ATHLETE INJURY PATHWAY
Eligible Varsity Student-Athletes can access injury management services through Varsity Health. Services provided directly by Varsity Health are funded by Athletics.
- Ensure your team’s Student Kinesiologist is aware of your injury. They will inform you if you should proceed to Step 2
- Visit Varsity Health JaneApp to book yourself in for an assessment or treatment appointment.
- If you are unable to find an appointment that works for your schedule, you can use the JaneApp waitlist feature or contact varsityhealth@ualberta.ca
- Please note that any athlete, from any team, can see any varsity health care practitioner.
- The injury management plan may include a referral to a Varsity Injury Management (VIM) clinic, where you will be assessed by a multidisciplinary team that will include a Sports Medicine Physician, and Varsity Physiotherapist and/or a Varsity Athletic Therapist.
- Depending on the outcome of the VIM clinic, you could be managed in a variety of ways, including the following referrals:
- Prescribed medication, medical imaging, further investigations, or specialist referrals
- Varsity Physiotherapist for treatment
- Varsity Athletic Therapist and student kinesiologist for management and treatment
- Our team will communicate with your coaching staff, appropriate mental skills and strength & conditioning contacts to ensure all involved are aware of the treatment plan and implications
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Our Varsity Health Staff will work with you to create a plan that will assist in your recovery and return to play. Please remember that as a teaching University, all parts of this process (Certified Athletic Therapists, Sports Medicine Physicians, Sport Physiotherapists and Strength & Conditioning Coaches) having a teaching role. Your care at all levels may include ‘students treating students’, with students providing the service as supervised by their respective professionals.
Please be patient and respect those in the learning process.
DESCRIPTION OF VARSITY HEALTH SERVICES
CLINIC Services
Clinic services are provided by Varsity Health staff for the assessment, treatment and management of student-athlete injury. Student-athletes are encouraged but not required to access Varsity Health services for their injury management. Student-athletes are permitted to access community based healthcare services to best fit their needs. If you are accessing community services, you are asked to communicate with Varsity Health on a regular basis about your injury status so that we can effectively manage your participation status in conjunction with you and your head coach. Most Varsity Health clinic services can be booked online through SimplyBook and are available at no charge to eligible student-athletes.
First Assessment Booking
1on1 appointment with a Varsity Health staff member for the initial assessment of your injury. These appointments should only be booked if your injury precludes you from participating in your sport and/or if your injury has not previously been assessed by a Varsity health staff member or a community health care provider. These appointments are 45 minutes in duration and located at the Foote Field clinic. While your appointment is booked with and overseen by a qualified healthcare provider, you may have part or all of the assessment to be completed by a Varsity Health practicum student or student-kinesiologist with your team.
Followup Treatment
1on1 appointment with a Varsity Health staff member for follow management and treatment of your injury. These appointments should only be booked if you have previously had your injury assessed by a member of Varsity Health and have been recommended to book a follow up treatment appointment. These appointments should only be booked on the frequency indicated by your healthcare provider. Typically, this is once per week. These appointments are 30 minutes and located at the Foote Field clinic.
Recovery Session
Group based appointments overseen by a practicum student or volunteer. These appointments can be booked at any time and do not require an initial assessment. These appointments may be booked for a variety of reasons including exercise rehab, modality use (game ready, ultrasound, IFC, AirRelax etc) or brief injury consultations with student-kinesologists. These appointments should not be used for formal injury assessment. Please do not expect access to 1on1 services during this appointment type. These appointments are 30 minutes in duration and are located at the Foote Field clinic.
Ice Tubs
These appointments are for the exclusive use of the ice tubs at the Saville Community Sports Centre (West) Varsity training room. These appointments are staffed by practicum students and volunteers and are only to be booked for access to ice tubs. Student-athletes must wear clean attire and provide their own towel. Individuals with open wounds are not permitted to use the ice tubs. These appointments are 30 minutes in duration. Please do not expect any 1on1 or group therapy services during these appointments.
Varsity Injury Management (VIM) Clinics
These are multidisciplinary clinics with a Varsity Physician and Varsity Health staff member. These appointments are for injury assessment and management. Appointments are booked by referral only from the Varsity Health staff. These appointments are located in the Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic on the second floor of the Kaye Edmonton Clinic Building on North Campus.
FIELD Services
Field Services are provided by Varsity Health for initial injury response, injury management and return to sport planning. Field services occur anywhere that our teams practice or compete. These services are primarily provided by Student Kinesiologists, Varsity Health staff, Varsity Physicians and contractors hired by Varsity Health. These services allow us to respond to your injury in real time from time of injury to your full return to sport. In the event that field services are not available at your practice or competition, please refer to the clinic services section on accessing Varsity Health services.
FAQs
When should I see my Student-Kinesiologist vs. a Varsity Health staff member?
Your student-kinesiologist should be your first point of contact for all new injuries. They will gather injury history and provide initial first aid for your injury. In the event that you require a clinical appointment with Varsity Health, they will assist you in navigating that process. SKs can assist you in getting scheduled to see a Varsity Health staff member in a timely manner.
What is the difference between an acute and chronic injury?
An acute injury has a specific mechanism that you can easily identify whereas a chronic injury tends to develop slowly over time. Both can have an effect on your ability to participate. You’ll need to indicate this when booking an appointment through SimplyBook.
When should I book a 1on1 appointment?
You should book a 1on1 appointment if your injury is affecting your ability to participate. Student-athletes that are participating fully but are in pain (ie “hurting”) are encouraged to use recovery sessions or field services with the assistance of the student-kin or the managing coach.
I sustained a new injury and there are no available appointments in a timely manner? What should I do?
First, be sure you have spoken with your Student-Kinesiologist who can assist you in accessing services in a timely manner. In the event that you do not have a student-kinesiologist, please contact your Head Coach who can also assist in navigating this process and/or in the management of the injury. Your Student-Kinesiologist or Head Coach can contact Varsity Health staff directly for assistance in accessing services in a timely manner.
I would like to see a chiropractor, massage therapist, acupuncturist or other healthcare provider that Varsity Health does not employ. Can you help with this?
Varsity Health has connections with many community based providers who can provide these types of services. Please contact varsityhealth@ualberta.ca for recommendations. Please note that these services are not funded by Varsity Health and the costs associated are the responsibility of the student-athlete. Student-Athletes are required to carry a supplemental (secondary) insurance plan to alleviate these types of costs. More information about this requirement can be found on our website.
