Athletic Training
What is an Athletic Trainer?
Athletic Trainers are highly qualified, multi-skilled healthcare professionals that work with the physically active population. They specialize in five areas: injury prevention, injury evaluation and diagnosis, immediate and emergency care, injury treatment and rehabilitation, and administration. Athletic trainers are required to have at least a bachelor's degree in the subject matter and must pass a national exam to become certified and then need to complete continuing education each year. In order to practice as an athletic trainer in the state of New Jersey, an individual needs to possess a national certification and license from the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners. Athletic trainers most commonly work in the school settings but also work in a variety of settings including the military, emergency services, performing arts, and the industrial setting.
What can Athletic Trainers do?
Athletic trainers are specialized in the evaluation of all injuries, including emergency, acute, and chronic injuries. Creating and implementing individualized treatment protocols and rehabilitation programs for each injured athlete is a major role of the position as well as taping and bracing athletes to prevent injuries. The use of modalities like ultrasound, electric stimulation, cold therapy, and heat therapy are granted for treatment and rehabilitation of injuries seen.
Athletic trainers are highly trained in emergency care including: CPR and AED use, bleeding control and wound care, and splinting and immobilization. They are knowledgeable in the treatment of anaphylaxis, hypoglycemia, seizures, heat and cold injuries/illness, cardiac emergencies, and spine injuries. Concussion prevention, recognition, evaluation, and treatment/ return-to-play protocol is also a specialty in the field.