5 Ways an Athletic Trainer Can Help Your Athlete
Before we say goodbye to March, we at Goldsmith Podiatry want to recognize National Athletic Training Month and share some information about how athletic trainers help athletes protect their feet and the rest of their bodies when playing sports.
Athletic trainers are sometimes confused with personal trainers. In order to become an athletic trainer, a person must receive a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college and pass a national exam to obtain certification and licensure to practice in NY (and most other) states. Although most colleges have athletic trainers, only about 40% of high schools do. This trend is changing, however. See why with this list of how an athletic trainer can improve the health of athletes.
Athletic trainers provide immediate medical support. Some injuries are obviously serious and require emergency medical assistance. Others are less clear-cut. Some appear not serious initially but then quickly become serious. Athletic trainers are knowledgeable about all types of sports injuries. They can administer first aid and perform some quick tests in the field to determine the injury and what the immediate needs are for treatment.
Athletic trainers educate athletes to prevent injuries. From concussions to dehydration, athletic trainers know how to recognize the risks that lead to injuries, and they share this knowledge with athletes to help them stay safe.
Athletic trainers have one focus: the health and wellbeing of the athlete. No one wants to hear that they have to sit out a game or multiple games due to an injury. Players, coaches, and parents all have a vested interest and emotional reasons that may sway the decision to let a youth play when they shouldn’t. Athletic trainers are objective health care providers that make decisions based on the clinical issues an athlete is dealing with.
Athletic trainers build rapport and trust with athletes. Being on-site regularly helps athletic trainers build relationships with athletes. It allows the AT to spot changes in the athlete that may signal an injury more quickly. It also fosters a greater likelihood of an athlete sharing symptoms with a trainer that they may hesitate to tell a coach or parent.
Athletic trainers help athletes rehabilitate more fully. Part of an AT’s work is watching over injured athletes and providing them with consistent, monitored rehabilitative therapies and exercises to ensure that they get back in the game healed and with a lower risk of re-injury.
It's important to seek care promptly when it comes to foot and ankle sports injuries. If you or your child has suffered a podiatric sports injury, make an appointment at our Upper West Side office by calling 212-877-1002. Our podiatrist, Dr. Howard Goldsmith, Dr. Rosanna Troia, and Dr. Kristina Ruff will prescribe the appropriate treatment for the injury and may partner with an athletic trainer to help follow the proper protocols.