HE 91: Prevention & Care of Athletic Injuries
Unit 1: The Athletic Trainer as a Health Care Provider
An Athletic Trainer:
 Specializes in ___________________________, recognizing, managing and
rehabilitating injuries
 Function as a ____________________ of a health care team
 Provide a critical link between the medical community and physically active individuals
Historical Perspective
 Early History
o Existed in ___________________________________ civilizations
th
o “Athletic trainers” came into existence in the late 19 century
o Early treatments involved rubs, counter-irritants, home remedies and poultices
Evolution of Contemporary Athletic Trainer
 Traditional setting of practice included ________________________________________
schools
 Today certified athletic trainers (ATC) work in a variety of settings and with a variety of
patient populations
Changing Face of Athletic Training Profession
 Role of the athletic trainer is a health care provider
o _________% of athletic trainers are employed (clinics, hospitals, industrial and
occupational settings) not just sports
 Has resulted in changes in athletic training education
What Does that Mean?
 Requires terminology changes (not just sports)
o Patients and clients vs. athletes
o Athletic clinic or facility vs. athletic training room
o ____________________________ – NOT TRAINERS!!
Sports Medicine and Athletic Training
 Broad field of medical practices related to physical activity and sport
 Involves a number of specialties involving active populations
 Typically classified as relating to
o Performance Enhancement or
o Injury Care and Management
Each profession has professional sports medicine organizations
ATCs Organizations
 ________________: National Athletic Trainers’ Association
o Athletic trainers’ national professional organization
 ________________: Arizona Athletic Trainers’ Association
o State professional organization
National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)
 To _________________________________________________ for athletes and those
engaged in physical activity
 To advance the profession of athletic training through education and research in the
prevention, evaluation, management and rehabilitation of injuries
Employment Settings for the Athletic Trainer
 Employment opportunities are becoming increasingly ______________
o Due largely to the efforts of the NATA
 Started out primarily in the collegiate setting
 Progressed to high schools
 Now many are found in hospital and clinic settings
Athletic Trainers- Treat the _______________________________ Populations
 Can work with athletic, recreational or competitive activities and athletes
 Can work with anyone who requires physical skills and utilizes strength, power,
endurance, speed, flexibility, range of motion and agility
The Adolescent Athlete
 Focuses on organized competition
 A number of sociological issues are involved
 How old or when should a child begin training?
 _________________________ presents some challenges
 Physically and emotional adolescents cannot be managed the same way as adults
The Aging Athlete
 Physiological and performance capability changes overtime
 Function will increase and decrease
 Biological and sociological effects
 High levels of physiological function can be maintained through an active lifestyle
 Anyone who begins an exercise program
 Exercise program should be gradual and progressive
 Individuals over age 40 should have physical and exercise testing before engaging in an
exercise program
Occupational Athlete
 Occupational, industrial or worker “athlete” are involved in strenuous, demanding or
repetitive physical activity
 Involves
o Instruction on ergonomic techniques
o Intervention when injuries arise
o ___________________________ is still critical
Roles & Responsibilities of the Athletic Trainer
 Charged with injury prevention and health care provision for an injured patient
 Athletic trainer deals with the patient and injury from its _____________________ until
the athlete returns to ______________________________
The 6 Roles and Responsibilities: Board of Certification (BOC) Domains
 Prevention
 Clinical evaluation and diagnosis
 Immediate care
 Treatment, rehabilitation and reconditioning
 Health care administration
 Professional responsibilities
Prevention (Go to your textbook. Look on page 14-15. Read the Prevention paragraphs and
fill in the blanks in your notes)
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Conduct ________________________________ exams
Ensure appropriate ___________________________________ programs
Monitoring _______________________________ conditions
Selecting, properly fitting, and maintaining ____________________________________
Making sure that an athlete is _______________________________
Ensure appropriate medication use while ______________________________________
Clinical Evaluation & Diagnosis
 Recognize nature and extent of injury
 On and off-field evaluation skills and techniques
 Understand pathology of injuries and illnesses
 Referring to medical care and supportive services
(In your own words: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________)
Immediate Care
 Administration of appropriate first aid and emergency medical care (CPR, AED)
 Activation of emergency action plans (EAP)
(In your own words: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________)
Treatment, Rehabilitation Reconditioning
 Design preventative training systems
 Rehabilitation program design and supervision
 Incorporation of therapeutic modalities and exercise
 Offering psychosocial intervention
(In your own words: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________)
Organization & Administration
 Record keeping
 Ordering supplies and equipment
 Establishing policies and procedures
 Supervising personnel
(In your own words: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________)
Professional Responsibilities
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Athletic trainer as educator
Athletic trainer and continuing education
Athletic trainers as counselor
Athletic trainers as researcher
o Incorporation of evidence medicine and participating and acquisition of evidence
for efficacy of patient care
(In your own words: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________)
Personal Qualities of the Athletic Trainer
 Stamina and the ability to adapt
 Empathy
 Sense of humor
 Communication
 Intellectual curiosity
 Ethical practice
 Professional memberships
Who is Part of the Sports Medicine Team?
Athletic Trainer
 Major concern injured patient
 All decisions impact the patient
 The injured patient must always be informed
 Must be educate about injury prevention and management
 Instructions regarding training and conditioning
Parents
 The parents decision regarding healthcare is the primary consideration
 Insurance plans may dictate care
 Selection of physician
Team Physician
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Serves to advise and supervise ATC
Physician and the athletic trainer must be able to work together
Have similar philosophical opinions regarding injury management
Team Physician Responsible
 Compiling medical histories
 Conducting physical exams (Pre-participation screening)
 __________________________ injury
 Deciding on disqualifications
 Potentially serve as the academic program medical director
The Coach
 Must understand specific role of all individuals
 Understand limits of their ability to function as a health care provider
 Directly responsible for injury prevention
 Aware of risks associated with sport
 Provide appropriate training and equipment
 Should be certified in CPR and first aid
 Knowledge of skills, techniques and environmental factors associated with sport
 Develop good working relationships with staff, including athletic trainers
HIPPA with Communication
 Must be aware of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (______________)
o Regulates dissemination (distribution) of health information
o Protects patient’s ______________________
o Limits the people who could gain access to medical records
Referring the Patient to Other Personnel
 The athletic trainer must be aware of available medical and non-medical personnel
o Patient may require special treatment outside of the “traditional” sports medicine
team
 Must be aware of community based services and various insurance plans
Accredited Athletic Training Education Programs
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Entry-level athletic training education programs
o Undergraduate programs (Bachelor’s) or Entry-level master’s programs
Advanced graduate (Master’s) athletic training education programs
o Individuals that are already ATCs (certified athletic trainers)
Athletic Training Education Competencies
Twelve Content Areas
 Risk management
 Pathology of injuries and illnesses
 Orthopedic clinical examination &
diagnosis
 Acute care
 Pharmacological aspects of injury
and illness
 Therapeutic modalities
 Conditioning & rehabilitative
exercise
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General medical conditions and
disabilities
Nutritional aspects of injury and
illnesses
Psychosocial intervention and
referral
Health care administration
Professional development &
responsibilities
Requirements for Certification as an Athletic Trainer
 _____________________________ preparation
 Supervised practical experience
 Guidelines are set by the Board of Certification (BOC)
National BOC (Board of Certification) Exam
 Examination is computer based
 Includes the 6 domains
o Prevention
o Evaluation and diagnosis
o Immediate care
o Treatment, rehabilitation & reconditioning
o Organization and administration
o Professional responsibility
Passed the Exam
 The person is now BOC certified as an athletic trainer
o Credential of ATC
o Can know be legally called an athletic trainer
 BOC certification is a prerequisite for licensure in most states