ProActive Rehab is excited to introduce our newest team member, Caliegh Kaufman. Caliegh is a certified athletic therapist, and brings with her experience working with athletes on the field as well as workers in industrial settings.
About Caliegh
Growing up, Caliegh knew she wanted to work in a career that involves helping people. She considered going into nursing, but realized that it might not be the best fit for someone who didn’t like the sight of needles. An affinity for sports and a growing interest in biomechanics led her to pursue Athletic Therapy. She first completed the Fitness & Health Promotion diploma program at Durham College in 2017, and then earned her Bachelor of Athletic Therapy from Sheridan College in 2021. She began her career assessing and treating the workers in a long term care facility and a manufacturing plant before relocating to Huntsville to join the ProActive team.
Caliegh’s favourite part of her job is getting to interact with people who are at different stages of life and have varied experiences. Contrary to popular belief, athletic therapists do not just work with elite athletes. “A lot of people think that athletic therapists only treat athletes on the field, but we do so much more. Not only can we manage injuries from start to finish but we also focus on injury prevention, so we are strength and conditioning coaches too. We offer nutritional advice and teach people how to properly warm up,cool down and keep hydrated,” she says. Caliegh considers everyone an athlete, whether you’re training for a marathon or just hoping to make it to the end of your driveway without pain.
If you book an appointment with Caliegh, you can expect a similar experience to what you’d have with a physiotherapist. She’ll start by asking you about your general history, your injury or condition, and your limitations. Next she’ll assess your range of movement, do some orthopaedic testing, and create a comprehensive treatment plan. Treatment modalities may include manual therapy like soft tissue release, therapist assisted stretching and mobilization (facilitating joint motion), as well as taping, bracing and, of course, exercise. Like everyone on the ProActive team, Caliegh collaborates with our other therapists, RMTs and assistants to make sure you get the treatment you need to get back to your active lifestyle.
Outside of work you can find Caliegh going on adventures with her dog, Peaches, taking her paddleboard out for a spin, or getting crafty with yarn or paint. She is excited to explore everything that Huntsville has to offer. Please give her a warm welcome if you see her in the clinic!
About Athletic Therapy
Whether you are a competing athlete, a home workout buff or an outdoor weekend warrior, Athletic Therapy can be a huge benefit to those engaging in physical activity in any capacity. Athletic Therapy is a form of physical therapy that focuses on the prevention, assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal (muscle, bone and joint) injuries or conditions caused by overuse, surgery or accidents. Athletic Therapy can treat many conditions such as back and neck pain, dislocation/subluxation, meniscal or labral tears, as well as post fracture or post surgical rehab and overuse injuries such as tendonitis, tennis elbow, runner’s knee, shin splints and carpal tunnel to name a few.
Benefits of Athletic Therapy
Injury Assessment: Early and accurate assessment allows for prompt treatment and better outcomes. Caliegh is well-trained in the musculoskeletal anatomy and injury assessment techniques. A proper assessment is the key to recovery.
Effective Treatment Modalities: There are a variety of effective treatment modalities to facilitate injury recovery. They often include manual therapy techniques such as joint mobilizations and soft tissue massage, as well as therapeutic exercises designed to restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion.
Injury Prevention: Caliegh works carefully to identify potential risk factors and implement preventive strategies. She assesses a patient’s movement patterns, and conditioning to address any imbalances or weaknesses that may lead to injuries down the road. By focusing on injury prevention, athletic therapy helps to minimize the chances of future injuries.
Return to Play: Caliegh develops customized rehabilitation programs that address the specific needs of the client and their lifestyle. By progressively reintroducing functional activities and exercises, athletic therapists help athletes regain strength, endurance, and agility, ensuring a safe return to play.