Athletic Trainer, not just "Trainer"

    

   This seemed like something that I should wait to post until National Athletic Training Month in March but I decided to go ahead with it.  As most of you know I am a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC).  Most of you probably also don't know exactly what that means.  I found the following post on Facebook and wanted to share:

     "Oh...you're a trainer?? (NO! I'm an Athletic Trainer, NOT a trainer.) Oh, that's cool, I wanted to do that. What do you make?" "WHAT DO I MAKE?? I make an ankle sprain that some say should take four weeks to heal, playable in a week. I can make wearing a fanny pack and driving in a golf cart with lights look cool. I can devise your rehab program after a total knee replacement so you can run in that marathon you've always dreamed of. I can tape your ankle before you miss a full minute of play. I can make saving your child's life easier by explaining "getting your bell rung" isn't normal, it can be deadly. I can help you, and your child, survive a heart attack. I can look at a wrestler's pee and tell him how much water to drink. I can make an athlete bigger, faster, better. I can translate "doctorese" from "torn anterior talofibular ligament" into “ankle sprain.” I went to college to EARN A DEGREE in more than just "water providing" but also injury prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment & rehabilitation; administration, and overall problem solving. And I do it because I love my athletes and I love my profession. Today, I might ice your knee, tomorrow I might save your life. I make a difference. What do YOU make?"

     We Athletic Trainers are a passionate bunch.  We don't do what we do for money or for recognition, we do what we do because we love it.  Most of us have logged in more hours for no pay than many people have ever dreamed of even working.  The thing I love about my job is the opportunity to deal with athletes from every aspect.  I can develop a preseason workout program to get you physically ready for the demands of athletics, organize your physical so that you can participate, ensure that you are ready for practices and games, evaluate and manage your injury if/when it occurs, rehabilitate you so that you can return, and prevent it from happening again. 

    Just this morning I was able to work with one of my senior athletes who suffered a potential season ending injury and progress her into functional activities that will hopefully allow her to complete her season.  I am inspired by all of my fellow ATC's who work at all different levels of Sports Medicine.  Please don't mistake my passion for ignorance though, we don't think that we are the single contributing factor to the health of our patient's but rather work as a link in the allied health profession to ensure their health and wellness.  I understand that "Trainer" is easier to say and is the most common term referring to our profession.  I also respect personal trainers and all that they do but there is a big difference in the requirements to become a personal trainer and the requirements to be an athletic trainer.  Hopefully this puts athletic training into perspective.  To all the ATC's out there, keep up the good work.  The profession has come a long way but is just starting to get the credibility that it deserves.  To everyone else, when you see that person run over from the sidelines to tend to an injured athlete, thats an athletic trainer, not just a trainer. 

Knee Rehabilitation using a TRX suspesion trainer