The Sports Medicine Team

Sports Medicine

refers generically to a broad field of health care related to physical activity and sport

Athletic Trainer

specializes in prevention, diagnosis, and rehabilitation and provides a link between the medical community and the physical active individual

How do you become and Athletic Trainer?

Graduate from an accredited Athletic Training Program, pass the Board of Certification exam, obtain licensure or certification in the state where you will work

Personal Trainer

prescribes, monitors and changes an individual’s specific exercise program in a fitness or sports setting

How do you become a Personal Trainer?

Pass the certification exam

Strength and Conditioning Coach

works specifically with athletes in conditioning their bodies to optimize their competitive advantage

How do you become a Strength and Conditioning Coach?

Pass the certification exam

Physical Therapist

specialists in evaluating and treating disorders of the human body primarily by physical means

How do you become a Physical Therapist?

go through a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, pass the exam, get the state license, and specialize if you want to

Occupational Therapy

brand of health care that helps people of all ages who have physical, sensory, or cognitive problems

How do you become an Occupational Therapist?

earn a bachelors degree in a related area, earn graduate degree in occupational therapy, pass the exam, obtain state licensure

List personal qualities that someone would need to have to work in the sports medicine world.

stamina, ability to adapt, empathy, sense of humor, communication, intellectual curiosity, ethical practice, professional memberships

Who is included in the primary sports medicine team?

patient, physician, athletic trainer, other health care workers who are working directly with the patient

What is the physician’s role in the rehabilitation process?

diagnose the injury, prescribe a course of treatment, watch over the rehabilitation process, determine when the patient can return to physical activity

Who is included in the secondary members of the sports medicine team?

EMT, supervisor, peers, pharmacist, exercise physiologist, athletic administrator

What is a licensure?

most restrictive form of professional and occupational regulation, referred to the right-of-practice, it is illegal for a person to practice the profession without meeting state standards

What is certification?

the state grants title protection to person meeting predetermined standards, someone without the certification may perform the duties of the occupation but cannot use the title

What is registration?

form of requiring an individual to file their name, addresses, qualification with a government agency before practicing the occupation