Summer 2019

Summer 2019 - CTSQ

Volume 5 : Summer 2019

President's Corner : A New Dawn

Dear Members,

First, I would like to thank all the members of our former board who have now completed their terms. Amy Barrette piloted several projects over the years, which included promoting university programs in athletic therapy with career guidance counsellors throughout Quebec. Fayez Abdulrahman spent several years with us in a variety of roles, including four years as President. Fayez is now a member on the CATA’s Board of Directors and will defend the interests of Quebec-based members on our national association. I would also like to thank Etienne Fallu for his work as former President of the CTSQ and I will continue to seek his judicious advice. We are now bringing two new members on board with very different and complementary backgrounds: Matthew Miller is a young, energetic member, while Christina Grace has already served as President of the CTSQ and a as member on the CATA Board. The latter also took home the 2019 CTSQ Merit Award.

For my part, I am looking forward to carrying on the work that was undertaken on gaining recognition for our profession at the provincial level. Several projects are underway, and I will ensure that they continue to move forward. For instance, we recently hired a media relations officer and have already seen the benefits of this new collaboration with a host of interviews with athletic therapists appearing in the media, which led to a meeting with the Minister for Sport in May 2019.

Be aware that several big changes are also coming at the CATA and a national committee with a CTSQ representative has already been established to maximize the organizational efficiency of the CATA and its provincial chapters.

Unfortunately, we had to cancel the CTSQ banquet this year due to a lack of registrations. We were able to save our conference but it wasn’t easy. You can rest assured that the Board will investigate these issues and try to come up with tangible solutions.

Lastly, let me tell you this: let’s be proud of our profession and remain united as a distinct group of practitioners. If we promote our profession in every possible way, we will continue to grow and receive the recognition that we deserve.

I wish you all a great summer.

Best Regards,

Philippe Fait, CAT (C)
President

REMINDER: Athletic Therapy and Osteopathy

The CTSQ has been made aware of some concerns relating to the practice of athletic therapy after the recent findings by the Collège des médecins (CMQ) in reference to the practice of certain osteopaths.

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Athletic Therapy and osteopathy ; some clarifications!

Dear Colleagues,

Any certified athletic therapist is allowed to practise if they follow the scope of practice of athletic therapy. If they divert off into the practice of osteopathy, the regulation outlined by the CMQ does not apply. The regulation was recently extended until 2023; three extra years from the last extension which was to expire in 2020. This will allow due time for the Office des professions du Québec (OPQ) to come to a solution regarding our official regulation within an Order.

Acts which certified athletic therapists are allowed to practise:

Evaluate and come up with a treatment plan for musculoskeletal injuries in an active population. The definition of active is detailed in the regulations;
- We will not go into those details here as we have explained this precise matter numerous times over the years.There are specific conditions that must be respected if a patient has a chronic condition (they must be followed by a doctor), as well as for patients who are considered inactive (they must have a referral for athletic therapy from a doctor or a physiotherapist);
Use of invasive forms of energy;
Treatment of wounds and scars;
Administer prescription creams or topical agents when they are used with the invasive forms of energy or in the treatment of open wounds.

Any certified athletic therapist who is also an osteopath may treat within these detailed conditions.

Regardless of the previous statement, we are not lawyers. If a member is billing as an osteopath, but treats as an athletic therapist, we cannot guarantee that their practice is falling within the aforementioned regulation and conditions. If this is a concern for several members, the CTSQ can reach out to the CMQ or the OPQ and get an official stance on these cases. But bear in mind that this will not be instantaneous.

BUT, as already stated above, and directly in reference to the recent judgment by the Collège des médecins in regards to osteopaths practising medicine illegally;

Any visceral techniques or assessments performed on a patient are outside of our scope of practice;

Any diagnosing of illness, as opposed to musculoskeletal conditions, is outside of our scope of practice;

Manipulations are outside of our scope of practice.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the CTSQ. We will do our best to address your concerns as quickly as possible.

Heather McCoy, CAT (C)
Chair of the transitional board
sent out by email on June 10, 2019

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Helping the Next Generation of ATs

On May 16, Nina Benisty, a certified athletic therapist for 10 years, received the CTSQ award for Supervisor of the Year. We sat down with her to learn a little more about how she inspired her students.

Helping the Next Generation of ATs

To get things started, can you tell us about your favourite milieu in which to practice athletic therapy?

At John-Abbott College, where I work, we offer athletic therapy services both “on the field” and in the clinic. Although I work in both of these settings, I must admit that I have a strong preference for the work on the fields and courts. That’s where my passion lies. That being said, as a supervisor, I prefer working in the clinic.

Is that right? Can you explain why?

I feel that it is easier to share my knowledge and to provide feedback during those kinds of treatments. In the clinic setting, there is more time to educate future members. I am able to use a variety of corrective techniques including verbal and tactile explanations and practicing manual techniques, etc. I find that these interactions are the most beneficial.

How did you start supervising students?

It has always been part of my job description at John Abbott, so I have never really had to contemplate how I would integrate supervision. However, over time, I discovered that this was an aspect of my work that I really enjoy and that allows me to step outside of my daily routine. It’s refreshing to work with younger people who are studying in the field. It keeps me focused on the program and I feel like I learn just as much from my interns as they do from me. It’s a great tool for professional development.

What is your greatest accomplishment in your role as supervisor?

That’s an easy one. My colleague Audrey and I are very proud of the reputation we have built with regard to our internships. When I started out, we received very few interns. But Audrey and I worked over the years to provide an effective and stimulating environment and the growing number of applications that we receive each year is a good indication of this progress.

What are the top 3 things that you instill in your interns?

Good question! If I had to define specific skills to be developed, I would say that first and foremost, a good therapist has to learn to listen, regardless of his or her work environment. Theory is important, but in practice other factors come in to play. Most of the time, patients answer our questions directly – you just need to listen. Then – and this applies especially to this new generation of young therapists that we now see – they need to develop their self-confidence. That is, they need to trust in their knowledge, but also in their abilities. Millennials seem to be a generation of doubters, and as a supervisor, I want to help them reach the potential that they already have inside. My third and last piece of advice is the one that interns hate the most, but it is in my top 3 for good reason. The best knowledge that a therapist can master is anatomy. This is the very foundation of our practice. When therapists understand anatomy (and I emphasize the verb understand as opposed to know), their work is greatly simplified.

Thank you for your answers! To wrap it up, one last question: what memories do you have of your internships back in the day? Did you have a positive experience?

I really enjoyed my experience as an intern at Vanier (shout out to Max Hanna!). My work method with my own interns was directly influenced by my personal experience. Back then, I remember being thrown to the wolves, so to speak. In other words, I had to take on responsibilities and learn to be independent in quick order. This drove me to be responsible for my actions, but I also saw it as a vote of confidence from my supervisor, which allowed me to develop stronger esteem.

Eric Grenier-Denis, CAT (C)
Executive Director

To be up to date in the field of AT

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Risk Factors for Lateral Ankle Sprains and Chronic
Ankle Instability

Lateral ankle sprains are a common injury sustained by individuals who participate in recreational physical activities and sports. After a lateral ankle sprain, a large proportion of individuals develop long-term symptoms, which contribute to the development of chronic ankle instability

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