On Thursday, February 19, Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Sports and Health & Wellness students from Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School attended a Wrapping and Taping Certification workshop and Reach Ahead opportunity with Andrea Prieur at York University.
Students learned about athletic injuries, including injury classification, basic assessment of extremities, tissue healing, protective equipment, and common sport-related injuries and conditions. This hands-on workshop allowed students to better understand the goals of athletic therapists—to help patients heal and recover from injury so they can safely and efficiently return to their usual activities.
Throughout the day, students engaged with Athletic Therapy students Tianne and Kyle to discuss pathway planning, gain insight into post-secondary preparation, and explore potential careers in the athletic therapy field. Students also enjoyed a guided campus tour, where they saw firsthand the resources available to them should they pursue studies at York University.
Certified Athletic Therapists (CATs) are well known for providing quick-thinking, on-field emergency care for professional and elite athletes. They are highly effective in treating musculoskeletal injuries and adhere to the Sports Medicine Model of care. CATs work with a wide range of patients—from children with concussions to seniors recovering from hip replacement surgery—using manual therapies, therapeutic modalities, exercise prescription, and bracing and taping techniques.
York University’s Athletic Therapy Certificate Program is accredited by the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association and prepares students to earn the professional designation of Certified Athletic Therapist in Canada. Graduates are equipped to work with professional athletes as well as the active population, both on the field and in clinical settings.
Thank you to Andrea Prieur, Tianne, Kyle, and York University for hosting our SHSM students and providing valuable firsthand insight into the field of athletic therapy. We look forward to future opportunities for our SHSM students to learn and become certified.
