Athletic Therapist Spotlight - Chris Kucher

Throughout June we will be highlighting a local Athletic Therapist for National Athletic Therapy Month. Today we highlight Chris Kucher Certified Athletic Therapist and Owner of North Star Athletic Therapy 

 Name: Chris Kucher

Job: Athletic Therapist

Education Background: University of Alberta BPE, Mount Royal University Advanced Certificate in Athletic Therapy

What is a typical day for you: Depending on where I am it can be anything! Field events I am there early to ensure that all athletes are prepared as best they can be, whether it is pre-game taping, running a warm up, or a quick assessment and treatment. During performance I follow the action making sure that I can see any potential injuries, or am quick to respond to any on field emergency. Post-performance client care is the name of the game, assessments treatments and possibly referrals for all those in need. Clinical days are again all about the client without the distractions of on field care. Prior to the patient I ensure that my space is clean and tidy ready for the first patient. When he or she arrives the care starts and whether it is an assessment for a new injury, or an update to an existing treatment plan the patient is number one priority. Afterwards, a quick clean up and charting all the important information from the day's appointments.

Favourite part of job: Listening to past patients pass on the some of the information I had taught them. "Athlete 1: Wow you land really loud... Athlete 2: what do you mean? Athlete 1: I used to be like that too. You have to learn to land quieter, it shows you're in control and then you won't get hurt"

Why did you become an AT: The challenge of assessment, and the stress of emergencies. Every body is different, and while two people have the "same injury" they might need different strategies to rehabilitate back to performance levels. While on field situations stress a different aspect of the system, every time you watch an on field emergency you don't know what you'll encounter when you reach the athlete, so staying alert and current is a must!

Highlight of Career: Clinically- Opening our clinic space. Which gives me an opportunity to reach more people; and the greater the reach the greater the help! Field- On mat Athletic Therapist at the World Women's Wrestling Championships 2013.

For more information on Athletic Therapy please go to Canadian Athletic Therapist Association.

Please follow us on Twitter @EliteInjuryMgmt and check out our website at www.eliteinjury.com

June is National Athletic Therapy Month

June is National Athletic Therapy Month, please see the press release from Sandy Jespersen, Executive Director of the Canadian Athletic Therapy Association (CATA)

National Athletic Therapy Month reminds us that we’re all athletes

While we usually think of sports when we talk about athletic activity, most Canadians engage in some form of physical activity every day. Whether it’s lifting an infant into a highchair, running for the bus, or bending to reach a fallen sock behind the dryer, we move and exert our bodies constantly. And sometimes we feel the pain from those movements.

That’s the idea behind National Athletic Therapy Month this June: an annual reminder that everyone can benefit from the expertise of Canada’s Certified Athletic Therapists. By declaring, “We are all athletes”, the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) hopes to educate Canadians who have sustained an injury to their muscles, bones, or joints that a Certified Athletic Therapist (CAT(C)) can help get them back to work and play.

 “While we’re primarily known for our role in helping athletes recover from injury faster and achieve peak performance, our skills can be used to help anyone with an injury,” said Richard DeMont, President of CATA. “Whether you’re a weekend golfer an avid gardener, or a busy soccer mom, moving without pain or discomfort is an important part of our overall health and well being.”

 Being able to translate the knowledge gained from years of treating elite athletes at the highest levels of competitive and professional sports into the needs of all Canadians makes the role of a Certified Athletic Therapist very valuable for injury recovery. 

 "For professional and elite athletes, the sporting arena is their workplace, and we treat workplace injuries,” said DeMont. “Whether that workplace is a playing field or an office tower makes no difference; we help get people back into their game.”

 From injury prevention to emergency care to rehabilitation, Certified Athletic Therapists are committed to assisting all of life’s athletes. 

For more information on Athletic Therapy or National Athletic Therapy month go to www.athletictherapy.org or www.aata.ca

We will be featuring local Edmonton area Athletic Therapists throughout the month to help you get to know your local ATs a little better.

Please follow us on Twitter @EliteInjuryMgmt and check out our website at www.eliteinjury.com for more information on Athletic Therapy and the services we offer. 

Becoming an Athletic Therapist

So you want to become an Athletic Therapist.  Congratulations and welcome to one of the most rewarding careers you can find. If you want more information than provided here please go to www.athletictherapy.org

The first step towards becoming a Certified Athletic Therapist is to attend an accredited institution. We have seven institutions in Canada.  University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, Camosun College, Sheridan College and Concordia University all have degree programs in Athletic Therapy.  Mount Royal University offers a post degree certificate as well as a collaborative program with University of Regina, University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge and Trinity Western University.  York University currently has probationary status. 

Upon completion of your education you will continue on the path of certification.  Before attempting the national certification exam you will need to have met the following requirements.  A valid CPR-HCP certification, completed a First Responder course, have your Supervisory Athletic Therapist (SAT) to approve your application and have completed 600 hours of both field and clinical work.  

The national exam consists of two parts.  The written exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions.  The oral-practical portion consists of both field and clinical components.  During the field exam you will face an urgent or non-urgent on field scenario, a sideline return to play scenario and a taping/support scenario.  The clinical component has to scenarios, injury assessment and rehabilitation.  The oral-practical exam is marked live by Certified Athletic Therapists.  

There are 6 domains of competencies that you will gain during your education and will need to demonstrate during your national exam.  

1. Prevention
2. Recognition and Evaluation 
3. Managing, Treatment and Disposition
4. Rehabilitation
5. Organization and Administration
6. Education and Counselling

Once you have completed all these steps you will receive one of the greatest pieces of mail stating you our now a Certified Athletic Therapist and get to use the professional designation of CAT(C).

Please follow us on Twitter @EliteInjuryMgmt and check out our website at www.eliteinjury.com

So You Only Deal With Athletes, Right?

One of the many myths about Athletic Therapists is that we only deal with athletes and at that only those at the elite level.  Well yes the first word in our title is athletic but we are much broader than that.  As the Canadian Athletic Therapy Association states Athletic Therapy, is a rapid return to work and play.

As an Athletic Therapist I have worked with athletes as young a 8 to those who are still going past 40.  Clinically I have treated patients who have suffered injuries at work, from motor vehicle accidents to seniors looking to maintain their mobility.  No matter who the patient or athlete is they all receive that same care.  The goal for everyone is to get them back to sport or their normal life as soon as possible.

Athletic Therapists use an active model of care that includes contemporary rehab techniques, therapeutic modalities such as ultrasound, IFC, EMS, soft tissue mobilization, physical reconditioning and supportive taping.  We do everything to create an ideal environment for healing so that our patients and athletes can return to activity safely.

You will find Athletic Therapists working in a variety of areas including:

• Private sports medicine and therapy clinics
• Professional sports, such as the NHL, CFL, NBA, MLB
• Elite games, such as the Olympics, Pan Am, Canada Games
• Teaching or research at universities and colleges
• Minor, high school, amateur and varsity athletics
• Professional dance companies
• Sales and marketing for performance and rehabilitation brands
• Municipal government
• Industrial workplaces
• Insurance industry

So while many of us work with athletes on a daily basis in a field setting, we also deal with the weekend warrior, the new mom recovery from pregnancy, the airport rampee who got hurt at work and the senior recovering after a knee replacement.  No matter your level of activity, no matter your job, no matter your level of sport, Athletic Therapists are there to get you back in the game.