PENN STATE FOOTBALLAthletic Training

By Carson Conover

Definition of Athletic Trainers:

Athletic Trainers (ATs) are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.

http://www.nata.org/athletic-training

Core ValuesPositive AttitudeGreat Work Ethic

CompeteSacrifice

Purpose:

The main purpose of the athletic training program focuses on physical medicine, rehabilitative and preventative services. My job is to ensure that the trainers have any assistance needed when attending to the athletes.

Services include taping and wrapping techniques. The taping focuses on durability, comfort, neatness, appropriateness to the injury, and the adaptability when dealing with special situations. Taping can include support for the arch, Achilles, shoulder, wrist, groin and many more. A very common taping procedure is the ankle wrap. Special techniques are used to accommodate different sports when wrapping.

Wound care is another treatment needed when dealing with a highly intensive sport such as football. Injuries such as turf burn, blisters, and lacerations are common. Treatment, healing, and coverage of wound is necessary to ensure that the wounds will not reopen with equipment and the continued practice on turf.

Rehabilitation is a very important process when dealing with a physical sport. Injuries will frequently occur and athletes are required to participate in strengthening procedures, assisted stretching, functional exercise, strength testing, and performance testing. Rehabilitation is a step by step process that can take weeks, months, or even past a year depending on the severity of the injury.

Athletic trainers must be able to differentiate different types of injures. Trainers look at the an athlete’s profile as well as the type of injury sustained. Techniques such as palpation, muscles testing, joint stability, and range of motion are used to determine to extent of the injury.

Modalities:

1. Ultrasound-imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within your body

2. Electric Stimulation- electric current used to stimulate the nerves

3. Hivamat-creates an electrostatic field between trainer and patient

4. TENS Units-portable electric stimulation

5. Moist Heat packs-hydrocollator6. Ice Bags7. Massage8. Cold Soaks

Practice Responsibilities:

The interns are required to work before, during, and after practices in order to be properly prepared for the athletes treatment and taping. We are expected to have the cart and the field set up with refill stations for water and Gatorade. Our duties are to actively provide hydration to the athletes during practice. We are expected to stock the tables full with tape so that athletes can quickly get out to practice. After practice, we must prepare ice bags for the athletes and clean up the field supplies and training room.

Alter Gravity Treadmill:

•Reduce gravity’s impact by selecting any weight between 20% and 100% of your body weight by 1% increments •Rehabilitate lower extremity injuries with less pain and less impact •Improve mobility, strength and safety for those with neurological conditions•Provide a safe way to lose weight and exercise more intensively while unweighted•Train without pain and reduce the stress to joints and muscles •Recover effectively and with less pain after training or competition

http://www.alterg.com/products/anti-gravity-treadmills/m320-f320/health-wellness