certified athletic trainer with high school basketball players

The Role Certified Athletic Trainers Play in Healing

Like the athletes who suffer them, sports injuries aren’t all the same. Each athlete faces diverse concerns in recovering from, and preventing, injury.

Athletes struggle with pain or lengthy, strenuous rehabilitation and treatments. Especially when returning to the field or court after surgery that prevents mobility. There’s also the challenge of recovering mentally. Athletic Trainers know how to treat each athlete individually through all of these sports medicine concerns.

Life as a Certified Athletic Trainer

Certified Athletic Trainers work alongside physicians and other healthcare providers to provide injury prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis and medical rehab. A degree from an accredited athletic training curriculum –– one that includes classroom learning and hands-on clinical experience –– is required.

In the field, athletic trainers work with physicians to provide optimal athletic experience. They collaborate on a plan of care and follow-up. Athletic Trainers provide health care for sporting events, on-the-field evaluations, and treatments and rehabilitation at schools. 

Dream Teamwork: Indy Eleven Soccer and Indy Fuel Hockey

Teaming up with local sports organizations gives Community’s certified athletic trainers and strength coaches the chance to collaborate with professional athletes who perform at extremely high levels.

“Working with professional teams also provides an opportunity for more fans to see first-hand the role our certified athletic trainers play when an injury occurs during a game,” said Community Certified Athletic Trainer George Bullock, Jr., who works behind the scenes with Indy Fuel.

For Bullock, the best part about being a certified athletic trainer is the lifelong relationships and trust he builds with athletes when getting them back from an injury. “And competing to the level they were at before –– and maybe even better.”

Advice for the Pros, and You

Community’s certified athletic trainers like Bullock help athletes recover from injuries by planning a personalized course of care. To avoid injuries, he suggests athletes:

  • Build your warm up specifically for your sport
  • Hydrate often
  • Hydrate and eat a healthy diet
  • Get plenty of sleep
  • Listen to your body –– recovery is important
  • Avoid overtraining

Meet Community’s athletic trainers and strength coaches