Howden Headed Back To MJ

"Howden suffered his injury back on September 13th in a rookie game between Florida and the Nashville Predators. Millar says upon his arrival back in Moose Jaw, Quinton's status is a question mark.

"Quinton saw the doctor in Florida Tuesday morning before he left Florida, we're getting those updates from Florida as we go here. Curtis Amiot (Warriors Athletic Therapist) and our doctors will do a review in sequence when he get's here. Our understanding is that he's a question mark for this weekend."

Millar added that until they gather all information and evaluate the injury, Howden will be listed as day to day."

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Senators jobbed by schedule vs. Leafs

"Zenon Konopka has missed two days of on-ice work because of his back problem, but he did take part in Tuesday’s morning skate and hopes to play Thursday in Boston. At the same time, he’ll follow the doctor’s orders — or at least those of head athletic therapist Gerry Townend. “We have a really good training staff here, the best I’ve ever been a part of,” said Konopka. “They went in-depth with every injury I’ve ever had. I have all the faith in the world in them.”"

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Mr. Ferraro receives head master's tie

Lenny Ferraro is recognized for his heroic efforts at an assembly.

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Gagner injures left ankle after getting hit by puck

"Gagner injured his ankle when Calgary Flames defenceman Brendan Mikkelson rode the forward into the wall on Gagner’s seventh shift of the night.

At the time, it looked like Gagner may have also hit his head on the boards because he was down for a couple of minutes as trainer T.D. Forss came out to see him, but the Oilers dismissed that.


He’s out day-to-day."

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MOHA adopts baseline testing to help prevent concussions

"“The thing that struck me is they said the national women’s team actually had more concussions than the national men’s team,” said MOHA president Mark Bentley. “It just shows you don’t need bodychecking to have concussions.”

The presentation was compelling enough to convince MOHA to adopt the program. So before each of MOHA’s 2,650 players in both rep and house league over the age of 10 stepped on the ice this season, they were required to complete a cognitive baseline test that is also used by the NHL, NFL and CFL.

“We’re proud to be one of the first to get out there and pave the way and make people more aware,” said Russell Gunner, a certified athletic therapist and one of MOHA’s two head trainers.

Minor hockey organizations in Guelph and London are also using the ImPACT baseline testing, but MOHA is the largest minor hockey program to adopt it. The organization is using its reserve fund to cover the $25 fee for administering the test, a total cost of more than $60,000.

“Money well spent,” Bentley said. “We’ve always been proactive. We did security clearances before they were mandated and we did mouth guards before they were required.”

Players can do the test online in about 20-25 minutes. By testing players’ reactions, memory and their ability to process information, the test establishes a baseline for comparison when the player retakes the test following a concussion.

Gunner said concussions can be tricky because even if a player is symptom-free, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are ready to return to action.

“Right now, all we have is ‘How do you feel?’ He may be feeling fine but the brain is still in the process of trying to heal,” he said. “This is a fantastic tool to help determine when a player is ready to return, but it’s just a tool, it’s not the only thing.”"

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Last fight?

"When Nawaz won his last bout, held at the dome at Sherwood Forest Park a year ago, he assumed that it would be his final competition in the ring.

Since then, however, he agreed to help a charity fundraiser that benefits the fight against kidney disease because he is acutely aware of the damage it can do.

Nawaz, a happily married father of three, suffers from a serious disease himself — Goodpasture syndrome — a rare affliction that attacks the kidney and/or lungs.

The disease showed itself when Nawaz was 30. He eventually required chemotherapy and will always have to deal with it.“It was the most horrible experience of my life,” says Nawaz, who has had it flare up only once since, about six years ago."

...

"Three others aiding Nawaz as he prepares for the bout include Gus Kandilias, Altaz Madhavji and Dareen Wharrie of Burlington — an osteopath, chiropractor and athletic therapist, respectively.

“I push my body as if I were 23, but my body has a different perspective on things,” says Nawaz. “So these three gentleman are working to keep me healthy on a weekly basis.”"

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Local duo working for Team Canada at Rugby World Cup

""It's pretty unbelievable," said Carla Brash, who is taking time off from her job as a certified athletic therapist with the Kingston Athletic Therapy Centre to work as an athletic therapist with Team Canada."
...
"But last week, Canada opened with a 25-20 win over Tonga in Whangarei, opening the eyes of New Zealand fans in the process.

"Oh my goodness, it was unreal," Brash said of the upset in front of a sellout crowd of close to 18,000 at the Northland Events Centre.

Canadian flanker Adam Kleeberger, who has a bigger, bushier beard than ex-Kingston Kimco Voyageurs assistant coach Peter Goulet sported in the 2009 RBC Cup run, also has become a mini-celebrity in New Zealand.

"They're selling fake beards," Brash said. "They are sold out everywhere. ... He's had that beard going for seven or eight months."

Brash has worked for rugby teams for the past nine years, leading to a call from the national program four years ago.

In November, she found out she was heading to the biggest stage in the sport. The journey started with a two-week training camp in Australia.

"It's been a goal of mine to make it here," she said. "It's a huge accomplishment for me."

While it sounds like a dream trip, there has been precious little down time — Brash has fit in some deep-sea fishing (one Canadian player actually caught a shark, she says) and a wine tour.

On her first day off of the tournament earlier this week, Brash said she simply stayed in her room and watched TV.

"There are lots of bumps and bruises and things like that," Brash said of the daily grind of working for a rugby team. "It's such a physical sport that you treat them every day, sometimes twice a day.""

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Mayer is a mainstay

"As he approaches 1,000 games in the WHL, Regina Pats trainer Greg Mayer has come to a startling realization.

"I'm old!" the 43-year-old says with a laugh.

You wouldn't know it by watching the energetic Mayer, who does triple duty as Regina's trainer, athletic therapist and equipment manager. A true student of the profession, Mayer is vigilant in honing his craft, including this summer when he took a couple of extra courses and got some additional hands-on experience by assisting the medical/ training staff of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders.

When it comes to the Pats, Mayer thrives on keeping his players healthy and in peak physical condition. Those who've endured Mayer's intensive workout program often joke about his enthusiasm, noting the ear-to-ear grin as he puts them through the paces in his "torture chamber.""

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Mandatory minor hockey program launched to cut down on concussions

"Niagara IceDogs athletic therapist Peter Dobbin said his players do online baseline tests every year, something that is mandated by the Ontario Hockey League.

Dobbin, a strong testing supporter, said the tests are hard to fudge as it uses a player's responses as a baseline for evolving concussion problems.

The information is then assessed by a hockey neuropsychologist for possible concussion signs.

If a player gets any future blow to the head or other injury where a concussion is possible, they are retested.

Players indicating problems are placed in a return-to-play protocol under physicians' supervision.

Dobbin said he usually has from three to seven players with these issues each year.

That said, not all medical experts approve of the baseline testing for concussions.

Clinicians in some media accounts suggest concussions should be managed entirely by doctors. It is argued some players might be back on the ice before they're ready.

Those interviewed for this story who use baseline testing strongly defend it. They say it flags more players that may not be showing obvious symptoms like headaches.

Qualified doctors are involved when concussion issues are identified, they say.

"It takes the guesswork out of it, in my opinion," Dobbin said, adding leagues that currently rely only on trainers to assess concussions could make good use of testing."

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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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Kingston athletic therapist travels to Rugby World Cup

"This year, there is a Kingston connection to the Rugby World Cup. Carla Brash, Certified Athletic Therapist at the Kingston Athletic Therapy Centre, has been working with the national team for the past four years, travelling everywhere from Fiji to New Zealand to Belgium, as well as all over Canada and the U.S. Brash is responsible for the assessment and treatment of acute injuries, as well as pre-game taping and strapping, immediate on-field First Aid and post-event recovery and treatments.

"There is a lot of work to do and most days are 12-14-hour days, however, it is a very rewarding job when all your hard work pays off and we qualify for the Rugby World Cup," says Brash.

Over the years, she has developed a real love for the game of rugby and remarks that she has been working up to this tournament since the first game she ever covered eight years ago."

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Christophe Lalonde reminds many of former star Gabriel Bourque

"Lalonde is one of 11 newcomers on Moncton's roster. This injection of new blood and the fact the Wildcats are missing three veterans to NHL training camps leaves an unsettling effect early in the schedule.

Lalonde points out that he's enjoying his new surroundings. The native of St. Eustache, Que. raves about the Wildcats coaching staff, athletic therapist Graham Black and the way the club treats its players.

"There's a lot more gym time and off-ice workouts here," he said. "There's a lot more meetings. It was a little soft in Lewiston. It's a lot more structured here. We have a great gym and everything we need to help us.

"I was very happy when Moncton chose me in the dispersal draft. It's one of the top three organizations in the league. It's a great place for me to grow up in and learn the game.""

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Get insured for Athletic Therapy

If your insurer doesn't provide you with Athletic Therapy coverage, that doesn't mean that you need to go without.  Often it just takes a letter to the right person for it to be added to your plan.  The Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) has template letters for your use, click on the links below to access them:

Letter to insurance company from patient

Letter to HR from the CATA

Don't hesitate to send these letters to get the appropriate medical coverage for your needs.

Job Opportunity: Area Manager Rep, Ossur

We are recruiting and Area Manager (Rep) – Orthopedic Bracing & Support to sell a variety of orthopedic medical products in the SE Ontario territory. Össur is a leading global company in non-invasive orthopedics, we deliver advanced and innovative technologies within the fields of prosthetics, bracing & supports and compression therapy. This position will manage sales growth for our Bracing and Support products throughout the territory.

If interested in this opportunity, please forward your resume for review. Otherwise, any referrals would be appreciated.


Craig Colligan
Recruiting Manager
ccolligan@ossur.com

Fantuz welcomed back by Roughriders

"The return of Andy Fantuz to the Saskatchewan Roughriders wasn't without some drama.

On Wednesday, the allstar slotback practised with the Riders for the first time since clearing NFL waivers Sunday. Fantuz, who was released by the Chicago Bears on Friday, created some concerns among the railbirds when he left practice early with athletic therapist Ivan Gutfriend.

Fantuz told the media that he was fine following Wednesday's practice at Mosaic Stadium. The nervousness was to be expected considering the hype that has surrounded Fantuz's every move since he signed with the Bears on Feb. 3. Fantuz was cut after having two receptions for 19 yards in four pre-season games. Fantuz was even greeted by a standing ovation when his picture was shown on the MaxTron during Sunday's 27-7 win over the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers."

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Diabetes ‘blessing in disguise’ for pair of Knights

"Domi, 16, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a few years back, just as he was beginning to show signs of serious hockey talent. Knight, 19, on the other hand, was diagnosed two years ago during his NHL draft season."

...

"At the rink, they’re monitored by Knights athletic therapist Andy Scott, as well as co-owner/general manager Mark Hunter.

“Big time,” said Domi, when asked if the London’s team accommodation for his disease has been up to par thus far.

“There’s just so many different things they can help you out with,” he added. “Especially with Jared, they’ve been through it all. They know what they’re doing.”

Scott said Knights alumnus Leigh Salters, who played for London from 2008-2010, had Type 1 as well. His experiences with Salters have helped guide him for the most part, except when Knight’s situation first arose.

“When Jared was first diagnosed, it was a learning process,” Scott explained. “It was trial and error basically and there were a couple of occasions when I had to keep a close eye on him.”

The problem was Knight didn’t know why he was experiencing pains, weight loss and other symptoms associated with Type 1 at first. It wasn’t until he went in for tests that it was confirmed he had the disease.

Nowadays, the Bruins’ second-round choice in 2010 is doing just fine."

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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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Prayer helps Simpson's recovery

"The middle linebacker with the Saskatchewan Roughriders has been nursing a rib injury since the CFL team returned to practice on Sunday. Simpson was considered doubtful for Sunday's game against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers. On Thursday, Simpson returned to his familiar position as the team's starting middle linebacker.

"I told (Saskatchewan's director of athletic therapy) Ivan Gutfriend and the coaches that I would be going into the prayer closet on Wednesday and when I came out, I would be ready to go,'' said Simpson, who is a minister during the offseason and is nicknamed the Minister of Defence. "I feel good and I thank God for that.''"

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Motivation key reason why many join fitness studios

"Athletic therapist Mike Elchuk says when looking for a gym it's important to make sure there is a range of equipment with plenty of choices for both weight and cardio. He adds the first thing a member should receive when joining a gym is a demonstration of how the equipment works.

Too often, Elchuk adds, he's seen incorrect use of machines, which means members are not getting the full benefit of the exercise or they're putting themselves at risk for injury.

To help avoid injury, before starting a new fitness program it's a good idea to get check up from your doctor, says Elchuk. Most gyms also have a physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q), which prospective members are encouraged to fill out to help trainers gauge possible risks.

In order to get the most out of their membership people need a plan, and this often comes in the form of a personal trainer. Elchuk says many people try to do too much too fast with no plan of attack, which often leads to burn out and they give up after the first few weeks.

"It's a matter of getting direction, going to someone who's qualified.

All gyms have at least some kind of trainer that can do that. They don't have to work out with those trainers continuously, it's just a matter of getting guidance and pacing yourself," he says."

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