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Job Description: Athletic trainers are an integral part of a complete athletic program. Working closely with coaches, administrators, and physicians, a trainer advises and treats professional and amateur athletes to maintain maximum physical fitness for participation in competitive events. They provide services to athletes including injury prevention programs. They also provide immediate treatment and rehabilitation procedures for the injured athlete as prescribed by the team physician. They may also be called strength trainers.

Duties: Athletic trainers may perform some or all of the following duties:

• Provide computerized workout sheets tailored to each athlete
• Prescribe routine and corrective exercises to strengthen muscles
• Recommend special diets
• Monitor progress of strength training
• Provide massages to relieve soreness and strains
• Perform treatments and taping for team members before each sporting event
• Direct preparations for events such as filling water coolers, checking emergency supplies, and coordinating stand-by emergency crews
• Attend to injured athletes with appropriate first aid
• Inform coach of status of injured players
• Design rehabilitation programs with team physician
• Oversee hydrotherapy
• Provide heat and diathermy treatments
• Update biographical, medical treatment, and referral files for each athlete

For additional information on tasks, knowledge, skills, abilities, work activities, work contexts, job zones, interests, work styles, work values, and related occupations visit the O*Net Online, a division of the National Center for Occupational Information.

Working Conditions: Athletic trainers are members of the healthcare team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports programs, health clubs, and industrial settings. Those who participate in competitions that are held outdoors may be exposed to all types of weather conditions; those involved in events that are held indoors tend to work in climate-controlled comfort, often in arenas, enclosed stadiums, or gymnasiums. Irregular work hours are common in this occupation -- many trainers work evenings and weekends. They may work additional hours during sports events. Their work is often strenuous and they must guard against personal injury when participating in sports and exercise activities. Some travel is required for games that are held off-site.

Educational Requirements: As athletic training gains recognition as a profession requiring specialized education and training, certification is becoming increasingly important for employment. College student athletic trainers pursue an undergraduate degree in a selected field with an emphasis in health, safety, and athletic training. Most programs provide up to 1500 hours of clinical experience including assisting certified athletic trainers. Courses include risk management and injury prevention; pathology of injuries and illnesses; assessment and evaluation; acute care of injury and illness; pharmacology; therapeutic modalities; exercise and nutritional aspects of athletes; psychosocial intervention and referral; and, healthcare administration. The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) is the professional certifying association for this occupation. High school students will find courses in anatomy, biology, health occupations, physical education, and general science beneficial. In Tennessee the administrative staff of the Division of Health Related Boards supports the Board of Medical Examiners by issuing certificates to athletic trainers who meet the requirements of the law and rules governing this occupation. For more information, visit the Tennessee Department of Health website.

Outlook: The estimated number of athletic trainers in Tennessee is 170. It is projected there will be an increase of 14 percent in this occupation through the year 2012 with 5 openings annually. For additional information on this occupation, visit the nationally recognized Occupational Outlook Handbook online.

Salary

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee Department of Labor website
• TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development website
• Bureau of Economic Analysis website

For an explanation of salary data please visit acinet.org

Last updated on: January 29, 2008