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Athletic Trainers (ATC) are an integral part of the Sports Medicine team charged with the task of providing
general health care to athletes. Athletic Trainers are certified professionals through the governing body,
National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification (NATABOC).
The Athletic Trainer has seven major tasks. These tasks include prevention of injury, injury evaluation, first aid, rehabilitation, organization
and administration, counseling, guidance and education. Prevention of injury is the most important task because
injury is what causes athletes to miss practice and competitions. This task includes pre-participation physicals,
training and conditioning programs, protective equipment and creating safe playing environments. The next task,
injury evaluation, is essential in assisting the physician in diagnosing the injury. The ATC is usually the first
person to see an athlete once they have sustained an injury, therefore the initial evaluation may provide the
physician with key information.
First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a required skill since the
ATC is frequently the first responder. Rehabilitation is necessary, once an athlete has been injured, to return
the athlete to top form. The ATC works closely with the team physician in returning the athlete to their sport.
Rehabilitation may include therapeutic modalities, therapeutic exercise and constructing orthotic devices.
The other tasks, organization and administration, counseling, guidance and education are the behind the scenes
activities that contribute to the overall health of athletes.
To learn more visit the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) at www.nata.org.
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