If you’ve ever booked an appointment for back pain, a sprained ankle, a sports injury or a niggling shoulder, you may have wondered: “Should I see a Chartered Physiotherapist or an Athletic
Therapist?”
The short answer is: Physiotherapy is a more widely recognised profession in Ireland, so it’s understandable that many people automatically associate physiotherapy with injury treatment and rehabilitation.
However, Athletic Therapists are highly trained in assessing, treating and rehabilitating musculoskeletal injuries, and in private practice the two professions often work in very similar
ways.
What is the difference?
The main difference comes from the focus of their education.
– Chartered Physiotherapists receive broad training across several areas of healthcare, including musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiorespiratory rehabilitation. This broad scope is particularly relevant in hospital and medical settings, where physiotherapists may work with patients following surgery, neurological events, respiratory illness and a wide range of other conditions.
– Athletic Therapists, on the other hand, have a strong primary focus on the musculoskeletal system – bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments – and the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of injury. Their training also includes neurological considerations, as well as a particularly strong emphasis on injury prevention, emergency care, taping, pitch-side management and rehabilitation from the initial injury through to a return to activity or sport. Both professions therefore have considerable overlap, particularly when it comes to the types of injuries we commonly see in private practice.
Does their treatment approach differ?
If you come to us with back pain, knee pain, a shoulder problem, a running injury or a sprained ankle for example, you can expect a very similar overall approach from either a Chartered Physiotherapist or an Athletic Therapist.
Both are trained to:
● Assess and clinically reason through your problem
● Identify contributing factors and make a working diagnosis
● Assess movement, strength, mobility and function
● Develop an appropriate treatment and rehabilitation plan
● Use hands-on treatment techniques where appropriate
● Prescribe exercises and rehabilitation programmes
● Work with you towards your goals and return to normal activity
● Help prevent the problem from recurring
Depending on their individual training and experience, both may also use techniques such as dry needling, soft tissue techniques, joint mobilisation or manipulation, taping, shockwave or laser treatment, exercise therapy and gym-based rehabilitation. In other words, the professional title on the door doesn’t necessarily tell you what your treatment will look like.
Does that mean there is no difference after all?
There are differences in the breadth and emphasis of the two educational pathways. As a generalisation, you could say that Physiotherapy has a broader healthcare focus, while Athletic Therapy has a particularly strong musculoskeletal and sports injury focus. But it is important not to assume that one is automatically “better” than the other. A Chartered Physiotherapist who has spent years specialising in sports rehabilitation may have an enormous amount of sporting expertise. Equally, an Athletic Therapist who has developed extensive experience in areas such as persistent pain, post-operative rehabilitation or gym-based rehabilitation may have a very broad clinical skill set.
The individual therapist’s experience, ongoing education and area of expertise can be just as important as their professional title.
Some clinicians are even dual qualified, combining the education and experience of both professions.
What about insurance?
Insurance coverage can vary depending on your individual policy and provider. If you are planning to claim for treatment, it is always worth checking whether your particular policy covers treatment from an Athletic Therapist as well as a Chartered Physiotherapist.
So, who should I book with?
For many musculoskeletal problems, both Chartered Physiotherapists and Athletic Therapists can provide excellent assessment, treatment and rehabilitation. Think about which therapist is the best fit for your particular problem and goals. You can learn more about our therapists, their qualifications and experience here. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, dealing with persistent pain, returning to sport, getting back to exercise or simply trying to move better, our Chartered Physiotherapists and Athletic Therapists work towards the same goal: Helping you get back to doing the things you want to do.
Give us a call if you’d like some guidance on deciding your next step.
