Athletic Trainer

Have you ever watched a sports game and all of a sudden someone gets injured? Well the person who runs out on the field and comes to the rescue is the athletic trainer!

Athletic trainers do more than just hang out on the sidelines; they specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries. Musculoskeletal injuries are imjuries involving the muscles and/or bones. Athletic trainers often are one of the first health care providers on the scene when injuries occur, and therefore they must be able to recognize, evaluate and assess injuries and provide immediate care when needed.

Athletic trainers should not be confused with fitness trainers or personal trainers, who are not health care workers, but rather people who train people to be physically fit. Athletic trainers on the other hand help prevent injuries by advising on the proper use of equipment and applying protective or injury-preventive devices such as tape, bandages and braces.

Athletic trainers can work in a variety of setting (not just the playing field) and can have varying schedules. For examples, athletic trainers in non-sports settings generally have an established schedule—usually about 40 to 50 hours per week—with nights and weekends off. Athletic trainers working in hospitals and clinics may spend part of their time working at other locations doing outreach. Outreach programs include conducting athletic training services and speaking at high schools, colleges, and commercial businesses.

Athletic trainers in sports settings have schedules that are longer and more variable. These athletic trainers must be present for team practices and games, which often are on evenings and weekends, and their schedules, can change on short notice when games and practices have to be rescheduled. As a result, athletic trainers in sports settings may regularly work 6 or 7 days per week, including late hours.

A bachelor’s degree is usually the minimum requirement to work as an athletic trainer, but many hold master’s or doctoral degrees. There are more than 350 accredited athletic training programs in the United States and students in these programs learned both in the classroom as well as in clinical settings. Common courses include, human anatomy, physiology, nutrition and biomechanics.

Salary for athletic trainers usually depends on experience and what their responsibilities are. The median annual salary is around $37,000 and some make as much as $60,000 a year.