Athletic training

Athletic training is an allied health care profession recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA)[1] that "encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of emergent, acute, or chronic injuries and medical conditions."[2] There are five areas of athletic training listed in the seventh edition (2015) of the Athletic Training Practice Analysis: injury and illness prevention and wellness promotion; examination, assessment, diagnosis; immediate and emergency care; therapeutic intervention; and healthcare administration and professional responsibility.[3]

Not to be confused with Personal trainer.

Athletic trainers (ATs) generally work in places like health clinics, secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional sports programs, and other athletic health care settings,[4] usually operating "under the direction of, or in collaboration with a physician."[1]

Overview

The percent of ATs in a medical team varies greatly in different settings: secondary schools (24%), colleges and universities (16%), clinics/hospitals (including physician practices) (18%), professional sports and performing arts (3%), industrial/corporate settings (3%), academia (3%), youth sports (1%), military/government/law enforcement (1%), and administration (3%).[5] In all U.S. states except California, practicing athletic trainers are required to have state credentials. According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, there are more than 58,000 athletic trainers around the world.[6] The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics projects that employment of athletic trainers is estimated to grow by 19% between 2018 and 2028.[7]

Roles and responsibilities

Scope

The Board of Certification serves as the national certifying body for athletic trainers, and its Standards of Professional Practice outline the roles and responsibilities of certified athletic trainers. The standards include expectations such as "The Athletic Trainer renders service or treatment under the direction of a physician.". State law determines the setting, limitations, and restrictions on what athletic trainers can and cannot provide.

Referring

Some patients and clients need treatment or consultation outside of the athletic trainer's expertise. In these cases, the athletic trainer's responsibility is to refer the patient to another healthcare professional. "Several support health services may be used, including school health services, nurses, physicians, dentists, podiatrists, physician's assistants, physical therapists, strength and conditioning specialists, biomechanists, exercise physiologists, nutritionists, psychologists, massage therapists, occupational therapists, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, chiropractors, orthopedists, prosthesis, equipment personnel, referees, or social workers."[4]

NATA code of ethics

"The National Athletic Trainers’ Association Code of Ethics states the principles of ethical behavior that should be followed in the practice of athletic training. It is intended to establish and maintain high standards and professionalism for the athletic training profession."[8]

Employment settings

Athletic trainers work in various settings—youth sports to collegiate level sports, the Olympics, or even professional sports. Clinical situations use trainers within sports medicine, cardiac rehab, medical fitness, physical therapy, urgent care facilities, and physician assistants to ensure overall wellness. Performing arts like dance and music use athletic training to enhance athletic performance. Physically enduring jobs such as police, fire departments, and military branches utilize athletic training to support the physical well-being of their people. Athletic trainers focus on work environment efficiency (ergonomics) within manufacturing and industrial workplaces in a more commercial setting.. [9]

Education

Undergraduate course descriptions

All courses may have prerequisites that vary based on the institute and professor. The courses listed below are commonly taken to increase knowledge regarding athletic training.

  • Human Physiology - Provides students with an understanding of the function and regulation of the human body and the physiological integration of the organ systems to maintain homeostasis.
  • Human Anatomy - Studies anatomical structures such as muscular systems, organs, respiratory, bone anatomy, veins, and arteries.
  • Exercise Physiology - Investigates the acute responses and chronic adaptations of physiological functions to a wide range of physical exercise conditions of people of all ages and abilities.
  • Kinesiology - Focuses on structural and applied musculoskeletal anatomy relative to human movement and sports skills, specifically muscles, their origins, and actions
  • Nutrition - Emphasizes basic nutritional principles and concepts, their application to personal health, and the relationship between food and the human body for energy, regulation, structure, and optimal health, including life cycle stages and specific chronic diseases.
  • Therapeutic Modalities - Looks into the background of the clinical application of therapeutic modalities in athletic training, including underlying theories, physiological effects, indications, and contraindications of therapeutic modalities utilized in treating orthopedic injuries.
  • Acute Care of Injury and Illness - Focuses on the emergency management techniques commonly implemented when dealing with trauma and illnesses suffered during/through sports participation, including field evaluation of medical emergencies like cessation of breathing or circulation, shock, concussion, and spinal injury. Students learn policies and position statements issued by the NATA, NCAA, ACSM, AAP, and AMA regarding the prevention, evaluation, and management of acute athletic injuries and illnesses.
  • Physical Examination of the Lower Extremities - Demonstrates understanding of the lower extremities, including physical examinations, injury recognition, treatment, taping, bracing, and care. Laboratory experiences emphasize the methods and techniques in evaluating lower extremity injuries/conditions.[10]
  • Physical Examination of the Upper Extremities - Demonstrates understanding of the upper extremities, including physical examination, injury recognition, diagnosis, and treatment (taping/bracing, rehab, modalities). Clinical experiences emphasize the techniques and skills taught in evaluating upper extremity conditions/injuries.

Undergraduate athletic training programs

The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) lists all the accredited programs in the United States.[11] It provides the college's name, contact information, and a link to the institution's website.

Entry-level master's programs

Although most athletic trainers receive a bachelor's degree in athletic training before taking the Board of Certification Exam (BOC), it is not the only way to receive an education. An entry-level master's program is a two-year program that covers the same material as an undergraduate athletic training degree. Standard prerequisite classes are human anatomy, human physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, nutrition, personal health, and a certain number of observation hours completed under a certified athletic trainer (ATC).[11]

There are 15 schools in the US with an accredited athletic training master's program for those with a bachelor's in athletic training who want to pursue further education.[12] These programs are typically two years in length. While enrolled in one of these programs, the athletic trainer may gain clinical experience and receive a stipend through a graduate assistant internship.

Graduate assistant internships

Typical responsibilities for graduate assistant interns include administering daily medical care to selected intercollegiate athletic teams, evaluating and documenting athletic injuries, completing administrative duties, serving as an approved clinical instructor or clinical instructor in a CAATE-accredited ATEP, and assisting the head athletic trainer.[1] Other internships may include working at a high school or clinic, teaching, or researching. Graduate assistant positions are generally around 10-month appointments that may be renewable after the first year and sometimes include additional summer work.[13]

Accredited programs

CAATE evaluates athletic training programs to ensure that they follow the standards for entry-level athletic training programs. Evaluations may take place every three to seven years. Completing the CAATE accredited education program is a part of the criteria that determines a candidate's eligibility for the Board of Certification (BOC) examination.[14][15]

Organizations

The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), is the professional organization for athletic trainers in the United States. NATA is broken down into 10 geographical districts which each appoint their own agendas and board members. Each district consists of about 3-6 states/territories which have a director that serves on the NATA Board of Directors.[16] Every state has its own state athletic training association that acts similar to the district associations with their own board members. The state associations answer to the district associations and NATA.

Before the formation of NATA, athletic trainers occupied a somewhat insecure place in the athletic program.[17] Since then, considerable professional advancement has been made in the field.[4]

As well as the NATA, there’s also the World Federation of Athletic Training & Therapy (WFATT) which began in 1998, but was founded in 2000. The WFATT’s mission statement includes “Athletic Training & Therapy will be recognized as an essential part of multidisciplinary healthcare teams worldwide”. Across 4 continents, 12 countries and in 42 member associations, there's well over 50,000 athletic trainers registered. To start the WFATT, the US and Canada (Canadian Athletic Therapists Association) went and promoted athletic training in various countries through workshops.[18]

References
  1. "What is an Athletic Trainer?". The Board of Certification Website. 2003. Athletic training is also recognized by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the Department of Human and Health Services (HHS) as an allied health care profession. Athletic trainers (ATs) are health care professionals who render service or treatment under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education, training and the state's statutes, rules and regulations.[1] The practice of athletic training encompasses health promotion and wellness and examination, diagnosis, immediate care, and rehabilitation of clients/patients with emergent, acute, and chronic health conditions. As defined by the Strategic Implementing Team of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) in August 2007.
  2. "Athletic Training". NATA. 2015-03-19. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  3. "BOC Practice Analysis, 7th Edition" (PDF). Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer. 2015.
  4. Prentice, W. (2011). Principles of Athletic Training. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  5. "BOC Certified AT Demographics" (PDF). October 2020.
  6. "20 Facts about Athletic Trainers" (PDF). 2020.
  7. "Athletic Trainers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics".
  8. "Code of Ethics". 2015-08-11.
  9. "Job Settings". NATA. 2015-03-19. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  10. "Health Sciences" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-05-20.
  11. "Commission on Accreditation and Administration of Athletic Training Education". Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  12. "National Athletic Trainers' Association Career Center". Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  13. "National Athletic Trainers' Association Career Center". Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  14. "Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education: Overview of the Commission". Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  15. "Board of Certification". Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  16. "Districts and States". NATA. 2015-05-14. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
  17. "NATA". Retrieved 2012-05-10.
  18. "History of WFATT | World Federation of Athletic Training & Therapy". World Federation of. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
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