2008 Woodie Awards
Unsung Heroes On and Off The Field
Duties of an Athletic Trainer Go Far Beyond The Usual Taping and Icing
James Carpentier
Issue date: 9/16/04 Section: Feature
- Page 1 of 3 next >
They are there well before, during, and after sports events tirelessly tending to high school, college and professional athletes. Though unassuming, they play key roles behind the scenes, on the sidelines and on the athletic field.
When a player is hurt, they are usually the first to reach the injured athlete. They are called athletic trainers and are a fundamental part of a sports program. A case can be made that their professional relationship with athletes, and how injured athletes commit themselves and respond to the various therapies in an athletic training facility may indeed influence a team's season. How quickly or slowly a stellar athlete returns to action following an injury, for example, can affect wins and losses.
An Ancient Profession:
According to the Journal of Athletic Training (June 2003), "Informally, the profession of athletic training has been in existence since the ancient Olympic Games, when athletes routinely sought the advice, assistance, and wisdom of scientists and other intellectuals in attempts to improve performance and ward off injury. Formally, the profession of athletic training has been in existence in the United States since 1950, when the National Athletic Trainer's Association (NATA) was formed by a small and obscure legion of 'trainers.'"
Now, half a century later since the NATA's formation, there is an increasing demand for athletic trainers at all levels of sport.
John Davis, Head Athletic Trainer at Montclair State University, was asked last fall what improvements, trends or changes are foreseen in the athletic training industry in the next few years. He said that the "demand exceeds the supply" inferring that more athletic trainers are needed to tend to all the athletes. Compared to 10 years ago, Davis also noted a "more hands on approach" today in reducing treatment time and an athlete's period of rehabilitation "rather than relying on just modality machines and rest. These older techniques were not as aggressive as today's treatment protocols."
When a player is hurt, they are usually the first to reach the injured athlete. They are called athletic trainers and are a fundamental part of a sports program. A case can be made that their professional relationship with athletes, and how injured athletes commit themselves and respond to the various therapies in an athletic training facility may indeed influence a team's season. How quickly or slowly a stellar athlete returns to action following an injury, for example, can affect wins and losses.
An Ancient Profession:
According to the Journal of Athletic Training (June 2003), "Informally, the profession of athletic training has been in existence since the ancient Olympic Games, when athletes routinely sought the advice, assistance, and wisdom of scientists and other intellectuals in attempts to improve performance and ward off injury. Formally, the profession of athletic training has been in existence in the United States since 1950, when the National Athletic Trainer's Association (NATA) was formed by a small and obscure legion of 'trainers.'"
Now, half a century later since the NATA's formation, there is an increasing demand for athletic trainers at all levels of sport.
John Davis, Head Athletic Trainer at Montclair State University, was asked last fall what improvements, trends or changes are foreseen in the athletic training industry in the next few years. He said that the "demand exceeds the supply" inferring that more athletic trainers are needed to tend to all the athletes. Compared to 10 years ago, Davis also noted a "more hands on approach" today in reducing treatment time and an athlete's period of rehabilitation "rather than relying on just modality machines and rest. These older techniques were not as aggressive as today's treatment protocols."