So, what IS an Athletic Trainer anyway?

The National Athletic Training Association (NATA), which is dedicated to improving the health and well being of athletes as well as committed to the advancement, encouragement, and improvement of the athletic training profession was founded in 1950—that’s only 53 years ago. As defined by the NATA, a certified athletic trainer (ATC) is a “highly educated and skilled professional specializing in athletic health care.” ATC’s are “medical experts in preventing recognizing, managing, and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity.” Athletic Trainers can help you avoid unnecessary medical treatment and disruption of normal daily life. If you’re injured they can get you on the mend and keep you on the move. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as an allied health care profession, and the AMA recommends certified athletic trainers in every high school to keep America’s youth safe and healthy. Athletic trainers work under the direction of physicians, and in cooperation with other allied health professionals, coaches and parents to provide quality health care in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports teams and other athletic health care settings.