An athletic trainer is a certified and licensed health care provider who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as an allied health care profession since 1990.[1]
As defined by the Strategic Implementation Team of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) in August 2007:[2]
"Athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers, health care providers who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and quality of life for patients both of the physically active and sedentary population. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis[3] and intervention of emergency, acute and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations and disabilities."
"Athletic training encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an allied health care profession."
To become an athletic trainer, one must have a master's degree from an accredited professional level education program and then sit for and pass the Board of Certification (BOC) examination. By 2023, all accredited professional programs will be required to provide a master's level education. Each state then has its own regulatory agencies that control the practice of athletic training in their state. Most states (43) require an athletic trainer to obtain a license in order to practice in that state, 4 states (Hawaii, Minnesota, Oregon, West Virginia) require registration, 2 states (New York, South Carolina) require certification, while California has no state regulations on the practice of athletic training.[4] Areas of expertise of certified athletic trainers include:
- Apply protective or injury-preventive devices such as tape, bandages, and braces
- Recognize and evaluate injuries
- Provide first aid or emergency care
- Develop and carry out rehabilitation programs for injured athletes
- Plan and implement comprehensive programs to prevent injury and illness among athletes
- Perform administrative tasks such as keeping records and writing reports on injuries and treatment programs
Services rendered by the athletic trainer take place in a wide variety of settings and venues, including actual athletic training facilities, primary schools, universities, inpatient and outpatient physical rehabilitation clinics, hospitals, physician offices, community centers, workplaces, and even the military. Emerging settings for athletic training include surgical fellowship opportunities.[6]
- ^ Delforge, GD; Behnke, RS (1999). "The history and evolution of athletic training education in the United States". J Athl Train. 34 (1): 53–61. PMC 1322875. PMID 16558550.
- ^ "Strategic implementation team defines profession". NATA News (12/2007): 14. 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Role Delineation Study/Practice Analysis" (PDF). Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (6th ed.). Omaha, NE. 2010. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Map of State Regulatory Agencies". Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Athletic Trainers". Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- ^ Hunt, Valerie (2006). "Education continues to evolve: post-professional education expands". NATA News (January 2006): 14–19.[permanent dead link]