SportMed Directory

• Acupuncturists

This section provides a listing of registered acupuncturists who have demonstrated an interest in sport medicine and have a minimum of three years experience in working with athletes of all levels.

All individuals listed are members in good standing with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia (CTCMA) which oversees the registration of acupuncturists in the province. In addition, they are also members of British Columbia Qualified Acupuncturists and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association (QATCMA). Through this association, the group is establishing a diploma program in sports medicine acupuncture.

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine have been in existence for over 3000 years. The main focus of acupuncture is to maximize health, relieve pain, maintain balance in the body and increase vitality. This is accomplished by treating the person as a whole (i.e. physical, mental and emotional), not just the injured area.

Acupuncture is modeled around a concept called 'Yin and Yang'. Yin and Yang indicate relative health and represent balance or homeostasis in the body. For example, in the autonomic nervous system Yin is considered the parasympathetic system and Yang the sympathetic system.

Athletic injuries may cause pain, soreness or numbness due to obstruction of Qi (energy - pronounced chee) and blood circulation in the channels of the body. These channels are referred to as 'meridians' and are likened to the waterways of the world. The Qi energy is constantly moving through these meridians in our bodies. It is only when the Qi energy is unable to completely move through the meridians that the body will become out of balance.

Acupuncture treatment involves the use of high quality stainless steel, pre-sterilized and single use disposable needles. Acupuncture points are chosen based on the treatment outcome. The goal of treatment is to first open the meridian pathways that enable the Qi energy to flow, and second, to decrease inflammation, restore muscle balance and joint mobility and minimize pain.

Acupuncture can have a positive contribution in the quest for athletic enhancement. Its complementary role in the world of sports medicine is paramount for athletes and sports professionals who are eager for optimal athletic performance.

• Athletic Therapist

All individuals listed are Certified members in good standing with the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association.

A Certified Athletic Therapist is a health professional dedicated to providing services to the injured, active individual that includes the prevention, immediate care and ongoing rehabilitation of those injuries. Athletic Therapists provide immediate care of athletic injuries, basic emergency life support and provision of first aid. A certified Athletic Therapist utilizes contemporary rehabilitative techniques, therapeutic modalities, and physical reconditioning and supportive strapping procedures to promote an environment conducive to optimal healing in preparing the individual for safe reintegration into an active lifestyle.

• Chiropractor

All individuals listed are members in good standing with the B.C. College of Chiropractors and the B.C. Chiropractic Association. In addition, they are fellows of the College of Chiropractic Sport Sciences (Canada) and the Council on Chiropractic Sports Sciences (B.C.) (F.C.C.S.S.(C) ).

A fellow of the College of Chiropractic Sport Sciences has completed an extensive post graduate training program dealing with athletic peripheral injuries, with the intent to provide a broader base of knowledge for the practitioner enabling him/her to appropriately diagnose, treat and prevent athletically-induced injuries.

• Exercise Physiologist

This section identifies individuals who have conducted graduate (MSc or PhD) studies in exercise science, human kinetics, and/or kinesiology specializing exercise physiology. These individuals are current members and in good standing with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) and are actively involved in assisting coaches and athletes with physical preparation programs. 

The CSEP-Certified Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP) is the most advanced health and fitness certification in Canada allowing certified members to work with high performance athletes, the general population, and varied clinical populations. Individuals in this category will have completed a four year degree in Physical Activity/Exercise Sciences/Kinesiology, Human Kinetics, etc., with a specialization in health-related fitness plus work- and sport-related fitness applications for asymptomatic and symptomatic populations. The CSEP-CEP performs assessments, prescribes conditioning exercise, as well as exercise supervision, counselling and healthy lifestyle education in apparently healthy individuals and/or populations with medical conditions, functional limitations or disabilities associated with musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, metabolic, neuromuscular, and aging conditions. A CSEP-CEP is insured and certified annually by the CSEP Health & Fitness Program of BC.

• Professional Fitness and Lifestyle Consultant (PFLC)

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) gives recognition to physical activity, fitness and lifestyle appraisal personnel with advanced qualifications in the field of exercise science. The CSEP-PFLC certification program recognizes individuals who have had advanced training in exercise science, lifestyle counselling and exercise prescription. These individuals are regarded as competent, autonomous appraisers who are qualified to work without supervision utilizing recognized sub-maximal and/or maximal testing protocols. CSEP-PFLC's have a university degree in Kinesiology, Human Kinetics, or related areas and most CSEP-PFLC's are associated with an accredited fitness testing centre or facility or work as private consultants. CSEP-PFLC's do not administer appraisals to individuals with a history of cardiovascular disease unless cleared by a physician. A CSEP-PFLC is insured and certified annually by the CSEP Health & Fitness Program of BC.

• Massage Therapist

This list includes Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) who are licensed to practice in the province of British Columbia and who are members of the Canadian Sport Massage Therapy Association (CSMTA) having, as a minimum, CSMTA Level 1. Certification candidates with CSMTA are classified as Level II practitioners and Level III denotes a fully Certified Sport Massage Therapist.

•Sport Psychology Consultant

This section lists members of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA), individuals who are currently delivering sport psychology services in British Columbia. CSPA members have a minimum of a Master’s Degree in Sport Psychology or a related field and have successfully completed a variety of courses relevant to sport psychology consultation and foundational disciplines such as human kinetics or kinesiology, psychology and counseling. They also have extensive sport psychology consulting experience, hands on sport experience and possess favorable supervisor and client evaluations. For further information go to www.cspa-acps.ca

• Dietitian

This section provides a list of registered dietitians who have an interest in sports nutrition.

• Optometrist

This list includes optometrists (O.D.-Doctor of Optometry) with an interest in sport who are experienced and equipped to conduct a general oculo-visual examination of the athlete. Some of those listed are able to offer Sport Vision Assessment. Almost all personnel listed offer service in prescribing/dispensing eye glasses and contact lenses.

All those listed are members of the B.C. Association of Optometrists (BCAO) who have been approved by the BCAO Committee which advises on Sport Vision matters. For further information, please contact this committee through the BCAO, (604) 270-9909.

• Pedorthist

The Pedorthic Association of Canada regulates the certification of pedorthic practitioners:

Certified Pedorthist Canada, C. Ped ( C ), or
Certified Pedorthist, C. Ped: clinical pedorthist
Certified Pedorthist Master Craftsman, C. Ped M.C., or
Certified Orthopaedic Footwear Specialist, COFS: custom shoe maker.

• Physician

All physicians listed are members of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine (CASM) and have obtained their Diploma in Sport Medicine.

This section provides a list of sport medicine specialists, primary care physicians (M.D.s) and orthopaedic surgeons who have an interest in sport medicine.

• Physiotherapist

This section identifies only physiotherapists who are Sport Physiotherapy Canada (SPC) certified. An SPC Certification Candidate designation means that the therapist has met basic emergency skill requirements, and is interested in developing (or achieving recognition for) competence in the specialty of Sports Physiotherapy, in which members have taken first aid courses. An SPC Certificate Holder has a post-graduate Certificate in Sport Physiotherapy (Cert. Sport Physiotherapy), and a SPC Diploma Holder has a post-graduate Diploma in Sport Physiotherapy (Dip. Sport Physiotherapy).

At the certificate level, a physiotherapist will have knowledge and skills in sports physical therapy that contribute to the assessment and treatment of athletic injuries in the clinical and acute care setting. A Certificate physiotherapist will have demonstrated competence in working independently at an athletic event and will have sufficient knowledge and experience to attend to injuries and needs that may occur.

At the Diploma level the physiotherapist will be able to look after the total needs of an athletic team. These needs include: pre-season conditioning, training camp, acute injury care, and complete rehabilitation of the athlete back to competitive level. These skills would be further supplemented by the physiotherapist's clinical expertise as well. Upon completion of the Diploma, a member will be entitled to call themselves a "Sport Physiotherapist" (dependant on provincial licensing regulations).

• Podiatrist

This section lists podiatrists (D.P.M.-Doctor of Podiatric Medicine), identified by the BC Association of Podiatrists (604) 602-0400, who have an interest in sports and treat athletes on a regular basis.

• Psychologist

This section supplies a list of psychologists who are registered with the College of Psychologists of B.C. and have expressed an interest in sport and working with athletes.

• Strength & Conditioning Specialist

This section provides a list of Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (C.S.C.S.) who are members of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). C.S.C.S. qualified individuals hold a University or College degree in Arts or Science and have successfully compoleted the NSCA examination consisting of the scientific knowledge of strength training and conditioning along with the ability to apply this knowledge in practical settings. Most C.S.C.S's are associated with sport teams or have a strong interest in sport-specific training.