For the Public

A ‘Sport Physiotherapist’ is a Physiotherapist who has completed the Diploma in Sport Physiotherapy through Sport Physiotherapy Canada (SPC), a Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.

The Diploma holder has experience in the care of athletes of all levels, be it the high performance national or provincial level athlete or the everyday active Canadian. The Education system of SPC allows the graduate physiotherapist to gain experience and education through courses in areas such as athletic taping, protective equipment, emergency care, concussion management and exercise prescription.

Physiotherapists gain valuable field experience towards their Diploma by working closely with experienced therapists in a mentorship program. The Sport Physiotherapist is qualified to work with Canada’s High Performance athletes in all settings including daily training and competitions such as world championships and the Olympic Games. Written and practical examinations are required to achieve the level of Diploma holder ensuring a high standard of care.

Information for the public looking for a physiotherapist:

A Sport Physiotherapist has a background in orthopaedics and adds the skills learned during the certificate and diploma training to their treatment tools. The skills of athletic taping can be applied not only court side, but more often in the clinical setting. The young soccer player with a sprained ankle will be more comfortable and heal faster when supportive taping is applied at the end of treatment. The same is true for the person who twisted their ankle while putting out the garbage! The Sport Physiotherapist has experience with the Return to Sport or Work or Life aspect of a treatment plan. A carefully planned Progressive Exercise program will allow the athlete or worker or average person to return to activity in a safe manner, reducing the risk of re-injury. A thorough understanding of the symptoms of concussion and its current treatment protocols allows the Sport Physiotherapist to provide proper guidance to not only the athlete that has sustained a concussion in sport but also any person who may have suffered a head injury at work, in a motor vehicle accident or from a fall.

Athletes and coaches seeking treatment or guidance for a sport-related injury:

In Canada, there are over 350 physiotherapists who have achieved the Certificate level in Sport Physiotherapy, and over 250 physiotherapists have achieved the Diploma in Sport Physiotherapy. The expertise gained in dealing with sports injuries allows these Physiotherapists to guide the athlete in a safe and efficient manner back to full activity. The training done by these physiotherapists involves over 1600 hours in on-field care in a variety of sports. The examination process overseen by Sport Physiotherapy Canada ensures these physiotherapists have achieved the standard and have expertise in the treatment of sports injuries.

The skills of a Sport Physiotherapist include athletic taping, functional return to sport training, exercise physiology, sport massage, and concussion evaluation and management. The Sport Physiotherapist has the skills and ability to work with sport organizations to help establish a comprehensive medical support system for an organization, whether it is at the grassroots level or the high performance level. Many of the Diploma holders in Sport Physiotherapy have worked with Canada’s top athletes at all levels of sport. Sport Physiotherapists work at local, provincial, national and world championships and join Canada’s Mission Staff at such events as the Commonwealth Games, the Pan American Games, the World University Games and the Olympic Games. Sport Physiotherapy Canada certified therapists are located across Canada.

How do you confirm if your therapist is an SPC Credential holder?

Here is an outline of the Sport PT titles in Canada:

• Sport Physiotherapy Canada Certificate holders
  • Certificate Sport Physiotherapy, Certificate Sport PT or Cert. Sport PT
• Sport Physiotherapy Diploma holders
  • Diploma Sport Physiotherapy, Diploma Sport PT or Dip. Sport PT
• Registered International Sports Physical Therapist
  • Registered International Sport Physical Therapist, Registered International Sport PT or RISPT

Please contact support@sportphysio.ca to find a SPC Credential Holder near you.