What Do Athletic Trainers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Athletic Trainers evaluate and advise individuals to assist recovery from or avoid athletic-related injuries or illnesses, or maintain peak physical fitness. May provide first aid or emergency care. They also evaluate athletes’ readiness to play and provide participation clearances when necessary and warranted.

Other tasks include:

• Care for athletic injuries, using physical therapy equipment, techniques, or medication.
• Conduct an initial assessment of an athlete’s injury or illness to provide emergency or continued care and to determine whether they should be referred to physicians for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
• Assess and report the progress of recovering athletes to coaches or physicians.
• Perform general administrative tasks, such as keeping records or writing reports.
• Apply protective or injury preventive devices, such as tape, bandages, or braces, to body parts, such as ankles, fingers, or wrists.
• Plan or implement comprehensive athletic injury or illness prevention programs.

We asked Athletic Trainers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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78% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 77% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Athletic Trainers apply protective or injury preventive devices, such as tape, bandages, or braces, to body parts, such as ankles, fingers, or wrists. They care for athletic injuries, using physical therapy equipment, techniques, or medication.

A typical day for an Athletic Trainer will also include:

• Evaluate athletes’ readiness to play and provide participation clearances when necessary and warranted.
• Assess and report the progress of recovering athletes to coaches or physicians.
• Perform general administrative tasks, such as keeping records or writing reports.
• Inspect playing fields to locate any items that could injure players.
• Conduct an initial assessment of an athlete’s injury or illness to provide emergency or continued care and to determine whether they should be referred to physicians for definitive diagnosis and treatment.

We asked some Athletic Trainers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	80% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	83% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	98% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	27% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	17% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	39% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Athletic Trainers also travel with athletic teams to be available at sporting events. They may also accompany injured athletes to hospitals.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Athletic Trainers Recommend special diets to improve athletes’ health, increase their stamina, or alter their weight. They might also File athlete insurance claims and communicate with insurance providers.

In addition, they Collaborate with physicians to develop and implement comprehensive rehabilitation programs for athletic injuries.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Advise athletes on the proper use of equipment.

To some Athletic Trainers, it is also their responsibility to Massage body parts to relieve soreness, strains, or bruises.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as an Athletic Trainer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/athletic-trainers.htm

http://www.bocatc.org/

http://www.nata.org/