Athletic Trainers are Crucial in Assessment and Management of Concussed Athletes

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Published:  October 15, 2012
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ATI’s Sports Medicine department has always known how important it is to have athletic trainers on the sidelines at sporting events.  Recently, an article published by MomsTeam offered studies and statistics to support it.

According to a 2011 study, in cases of reported concussions suffered by high school students, 70% of the time athletic trainers were on site at the time of injury. This compared to physicians being present only 7.7% of the time.  When athletic trainers were present, they were involved in assessing the athlete for concussion 94.4% of the time.

Study Highlights

  • When an athletic trainer is present, it greatly increases the chances that a concussion will be properly diagnosed.
  • A recent study found that 8 times more concussions were diagnosed in girl’s soccer, and 4.5 times more in girls’ basketball in high schools with athletic trainers than those without.
  • Because athletic trainers see athletes on a daily basis, they may be able to better identify changes in behavior and demeanor in the athlete, which may indicate a concussion.
  • Because of their special training, athletic trainers may know as much, if not more, about sports-related injuries than other health care providers who do not have an interest in sports medicine or concussion management.

“In addition to the training they receive during their schooling, the athletic trainers of ATI Sports Medicine are kept abreast of the latest research, concussion evaluation and management recommendations,” says Kate Varnado, ATI Sports Medicine Supervisor. “This includes presentations from renowned experts in the field of concussion management, extended training on the the ImPACT® computerized concussion evaluation system and continued education throughout the year.”

If you have questions on the symptoms, management and rehabilitation following a concussion, visit our Ask the Athletic Trainer page.

To read the full MomsTeam article, click here: http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/athletic-trainer-plays-key-role-in-concussion-recognition-evaluation-on-sports-sideline