Fall 2024
Fall 2024
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L’INFOLETTRE
To get informed
News
CTSQ Member’s ID
Did you notice that a member number is now visible in your account? This ID number, made up of 7 numbers, will be used to identify members and their status when contacted by insurers. Make sure to use it from now on, on your receipts.
Group Insurance Program – Croix Bleue
We are reminding you that, since September 1st, our group program is covered by Croix Bleue. Your online profile is available on their website. If you did not activate your account, follow the steps on the pages to do so.
Take a moment to also read the text we shared in the Column section to learn important details about the program.
Tipping an Athletic Therapist
Following an email from an athletic therapist’s patient, our ethics committee was asked to investigate the matter of tipping for athletic therapy services. Although not clearly stated in the Code de conduite professionnelle, the CTSQ does think that athletic therapists, as most health-care professionals, should never ask for tips when charging for services. Tipping could lead to a change in the quality of service, whether favourably or not, and this situation would be a clear violation of the code of ethics and professional conduct.
Athletic Therapy Is Out There
We invite you to look at our Press Kit webpage to see the latest athletic therapy media coverage in Québec. Roland Mailhot, our media relation consultant, is always awaiting athletic therapists to share their projects with him, so make sure to contact him whenever you can.
Are you looking to cover a unique event? Do you like the outdoors and want to get involved in an event set in an outlandish location?
The Festiglace de Pont-Rouge is looking for athletic therapists to help cover their event and give treatment to their mixed climbing athletes.
Learn more about it in the Column section
To know our thoughts
EDITORIAL
President’s Corner
For this edition, I am giving the spotlight for an important message that professional members will receive by mail in the coing days.
Keep reading
To Our Members,
After thinking about the topic over the last few months, we are taking this opportunity to share with our members this important message about the state of the affairs of our community. With the fall in full swing, we often realize how our social lives are non-existent. So much, that some of us can’t wait to play certain teams, just to be able to have a quick catch up before the game or at the end of the game with our opponent’s athletic therapist. Unfortunately, this excitement all dwindles when we have organized events to attend.
For instance, this year, many ATs (from all over the country) complained about the exorbitant prices of the national conference stating that it was financially out of reach for them. In contrast, the CTSQ worked to offer a local event of great value and accessible to many if not most. To our greatest deception, once again, enrollment was subpar, which led to this past June’s event being the last one for now.
There has been a decline in members’ implication over the past few years. Whether we look at the participation rate from this spring’s census, surveys we sent out to learn about our membership’s opinion, or even the annual general assembly, it seems the time where the majority of our community was actively participating is over.
We keep hearing that there is a lack of togetherness yet, professionals are not showing up. One of the biggest downfalls is the lack of exposure that the student athletic therapists get when joining the CTSQ, leading to a decrease in enrollment as well as an overall decrease in interest from them.
Something has to change; it is important to continue to maintain links with our profession as this will make us stronger, and allow us to expand knowledge, connections, and overall success.
Although CaTS 2024 was the last event officially organized by the CTSQ, we truly do hope that when other opportunities arise that you will consider participating actively. Without a strong professional community, there is no way the community at large will ever be fully educated about who we are and what we can do for them.
Sincerely, a member who is genuinely worried about the camaraderie of her community.
CTSQ administrators
To read some more
COLUMN
Chronicles of an Extraordinary Experience for an Athletic Therapist!
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The Festiglace is an ice climbing festival that takes place in February, on the banks of the Ste-Anne River canyon in Pont-Rouge. It features activities for the general public and families, such as ice climbing initiations, snowshoeing, slackline, zip-lining, an experience to swim in the icy waters of the Ste-Anne River, interesting discoveries through exhibitor booths, conferences, and climbing workshops. Throughout the weekend, the atmosphere is festive on the riverbanks with a DJ, a crowd host, a wood-fired meal service, and enthusiastic festival-goers!
At the heart of this festival is a mixed climbing competition. This unparalleled event attracts around forty competitors from all around the globe each year! The best of the best are present, including some of the most renowned professional ice climbers and ice climbing athletes competing in the World Cup. There are also some experienced athletes from Quebec and beyond who dare to take on the challenge. Pont-Rouge is a one-of-its-kind place for mixed climbing, with its friable bedrock and the roaring river nearby and there, anything can happen! This six-hour action-packed competition is a wild race: the one who climbs the most routes within the allotted time wins. With ice axes in hand and crampons on their feet, the athletes embark on this adventure without taking themselves too seriously! They run between routes, hurry to climb, help and encourage each other… It’s a spectacle to behold! And athletic therapists are present just in case. Let’s be honest, accidents can happen quickly in this icy environment.
Then, in the evening, everyone is invited to continue the celebration indoors! A bar service is available, the DJ takes his place behind the console, speakers share fascinating insights about climbing and the outdoors… and athletic therapists treat the athletes so they can continue competing the next day in an even more spectacular format.
Thus, the Festiglace is looking for athletic therapists who are not afraid of a challenge! There are two teams: the e-care team and the clinical team.
E-Care Team
Dispersed in small teams throughout the venue at strategic locations, the therapists must observe the competition, with crampons on their feet and helmets on their heads, and respond to the athletes’ needs in terms of first aid. All necessary equipment to handle various issues, including complete evacuation of an injured person, is available for each teams. A heated tent with treatment tables and additional supplies serves as their headquarters. Other athletic therapists are assigned there to provide treatments, taping, and assist the festival-goers’ needs.
A simulation day is organized before the Festiglace to practice certain scenarios, including spinal injuries and the evacuation of a victim in this semi-remote environment. It’s not every event where evacuation requires a transport sled, a snowmobile, rope techniques, and cold management skills. This year, a training program focusing on remote area skills will also be established for the e-care.
Clinical Team
In the evening, the clinical team springs into action. Athletes can receive free treatments to aid their recovery or relieve minor injuries. Athletic therapists are then called upon to perform muscle or myofascial release, taping, stretching, some treatment techniques, etc. Athletes are extremely grateful; it’s truly rewarding! This service is not available at other festivals of this kind. And it’s popular! In 2024, 64 treatments were provided during the festival, and some people had to be turned away due to a lack of space. The indoor clinic of the Festiglace was open for four evenings, and treatments were offered during the day in the heated tent. A unique opportunity to talk with athletes of this still relatively unknown sport and be around the best in this discipline.
Compensation
Currently, since the Festiglace is still budding and needs to gain more recognition to obtain better funding, there is no remuneration for the participating therapists. However, meals are provided based on hours of presence, parking is free, and other non-monetary outdoor-related benefits are offered.
Festiglace is a vibrant outdoor event, rich in emotions, festive, and out of the ordinary. Do you have what it takes to participate?
Gatienne Desrochers
Athletic Therapist
Five Tips for Your Social Medias
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We are noticing an increased presence of athletic therapists on social media. We therefore asked a community manager to give us five tips to keep in mind to help you with your on-line career.
We do not live in a homogeneous community, and this is also reflected in social media. Data clearly shows demographic differences in the use of the various app. Therefore, there should be a clear link between your posts and the people who are likely to see them.
Currently, the demographics of social media are as follows:
Target one or more groups and use the most relevant platforms accordingly. It is not necessary to be present EVERYWHERE; it will not guarantee success.
In line with the previous point, you need to tailor your content to your audience. Even though it represents more work for you, avoid posting the same content across all platforms. Some posts can be easily changed, but others might need to be completely rethought for different media.
On Facebook, prioritize informative content related to your business or practice, such as schedule changes, links to your booking platform, changes in your business, official announcements, etc. Facebook is commonly used as a search engine by users and less as a source of entertainment and learning.
On Instagram, certain topics generally perform better than others. Users will want to learn about YOU first, so don’t hesitate to showcase yourself; the human aspect is very important. You can then highlight your expertise and stand out with unique content, such as tips you personally use, videos featuring you, sharing anecdotes, etc. Avoid generic content and stock photos.
TikTok can be similar to Instagram in that you will seek to feature yourself. Create short, relevant videos that will encourage users to save them and refer to them, for example, how to stretch properly before running. Take advantage of the medium to create dynamic content that requires movement, visualizing progress over time or space.
Considering this point and your resources, it is sometimes better to focus on one platform or a specific audience to start, in order to do your job well and not dilute your efforts.
Also, use your user experience for inspiration. If you create content that you would want to see, chances are you will eventually find an interested audience… like you.
For some time now, we are able to see that videos perform particularly well. However, they need to be produced in reel format to meet current trends. Prioritize concise, engaging, and relevant videos.
We have mentioned the importance of showcasing yourself, and the video format both supports that claim and allows you to fulfill this objective. Through video, individuals can recognize you, connect with you and have a better idea of your vibe. The creator and their personality are largely what will make users want to return for more advice. And even though it may seem like a huge task, know that you don’t need to be a designer or photographer to make an interesting video; the important thing is to be yourself, above all.
Encourage people to interact with your content by asking questions, inviting them to participate in a challenge, or asking them to share their experiences. As a business, it is also relevant to engage with your colleagues, patients, and partners. Your goal should be for your followers to engage with your content, which helps propel your posts through the algorithm.
Not everyone becomes insta-famous overnight! Success on social media is a bittersweet blend of consistency, timing, and luck. Therefore, be realistic about your objectives so you don’t get discouraged, and enjoy all the small wins, as they will be the foundation of your success. The most important thing is to build an engaged and dynamic community, not to have millions of followers.
Finally, don’t forget: “too much is like not enough!” You don’t need to post multiple times a day, every day. Set a schedule and be consistent (without overdoing it), and most importantly, have fun!
Roseline Guimond-Mercille
Project Manager– Social Media, CHAD communications
Learn more
Since September 1, 2024, our group insurance program is provided by Croix Bleue Médavie. With this new provider comes a few changes to our program and we are a taking a moment today to update our members on the topic.
Stricter Deadline
Croix Bleue Médavie gives us less time (31 days exactly) to update member’s profile unlike previous insurers. As you are responsible for warning us about any changes to your profile, make sure to do it within the appropriate timeframe. Otherwise, you will be charged for the delays. The changes you need to report as soon as possible are, among other things :
Children Over 21 Years Old
For those of you who have children, once they reach 21 years of age, you will now need to provide a proof of full-time registration to school in order to maintain their coverage. You will have to send this document to the CTSQ by email so we can update your profile.
Exemption During a Leave of Absence
The leave of absence’s policy is also affected by the change of the insurer. As per Croix Bleue’s policies, a member of an authorized leave of absence (back to school in our case) keeps their coverage for the initial 6 months. Afterward, they are exempted from the program until reinserted. For leaves of 8 and 12 months, members must make sure to pay their premium for the initial 6 months of their leave. For a 6-month period, the exemption is not applicable.
For maternity/paternity leaves or illnesses leaves, coverage must be maintained as per RAMQ law, and thus premiums must be paid.
Changing Your Life Insurance Beneficiaries
For those wishing to do it, you can update the beneficiaries of your life insurance by updating your profile with us. You will need to provide us with the proper form (subscription or exemption) and the appropriate documentation if you are exempted.
A Myriad of Resources
Croix Bleue Médavie offers to their adherents many benefits. Take a moment to learn about these options and make the most of your subscription.
To be up to date in the field of AT
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The assessment of paraspinal muscle epimuscular fat in participants with and without low back pain: A case-control study
Epimuscular fat possibly disturbs force generation of paraspinal muscles, but is seldomly explored. This project aimed to 1) compare epimuscular fat in participants with and without chronic LBP, and 2) determine whether epimuscular fat is different across lumbar spinal levels and associated with BMI, age, sex and LBP status, duration or intensity.
To think a bit more
WORLD AND MEDIA