Thursday, January 4, 2007

Athletic trainers help prevent and treat injuries for people of all ages. Their clients include everyone from professional athletes to industrial workers. Athletic trainers specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of muscle injuries. Athletic trainers are often one of the first heath care providers on the scene when injuries occur, much like an first responder, and must be able to recognize, evaluate, and identify injuries and provide immediate care when needed. They also are heavily involved in the rehabilitation and reconditioning of injuries.
Athletic trainers often help prevent injuries by advising on the proper use of equipment and applying protective (injury-preventive) devices such as tape, bandages, and braces. Injury prevention also often includes educating people on what they should do to avoid putting themselves at risk for injuries. Athletic trainers should not be confused with fitness trainers or personal trainers, who are not health care workers, but rather train people to become physically fit.
Athletic trainers work under the supervision of a licensed physician, and in cooperation with other health care providers. The level of medical supervision varies, depending upon the setting. Some athletic trainers meet with the team physician or consulting physician once or twice a week; others interact with a physician every day. The extent of the supervision ranges from discussing specific injuries and treatment options with a physician to performing evaluations and treatments as directed by a physician.
Schedules vary by work setting. Athletic trainers in non-sports settings generally have an established schedule with nights and weekends off; the number of hours differs by employer, but usually are about 40 to 50 hours per week. Athletic trainers working in hospitals and clinics spend part of their time working at other locations on an outreach basis. Most commonly, those outreach programs include secondary schools, colleges, and commercial business locations. Athletic trainers in sports settings, however, deal with schedules that are longer and more variable. These workers 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 regularly may have to work 6 or 7 days per week, including late hours.


sorry ppl this is part of an essay for advanced pe and i need a way to get onto the other computer so dont mind it.
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