Value of the Athletic Trainer & Sports Medicine

Oct 27, 2023 | Blog

The Certified Athletic Trainer is a unique healthcare provider who manages several roles and responsibilities in the broad spectrum of Sports Medicine.

Certified Athletic trainers are not Personal Trainers and are distinguished by their education and training. They are trained to handle multiple tasks and work with Physicians to make objective and evidence based decisions for exercise progression and return to play.

Certified Athletic Trainers are unique health care providers, highly skilled and educated providers to the athletic and physically active population. Athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers, healthcare providers who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities.

More than 70 percent of certified athletic trainers hold at least a master’s degree. Athletic Trainers can be found in a variety of emerging work settings including secondary schools, colleges, and universities, professional sports, sports medicine clinics, hospitals, physician offices, the military, occupational workplaces, performing arts, youth sports, recreation and more.

The National Athletic Trainers Association (www.nata.org) represents the more than 30,000 members of the athletic training profession through research and education (www.natafoundation.org). Athletic Trainers are certified through the Board of Certification, Inc. (www.bocatc.org) and licensed by the state of Florida. Members of the NATA must agree to abide by the Association’s Code of Ethics. The Board of Certification, Inc. requires that all credential holders abide by the Standards of Practice.

Certified Athletic trainers are not Personal Trainers and are distinguished by their education and training. They are trained to handle multiple tasks and work with Physicians to make objective and evidence based decisions for exercise progression and return to play.

Certified Athletic Trainers are unique health care providers, highly skilled and educated providers to the athletic and physically active population. Athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers, healthcare providers who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities.

More than 70 percent of certified athletic trainers hold at least a master’s degree. Athletic Trainers can be found in a variety of emerging work settings including secondary schools, colleges, and universities, professional sports, sports medicine clinics, hospitals, physician offices, the military, occupational workplaces, performing arts, youth sports, recreation and more.

The National Athletic Trainers Association (www.nata.org) represents the more than 30,000 members of the athletic training profession through research and education (www.natafoundation.org). Athletic Trainers are certified through the Board of Certification, Inc. (www.bocatc.org) and licensed by the state of Florida. Members of the NATA must agree to abide by the Association’s Code of Ethics. The Board of Certification, Inc. requires that all credential holders abide by the Standards of Practice.

About Jim Mackie

JIM GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND RECEIVED A MASTERS DEGREE FROM EAST- ERN KENTUCKY. HE IS A CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINER AND IS LICENSED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA. HIS WORK EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, BRAINTREE HOSPITAL OUT-PATIENT REHABILITATION & SPORTS MEDICINE AND BROCKTON HIGH SCHOOL, RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL & BAPTIST ST. VINCENT’S HEALTH SYSTEM, HEALTHSOUTH REHABILITATION, AND ST. VINCENT’S REHABILITATION & SPORTS MEDICINE. JIM ALSO SERVES AS A PRECEPTOR FOR THE ATHLETIC TRAINING CURRICULUM WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA.

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