Gymnastics Medicine Athletic Trainer Jamie Broz on the role athletic trainers play in the sports medicine environment.
Get to know your athletic trainer:
It’s likely you’ve seen an athletic trainer on the sideline during a professional sports game or even at your child’s gymnastics competitions. Have you ever considered the role of the athletic trainer and what they mean to those who work with them every day in the gym? An athletic trainer is really an extension of the team. While parents and fans follow the action of the gymnast, the athletic trainers are keeping a close eye on the health of the athletes. They’re watching for those who may be a little “off balance” due to a minor strain or pain, or perhaps even due to nerves.
We don’t watch sports the same way you do, and our athletes are better because of it!
An athletic trainer (AT) is a medical professional who provides the athletic population with great care through:
- injury prevention
- emergency care
- examination and clinical diagnosis
- therapeutic techniques and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.
Athletic trainers work under physicians and with other medical professionals to provide the best quality care for our athletes.
Every athletic trainer is required to be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and first aid, the use of an AED, and handle this equipment efficiently in a sports setting. The spotlight has been on athletic trainers recently due to the exposure of their life saving skills performed on national tv during an NFL game. Project Adam made a statement in regard to the incident on the field encouraging those who do not have these skills, or access to an athletic trainer to reach out: https://www.projectadam.com/
Every athletic trainer is required to be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an AED.
Athletic trainers are in great need due to the demand for injury prevention in athletics at a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, youth sports, college /professional sports, dance, cheer, public safety, military and more. Be sure to reach out and thank an athletic trainer today!
Overall, the role of all athletic trainers is to prevent injury and ensure that our athletes are safe and healthy.
Jamie Broz is a certified athletic trainer and and co-founder of the Center for the Female Athlete, Dayton, OH.