The month of March is an exciting time for those in a special branch of the health care industry. It’s this time of year where we celebrate athletic training professionals and how important their work is in the world of sports. Below discusses what athletic trainers do and how they provide the field with exceptional service.

The Importance of Athletic Training

Athletic training is a branch of medical health care services with a focus on active sporting participants. These professionals are certified and licensed to treat patients for a wide range of physical needs to return full-functionality of the required movements needed to perform well in a respective activity. Athletic trainers work towards injury preventions and rehabilitation in the event of functional limitations from a predisposition, onset condition or recurrent chronic pain. Through these means of evaluation and action, athletic trainers can efficiently return their patient to full-activity without experiencing setbacks in the present and future.

Becoming an Athletic Trainer

Becoming an athletic trainer requires a select set of requirements and qualifications. Without these prerequisites, someone pursuing this field of health care cannot practice. First, individuals must pursue an undergrad degree with a curriculum focused in health sciences. Upon graduation, students can earn an additional masters or doctoral degree from an accredited athletic training program and pass the Board of Certification (BOC) exam. Once nationally certified and state licensed, athletic trainers must continue with required education course improving and maintaining skills.

Skills of an Experienced Athletic Trainer

Good professional qualities and ethics provide the opportunity to excel in any field. It’s true that many careers share similar traits of success such as confidence, communication and work ethic, but there is a large number that apply solely to trainers. The following will list some of the important skills and traits of a great athletic trainer.

  • Passion for healthcare
  • Service & social orientation
  • Attention to detail / monitoring
  • Diagnosis efficiency
  • Patience
  • Record and reporting organization
  • Adaptability
  • Strategically approach obstacles
  • Active learning
  • Complex problem solving
  • Health care instruction
  • Understanding of social sciences (i.e. sociology, psychology)
  • Expert knowledge of human sciences

Exploring the Field with a Athletic Trainer

Athletic training is not a one-dimensional profession by any means, however your level of understanding may be relatively limited without getting a personal account from someone in the industry. To help you fully grasp what it means to be an athletic trainer, Paul Ziemba of the Illinois Bone & Joint Institute offers his career experience:

“When I began exploring the field of medicine as a career in high school, I had envisioned becoming a physician. As my exposure and understanding of the medical field evolved I began narrowing the medical world into the field of sports medicine – moving away from becoming a physician. I wanted to make a difference now, not years later after completing medical school, but I was unsure how I could do that. Physical therapy, nursing and physician assistant were all explored but never felt right. Not until my sophomore year in college was athletic training contemplated. After some guidance and prodding from an athletic trainer during a late-night bus trip home from a college basketball game, I realized that this career was for me. My mentor – and now fellow colleague – was never more right. Through the field of athletic training I have been able to help treat thousands of recreational, youth, amateur and professional athletes in the United States and across the world.  Athletic trainers have a unique skill set that allows them to begin treating the athlete at their most delicate time during the initial injury to the final joy of returning to the love of their sport. Many see athletic trainers as the people who tape ankles and run onto the field, but we can do so much more. The role that I am in currently allows me to assist physicians within the office and during surgery. Some assist industrial workers avoid injury and rehabilitate those that do become injured. Many are also the front line medical personnel providing sports medicine services to youth groups, recreational centers, high schools and colleges.”

Athletic Training Programs in Chicago

Athletic training is a profession crucial to those involved on every level of sporting activity. These unique health care service providers assist physicians in treating athletes with the compassionate care they need to make a full recovery. Through scrupulous diagnosis and side-by-side support, Dr. Roger N. Chams and his staff provide the highest quality athletic training focused service in the greater Chicago area. Dr. Chams pairs his sports medicine and orthopedic expertise with the valued insight of his team. If you’re in need of comprehensive orthopedic treatment for your sports-related injury, feel free to contact us at any office location by calling (847) 247-4000.