We’d like to celebrate National Athletic Training Month and everything the St. Croix Regional Sports Medicine Athletic Trainers provide to St. CroixRegionalMedicalCenter.
What is an Athletic Trainer?
An Athletic Trainer is a health care professional who collaborates with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. They specialize in the care and prevention of athletic injuries. They work under the following six domains of clinical practice:
– Injury and Illness Prevention
– Evaluation and Diagnosis
– Emergency care
– Treatment and rehabilitation
– Organization and administration
– Professional responsibility
Benefits of having an Athletic Trainer
Athletic Trainers improve patient functional and physical outcomes with wellness services and injury prevention skills. They they specialize in patient education, therefore, reducing health care costs.
High school athletes with athletic trainers have been shown to have a 3% re-injury rate, whereas high schools athletes without athletic trainers are shown to have a 63% re-injury rate.
How to become an Athletic Trainer?
Complete a four year undergraduate degree from an accredited athletic training program. Pass the national board of certification exam. All athletic trainers have at least a bachelor’s degree; however, more than 70% of certified athletic trainers also have a master’s degrees. Athletic trainers stay updated on current events and information in sports medicine by completing mandatory continuing education units. Seventy-five hours of continuing education must be complete every three years to keep their certification.
Some responsibilities of an Athletic Trainer
- preventing and treating injuries of athletes
- injury education and prevention
- nutrition
- emergency evaluation and treatment
- rehabilitation
- taping, first aid, wound care, bracing
- appropriate medical referral
- protective equipment application
- monitoring environmental conditions
- stretching
- conditioning programs
Typical settings you will find an Athletic Trainer:
- Professional sports
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- High schools
- Colleges/universities
- Industrial or workplace
- Military
- Performing arts
There are many areas where the athletic trainer has an impact on the safety and efficiency of athletes and patients. The athletic trainer has an important role in a sports medicine program.
