In July, we recognize Injury Prevention Day, an opportunity to shine the spotlight on proactive strategies Certified Athletic Therapists (ATs) use every day to help clients move better, recover smarter and stay injury-free. We sat down with Certified AT, Matt Miller, to explore the significance of Injury Prevention Day and why it is more than just an annual theme, but a daily practice and guiding philosophy for Certified ATs across Canada.
Certified for over a decade, Matt has years of experience working with athletes and active individuals alike. After completing a Master's degree, Matt pursued an Athletic Therapy degree at Sheridan College to round out his education. Upon graduation, he completed internships with varsity teams around Toronto and found his first position as a Certified AT at Bishop’s University covering football, women’s soccer, lacrosse and some rugby.
From Bishop’s, Matt went on to study at Concordia University to pursue a Ph.D. focusing on the connection between injury prevention and physical literacy – a concept that prioritizes movement and promotes physical activity across one’s lifespan. The relationship between these two concepts is clear: when individuals are equipped with the foundational skills to move well and with purpose, they're far less likely to experience preventable injuries throughout their lives.
As Matt has worked with athletes across a wide range of sports, he emphasizes that the majority of the most effective prevention happens before an athlete steps onto the field. Through manual therapy, dynamic warm-ups and targeted strength programs, Certified ATs address muscle imbalances, and mobility limitations that could otherwise lead to injury during training or competition.
But injury prevention is not just for athletes. It is relevant to everyone, regardless of age, activity level or fitness background. Athletic therapy’s benefits and principles can be applied to anyone looking to stay active, recover efficiently or simply move better.
“Just because you're not classified as an elite athlete by your own standard doesn't mean you're not active,” Matt shared. “Whether you walk your dog, go for a run or play hockey with your friends, if you get injured, a Certified AT can support your recovery and help prevent injuries in the future.”
With experience across clinical settings, classrooms and sports fields, Matt brings a deep understanding of injury prevention in diverse environments. Yet, no matter the setting, or the patient, the foundational approach remains the same. At its core, athletic therapy is about keeping people doing the things they love, and prevention plays a vital role in that mission. As Matt puts it, “If we are doing a good job with injury prevention, we’ll have fewer injuries to treat later on.”
Because athletic therapy is so comprehensive in its approach and mission, Certified ATs are equipped with the knowledge to individualize each assessment for each person. “Every person presents differently, and you’re going to look at what’s causing their injury and ask a lot of questions to try and figure out why they got hurt and how to prevent anything further,” Matt said.
Assessment is key in the injury prevention process, as it provides Certified ATs with the information and knowledge they need to understand the full picture of a patient’s health, history and movement patterns. “That is why we are here,” Matt explained, “Maybe you remember rolling your ankle when you were 12, but you don’t realize how that could still be affecting you at 50. We can identify those lingering problems and help correct them.” By identifying potential risks early, even ones rooted in the distant past, Certified ATs are able to create highly personalized prevention and treatment plans.
Just as important as assessment is patient education, educating clients about their own bodies, how their anatomy, past injuries and their current physical state plays a direct role in injury prevention. When clients understand the “why” behind an issue and how certain movements or habits contribute to it, they become more engaged in their recovery and more equipped to avoid re-injury.
And ultimately, empowerment is the goal. “For me, I don’t want to keep seeing someone for the same injury,” Matt shared. “I want to give them the tools, the knowledge and the confidence to be able to understand their own body better.”
Movement is medicine that fuels physical and mental wellbeing. But when injury strikes, it can take that movement away, leading to pain, inactivity and even a decline in overall health. Matt recalled an older woman living with osteoporosis and dealing with the effects of past injuries that had made it difficult to stay active over the years and now, she was struggling to keep up with her grandchildren. Through a thorough assessment and personalized plan focused on building strength, stability and confidence, Matt was able to help her regain mobility and return to the lifestyle she valued.
Athletic therapy care and preventive treatment is accessible to everyone no matter the lifestyle. “All the little things go a long way. It’s as much retraining your brain as it is your body.” Matt explained that while injury prevention can be about intense workouts, it can also be about integrating small, intentional habits into your daily life. “It can be as simple as going for a walk on your lunch break, doing a few exercises at home, or correcting your posture while waiting at a red light,” he said.
While not all injuries are preventable and accidents can happen at any time, having someone in your corner when they do makes all the difference. Certified ATs are trained to be that critical support, ready to respond when injury strikes, but also preventing them before they occur.
“Injury Prevention Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the work we do as Certified ATs and as a profession,” Matt explained. Having a dedicated occasion helps to highlight the proactive, impactful care Certified ATs ultimately allows the profession to reach more people. “Injury prevention is all I think about, in my own life and in my work,” Matt said. And in recognition of Injury Prevention Day, it is essential that we have Certified ATs like Matt, and countless others across the country, who place injury prevention at the forefront of their approach to keeping people active, healthy and moving with confidence throughout their life.
Are you looking for injury prevention support or want to learn more about the many benefits that come with working with a Certified AT? Find an Athletic Therapist near you today.