Most times Physiotherapy and Athletic Therapy are similar. Both will assess and educate you about your injury and healing process. Our therapists treat hands-on as well as give you some exercises to do at home. So what are the differences and what is the best type of appointment for you?
Athletic Therapy:
Athletic Therapy is effective in treating musculoskeletal injuries. In the same way as Physiotherapy, the therapists assess and educate you about your injuries. Much like Physiotherapy, Athletic Therapy will use manual therapy, exercise, and sometimes bracing and taping. The goal is to prepare you for safe recovery into an active lifestyle.
Three key areas for recovery:
- Injury prevention (warm-up, conditioning program, taping, etc)
- Immediate Care (injury assessment, )
- Rehabilitation (using a variety of procedures to promote an environment conducive to healing)
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can restore and maintain strength, function, motion and overall well-being by addressing underlying physical issues. Like Athletic Therapy, Physiotherapists do this with a combination of manual techniques, exercises, and therapeutic modalities. Your treatment will be tailored to regain lost function, as well as improve and optimize existing function.
Physiotherapists use a variety of techniques such as:
Manual manipulation techniques, needling, functional testing, fabrication and application of assistive, adaptive, supportive and protective devices and equipment.
What are the differences between Physio and Athletic Therapy?
Some differences are:
- Athletic Therapist’s focus primarily in the area of assessment and rehabilitation of orthopedic conditions–the muscles, bones, and joints.
- Physiotherapists training is much broader and encompassing; trained to assess and rehabilitate burn patients, stroke patients, neurological conditions, etc.
Summary
To summarize, both physiotherapists and athletic therapists use therapeutic modalities, rehabilitative techniques, physical reconditioning to promote healing.
Insurance plans can vary and this can be a determining factor in choosing which service to book. Do you know if your insurance plan covers Athletic therapy, Physiotherapy or both? Make sure to review your insurance coverage, insurance plans vary in their coverage of Physiotherapy and Athletic therapy. Also, Physician referrals are not required to receive an assessment by a physiotherapist or athletic therapist.
At Prairie Therapy our goal is to help you return to your regular activities at 100%
Learn more about Athletic Therapy and Physiotherapy here: https://prairietherapy.ca/athletic-therapy-calgary/
