Athletic Trainer
Athletic trainers are healthcare professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of sports-related injuries and illnesses. They play a crucial role in supporting athletes and individuals of all ages, particularly in rehabilitation and injury prevention strategies. Typically employed by professional sports teams, colleges, hospitals, and clinics, athletic trainers serve as a vital connection between athletes, coaches, medical personnel, and families. Their work environments can vary significantly, from bustling stadiums to clinical settings, and often require them to be on-site during practices and games.
Athletic trainers provide immediate care for injuries, implement rehabilitation programs, and educate athletes about injury prevention, including the risks associated with conditions like concussions. They must possess a strong understanding of anatomy and physiology, and they often use various medical and exercise equipment in their practice. To become an athletic trainer, individuals typically need a bachelor's degree followed by a master's degree, along with relevant clinical training and internships. The demand for athletic trainers is growing rapidly, reflecting a societal focus on health, fitness, and injury prevention, making it a promising career choice for those interested in the health sciences.
Athletic Trainer
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Health Science
Interests: Physical fitness, health, exercise science, educating and communicating with others
Earnings (Yearly Median): $57,930 per year
Employment & Outlook: 14% (Much faster than average)
Entry-Level Education Master's degree
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job Training None
Overview
Sphere of Work. Athletic trainers work to examine, prevent, and treat sports-related injuries and illnesses of all types of people, especially athletes. They also help people physically rehabilitate and develop strategies to prevent further injuries, and they recommend customized diets and exercises. Trainers are typically employed by professional and college sports programs or hospitals and clinics, but some work for health clubs and summer camps as well. Trainers play an important role as a link between athletes and their teams, physicians, coaches, and other key people in an organization.
Work Environment. Athletic trainers’ work environments vary based on the type of organization for which they work. Athletic trainers who work for a professional basketball team work primarily indoors, while a trainer who works for a football team spends a considerable amount of time outdoors. Those who work in hospitals or clinics typically work forty to fifty hours per week. Trainers traveling with professional or collegiate teams must also attend every practice and game, which means they may occasionally work up to twelve hours a day. Because they are often the first responders in the event of an injury or illness on the field of play, athletic trainers may be exposed to blood and other bodily fluids in the course of their duties.
Occupation Interest. Athletic trainers are able to combine a passion for physical fitness and health with the desire to help others from a wide range of backgrounds. They play an important role in the prevention of severe injuries, helping educate people about the dangers of concussions, dehydration, and other conditions and advising them how to take the steps necessary to avoid muscle pulls and tears through proper stretches and exercises. Athletic trainers help people of all ages recover and rehabilitate following injuries.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Athletic trainers assist in the prevention and treatment of and recovery from sports-related injuries and illnesses, not only for athletes but for all kinds of people. Unlike personal trainers, athletic trainers do not focus on the development of physical fitness but on the prevention and treatment of injuries. For this reason, athletic trainers are considered allied health professionals.
When injuries occur, athletic trainers provide first aid and basic care, such as massaging cramped muscles; wrapping fingers, ankles, and other body parts to protect them from further injury; using gauze and bandages to stop bleeding; and applying ice and heat packs to injured areas. Furthermore, athletic trainers assist in the injury recovery and rehabilitation process, designing special stretching exercises and corrective workouts to help athletes return to good health after an injury. Athletic trainers who work for professional or large collegiate sports teams travel extensively with a single team throughout the playing season. Trainers who work for smaller colleges and high schools may work with two or more other athletic programs.
Athletic trainers serve as a link between athletes, doctors, coaches, the team, and the athletes’ families. Using their experience and knowledge of anatomy and physiology, trainers coordinate with doctors on the extent of a player’s injuries and relay this information to the other parties involved. Additionally, athletic trainers order special equipment and supplies and maintain detailed information about the athletes they treat.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Athletic trainers work at sports arenas, stadiums, and university athletic centers, as well as hospitals and clinics, summer camps, dance companies, and high schools. These environments are usually busy, high-energy, and noisy. Workplace environments can also be intense because there is pressure to get star players back into a game quickly. When a player is injured, the trainer may be exposed to blood and other bodily fluids.
Human Environment. Athletic trainers interact with athletes and sports team personnel, including coaches, team managers, and athletic directors. They may also interact with other medical professionals in hospitals and clinics. They may also deal with athletes’ families, equipment suppliers, stadium personnel, and/or school officials. During games, there is usually an audience observing, so trainers should be comfortable around crowds.
Technological Environment. Athletic trainers use a variety of first aid and protective equipment, including mouth and face guards, air splints, therapeutic heat and cold compresses, and traction units. They must also utilize exercise equipment, including elliptical trainers and treadmills, computer databases, and medical and office management software. Athletic directors should also be Internet savvy, able to research injuries and treatments, and communicate with other athletic trainers to share knowledge. Internet communication skills enable an athletic trainer to communicate with an athlete, coach, and family members.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students should take physical education courses as well as first aid and nutrition classes. Anatomy, physiology, psychology, biology, and chemistry are also essential courses, as are math and physics. High school students should also be involved in extracurricular sports to give them insight into how injuries can occur and be treated.
Postsecondary. Athletic trainers must obtain a bachelor’s degree and complete both classroom and clinical training. Among the subjects recommended are sports medicine, health, human anatomy, nutrition, and biomechanics. Internships in the field are also a good idea. The majority of athletic trainers hold a master’s degree in their field.
Related Occupations
− Emergency Medical Technician
− Fitness Trainer & Instructor
− Health & Fitness Center Manager
Bibliography
"Athletic Trainers." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/athletic-trainers.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 29-9091 Athletic Trainers." US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes299091.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.