What does a licensed athletic trainer do?
A licensed athletic trainer practices a form of health care that includes preventing, recognizing, assessing, managing, treating, disposing of, and reconditioning athletic injuries. An athlete is a person who participates in an organized sport or sport-related exercise or activity. A licensed athletic trainer practices under the direction of a licensed physician. Before games and sporting events, a licensed athletic trainer carries out injury prevention measures (such as the application of protective devices) to minimize the risk of injury during play. When an athlete is injured, a licensed athletic trainer provides emergency care and/or refers the athlete to a physician or hospital if necessary. When an injured athlete needs rehabilitation before they can return to play, a licensed athletic trainer sets up or carries out the rehabilitation plan.
