Athletic therapists come to South Osborne

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This article was published 30/11/2015 (1272 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two athletic therapists recently opened up shop in the new TradeMark building at the corner of Rathgar Avenue and Osborne Street.

Melissa Deonaraine, who runs Academy Athletic Therapy, and Faye Zachedniak, whose business is called Re-Active Athletic Therapy, met and became friends at the University of Manitoba where they studied kinesiology and athletic therapy. Twenty students are admitted into the program each year, and with all the practice rubs, massages and guided movements, the students quickly get to know each other.

Athletic therapy is a rigorous program which emphasizes practical experience from the beginning. After graduation, students must pass a two-day exam that includes theory, clinical work and work in the field in order to certify with the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association.

Athletic therapists ask how an injury occurred and then look at the physics and anatomy, or biomechanics, of an injury. You do not have to be an athlete to be treated by an athletic therapist, however many people who see an athletic injury do have sports injuries.

"Many athletic therapists were injured as athletes," said Deonaraine, a former U of M field hockey player.

Zachedniak, who comes from Roblin, Man., attended university on a golf scholarship. Zachedniak is also a paramedic and used that knowledge when she worked on the oil rigs in southeastern Saskatchewan.

She was, "helping the guys out" as she puts it.

Zachedniak provided athletic therapy services at this year’s Canadian Ultimate Frisbee championship and the Western Canadian Shield women’s hockey championship, among other top sporting events.  

"We understand what it is like to be injured and sidelined," said Deonaraine who was a lead therapist with FIFA’s Women’s World Cup last summer.

Deonaraine came to Canada from the Caribbean. She worked as a medical practitioner at Toronto’s recent Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.

"We’re the first responders (for sports injuries) because we’re first on the field," Deonaraine said.

Zachedniak also worked with World Cup soccer players last summer. Both women enjoyed the experience and the friendliness of the world-class athletes.

At 1-695 Osborne Street, their goal is to restore each client’s independence and to help people get back to their lives. The therapists show their clients specific exercises and explain how the movements will help in the healing process.

"We adapt exercises and equipment for each person," Zachedniak said.

Academy Athletic Therapy's spacious and comfortable foyer leads to two treatment rooms and an activity room with hand weights and resistance bands. Big windows brighten every room.

The whole first-floor space is wheelchair accessible.

"That was huge," Deonaraine said. 

Dianne Doney is a community correspondent for Fort Rouge. You can contact her at diannemary@hotmail.com