Sports Injury Management
and the Athletic Trainer
Chapter 1
The Sports Medicine Team
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Primary Sports Medicine Team:
 Team Physician, Certified Athletic Trainer,
Coach, and the Athletes.
Additional Members:
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Orthopedists, Physical Therapists, EMT’s,
podiatrists, radiologists, nutritionists,
exercise physiologists, sport psychologists,
dentists, chiropractors, and
ophthalmologists.
Team Physician responsibilities
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Pre-participation examinations
On-site coverage of catastrophic sport
contests
Dispense medications
Facilitate referrals
Determine return to play guidelines
Provide in-service trainings
Athletic Trainer responsibilities
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Prevention
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Educate and Instruct
Bracing and Taping
Monitor Safety of Participation
Facilitate Safe Conditioning
Sanitation
Promotion of Nutritional Concerns
Athletic Trainer Resp. Cont.
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Recognition,
Evaluation, and
Assessment
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History
Observation
Palpation
Special Tests
Assessment
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Educate
Inform
Plan
ATC Duties Cont.
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Immediate Care
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Initiate emergency medical care
procedures
Stabilize musculoskeletal injuries
Facilitate referral when appropriate
Educate members of the health care team
on immediate care procedures
ATC Duties Cont.
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Treatment, rehabilitation, and
reconditioning
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Therapeutic Modalities
Therapeutic Exercises
Reassess and Treat
Educate
Provide Guidance
ATC Duties Cont.
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Organization and Administration
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Plan of Action
Write policies and procedures concerning:
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Safe Participation
Timely Care
Legal Compliance
Manage resources
Maintain records
Facilities
Safety
Sanitation
ATC Duties Cont.
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Professional Development and
Responsibility
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Demonstrate professional conduct
Continuing education
Adhere to professional ethics
Follow legal responsibilities
ATC Job Settings
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High Schools
Colleges and
University’s
Professional Sports
Sports Medicine
Clinics
Clinical health Care
programs
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Industrial health
care programs
Health and fitness
clubs
Legal Liability
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Tort
Standard of Care
Scope of Care
12 major domains of
Athletic Training
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Pathology
Assessment
Pharmacology
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Modalities
Exercise
General Medical
Nutritional concerns
Psychosocial
intervention
Health care adm.
Professional
development
Negligence
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Malfeasance
Misfeasance
Nonfeasance
Malpractice
Gross Negligence
Possible causes of litigation
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Failure to warn
Informed consent
Foresee-ability of Harm
Product liability
Confidentiality
Ways to Avoid Litigation
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Licensing
Pre-participation
plan
Well developed
Sports Medicine
Team
Post Warning Signs
Protective
Equipment
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Use only NOCSAE
approved equipment
Continuing
education
Act as a reasonably
prudent professional
in caring for all sport
participants.