Chapter 1:
The Sports Medicine Team
What is an athletic trainer concerned with?
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The well-being of an athlete and generally
assumes the responsibility of overseeing
the total health care for the athlete.
What is a major problem that lies with
the millions of sports participants who
incur injuries or illness that could have
been prevented?
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Later, as a consequence, develop more
serious chronic conditions.
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What are the six performance domains
of the athletic trainer?
Prevention of athletic injuries
Recognition, evaluation, assessment
Immediate care
Treatment, rehabilitation, and
reconditioning
Organization and administration
Professional development and
responsibility
How can the athletic trainer minimize the
risk of injury?
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Ensuring appropriate training and
conditioning of the athlete
Monitoring environmental conditions to
ensure safe participation
Selecting, properly fitting, and
maintaining protective equipment
Making certain that the athlete is eating
properly
Making sure the athlete is using
medications appropriately while
discouraging substance abuse
What are the personal qualities an
athletic trainer should have?
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Stamina and ability to adapt
Empathy
Sense of humor
Ability to communicate
Intellectual curiosity
Ethics
Who assumes the responsibility for
diagnosing an injury?
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The team physician
What should the athletic trainer be
capable of doing?
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An accurate initial evaluation after acute
injury
Chapter 7:
Protective Sports Equipment
What is the definition of prophylactic?
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Refers to prevention, preservation, or
protection
What are the two things about sports
equipment that are essential in the
prevention of many sports injuries?
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Proper selection and proper fit
What is the concern with a piece of
equipment that is protective to one
athlete?
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It may be used as a weapon against
another athlete
Why should old, worn-out, ill-fitting
equipment never be passed down to
younger, less experienced players?
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It compounds their chances for injuries
What are stock devices?
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They are pre-made and pre-packaged and
are for immediate use
What are customized devices?
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Devices constructed according to the
individual characteristics of the athlete
Stock items may cause what problems?
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Sizing problems
Chapter 8:
Bandaging and Taping
What are the nine rules for tape application?
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If the part to be taped is a joint, place it in the position in
which it is to be stabilized.
Overlap the tape at least half the width of the tape
below.
Avoid continuous taping.
Keep the tape roll in the hand whenever possible.
Smooth and mold the tape as it is laid on the skin.
Allow the tape to fit the natural contour of the skin.
Start taping with an anchor piece and finish by applying a
lock strip.
Where maximum support is desired, tape directly over
the skin.
Do not apply tape if skin is hot or cold from a therapeutic
modality.
Chapter 3:
Legal Concerns
What is liability?
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Being legally responsible for the harm one
causes another person
What is negligence?
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The failure to use ordinary or reasonable
care
What is a tort?
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Legal wrongs committed against a person
which may emanate from an act of
omission or from an act of commission.
What is an act of omission?
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The individual fails to perform a legal duty
What is an act of commission?
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Commits an act that is not legally his or
hers to perform.
When is negligence alleged?
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When an individual does something that a
reasonably prudent person would not do
or fails to do something that a reasonably
prudent person would do under
circumstances similar to those shown by
the evidence
What is a statute of limitations?
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Sets a specific length of time that
individuals may sue for damages from
negligence
What is an assumption of risk?
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The individual, through expressed or
implied agreement, assumes that some
risk or danger will be involved in the
particular undertaking. In other words, a
person takes his or her own chances.
How does a coach reduce his or her
chance of litigation?
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warn athletes of potential dangers
inherent in their sport
supervise regularly and attentively
properly prepare and condition athletes
properly instruct athletes in the skills of
their sport
ensure that proper and safe equipment
and facilities are used by athletes at all
times
How does an athletic trainer reduce his or her chance
of litigation?
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work to establish good personal relationships with
athletes, parents, and coworkers
establish specific policies and guidelines for operation
of an athletic training facility, and maintain qualified
and adequate supervision of the training room, its
environ, facilities, and equipment at all times
develop and carefully follow an emergency plan
become familiar with health status and medical history
of the athletes under his or her care so as to be aware
of particular problems that could present a need for
additional care or caution
How does an athletic trainer reduce his or her chance
of litigation?
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keep factually accurate and timely records that
document all injuries and rehabilitation steps, and set
up a record retention policy that allows records to be
kept and used in defense of litigation that may be
brought by athletes. A record retention system needs
to keep records for long enough to defend against
suits brought by athletes after they attain the age of
eighteen
document efforts to maintain a safe playing
environment
have a detailed job description in writing
obtain, from athletes and from parents or guardians
when minors are involved, written consent for
providing health care
How does an athletic trainer reduce his or her chance
of litigation?
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maintain confidentiality of medical records
exercise extreme caution in the administration, if
allowed by law, of non-prescription medications;
athletic trainers may not dispense prescription drugs
use only those therapeutic methods that he or she is
qualified to use and that the law states may be used
not use or permit the presence of faulty or hazardous
equipment
work cooperatively with the coach and the team
physician in the selection and use of sports protective
equipment, and insist that the best be obtained,
properly fitted, and properly maintained
How does an athletic trainer reduce his or her chance
of litigation?
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not permit injured players to participate unless cleared
by the team physician. Players suffering a head injury
should not be permitted to re-enter the game. In some
states a player who has suffered a concussion may not
continue in the sport for the balance of the season.
Develop an understanding with the coaches that an
injured player will not be allowed to re-enter
competition until, in the opinion of the team physician
or the athletic trainer, he or she is psychologically and
physically able. Athletic trainers should not allow
themselves to be pressured to clear an athlete until he
or she is fully cleared by the physician.
How does an athletic trainer reduce his or her chance
of litigation?
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Follow the express orders of the team physician at all
times
Purchase professional liability insurance that provides
adequate financial coverage and be aware of the
limitations of the policy
Know the limitations of his or her expertise as well as
the applicable state regulations and restrictions that
limit the athletic trainers scope of practice
Use common sense in making decisions about an
athlete’s health and safety. In the case of an injury the
athletic trainer must use reasonable care to prevent
additional injury until further medical care is obtained
Chapter 14:
Bloodborne Pathogens
How are bloodborne pathogens
transmitted?
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Through contact with blood or other bodily
fluids
What are the modes of transmission?
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Human blood, semen, vaginal secretions,
cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid
What are the two bloodborne pathogens
of special concern?
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
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Transmission of
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
Signs and Symptoms
 Flu-like symptoms
 Jaundice
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Mode of Transmission
 Direct contact
 Indirect contact
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Infectious Materials
Blood
Saliva
Semen
Feces
Food
Water
Other products
Transmission of
Human immunodeficiency virus
HIV/AIDS
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Signs and Symptoms
Fever
Night sweats
Weight loss
Diarrhea
Severe fatigue
Swollen lymph nodes
Lesions
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Mode of Transmission
Direct contact
Indirect contact
Infectious Materials
Blood
Semen
Feces
Vaginal Fluids