Thursday, March 7, 2013

March: National Athletic Training Month






National Athletic Training Month
“Every Body Needs an Athletic Trainer”




March is National Athletic Training Month. Athletic trainers utilize this opportunity to educate the public about their profession and what exactly they do as certified athletic trainers.

Athletic trainer not trainer
Athletic trainers, ATs, are health care professionals that work under the direction of a physician according to their state license. ATs are not personal or fitness trainers and do not train people for the sole purpose of fitness and/or weight loss. Athletic training involves the prevention, evaluation and diagnosis, immediate and emergency care, treatment and rehabilitation, and organizational and professional health and well-being of physically active people.

Education
An athletic trainer must obtain a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited program and pass a board of certification exam before beginning practice. Athletic trainers must also maintain their knowledge and skill by participating in continuing education, approximately 25 hours a year.

Not all athletes wear jerseys
Athletic trainers work with a variety of patients and in many different settings. Some of these setting include:
·         Physician extender
·         Performing arts
·         Clinics and hospitals
·         Law enforcement
·         Military
·         High schools, colleges and universities
·         Professional and Olympic sports
·         Industrial

In the video below a collection of surgeons, athletic directors, and physicians tell why an athletic trainer is critical to keeping physically active people safe.
                Unsung Heroes of Sports Medicine on NATA page

Associations and publications
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association, NATA, is the professional membership association for athletic training and has over 35,000 members strong. These members are certified athletic trainers and other professional who help support the profession. The NATA has established a professional code of ethics that athletic trainers must abide by.
The Journal of Athletic Training publishes cutting edge research to allow for health care professionals to continue growing in their practice. The Journal of Athletic Training is among the top five sport science journals offering tremendous impact and influence to the world of sports medicine.


For more information please visit the following websites:
www.nata.org (Informational materials tab)
www.bocatc.org (Public tab)

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