Athletic Therapy Showcased to a Younger Generation

On November 20, Sergio Velasquez Ovalle, athletic therapist and CTSQ member, participated in a job fair at Collège Français in Longueuil, where he works. We would like to highlight this initiative to promote the profession of athletic therapist and help build a future generation of professionals.

You have a similar opportunity? Know that the material used by Sergio was provided by the CTSQ; do not hesitate to contact us to borrow it and help to promote athletic therapy.

In conclusion, we are sharing here a few pictures from the event.

Concussion and Return-to-Play

We want to use this article to share relevant information regarding the practice of return-to-play authorization following a concussion.

Following the publication of the joint statement, we have created a page on our website to help you better understand this new activity. We encourage all members to take a moment to review it. This page, along with the statement, serves as the two main resources you should rely on if you have any questions.

Additionally, you will find below key points discussed during the January 17 meeting to enhance your understanding of the topic.

Interpretation

Despite the two resources mentioned above, we recognize that not everything is clearly defined—this is normal for activities of this nature. A certain degree of interpretation is often necessary to adapt to real-world situations while still adhering to the original guidelines. As a result, aspects related to continuing education and practice profiles do not yet have clearly established parameters.

More defined boundaries will likely emerge as this activity is practised, taking into account both successes and mistakes. However, for this to happen, we must remember our responsibility as professionals to report any violations we witness. It is also likely that a member who approaches the CTSQ after making a mistake themselves will be met with understanding—especially if our collective goal is to learn and grow from these situations. Therefore, we should not hesitate to take initiative to ensure, above all, the safety of our patients and our professional integrity.

Mandatory Diagnosis

Even before the publication of the joint statement, recognized protocols emphasized the need for a medical evaluation when a concussion occurred or was suspected. This requirement should not be new to athletic therapists, despite some of the feedback received. It is important to remember that in Québec, only doctors and, in some cases, nurse practitioners (IPS) are authorized to make a medical diagnosis. No other profession can diagnose a concussion. Keep in mind that physiotherapists are not recognized either as outlined in their own joint statement. Lastly, please note that we are working on a second phase of this project to further enhance the activity based on our initial experiences.

An Activity Not Accessible to Everyone

The key takeaway is that not all athletic therapists can engage in this authorized activity.
As outlined in the previously mentioned resources, an athletic therapist wishing to practise this activity must have “a practice profile that regularly exposes them to concussion management.” This profile is directly influenced by the nature of the therapist’s work and the time spent in practice. Working in the field with sports organizations that have a higher risk of concussions—such as football, hockey, or rugby—will justify an athletic therapist’s participation in this activity. Conversely, a therapist working exclusively in a clinic will not qualify if they only see one concussion case per year.

As a result, this activity will be more accessible to therapists working on the field. The clinical aspect of concussion management, particularly given the often more complex nature of cases seen in clinics—will be less common.