Key Takeaways
- Athletic trainers are an essential part of primary care
- ATs have received extensive education that prepares them to prevent, treat, diagnose, and evaluate injuries
- ATs provide an early assessment of injuries and collaborate with other health care professionals
- More than providing health care, ATs build relationships with their athletes, creating an open line of communication as they work together on a path to recovery
- After an injury, athletic trainers provide consistency of care from the time of the incident to the recovery and return to play, whereas a physician may pass off care between colleagues
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According to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital located in Massachusetts, over 8,000 children and minors are treated in emergency rooms around the country for sports related injuries every day. This statistic may sound shocking, but if parents knew that only 37% of all high schools have a full-time athletic trainer on staff, this statistic starts to make sense.²
Athletics trainers (ATs) are the backbone of primary care in many settings, including athletics. When an injury occurs, the first person to evaluate, diagnose, and stabilize the athlete is an AT. Athletic trainers work alongside other health care professionals to provide primary care, injury prevention, wellness promotion, emergent care, and clinical diagnoses, amongst other important functions².
Without an athletic trainer, consequences can range from suboptimal health care to long-term side effects that could have been prevented with proper primary or preventative care.
Athletic Trainers' Education
Athletic trainers undergo extensive education to learn the critical skills and theory associated with delivering primary health care.
An athletic trainers’ education includes obtaining a master's degree in athletic training from an accredited program and taking a national board examination for certification purposes. Most states also have their own board exams, another way of ensuring ATs are prepared to practice in that state.²
When watching professional sports, often the AT you see on the sidelines is wrapping an ankle, icing a knee, or checking in on the athlete. However, off the field, athletic trainers work with athletes, especially during practice, to ensure proper form, teaching athletes how to avoid injury, and building rapport with each athlete on their team.
Building rapport is especially important for athletic trainers as they know how to reach athletes, communicating to them in language they understand rather than medical jargon, explaining to them why the injury occurred and further steps for injury management and recovery.²
Injury Risk Assessment
Athletic trainers witness all types of injuries from concussions and spinal cord injuries to heat stroke, broken bones, lacerations, and so much more. As an integral part of the health care system, ATs work with other health care professionals like emergency medical services (EMS) and physicians, to provide the most comprehensive care to the athlete.
The care athletic trainers provide is especially pivotal in critical care situations, where the athlete may need to be stabilized before transport by EMS. Cases like spinal cord injuries, heat stroke, concussions, or injuries due to trauma rely on immediate care to avoid further complications and quicker recovery.²
For instance, when an athlete endures a concussion, the AT is checking pupil dilation, asking the athletes questions, and evaluating the cognitive state of the athlete. This information is relayed to emergency medical services and later a physician, as time is of the essence with a traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion.
In health care, this collaboration between professionals ensures nothing is missed and optimal care is delivered.
Injury Prevention
Aside from handling injuries after they occur, an AT’s responsibility is to help athletes prevent injuries. This is done by focusing on proper form and technique, prescribing conditioning exercises, and evaluating the athlete as they practice and compete to ensure they have properly recovered before returning to the sport.
Athletic trainers not only work on the mechanics of the sport, but they also create policies and procedures designed to protect athletes and promote safety.³ Procedures like concussion management and emergency action plans create an organized atmosphere where each person knows the role they play in case of an accident.
Disadvantages of Not Having an Athletic Trainer on Staff
According to a study provided by the National Athletic Trainers Association, 62% of all athletic injuries occur during practice.² This means if an athletic trainer is only on staff part-time for competitive sporting events, almost two-thirds of reported injuries are not tended to immediately.
Waiting for emergency medical services may take too long when each passing minute might contribute to negative consequences for the athlete. When it comes to concussions for instance, one of the most prevalent sporting injuries, immediate evaluation is imperative to determine the severity of the incident and prevent adverse effects.
Having an athletic trainer present from the time of the incident throughout the care of the athlete is crucial to reaching a full recovery. With the U.S. health care system overwhelmed, particularly with primary or general care, an AT may be the only health care provider to see the athlete’s care through from beginning to end.
Recap
Athletic trainers are an invaluable part of the health care establishment. Their role in athletics, and other industries, provide necessary preliminary evaluations, injury management, and injury prevention for a holistic approach.
Beyond their roles as health care professionals, ATs build relationships with their athletes to provide clear communication and guidance for recovery, amongst other things.
Having an athletic trainer on staff significantly improves the athlete’s chances of making a full recovery and returning to their sport safely – the ultimate goal.
Athletic trainers do more than help athletes meet their competitive dreams, athletic trainers are a beacon of hope, a professional who understands the struggles and triumphs of being an athlete. They have chosen to dedicate their lives to bettering athletes’ performance and being an advocate, whether it is injury-related or otherwise.
References
1. Pujalte, G. (2022). The importance of athletic trainers | Coach & Athletic Director. Coach and Athletic Director. Retrieved 16 February 2022, from https://bit.ly/3oX4KZA.
2. The Importance of Athletic Trainers | Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Wdhospital.org. (2022). Retrieved 16 February 2022, from https://bit.ly/3uTXpxL.
3. Why are Athletic Trainers so Important? - Canyon Athletic Association. Canyon Athletic Association. (2022). Retrieved 16 February 2022, from https://bit.ly/3uYLNJR.
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