If you or your child plays sports – or just loves to stay active – you’ve probably met an athletic trainer. But you might not know exactly what they do or how they can help.
Athletic trainers are more than the person handing out ice packs or taping ankles on the sidelines. They’re highly trained health care professionals who help prevent injuries, care for athletes and guide them through recovery when something goes wrong.
We talked to Erica Illium, MEd, ATC, a certified athletic trainer with Banner Sports Medicine, to learn more about what athletic trainers do and how they can support your health and fitness goals.
What is an athletic trainer?
An athletic trainer, often called an AT, is a licensed allied health care provider. They’re usually the first medical person athletes see when they get hurt.
“Athletic trainers provide preventative, immediate and emergency care, clinical diagnostic evaluations and therapeutic interventions to injuries and illnesses within the athletic population,” Illium said.
With their unique training and expertise, athletic trainers are incredibly important in helping protect athletes before, during and after an injury or illness occurs. They work alongside health care providers and with sports medicine teams.
Where might you meet an athletic trainer?
Athletic trainers aren’t just on the sidelines at sports games. They work:
- At your child’s school: “We’re in secondary schools and colleges providing day-to-day health care services to athletes,” Illium said. “We even work within performing arts studios/schools.” For example, they can help a high school athlete recover from a knee injury or a college student with an old sports injury looking to build strength.
- In sports medicine clinics and hospitals: Trainers often work alongside physical therapists and physicians to provide one-on-one care. For example, they can help an adult recover from shoulder surgery to start playing tennis again.
- In the workplace: Some companies bring in athletic trainers to help employees prevent injuries, especially in jobs that involve lifting or repetitive motion. For example, they can help a warehouse worker or military officer with a sore back who needs to improve their lifting form.
- In community health programs: Athletic trainers may lead wellness workshops, advise on injury prevention and help families navigate the health care system. For example, they may work with an older adult who wants to prevent falls.
Basically, if there are active people at risk of injury, you’re likely to find an athletic trainer helping behind the scenes.
How do athletic trainers help you?
Athletic trainers wear many hats. Here are some of the ways they help:
1. Prevent injuries
One of the biggest parts of an athletic trainer’s job is keeping people safe and injury-free.
“They teach proper movement, help people warm up and cool down correctly and spot issues with posture or form that could lead to problems later,” Illium said.
Athletic trainers also educate the community on concussion awareness and prevention. They are commonly used to help coaches and physicians guide athletes through the return-to-play protocol when recovering from a concussion.
2. Respond to emergencies
Athletic trainers are trained to handle urgent issues like concussions, heat illness or fractures right when they happen.
3. Diagnose and treat injuries
They evaluate musculoskeletal injuries (those involving bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons) and create personalized treatment plans.
4. Help athletes return to play
After an injury or illness, they guide athletes through rehab and recovery to make sure they return to their sport safely.
5. Create emergency action plans
Athletic trainers help teams and organizations prepare for emergencies with well-planned response protocols.
6. Connect patients to further care
If an athlete needs a specialist, imaging or surgery, the athletic trainer helps coordinate referrals and next steps.
7. Streamline clinic care
In the office, an athletic trainer not only streamlines patient care, improving their personal experience, but also assists providers in running a more efficient and productive clinic.
“They are knowledgeable in administration, evaluation, casting, splinting and bracing and can provide care across multiple departments,” Illium said.
What’s the difference between an athletic trainer and a personal trainer?
Athletic trainers are sometimes confused with personal trainers. While both play a role in promoting physical health and performance, their training and responsibilities are very different. Personal trainers are fitness professionals who help people stay active, build strength, and reach performance goals. While they may support general wellness and injury prevention, they are not trained to diagnose or treat injuries.
“Athletic trainers differ in their level of education, certification requirements and skillset,” Illium said. “Personal trainers aren’t licensed or regulated by states.”
To become an athletic trainer, you must complete a specialized college program, pass a national certification exam and in many states, get licensed to practice. You’ll also continue your training throughout your career.
Athletic trainers work alongside physicians and are trained to provide medical care and physical rehabilitation for all kinds of injuries.
What to look for in an athletic trainer
If you’re looking to work with an athletic trainer, Illium recommends choosing someone who:
- Graduated from an accredited athletic training program
- Is certified by the Board of Certification
- Is licensed in the state where they work
- Has current basic life support training (like CPR)
But skills and paperwork aren’t everything. “A great athletic trainer should be personable, have strong communication skills and be able to think critically and problem solve in any situation,” Illium said. “They should remain calm under pressure and be confident in their medical skills.”
And because they work with athletes and families during stressful moments, a good sense of humor and a calm, supportive attitude can go a long way.
“Athletic trainers are professionals, but they have a way of keeping a situation light to ease the stress of others around them,” Illium said.
Takeaway
Athletic trainers make sure athletes of all ages can perform their best without risking their health. Whether you’re a student-athlete, a weekend runner or someone who wants to stay strong and injury-free, working with an athletic trainer can help.
If you’re ready to take your fitness to the next level, consider reaching out to an athletic trainer or one of our Banner Sports Medicine specialists.
