What Sets Athletic Trainers Apart?

Nearly 8 million high schoolers play organized sports. And according to one estimate, they experience more than 5 million injuries each year. These injuries can range from bruises and sprains to concussions and fractures.

That’s where it helps to turn to a certified athletic trainer.

Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing and treating sports-related injuries. So high school athletes spend more time on the field or the court — and less time on the sidelines.

An Ounce of Prevention

One of the most critical things athletic trainers focus on is preventing injury in the first place. “It’s about a lot more than just handing out water bottles,” says Brett Patterson, certified athletic trainer and director of sports medicine for Community Health Network. “There’s a lot that goes into making sure athletes are ready heading into a season.”

“Prevention covers strength and conditioning, flexibility, taping, bracing, nutrition and much more,” he explains. “The exact program or recommendations vary depending on the sport and the individual athlete. We follow a different approach for a track event than for a softball game, for example.”

“Education is key,” Patterson continues. “Especially when it comes to aspects of wellness such as staying hydrated. We want to help athletes understand the role hydration plays before, during and after competition.”

First on the Scene

When an injury happens, the athletic trainer is often the first healthcare professional to respond. “Our role is to make a thorough, systematic examination and assessment,” says Christine Lauber, certified athletic trainer and sports medicine manager at Community. “What we observe serves as the foundation to formulate a valid clinical diagnosis.”

“That helps determine the patient’s plan of care going forward,” she says. “Athletic trainers are involved in virtually every aspect of care: initial treatment, referral to a provider, all the way through injury rehabilitation.”

Emergency Care

Athletic trainers practice under the supervision of a sports physician. But they’re also fully licensed to provide immediate, emergency care when needed.

“We’re trained to evaluate the injury situation and decide on the right action to take,” says Dustin Melvin, certified athletic trainer and sports medicine manager for Community. “That goes beyond how an injury occurred and any past injury history.”

“There’s a hands-on piece that can involve special testing to check on the stability of a joint, or the extent of injuries to soft tissue,” he continues. “Quickly putting all that information together helps us develop the right diagnosis and identify what comes next.”

Getting Ready To Play Again

Another essential aspect of care for athletic trainers: therapeutic intervention.

“Therapeutic intervention is about helping athletes rehabilitate and recondition injuries,” says Patterson. “Heat, cold, electrical stimulation, ultrasound — we look at a range of different treatment options.”

“Right after an injury occurs, we’re often trying to reduce inflammation or swelling,” he says. “Once we’ve got that under control, then we can start to work on things like strength and range of motion. Certain physicians may also have certain protocols that we follow, especially when it comes to post-op treatment or rehabilitation.”

Doing It the Right Way

As healthcare providers, athletic trainers hold themselves to high standards of integrity and professional responsibility.

“Delivering exceptional care starts with consistent documentation,” says Lauber. “All providers need to have the same information and be on the same page. If it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen.”

“From diagnosis to treatment and rehab, best practices continue to evolve in athletic training,” says Melvin. “That’s why we’re required to complete ongoing professional development to maintain our licenses. We’re always learning new ways to get athletes healthy and back ready to play.”

Learn more about Community Sports Medicine and our certified athletic trainers.