What is Athletic Therapy?
Athletic Therapy involves injury assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. The primary focus is on musculoskeletal injuries such as muscles, joints, bones, and ligaments.
This profession also involves injury prevention and rehabilitation, which makes it possible for people to return to their prior health or activity levels pre-injury.
Athletic therapists are also trained in emergency care, which is essential for pitch-side care for matches and trainings.
Can I claim back the treatment cost from my health insurance?
As a Certified Athletic Therapist (CAT), I am a member of Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI), the governing body of Athletic Therapists in Ireland.
I am currently affiliated with Laya Healthcare, Virgo Health, and Irish Life. This entitles clients that are members with these health insurers to claim back some of their treatment costs, depending on their level of health cover.
What is Dry Needling and what does it do?
Dry Needling involves the use of thin, filiform needles designed to penetrate the skin, to target the underlying musculature/joint.
They are used to help reduce joint restriction by increasing mobility of the given joint or muscle, and for treatment of nerve pain/dysfunction.
Dry needling helps to improve range of motion, decrease muscle tone and to reduce pain in the affected area.
Is it only sporting injuries you treat?
No, I treat all forms of injuries regardless of whether they are a result of sport participation or as a result of a fall/accident.
What happens in the initial appointment?
During the first appointment, I will take details for a patient form, which contains personal information such as name, age, address, and any relevant medical history in relation to your injury.
Details will then be gathered about the present injury which will include the location, the onset, and details about your pain. This form will help to get any information that will help correct diagnosis.
After this, I will then perform special tests and movements on the injured area to assess for mobility and pain provocation. A variety of different treatments will then be performed on the area, depending on the appropriate treatment(s) needed for optimal results for that specific injury.
What should I wear for the treatment session?
Depending on the injury, for example an injury to lower body such as the leg or hip, it would be ideal to wear shorts to enable a thorough assessment and treatment.
For the upper body, it would be ideal to wear a loose top/t-shirt.
This enables me to have a look at the injured area and assess the injury properly, as tight clothing may restrict movement which can hinder the assessment process.
How long are the treatment sessions?
The treatment sessions are 45 minutes. The initial appointment may take an extra 5 minutes as a quick medical history form is completed at the beginning of the session.
What is the price per session?
An adult cost is €50 per session.
A child (Under 16) cost is €40 per session.