Athletic Therapy in Hamilton
Recover from injury, rebuild your strength, and get back to doing what you love with personalized Athletic Therapy in Hamilton at Restorative Touch Physiotherapy.
Our Certified Athletic Therapists provide assessment, hands-on treatment, exercise-based rehabilitation, injury prevention, and return-to-sport programming for athletes and active individuals of all ages.
You do not need to be a competitive athlete to benefit from Athletic Therapy. Whether you are recovering from a sports injury, dealing with persistent knee or shoulder pain, returning to the gym, recovering after surgery, or simply trying to move more comfortably, an Athletic Therapist can help develop a rehabilitation plan based on your individual goals.
Restorative Touch Physiotherapy provides Athletic Therapy on Hamilton Mountain, conveniently located near Upper Ottawa Street and Fennell Avenue.
Patrick O’Neil — Reg. Massage Therapist (RMT), Certified Athletic Therapist CAT(C), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
Patrick graduated from Sheridan College in 2019 with an Honours Bachelors of Applied Health Science in Athletic Therapy and a Diploma in Massage Therapy from Ontario College of Health and Technology in 2021. He also has earned a Master’s Degree in Clinical Science specializing in Healthcare Leadership.
He is currently a Registered Massage Therapist, Certified Athletic Therapist, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist as well as our recently appointed Co-Owner of Restorative Touch. During his schooling, he spent thousands of practical hours rehabilitating orthopedic injuries and working with athletes in sport-related settings. He is proficient in orthopaedic rehabilitation, athletic and personal training, concussion rehabilitation, athletic taping, custom bracing, and orthopaedic bracing. He takes a keen interest in translating his knowledge of human biomechanics into improving occupational and athletic performance.
Outside the clinic, he spends his time working or playing with local sports teams. As well as, attending sporting events as a team therapist and avid sports fan.
Emma Daigle — Athletic Therapist CAT(C)
Emma is a Certified Athletic Therapist (CAT(C)) and Certified Personal Trainer Specialist. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Therapy from Sheridan College. She most recently completed her studies at the Ontario College of Health and Technology and is a soon to be Registered Massage Therapist (RMT).
Emma’s mission is to help clients recover from sport- and work-related injuries while equipping them with the tools to prevent future setbacks. She combines her clinical knowledge with her background in performance sport to design treatment and training strategies that promote long-term health, strength, and resilience.
Beyond her clinical work, Emma is a former synchronized figure skater who proudly represented Canada from 2017 to 2023. She competed internationally at multiple World Synchronized Skating Championships. Her leadership and dedication to the sport continue as she now coaches synchronized skating teams, while skating recreationally herself.
Emma’s lifelong passion for movement, wellness, and sport drives her commitment to helping others achieve their highest potential—both on the ice and in everyday life.
What is Athletic Therapy?
Athletic Therapy is a healthcare profession focused primarily on the assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries involving the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and other structures involved in movement.
Certified Athletic Therapists are commonly associated with sports because of their extensive training in on-field injury assessment and emergency care. However, the same knowledge used to help athletes safely return to competition can also be applied to everyday injuries and physical activity.
Athletic Therapy follows a sports medicine approach to rehabilitation. Treatment typically combines hands-on care with progressive exercise and movement-based rehabilitation.
The goal is not simply to decrease pain. Your Athletic Therapist will work with you to restore mobility, strength, confidence, and physical capacity so you can safely return to the activities that matter to you.
That might mean returning to soccer, hockey, running or weight training — or simply being able to work, walk, climb stairs, garden, or play with your kids comfortably again.
What Does an Athletic Therapist Treat?
Athletic Therapists primarily work with orthopaedic and musculoskeletal injuries.
Common conditions we may treat include:
- Ankle sprains
- Muscle strains and tears
- Knee pain
- ACL, MCL and other knee injuries
- Meniscus injuries
- Patellofemoral pain
- Runner’s knee
- IT band pain
- Hip and groin injuries
- Hamstring strains
- Achilles tendon injuries
- Shin pain and running injuries
- Plantar fasciitis and foot pain
- Shoulder pain
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Shoulder instability and dislocations
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Wrist and hand injuries
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Tendonitis and tendinopathy
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Sports injuries
- Work-related musculoskeletal injuries
- Post-surgical rehabilitation
- Joint stiffness and mobility limitations
- Chronic or recurring musculoskeletal injuries
If you aren’t sure whether Athletic Therapy is appropriate for your condition, our team can help determine which Restorative Touch service is the best fit for you.
Sports Injury Rehabilitation in Hamilton
Sports injuries are one of the areas where Athletic Therapists really shine.
Our Athletic Therapists understand that recovering from an injury requires more than simply becoming pain-free. Returning safely to sport often requires rebuilding strength, mobility, power, balance, coordination, confidence, and tolerance to the specific movements your sport demands.
Your rehabilitation program may progress from basic movement and strengthening exercises toward activities such as:
- Running
- Jumping and landing
- Acceleration and deceleration
- Agility
- Cutting and changing direction
- Balance and stability
- Plyometric exercises
- Strength training
- Sport-specific drills
Whether you play recreational sports on the weekend or compete at a high level, we can help guide your progression from injury rehabilitation to return to sport.
What Happens During an Athletic Therapy Assessment?
Your first Athletic Therapy appointment begins with a detailed assessment.
Your Athletic Therapist will discuss your injury, symptoms, activity level, medical history, training demands, and the activities you are trying to return to.
Depending on your injury, your assessment may include examining:
- Range of motion
- Strength
- Joint stability
- Flexibility
- Balance
- Functional movement
- Walking or running mechanics
- Movement patterns
- Sport-specific movements
- Areas of tenderness or irritation
- Your ability to tolerate load or physical activity
Your Athletic Therapist will then explain their findings and create an individualized rehabilitation plan based on your needs and goals.
What Does Athletic Therapy Treatment Include?
Athletic Therapy treatment is individualized to the person rather than following the same protocol for every injury.
Depending on your condition, your treatment may include:
Manual Therapy
Hands-on treatment may be used to address pain, stiffness, muscle tension, or restrictions in movement.
This may include soft-tissue techniques, stretching, joint mobilization, and other manual therapy approaches when appropriate.
Exercise Rehabilitation
Progressive exercise is one of the foundations of Athletic Therapy.
Your rehabilitation program may include mobility exercises, strengthening, balance training, movement retraining, endurance exercises, and eventually higher-level athletic or functional exercises.
As you improve, your program can be progressed to prepare your body for the demands of work, exercise, or sport.
Athletic Taping
Athletic taping may be used to provide additional support during rehabilitation or when gradually returning to activity.
Bracing
Certain injuries may benefit from additional support.
Restorative Touch Physiotherapy also offers orthopaedic bracing options, including braces from brands such as DonJoy and Bauerfeind.
Your therapist can help determine whether a brace may be appropriate for your injury and activity level.
Injury Prevention
Rehabilitation shouldn’t end the moment your pain disappears.
Your Athletic Therapist can help identify factors that may contribute to recurring injuries and develop strategies to improve strength, mobility, movement capacity, and tolerance to activity.
Why visit an Athletic Therapist?
Athletic therapists are specialists at the assessment and treatment of orthopaedic injuries. They can help facilitate an optimal return to create a safe and effective return to the things you love to do! Visit Restorative Touch Physiotherapy on the Hamilton Mountain to book your Athletic Therapy appointment today!
Physiotherapy Services & More!
We here at Restorative Touch offer a wide range of services in Hamilton tailored to your your needs, from Physiotherapy to Acupuncture and Massage Therapy. We have all the services you need to achieve your goals.