Athletic Medicine and Rehabilitation
November 2004
From the Editor Mike Braid, M.S. E. D. , A.T., C.
The leaves are falling, the fall sports season draws to an end and we once again return with another edition of the Hackley Athletic Medicine Advisor.
Our focus this issue deals with the role and licensure of Athletic Trainers. As an allied health care professional, I would like to see Michigan license Athletic Trainers. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees. Please read the information and should you have any questions or need more information, do not hesitate to call me at 231-728-4820.
Read on and Enjoy!
What is a Certified Athletic Trainer?
Certified Athletic Trainers (A.T.,C.) are allied health professionals specializing in the treatment and prevention of injuries resulting from physical activity. These activities can include sport, work, or recreational activities. The American Medical Association recognized the profession of Athletic Training in 1990 as an Allied Health Profession. ATC's can be found in many work environments including:
1. Professional Sports
2. Colleges and Universities
3. High Schools
4. Clinics and Hospitals
5. Corporations and Industries
6. Military Branches
7. Physician Practices
ATC's are not only involved in injury management, they also assist in injury prevention including proper exercise technique, performance enhancement, and nutrition. In many settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and industry, ATC's are also responsible for recommendations as to safe return to work or activity.
The National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification (NATABOC) currently recognizes over 30,000 members. In order to become certified, members must:
1. Successfully complete the undergraduate curriculum from an NATABOC Accredited Curriculum Program, including completion of cognitive and skill-based competencies
2. Successfully complete the NATABOC Certification Exam
Hundreds of colleges and universities across the United States offer Accredited Programs in Athletic Training. There are 9 undergraduate programs currently accredited in the state of Michigan, and 1 graduate program:
1. Grand Valley State University
2. Central Michigan University
3. Eastern Michigan University
4. Hope College
5. Lake Superior State University
6. Northern Michigan University
7. Saginaw Valley State University
8. University of Michigan
9. Michigan State University
10. Western Michigan University (Graduate Program ONLY)
Students enrolled in Athletic Training Curriculum Programs take classes in Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, Injury Evaluation, Injury Management, Therapeutic Modalities, and many more. Students graduating from these programs receive Bachelors Degrees in Health Sciences, Physical Education, Sports Medicine, or others depending on the University and/or student's emphasis.
Graduate Program students often receive their Master's Degree in areas such as Public Administration, Sports Leadership, Health Science, Health Care Administration and many more. Many graduate level ATC's teach at the University level. Positions in the Professional Sports Arena and University levels often require a graduate level degree.
Where does a Certified Athletic Trainer Work?
Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC) work in a wide variety of settings. Wherever physically active people are, Athletic Trainers can be of assistance. Some of these settings are:
1. Hospitals: The main responsibility here is rehabilitation. ATC's work with patients who have undergone surgery or sustained injuries in which exercise can help to improve their condition. ATC's in this setting may also provide local high school sports coverage as well.
2. High School Setting: ATC's at the high school level help to prevent, assess, treat, rehabilitate, and educate the athletes, coaches, and parents at the school. The ATC also determines whether the athlete needs further care from a physician.
3. University/Collegiate Setting: ATC's use their knowledge and skills to prevent, assess, treat, rehabilitate, and educate the athletes and coaches at this level. ATC's in the collegiate level are also responsible for the education of student athletic trainers.
4. Professional Sports: ATC's in this setting work with a team physician, as well as other health care providers to care for professional athletes. Again in this setting the ATC is responsible for the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletes.
5. Industrial: Many large companies are employing ATC's to prevent, assess, treat, and rehabilitate their employees work related injuries. ATC's offer on site treatment, so the employee can stay on-site for their treatment. This has proven to be very beneficial to the companies, by helping the employee return to work sooner from a work-related injury. ATC's are also responsible for making sure that the work sites are ergonomically safe for the employees.
6. Military: ATC's work on military bases to help prevent, assess, treat, rehabilitate, and educate our armed forces.
Role of the Certified Athletic Trainer
In looking at today's increasingly active society, the services of Certified Athletic Trainers are being sought after by more and more employers. Certified Athletic Trainers are employed in a variety of settings including rehabilitation clinics, professional sports teams, collegiate athletic departments, and industrial settings to manage work place fitness and provide on-site work related rehab. In a less traditional setting, many physicians are now hiring Certified Athletic Trainers to serve as physician extenders in their practices. The A.T.,C. in this setting may aid in orthopedic assessments, casting, and rehabilitative exercise instruction. The most visible work setting for the Certified Athletic Trainer, however, is the role of outreach A.T.,C. Many high schools and small colleges contract the services of Certified Athletic Trainers from a local hospital or independent rehabilitation practice.
The role of the outreach Certified Athletic Trainer is a very unique one. It entails providing coverage to a large variety of sports, depending on the size of the school. The Certified Athletic Trainer works as a team player in this setting, many times acting as the coordinator or liaison between the athlete, his or her family, and the appropriate physician for the injury.
The outreach A.T.,C. has the ability to assess the injury, then make appropriate recommendations as to the proper course of action to follow, thus providing the best medical care possible for the athlete. The outreach A.T.,C.'s here at Hackley Sports Medicine also have the ability to aid the family in scheduling an appointment with the physician. After the physician has made a diagnosis, the certified athletic trainer can provide rehabilitative care or work closely with a rehab professional from Sports Medicine to be sure that the athlete is receiving the best possible care. A good working relationship with the coaching staff also allows the outreach Athletic Trainer to keep them updated on the status of their athlete.
Many area schools have a team physician who donates their time to the school such as on Friday nights for football contests. Often, the injury requires the expertise of a specialist, whether it be neurological, ocular or dental in nature. The outreach A.T.,C. has access to a wide variety of specialists. The A.T.,C. also works closely with area emergency medical professionals in the event of a severe injury which would require transporting the athlete to the hospital.
As demands on the human body increase, whether it be in athletic competition, or everyday living, the opportunity arises for injury to occur. The Certified Athletic Trainer is a highly skilled health care professional, qualified to handle any athletic injury, from the initial onset to the final recovery. Wouldn't it be nice to know that your athlete is in good hands?
Aaron Ziemba, A.T.,C.
Did you know...
That an athletic training licensure bill was introduced in the Michigan State Senate on October 21, 2003. The Senate Health Policy Committee held a Hearing on the bill on September 29, 2004.
The Michigan Athletic Trainers Association has worked since 1974 to obtain state regulation for the profession of athletic training. Michigan is one of only 8 states, and the only Great Lakes State, which does not have some form of state regulation for athletic training. The intention of regulating the profession of athletic training is to ensure public safety and protect jobs in the State of Michigan.
If you are interested in supporting this bill, please contact your state legislators. Please feel free to contact us for specific details.
Staff Profiles
Amanda Light, ATC
Amanda joined the Hackley Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation staff this fall. She is a native of Caledonia and graduated from Caledonia High School. Amanda was a three-sport athlete in high school, participating in basketball, volleyball, and track. She was a two-time state qualifier in the discus.
Amanda earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Grand Valley State University with an emphasis in Athletic Training in 2003. She did her athletic training internship at Hackley in the winter of 2004, during which she was assigned to Muskegon High School, where she served as the Big Red's Athletic Trainer. Her duties now primarily consist of providing athletic training services to North Muskegon High School.
Amanda lives in Hudsonville with her husband Scott and her son Nicholas; her hobbies include all sports.
Staff Profiles
Kerri Jonas, ATC
Kerri is a native of Jackson, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Grand Valley State University in 2003 with a major in Movement Education and an emphasis in Athletic Training. She performed her athletic training internship at Hackley in winter 2004. Currently, Kerri is a Certified Athletic Trainer for Hackley Athletic Medicine and Rehabilitation where she is responsible for providing athletic training services to Fruitport High School.
She was a standout athlete at Vandercook Lake High School, competing in basketball, volleyball, softball and track. Kerri earned all-conference honors in basketball twice, volleyball three times, track four times, and softball four times. She was also named All-Area and All-District in volleyball and All-Region in track twice. Kerri's softball honors include All-District four times, All-Region three times, and All-State as a senior. Her softball teams at Vandercook Lake won three district championships.
While at GVSU, she played softball and earned all-GLIAC honors all four years and All-Region twice. Her teams won two GLIAC championships and competed in the NCAA Division II World Series in her senior year. She was named to the World Series All-Tournament team while helping her team to a spot in the national championship game. Kerri also was named Academic All-Conference three times, an All-American Scholar Athlete twice, and Academic All-American as a senior. She also played on a team this past summer that played an exhibition game against the USA Olympic Gold Medalist Softball team.
Her hobbies include softball and time with family and friends. Her vast athletic experience and interests make her a vital link to the Sports Medicine team.
Staff Profiles
Keri Brott, PTA
Keri is a native of Muskegon and has been with Hackley Rehabilitation Services for three years. Keri joined the Sports Medicine team this fall. She attended Baker College of Muskegon and received her degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant in 2001. Keri attended Orchard View High School, where she was active in Cheerleading. She now lives in Muskegon with her husband Kyle, and their St. Bernard Zoe. Keri's hobbies include bowling and sports in general.
The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.
~ Winston Churchill
Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
One of the great discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do.
~ Henry Ford
Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own mind.
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
