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Abel Albanes, CAT(C), NSCA-CSCS
Athletic Therapy, Rehabilitation & Performance Training
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
Athletic Therapy focuses on the assessment, rehabilitation, and reconditioning of musculoskeletal injuries—issues involving muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons.A Certified Athletic Therapist combines clinical assessment with education, movement, progressive exercise, and hands-on treatment when helpful. The goal is to reduce symptoms, rebuild strength and capacity, and prepare you to return confidently to daily life, work, training, or sport.You do not need to be a competitive athlete to benefit from Athletic Therapy.Certified Athletic Therapists can be recognized by the credential CAT(C).
I work with people across a wide range of ages, abilities, and activity levels. This includes competitive and recreational athletes returning to sport, active adults recovering from injury, people managing persistent or recurring pain, and individuals who want to build strength and train confidently around an injury history.You do not need to consider yourself an athlete. Your plan will be tailored to your goals, starting point, and the demands of the activities that matter to you.
Yes. Return-to-sport rehabilitation bridges the gap between recovering from an injury and being fully prepared for training and competition.Your program will be based on your injury, current capacity, sport, position, and performance demands. Depending on your needs, rehabilitation may include progressive strength training, power, running, jumping, change of direction, conditioning, and sport-specific tasks.Progress is guided by how you respond to training and, when appropriate, objective measures of strength, movement, and performance. The goal is not simply to reduce symptoms, but to help you return with the physical capacity and confidence your sport requires.
Yes. I work with people experiencing pain that has lasted longer than expected, repeatedly returns, or has not improved with a standard approach.We’ll explore your symptoms, health and injury history, daily and training demands, previous treatment experiences, and the activities you want to return to. Your plan may combine education, movement, progressive strength training, activity modification, and hands-on treatment when useful.The goal is to help you better understand and manage your symptoms while gradually building the capacity and confidence to participate more fully in the activities that matter to you.
Athletic Therapy is appropriate when your primary concern is an injury, pain, physical limitation, or returning safely to activity or sport. It begins with a clinical assessment and focuses on rehabilitation, symptom management, and rebuilding function and physical capacity.Personal Training focuses primarily on developing strength, fitness, movement skills, and performance. It can also be adapted around previous injuries or existing limitations.Because I provide both services, rehabilitation and training do not have to be completely separate. As your symptoms and capacity improve, sessions can progressively shift from injury rehabilitation toward strength development and performance. If you are unsure where to begin, book an assessment and we can determine the most appropriate starting point.
Your first appointment is a 60-minute assessment. We’ll begin with a conversation about your goals, symptoms or injury history, daily activities, and training or sport demands.This is followed by a physical assessment tailored to your needs, which may include movement, mobility, strength, balance, functional tasks, and relevant orthopedic testing.For Athletic Therapy, we’ll discuss the findings and outline an individualized rehabilitation plan. Initial treatment or exercises may also begin during this appointment. For Personal Training, the assessment establishes a starting point for a program based on your goals, experience, and current capacity.Please wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely, along with appropriate athletic footwear.
Each session is individualized according to your goals, assessment findings, and stage of rehabilitation. Sessions may include education, movement and mobility work, progressive strength training, balance or coordination exercises, and hands-on treatment when useful.As you progress, rehabilitation may also incorporate running, jumping, change of direction, conditioning, or other activity- and sport-specific demands. You may receive exercises to complete between appointments so you can continue building capacity outside of your sessions.
Athletic Therapists and Physiotherapists can both assess and rehabilitate musculoskeletal injuries, and their care in a clinical setting often overlaps.Athletic Therapy education places a strong emphasis on musculoskeletal injury assessment, active rehabilitation, reconditioning, and returning people to activity or sport. Physiotherapy education covers musculoskeletal rehabilitation as well as neurological and cardiorespiratory conditions.The best choice often depends on your specific needs, goals, and the individual practitioner’s experience. My practice focuses on musculoskeletal injuries, persistent pain, progressive strength development, and return to activity and sport. If your needs fall outside my scope, I will recommend or collaborate with another appropriate healthcare professional.
Athletic Therapy is included in many extended health benefit plans, but coverage varies between insurance providers and individual policies.Before booking, contact your insurance provider and ask whether your plan covers services provided by a Certified Athletic Therapist with the CAT(C) designation. You may also want to confirm your annual coverage amount, whether a physician’s referral is required, and how claims should be submitted.
At least 24 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, as well as missed appointments, are subject to the full session fee, which may be charged to the card on file.I understand that unexpected illness or emergencies can occur. Please contact me as soon as possible, and these situations will be considered individually.
One-on-one sessionsInitial assessment: $200 + HST ($226 total)Single session: $160 + HST ($180.80 total)Eight-session package: $145 + HST per sessionPackage total: $1,160 + HST ($1,310.80 total)Eight-session packages expire three months from the date of purchase.Semi-private training — two people$100 + HST per person, per session ($113 total)Small-group training — three or four people$80 + HST per person, per session ($90.40 total)
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