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Have you ever been treated by an Athletic Trainer? Even though the word “athletic” is in the name, Athletic Trainers can be found treating people not only in a sports setting, but also in other professional settings like Hospitals, Performing Arts centers, industrial sites and more. They treat a vast range of people ranging from amateur sports players to professional athletes. Sometimes, Athletic Trainers (ATs) can be misinterpreted as personal trainers. By looking at each name they may seem similar, however there is a large difference in education, skillset, job duties and patients.
Athletic Training encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions. Athletic Trainers must undergo an academic curriculum and clinical training that follows the medical model. These highly-trained health care professionals must graduate from an accredited bachelor’s or master’s program. 70% of Athletic Trainers achieve a master’s degree.
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) is the professional membership association for certified Athletic Trainers and others who support Athletic Training as a profession. It was founded in 1950 and has grown to over 45,000 members worldwide today. Athletic Trainers are highly qualified health care professionals who work in conjunction with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries. Athletic Trainers work under the direction of a physician as they must follow the NATA Code of Ethics, which states the principles of ethical behavior that should be followed in the practice of Athletic Training.
Celebrating 70 years, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association is back in full swing with its annual Clinical Symposia and AT Expo – this year in Las Vegas, NV. 
At the NATA Clinical Symposia hundreds of educational sessions are offered. The AT Expo is the largest exhibition of athletic training products and services in the world. Through attending both, Athletic Trainers (ATs) can stay up-to-date on the latest innovations in the AT market.
For more information on the NATA, click here.
Article written by William Graves.