Athletic Therapists provides global services for the prevention, rehabilitation and management of orthopaedic  musculoskeletal and sports injuries. The focus of an Athletic Therapist is to find and treat the cause of injury and to provide their expertise in functional rehabilitation. Certified Athletic Therapists will design and implement programs for posture, flexibility and core strength that can be followed at home or at the gym. This global approach to injury management helps decrease potential re-injury and gets you back to full-functioning as quickly as possible.

The Certified Athletic Therapists at the OHPC have many years of experience dealing with professional and high performance athletes in every sport. Our therapists possess many specialized injury prevention and treatment skills including musculoskeletal assessment, soft tissue release, strain-counter-strain, muscle energy, myofascial release and articular pumping as well as modality-based therapy techniques and contrast hydrotherapy. Our goal is to get you back in action quickly and safely.

Soft Tissue Release and Myofascial Techniques

These techniques are a hands-on treatment that targets the tissues that give your body its structural form. Adhesions or restrictions in the fascia can cause chronic pain, decreases in strength of up to 20%, peripheral nerve entrapment and disruptions to blood flow through the capillary network, which is essential for normal function and optimal healing. Structural or postural changes to the body due to repetitive strain, overuse or micro trauma  can alter the normal biomechanics of a joint, making it susceptible to injury. Through myofascial technique and functional exercise, fascial restrictions can be reduced or eliminated. This can decrease pain, reduce recovery time and increase strength and range of motion.

Articular Pumping

Articular pumping involves a co-operative interaction between the therapist and the patient to treat a joint or articulation as a whole. Targeting the whole joint, namely the capsule (fascia), pathways of the nerves, arteries and, veins as well as synovial fluid exchange, this technique allows the treatments to be more effective than traditional forms of mobilization. Articular pumping is highly effective at restoring range of motion, strength and fluid mechanics required for optimal healing of a joint.

Muscle Energy and Strain Counter Strain

SCS and Muscle Energy are techniques where the patient and therapist work together to find the appropriate corrective force or position to improve muscle and joint function. These gentle active techniques are effective in normalizing muscle tension and increasing joint range of motion. MET is particularly effective in treating mechanical low back pain.

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OHPC Athletic Therapists

Jay Ankersmit, Hons BA Physical Education, Dip. SIM, CAT(C)

As a Director of the OHPC Jay is very proud of the quality of services provided to active individuals and athletes of the Ottawa Region through the professional staff of the centre.

In his role as Athletic Therapist Jay utilizes a variety of assessment and treatment techniques to best suit his patients’ needs in recovery and performance. The combination of myofascial release, mobilization with movement (Mulligan) techniques and neurodynamics coupled with traditional treatment modalities gives Jay a wide spectrum of treatment options to address the array of conditions that patients present with at the OHPC.

Jay has worked with the Ottawa Senators NHL franchise, the Ottawa Fury Soccer club, Rugby Canada, and the Ottawa Rebel formerly of the National Lacrosse League. He is especially proud of his contributions to the successes of the many locally based professional, National Team and Olympic athletes he has had the pleasure of working with during his career.

Jay has been recognized for his professional accomplishments and contributions to local athletes by the Ottawa Business Journal, as a recipient of the 2009 Top 40 Under Forty award.

Sarah Button, B Kin(ch), Advanced Certificate in Athletic Therapy, CAT(C), CSCS

Sarah graduated with a Kinesiology degree from the Memorial University of Newfoundland and then went on to complete her Advanced Certificate in Athletic Therapy at Mount Royal College in Calgary. She also holds the Certified Strength and Conditioning Professional designation with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Sarah brings a variety of experience and course work to her clinical treatment and treats using Myofascial, Mulligan, Muscle Energy, Soft Tissue Release, and Active Isolated Stretching Techniques along with modalities as needed. She also draws on her background in coaching and strength and conditioning for athletes and active individuals to ensure her patients receive an exercise program that will help them meet their goals and get back to sport and life quickly.

Sarah has devoted much of her life to figure skating. Her latest skating endeavour has been synchronized skating on a National gold medal winning team. As and Athletic Therapist, Sarah has worked with many collegiate sports including volleyball, soccer, wrestling, gymnastics and rugby. She has also had experience at National Championship level events for figure skating and gymnastics and worked as a therapist for the Calgary Colts in the Canadian Junior Football League. Her most interesting field experience was working with the Canadian medical team for the Professional Bull Riding Association.