache,” she said. “It can be scary and really debilitating … sometimes you don’t recover from it.”

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Montreal Canadiens: 'We need to stick to game plan,' Subban says

"There was some good news on the injury front, although the Canadiens are still waiting for defenceman Andrei Markov to return from Florida where he is rehabbing under the watchful eye of Dr. James Andrews and Canadiens athletic therapist Nick Addey-Jibb."

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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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Mount Royal athletic therapist heads to Pan American Games

"It takes time, training and years of dedication for athletes to make it to the world stage and compete for their country at the Pan American Games. 

Little do people know, that much like athletes it takes years of dedication and preparation to their profession for athletic therapists to be able to represent their country at the games.

Khatija Westbrook, head athletic therapist at Mount Royal University, feels honoured to work alongside world-class athletes. She was recently chosen to go to the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, from Oct. 14-30 that features athletes from North, South and Central America.

"We all are excited to help the athletes excel," she says. "It is quite an honour to be given the opportunity to help them reach their dreams.""
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"Brennan Mahon, a student athletic therapist who works with the MRU Cougars men's basketball team, says that no one ever thinks about how difficult it is for the trainers to make it to world- level sports events such as the Pan Am Games.

"It is very impressive that she gets to go," Mahon says. "As difficult as it is for an athlete to make it, I think the ratio for athletic therapists they allow is similar — so few get to go.""
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"Joelle Sexsmith, a fourth year MRU student in the athletic therapy program believes that the officials made the right selection.


"This is such an amazing opportunity for her. She is so brilliant. I know she will do a good job.""

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