What is an Athletic Trainer?
- Athletic Trainers (AT) are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventive services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.
- Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an allied health care profession.
- The RehabWorks Athletic Training staff work under the supervision of the OHF Medical Director.
Why go to an Athletic Trainer?
Athletic Trainers (AT) provide medical services to all types of patients, not just athletes participating in sports, and can work in a variety of job settings. Athletic Trainers reduce injury and shorten rehabilitation time for their patients, which translates to increased worker productivity, lower absenteeism, and reduced healthcare costs providing a positive return on investment for employers.
Many Athletic Trainers work outside of athletic settings providing Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation to people of all ages. Examples include Occupational/Industrial locations like Amazon, Boeing, General Motors, Radio City, Cirque de Soleil, Military and Public Safety.
What is the difference between an Athletic Trainer and a Physical Therapist?
Both Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists are board-certified and have a Florida state-issued license that must be renewed every two years.
Athletic Trainers work under the direction of a physician with people who are physically active on the job or in sports/recreation. Athletic Trainers place a high value on injury prevention. They complete an examination, form a diagnosis, and apply therapeutic interventions and rehabilitation for musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. Athletic Trainers achieve functional outcomes beyond activities of daily living (ADLs) and return patients to a high level of physical activity.
Physical Therapists are usually embedded in a clinical setting, which can mean either an acute in-patient environment such as a hospital or an outpatient facility. They are focused on helping patients regain normal mobility and function, to manage activities of daily living without pain. Physical Therapists also deal with a wider range of diagnosis, including congenital defects, stroke, and neurodegenerative conditions, in addition to musculoskeletal and orthopedic injuries.
Additional resources on Athletic Trainers
National Athletic Trainers' Association
