WHAT IS ATHLETIC TRAINING?

What is athletic training?

Athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers, health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities.

Who do athletic trainers typically serve?

Athletic trainers typically serve a variety of patients and clients, including:

  • Recreational, amateur, and professional athletes
  • Individuals who have suffered musculoskeletal injuries
  • Those seeking strength, conditioning, fitness, nutritional, and performance enhancement
  • Outreach duties delegated by the physician
  • Performing and conducting clinical research

Where are athletic training services provided?

Athletic trainers may work to provide their services in a variety of settings and locations, including:

  • Athletic training facilities
  • Schools (K-12, colleges, universities)
  • Amateur, professional, and Olympic sports venues
  • Clinics
  • Hospitals
  • Physician offices
  • Fitness facilities
  • Community facilities
  • Military Branches
  • Workplaces (commercial, industrial, and government)Where ATs Work

Athletic trainers treat a range of patients and can work in a variety of settings. Regardless of their practice setting, athletic trainers practice according to their education, scope of practice and state practice act.

Athletic Trainers Work In:

  • Public and private secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional and Olympic sports
  • Youth leagues, municipal and independently owned youth sports facilities
  • Physician offices as physician extenders, similar to nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists and other professional clinical personnel
  • Rural and urban hospitals, hospital emergency rooms, urgent and ambulatory care centers
  • Clinics with specialties in sports medicine, cardiac rehab, medical fitness, wellness and physical therapy
  • Occupational health departments in commercial settings, which include manufacturing, distribution and offices to assist with ergonomics
  • Police and fire departments and academies, municipal departments, branches of the military
  • Performing arts including professional and collegiate level dance and music


Job Settings

PERCENTAGE of ALL ATs JOB SETTINGS
19% College/University
18% Secondary Schools
17% Clinic and Hospital
27% Students
2% Professional Sports
2% Emerging Settings

Emerging Settings: Performing Arts, Public Safety, Military, Occupational Health

If you would like more information regarding athletic training, please visit The National Athletic Trainers' Association's official website: http://www.nata.org/athletic-training.

Information retrieved from www.NATA.org on July 12, 2016.