March is National Athletic Training Month! The theme for this year is “We’ve Got Your Back”

Athletic Trainers (ATs) are Healthcare professionals who work in numerous job settings. According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Athletic Trainers help provide “prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions”.

Here are some facts you may not know about Athletic Trainers.

*To become a certified Athletic trainer an individual must complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited athletic training education program and pass a comprehensive national exam. Depending on what state they wish to practice in athletic trainers may also have to be licensed or registered.

* 70% of Athletic Trainers hold a master’s degree

*Athletic trainers must complete 50 hours of Continuing Education every two years in order to keep their certification

*Athletic trainers work in a variety of settings such as collegiate, high school, physicians’ offices, physical therapy clinics, hospitals, branches of the military, performing arts, health departments in commercial settings and many more.

* Athletic trainers and personal trainers are two different professions. Personal trainers traditionally work in a fitness center or clinic to help individual’s meet their fitness, sport, or nutrition goals. Personal trainers may or may not be certified, licensed, or complete continuing education.

At OSR, our Athletic Trainers work as a team with a Physical Therapist in clinic as well as provide medical coverage to local high schools, dance and gymnastics studios/clubs, and other community events.

Be sure and wish your Athletic Trainer a Happy Athletic Training Month! Information and photo obtained from nata.org. This article was written by Kristin Kutch, MS, ATR, NASM-PES, who works in our Minnetonka office.