C H A P T E R 2

ATHLETIC TRAINING

WHAT IS AN ATHLETIC TRAINER?

• Highly educated and skilled professional specializing in athletic health care for the physically active• Prevention & care of athletes, physically active

• History:• Greek and Roman civilizations• Established in late 19th century in the United States

(intercollegiate athletics)• Lacked professional training/knowledge

WHY “ATHLETIC TRAINER”?

• There has been much controversy over the title

GROWTH OF THE PROFESSION

• Evolution of the Athletic Trainer:• 1st appearance in intercollegiate athletics after WWI• 1st text, The Trainer’s Bible, in 1917• Written by S.E. Bilik

• Support from the Cramer family• The NATA• Formed between 1947-1950 by university athletic

trainers• 1st Meeting in 1950 w/101 attendees in Kansas City, MO• Membership: from 100 to 30,000+ today (32,280 as of

8/07)• Employment Growth• Education Reform

RECOGNITION AND ACCREDITATION AS AN ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

• June 1991 – AMA officially recognized athletic training as an allied health profession• Primary purpose was for accrediting educational

programs• June 1994 – CAHEA dissolved and replaced by

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)• Now CAATE- Commission on accreditation of

Athletic Training Education

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Candidates for certification must meet NATA-BOC established requirements:• Graduation from an accredited program (CAATE)• Pass the BOC examination• Meet CEU requirements

• Successful completion of the certification exam will earn the credential of ATC• Certified Athletic Trainer

• Must complete 50 CEUs every 2 years• Continuing education, new research & techniques

ACCREDITED PROGRAMS

• 341 undergraduate programs• 4-year programs• Graduate with BA or BS degree• Eligible to sit for BOC exam• Closest is Cal State Fullerton

• 26 entry-level master’s programs• 2-year programs• Must already have BA or BS degree• Graduate with MS degree• Closest is California Baptist University

• Post-professional degree• Master’s and Doctoral degrees

NATA BOARD OF CERTIFICATION (NATA-BOC)

• Role Delineation Study (1999)• Redefined the profession of athletic training• Primary tasks of entry-level ATC’s• Knowledge and skills required to perform each task• Roles could be divided into six major areas or

performance domains• Now five major areas

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ATHLETIC TRAINER

• Performance Domains• Injury/illness Prevention

and Wellness Protection• Clinical Evaluation and

Diagnosis• Immediate and

Emergency Care• Treatment and

Rehabilitation• Organizational and

Professional Health and Well-being

• What ATs do

• Education Council Competencies & Clinical Proficiencies• Risk management• Pathology of injuries &

illnesses• Orthopedic assessment/eval.• Acute care• Pharmacology• Therapeutic modalities• Therapeutic exercise• General medical conditions• Nutrition• Psychosocial Intervention • Health Care Administration• Professional Development

• What ATs learn

PERFORMANCE DOMAIN: INJURY/ILLNESS PREVENTION AND WELLNESS

PROTECTION

• Develop training & conditioning programs• Ensure a safe

playing environment• Select, fit, &

maintain protective equipment• Explain the

importance of nutrition• Use medications

appropriately

PERFORMANCE DOMAIN:CLINICAL EVALUATION & DIAGNOSIS

• Conduct physical examinations• Understand the

pathology of injury and illness• Referring to

medical care• Referring to

support services

PERFORMANCE DOMAIN:IMMEDIATE AND EMERGENCY CARE

• Initial on-field evaluation• Administer

appropriate First Aid Care• Establish

emergency care procedures ahead of time• EAP

PERFORMANCE DOMAIN:TREATMENT & REHABILITATION

• Designing rehab programs• Supervising rehab programs• Incorporating therapeutic modalities• Offering psychosocial intervention

PERFORMANCE DOMAIN:ORGANIZATION AND PROFESSIONAL HEALTH AND WELL-

BEING

• Organization/Administration• Record keeping• Order equipment &

supplies• Supervise personnel• Establish policies &

procedures• Professional Responsibilities• Continuing education• Promote the profession• Research

• Professional health• Physical, emotional, spiritual

health• Stress management

EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS

• Secondary Schools• College or

Universities• Professional Teams• Sports Medicine

Clinics• Corporate/Industrial

Settings• The Military• Physician Extender

• Treating the Physically Active• Adolescent athlete• Aging athlete

PERSONAL QUALITIES OFAN ATHLETIC TRAINER

• Stamina & ability to adapt• Burnout

• Empathy• Sense of humor• Communication• Intellectual Curiosity• Ethical Practice• Professional Memberships

• Ability to relate to athletes• Ability to deal with parents

CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINER VS. PERSONAL TRAINER

Certified Athletic Trainer• Meets the

qualifications set by state licensure and the Board of Certification, Inc. and practices athletic training under the direction of a physician.

Personal Trainer• Prescribes, monitors

and changes an individual’s specific exercise program in a fitness or sports setting.

Certified Athletic Trainer• Provide physical medicine

and rehabilitation services

• Prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate injuries (acute and chronic)

• Coordinate care with physicians and other allied health professionals

• Work in schools, colleges, professional sports, clinics, hospitals, corporations, industry, military, performing arts

Personal Trainer• Assess fitness needs and

design appropriate exercise regimens

• Work with clients to achieve fitness goals

• Help educate the public about the importance of physical activity

• Work in health clubs, wellness centers and various other locations where fitness activities take place

CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINER VS. PERSONAL TRAINER

STATE REGULATION

• Licensure• Must meet minimal standards of state licensing board; state limits

individuals who can perform AT functions through practice acts• Most restrictive form of regulation and varies from state to state• Usually gain licensure by passing BOC exam or state licensing exam

& paying fee

• Certification• Does not protect term “athletic trainer”; can restrict performance of

AT functions to those certified by the state• Many of these states recognize BOC exam in gaining state

certification

• Registration• Pay state registration fee; state may not assess qualifications;

protects term “athletic trainer” from being used

• Exemption• State recognition allowing for performance of functions similar

to those of other licensed professionals.• Usually not enough practitioners to warrant formation of a state

regulatory board

STATE REGULATION

STATE REGULATION

FUTURE DIRECTIONSFOR ATHLETIC TRAINING

• On-going evaluation and reform of ATEPs• Third-party reimbursement• (Medicare/Medicaid)

• State regulation• Licensure in CA

• Increase/improve secondary school employment• Further expansion of profession in other

employment settings• Emerging practices

• Research• Global professional growth

FUTURE EMPLOYMENTFOR ATHLETIC TRAINERS

• Employment• 2006: 17,000• 2016: 22,000• Growth: Much faster than average, except with professional

sports teams• Largest Employment Settings• College/universities, amusement/recreation industries, general

medical and surgical hospitals, elementary and secondary schools

• Salary (includes wage earners)• Median for May 2006 was $36,200 • Middle 50% earned between $28,920 and $45,600• Highest 10%: More than $57,580• Lowest 10%: Less than $21,940

• Internet Research:• NATA website• www.nata.org• 25 facts, names, job

openings, or interesting topics

• BOC website• www.bocatc.org• 10 facts about the

exam process

• CAATE website• www.caate.net• List of 10 accredited

programs

Due Fri 8/24 @ beginning of class.

10 points

HOMEWORK