Reviewed and contributions made by Patty Sellner MA, AT, EIS, CWWS
March kicks off the beginning of National Athletic Training Month. ATI is proud to be one of the country’s largest employers of Certified Athletic Trainers [AT]. For that same reason, March is a special time of year for us. It’s a time for us to celebrate all our ATs whether they work in professional organizations, colleges, club teams, high school athletics or in industrial settings.
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What does an Athletic Trainer do?
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association [NATA] “defines athletic trainers as highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals specifically trained in the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of medical conditions and emergent, acute and chronic injuries.” By this definition, ATs are trained and receive extensive education in the following areas:
- Injury prevention
- Clinical evaluation and diagnosis
- Immediate and emergency care
- Treatment and rehabilitation
- Organization and professional health and well-being
ATs utilize their broad skill set in many ways with diverse groups of athletes. Examples include professional, collegiate, and high school athletes and those in the creative arts and recreational sports. It also includes industrial athletes, ranging from food service to heavy manufacturing, foundries, and large utilities, which include wind, solar and beyond.
ATI’s ATs work in many different settings, serving broadly as a part of our Sports Medicine and ATI Worksite Solutions teams.
Why are Athletic Trainers important?
While recent events in the sports’ world have called attention to the importance of Athletic Trainers, many reasons exist to thank and acknowledge the ATs that work in our schools, clubs and organizations. For example, Athletic Trainers:
- Provide qualified and immediate care, whether in the workplace or on the field
- Attend to and administer care to underserved populations
- Maintain a diverse skill set to treat the various groups they serve
- Act as a trusted provider in the workplace and the community
- Manage and mitigate risks
Athletic Trainers are vital members of the communities in which they work. For instance, in a school setting, aside from being prepared to help any athlete sidelined during a game, it is their responsibility to know those players that may be more susceptible to injury. The same is true in a workplace setting.
Athletic Trainers know the employee population, how processes unfold and how everyday tasks are performed to ensure safety. Overall, athletic training requires more than reacting to a situation; it requires ATs to think proactively and prepare for all potential problems.
Need help at school or in the workplace? There’s an AT for that.
If you know an AT, whether at your school, local club, or workplace, we encourage you to say a word of “thanks.” However, suppose you do not have an Athletic Trainer at your school or your workplace. In that case, we encourage you to contact our Sports Medicine or ATI Worksite Solutions teams to learn more about how athletic training can benefit you and your community.