The Importance Of Concussions In Athletic Training

Athletic training is a forever changing job field, trying to keep up with the latest research and methods. With that being said daily tasks do not change very often. Basic tape jobs, stretching, and simple exercises rarely change; while prevention methods may change. Taping to prevent an injury changes as new information is found on how the injury is caused and how it can be prevented. For example, concussions have been a huge focus for all athletic trainers. Recent studies and research have revealed new finds on how dangerous a concussion really is. This has changed how athletic trainers deal with head injuries.

Athletic Trainers by definition specialize in the diagnosing and treating of muscle and bone injuries and illnesses. However, these individuals are responsible for much more behind the scenes work than people realize. The profession can be broken into five broad domains. The first one is injury and illness prevention and protection which includes all of the precautions Athletic trainers put into the environment,

Many people are more active today than they were many years ago. Injury prevention and diagnosis plays a big role in today’s society. Preventing an injury is important for many athletes all over the world, and for people that are physically active. Preventing injuries can benefit an athlete in the long run. Athletic trainers help athletes and physically active people stay healthy for what they do on a daily basis.

These trainers evaluated every athlete’s injury with care and provides a mild diagnosis. After each athlete was done being observed and/or given therapy, the athletic trainers completed a log sheet with the athlete’s name, sport and therapy. The did this to keep track for future references. They communicated with the athletes in ways they could fully understand what was wrong and how to get themselves better. The trainers served as health education resource by answering any questions asked by athletes and/or their parents regarding their health and injuries. They managed their training rooms with ease, there wasn’t anyone running in and out the room or just standing around. They acknowledged everyone that came in. They also gave the athletes a goal to reach and helped them get there every time they came in for

Injuries are a crucial issue throughout the sports world and affect most players futures. Athletes are concerned of getting severely hurt or having their lives be at risk. Many players have the chance to prevent their injuries, but yet they never do. Families must discuss with the athlete about whether it is safe and enforce the rules to stop injuries such as concussions. More protection could also be worn to prevent broken bones or worse and also stretching to strengthen muscles. Injuries have increased a tremendous amount throughout the years because many players have stopped wearing the correct amount of protection and taking care of themselves.

Throughout my junior and senior years of high school I was a part of the Student Athletic Training Team in the Sports Medicine Department of Wakefield High School. To help better understand the injuries that the team encountered in the field, I enrolled in the Sports Medicine classes that were offered by the school. The classes were taught by the head athletic trainer for the school who believed in hands-on learning, especially for his student trainers. During the duration of the course and my time as a member of the team, I saw numerous different types of injuries; but there were three that occurred most often: an ankle sprain, a muscle strain, and a rotator cuff tear.

One of the biggest problems related with the athletic trainer profession is the huge misconception and lack of respect in the general society. For most people athletic trainers means “strength and conditioning coaches, or just any kind of sport coach”; however, an athletic trainer is a professional specialized on prevention, clinical evaluation, immediate care, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Therefore, the athletic trainers represent a vital part of the sport medicine team.

During their undergraduate years, students will need to take pre-med classes in biology, anatomy and chemistry. Medical school is a 4-year program in which the last two years include clinical rotations. That is the additional training requirements to. The pay of athlete’s trainers was $44,670 but a physicians who specialize in sports medicine received a pay salary of $185,007. The job prospects in the field of healthcare are strong. Benefits of being a sports are treatment options, or are interested in learning more about the available therapies and programs, medicine Rehabilitation, Preventative Care, Wide Application, and Personal

There are a lot of job opportunities available as an athletic trainer depending on the area of the field the individual wants to work in. Many athletic trainers want to work with sports teams at the high school, collegiate and professional level. Athletic trainers are a necessity in all sports, making their skill set a high demand. The employment projection for athletic trainers shows an increase in the next ten years of over 6% (CITE). There is not a strong regional difference in job opportunities for athletic trainers. Their skills are needed in every part of the country where athletic competition is taking place.

Being involved in physically demanding sports, I have had several interactions with Athletic Trainers. I have seen, first hand, how their knowledge and training can have a positive effect on an athlete. These experiences have shown me how important the role of an Athletic Trainer is in both injury

Athletes everywhere suffer from some kind of injury at some point of their athletic career. There are a variety of injuries and they can range from minor to severe. In many circumstances the recovering process can take a toll on the body. In severe cases, usually those pertaining to the head, the results from such injuries can be not only physically but psychologically. The 2 main injuries that will be covered throughout this paper will touch the surface of a few problems an athlete can endure throughout their tenure. Head injuries are the most severe type an athlete can come across with most of them consisting of concussions. These concussions can lead to a variety of issues. Also, an athlete can endure many types of knee injuries. These injuries can consist of either sprains or tears to ligaments. The ligaments that are affected consist of the lateral, medial, posterior, and anterior cruciate ligaments.

Whether the sport is football, soccer, baseball, or even track running; sports injuries have put players on the sideline for games, seasons, and even worse, careers (Britt). According to statistics from the National Institutes of Health, some of the most common sports injuries include sprains, knee injuries, fractures, and dislocations (Britt). Physical rehabilitation is key to injured athletes in order for them to cope and overcome these injuries. Poor training methods, lack of conditioning, and inadequate warm-ups are some of the causes of these sports injuries (Britt). It is the physical therapist’s job to treat the injuries in the best of their ability and to guide the athlete back onto the field or court with little pain on the

Athletic trainers must be sure to use logical process to adequately evaluate extent of trauma. Knowledge of mechanisms of injury and the major signs and symptoms of these injuries are crucial. Once the mechanism has been determined, then more specific information can be gathered concerning affected area.

The job of these specialists is considered adjunctive to that of the sports medicine physician or orthopaedist. The athletic trainer works cooperatively with the physician as well as the coach in setting up and carrying out conditioning and rehabilitation programs for the athletes. He administers first aid to injured athletes and applies protective devices or injury preventive equipment. Another important function of the athletic trainer or sports therapist is the application of therapeutic modalities to ease the discomfort of injury and facilitate exercise. These modalities include ice, heat, water, electricity, light, sound, exercise, and stretching.” (Porter, 1990) Equine sports therapists are important in the life of the animals that wish to make a quick recovery to compete or live a good quality of life

All players and coaches should have a sports first aid qualification, it is an important subject to cover in sport because it could potentially save someone’s life in the future. A sports first aid qualification is a one day or 8 hour course that is designed specifically for first aid workers in sport, to be able to take this course you must be a minimum age of 14 years. I believe that all players and coaches should have a sports first aid qualification because it is always good to learn about how to take care of injuries. In a the 8 hours of the course they cover important topic that would be essential to learn such as crisis management, management of hard and soft tissue injuries, fracture management (RICER), Control of external bleeding and moving the injured athlete (stretcher carries). The reason I have chosen this topic question is because it is a major issue in today’s society and children and athletes are getting hurt in games and training. When this happens the coaches and