Who are athletic trainers? |
Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic trainers work under the direction of a physician as prescribed by state licensure statutes.
Athletic trainers are sometimes confused with personal trainers. There is, however, a large difference in the education, skillset, job duties and patients of an athletic trainer and a personal trainer. The athletic training academic curriculum and clinical training follows the medical model. Athletic trainers must graduate from an accredited baccalaureate or master’s program, and 70% of ATs have a master’s degree. |
What is athletic training? |
Athletic training encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an allied health care profession.
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What are the duties & responsibilities? |
In an effort to provide the best quality health care to the individuals they serve, certified athletic trainers perform a wide array of duties & responsibilities. The primary duties of the certified athletic trainer revolve around the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic related injuries. These include coordination of pre-participation physical exams, selection of protective equipment, daily coverage of practices and games, application of various therapeutic modalities, and designing & implementing injury-specific rehabilitation programs.
In addition to the above mentioned tasks, certified athletic trainers also oversee and perform a variety of administrative duties. These duties include budget allocation, ordering of supplies and equipment, record keeping, and coordination of coverage for daily practices and games. |