Different athletes including golf players to football players, cricketers, marathon participants, sportspersons, all are at risk of potential injury at some point in their game. A small ankle twist can result in unbearable pain and months of immobilization that is a threat to the athlete’s career. Luckily there are certified professionals who are available for the prevention and treatment of these injuries related to muscle and bones. People think that ATs and personal trainers are the same but they are not.
Athletic Trainers (ATs) are highly qualified and 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 of patients especially athletes.
Duties and Responsibilities
The typical duties of an athletic trainer include:
- Diagnosing and treating the injuries of the patients related to the muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments.
- Giving athletic medical care and providing first-aid techniques like application of injury preventive devices like tapes, bandages and braces.
- Recognize and examine the type of injury that occurred and provide the necessary first aid and emergency care.
- Design and carry out the rehabilitation programs for injured athletes along with planning and implementation of programs to prevent further injury and illness to athletes.
- Maintenance of records and writing injury reports and treatment programs.
- Monitoring athletic events and their team practices.
- Answering the patient’s questions helpfully and with empathy.
- Perform the evaluation of initial athletic training and helping athletes develop strength, flexibility and proper posture to prevent further injuries.
- Act as a liaison between the affected athletic and physicians, support staff and medical assistants.
- Prevention of athletic injuries through timely intervention and proper education and awareness.
Educational requirements
- To become a licensed athletic trainer, you need to complete your bachelors in athletic training from an institution that is accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).
- To become a certified athletic trainer, the interested candidate has to pass the exam conducted by the Board of Certification (BOC) for the athletic trainer. The certification fees for the exam vary depending on whether you are a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA).
- Job prospects for candidates with masters are higher than bachelors although masters are not compulsory for entry into this field.
- During the certification maintenance period of athletic trainers, they have to maintain some number of Continuing Education Units (CEU).
- Trainers certified before 2014 need 50 CEUs including 10 Evidence-based CEUs.
- Trainers certified after 2014 need 25 CEUs including 5 Evidence-based CEUs.
Workplace of an athletic trainer
Athletic Trainers work in a variety of professional settings like:
- Hospital emergency departments
- Intercollegiate athletics
- Law enforcement and military
- Occupational and industrial settings
- Performing arts
- Physician offices
- Professional sports
- Secondary schools
- Sports medicine clinics
This challenging and high-speed profession offers prospective athletic trainers opportunities to work in optimal patient care in a dynamic medical environment.
Related careers to Athletic trainers
- Coaches and Scouts
- Chiropractors
- EMTs and Paramedics
- Exercise Physiologists
- Massage Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapist
- Respiratory Therapist
- Physician Assistants
- Recreational Therapists
Salary and Job outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average median salary for an athletic trainer is $49,800 which is dependent on factors like experience, qualification and location.
The median yearly salaries of these professionals in the top industries they work are as follows:
- In educational services in private, state or local- $52,660
- In different hospital sectors – $47,880
- In fitness and recreational sports centere – $ 46,890
- In the offices of speech therapists and audiologists- $45,240
According to research by BLS, a profession in athletic training is classified as an excellent career outlook. It is predicted that the employment of athletic trainers will grow faster at a rate of 16% which is more than other occupations between 2019 and 2029.
This growth is projected due to global awareness of sports-related injuries and their impacts as the older people and middle-aged populations are becoming active. Some states are also guiding the high schools to employ athletic trainers as a part of their sports programs. As the child athletes will have long-lasting and serious effects of concussions. Also, athletic trainers are present on-site with the athletes and they are the first point of contact when injuries occur.
Depending upon different states, few insurance companies recognize athletic trainers as healthcare providers and bear the cost of their services.
Complex and sophisticated programs in injury prevention and detection are also increasing the demand for athletic trainers along with sports programs designed for all ages and experience levels.
– Samiya Firdous
