Dr. Veronica Canada: The Physical Demands of Swimming and Diving: A Deep Dive

Healthy Wealthy & Smart

On this episode of Healthy, Wealthy, and Smart, Dr. Jenna Kantor interviews Dr. Veronica Canada, a specialist in sports physical therapy who shares her extensive background in competitive swimming and diving. From starting at a young age to competing in college, she delves into the physical and mental lessons learned from these sports. Today’s podcast will discuss the differences and similarities in shoulder injuries seen within the swimming and springboard diving population. How understanding the biomechanics of each sport, current research, and training regimens can help mediate an evaluation as a physical therapist and create an appropriate plan of care. Tune in to gain insights into the differences between swimming and diving and discover how her experiences have influenced her practice in physical therapy.

Show notes:

[00:02:31] Scuba diving research challenges.

[00:05:46] Shoulder injuries in swimmers vs. divers.

[00:07:37] Shoulder Strain in Competitive Swimming.

[00:12:52] Swimming injuries and accidents.

[00:16:04] Shoulder stability in swimming.

[00:21:46] Swimmers counting strokes for positioning.

[00:22:29] Diving accidents in Sharks and Meadows.

More About Dr. Canada:

Veronica Canada PT, DPT, ATCis an enthusiastic and energized woman who was born and raised in New York. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Athletic Training with double minors in Kinesiology and Early Childhood Education from George Mason University in 2018. In 2023, she graduated from Dominican University New York with her doctorate in physical therapy, where she received “The Clinical Education Award”, which is an award given to one candidate that best exemplifies the university’s mission and American Physical Therapy Association’s core values.

Her passion for both athletic training and physical therapy not only stems from being an educator within her local public school system, but also from her 15+ year-long career in swimming and diving. Dr. Canada first started competitively swimming at the age of 7 and competitively diving at the age of 12. She took her talents and competed on a varsity level for her high school swimming and diving team for 5-years. By the time she was 16, Dr. Canada simultaneously competed in both year-round swimming and diving for the New York Sharks Swim Club and West Point Diving Club. After qualifying for New York State Sectionals in both swimming and diving and achieving Most Valuable Player for her high school team, she then moved on to compete at a Division 1 level for George Mason University’s Diving team.

Not only was Dr. Canada a swimmer and diver, but she also participated in softball, gymnastics, dance, and soccer, making her well-experienced with the physical and mental demands of being an athlete and versatile in the sports world. She continues to share and educate her experience and knowledge to the athletic community as she continues to practice as a licensed athletic trainer in New York and New Jersey.

Throughout her career thus far, Dr. Canada has also had the opportunity to speak on multiple national platforms, one being historic, making her the first person in the American Academy of Physical Therapy to teach a continuing education course as a student. In addition to her educational accomplishments, Dr. Canada is currently a traveling physical therapist, a diving coach, a director for Future Stars Diving Camp, and a member of multiple organizations such as the National Athletic Trainer’s Association, the American Physical Therapy Association, and the American Academy of Physical Therapy.

Resources from this Episode:

Dr. Canada’s Instagram

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