ATHLETIC TRAINING

Athletic Training  What are Athletic Trainers?  Specialized health care professionals  Care for injuries in those with active lifestyles

What do ATs do? ATs specialize in the…  Prevention,  Recognition,  Treatment (Acute Care), and  Rehabilitation… …of athletic injuries.

ATs vs. CPT  Athletic Trainers  Treat Injuries  Work with athletes  Bachelor’s Degree  Certified by one organization

ATs vs. CPT  Personal Trainers  Fitness Plans  Work with public  Certification only  Many certifying organizations

AT or ATC?  ATC: Certified Athletic Trainer  Credential only  Ex: John Doe, ATC  AT: Athletic Trainer (noun)  Example John Doe is an AT

Communication  ATs must stay calm during emergencies  Must communicate effectively with:  Injured athlete  Parents  Coaches  Sports medicine team

Communication

 ATs must use positive communication  Be honest and direct  Use layman’s terms  Stay objective (stick with facts)  Have a plan in place  Focus on the solution  Listen to and answer concerns

Communication  What to avoid:  Passing the panic  Arrogance  Beating around the bush  Being “brutally honest”  Medical jargon  Hinting at blame

Title IX  Federal legislation in effect since 1972  Title IX prohibits discrimination in education on the basis of sex.  The result of Title IX:  Increase in female athletic participation  Greater need for qualified ATs

Work Settings  Traditional:  HS, College, Professional Teams  Non-Traditional  Hospital & Clinical, Industrial/Occupational, Military, Performing Arts, Physician Extender, Public Safety, Non-traditional Sports

Work Settings  High School  Athletes  Often 1 AT per HS  Occasionally 3-4 ATs  Position descriptions:  Full-time AT (40 hours/week)  Part-time AT + Part-time teacher (40-50 h/wk)  Part-time AT + Part-time clinic (40 h/wk)  Typically no weekend duties

Work Settings  College/University  Athletes  3-20 ATs  Often employ graduate assistants (GAs)  Staff ATs typically oversee 75 Athletes  hours/week, weekend duties, travel  Depending on staff size  Moderate-High Budget/Resources  Support of Sports Medicine Team

Work Settings  Professional Sports  Athletes  1-4 ATs  Depending on team size, sport, and level of competition  hours/week  Weekends, travel required during season  Moderate-High Budget/Resources

Work Settings  Military  1 AT per 1000 “Soldier-Athletes”  Typically employed at US military bases  40 hours/week  No weekend duties, no travel

NATA  National Athletic Trainers’ Association  Professional Organization  Services to members:  Research/Education  Career Center  Annual Meeting

Educational Requirements  A bachelor’s degree in athletic training  Classes in anatomy, physiology, nutrition, psychology, and biomechanics  Clinical experiences under appropriate supervision

Education Requirements  Commission Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)  Accredit all Athletic Training Education Programs (ATEPs)  Rigorous Coursework

Certification  Certifying body: Board of Certification (BOC)  Requirements:  Bachelor’s Degree  Graduate from ATEP  Certification Exam

Certification  Accredited ATEPs in SC  Charleston Southern University  College of Charleston  Erskine College  Lander University  Limestone College  University of South Carolina  Winthrop University

Certification  Certification exam:  Computerized test  Multiple choice  Simulation  Scenarios  Anatomy “hot spots”  Approximately 4 hours long  ***Update from book***

Certification  AT must maintain certification  Continuing Education Units (CEUs)  Seminars, additional coursework, professional presentations  30 min = 1 CEU, 25 CEUs/year

Before ATSAs  Many daily medical duties  If school has one AT:  Spend too much time on ice/water  Not enough time for patient care  If no AT:  Assistant coach carries out duties  Conflict of interest (injuries)

ATSA  Athletic training student aides  High school students  Gain valuable experience  Enable Athletic Trainer to focus energy  Needs of the entire program

Ideal ATSA Program  Three-year program  Grades 10, 11, and 12  Sports Med class  Taught at the end of the day  Lab science  Athletic Training Room

ATSA Program  ATSAs help AT after school  Must be supervised by AT  Help with tasks that do not require AT

ATSA Responsibilities  Stock first aid kit  Check equipment  Stock ice chests  Fill water bottles  Check injury list from previous day  Communicate with AT and coaches

ATSA Responsibilities  Help with the treatment and taping  Clean ATR before and after events  Update supply list  Check out equipment  Maintain proper ATR atmosphere  Have fun!

Head ATSA  Senior student in leadership role  Experience with ATSA program  Proficient in skills  Able to work well with others  Leadership qualities  Gain experience leading a team

Head ATSA Responsibilities  Set the ATSA schedule one week in advance  Conduct weekly ATSA meetings  Communicate expectations to ATSAs

Head ATSA Responsibilities  Communicate daily with coaching staff  Communicate directly with program director  Check that all paperwork is completed  Complete a final report at the end of the season

Sports Medicine Funding  Sources include:  State vocational dollars  Basic education funds  Student Government  Athletic booster clubs  Grants

Sports Medicine Funding  Sports Med considered a vocational class  Can be funded with education money  AT salary often comes from teaching  Supplies may be funded by education money  Must be used for educational purposes

Sports Medicine Funding Labels: Appropriate (A), Inappropriate (I) ___ Buying tape for sports medicine class. ___ Buying taping tables for the ATR. ___ Buying a golf-cart for the ATs, which ATSAs can drive. ___ An AT using the injury tracking system for the ATR which was purchased for class ___ The AT using extra tape from class to tape an athlete.

Sports Medicine Funding Labels: Appropriate (A), Inappropriate (I) ___ An ATSA using tape which was bought for class to tape an athlete. ___ An AT giving out a pair of crutches from the classroom to an athlete. ___ Buying water bottles for the ATR ___ Buying a lightning detector which you plan to use in class and during games. ___ The AT giving out bandages from the classroom to athletes.

Reflection Questions 1.How do ATs and physicians work together to treat concussions? 2.Why should every high schools have an AT? 3.If the athlete with the concussion in the film didn’t have an AT, do you think he would be allowed to play? 4.What might happen if he played?