Athletic Training to me has the potential to affect patients in 3 major ways. We are the first line of help in a huge array of situations. We act as a calming presence in a scary situation, providing a realistic voice to the patients on the severity of the situation and the return process. We work to reduce unnecessary need for extra, expensive medical attention by limiting trips to emergency rooms, hospitals, and expensive medical treatment or physical therapy out of house. Athletic trainers are some of the few health care workers that see their patients almost daily, both during injury and during normal, healthy activity. Because of this, we are able to build a strong, personal rapport with our patients. This bond allows us to build a level of trust that our patients may not get elsewhere. This rapport allows us to spot changes in our patients behaviors and health and help to stop unhealthy behaviors and provide support before issues become too large. It also allows our patients to feel comfortable reaching out to us for help or support. Finally, we are a big source of education for our peers, patients and coworkers. We have the ability to educate individuals on proper techniques and ergonomics, helping to limit overuse injuries and improving ADLs. We can help bring peace of mind, by educating on illnesses and injuries, especially if it's someone's first time being injured or ill. Especially when we start at the secondary school level, we are able to prepare our patients to have adequate health literacy and develop health lifestyle habits for when they are adults on their own, in charge of their own health and wellbeing. Personally, I get the most joy from my job when I get a message 2-3 years down the road from a former patient who is excited to tell me about a new life milestone they accomplished.
Athletic training is still a new profession however, and so there is a lot of confusion as to what makes us unique, and what exactly it is we do. Those who haven't ever interacted with an athletic trainer, may have never even heard of one. Growing up internationally, I didn't have an athletic trainer, and until I was researching athletic related careers, I had never even heard of athletic training. The history of athletic training article talked about how in the beginning athletic training was taught with a teaching degree aspect as well with the intent of getting athletic trainers at the secondary school level. I think this mindset is really beneficial and I wish it was an option in more schools. Part of why I am so interested in the secondary school population is because they are young minds waiting to be molded, and without a positive, healthy influence, they may never develop good personal health behaviors, or struggle to do so later in life. If more athletic trainers had teaching qualifications as well, there would be more reason or availability for schools to teach sports medicine classes, emergency care and first aid classes etc. This would not only allow students to have a better understanding of human anatomy and physiology, but also help them to better understand the various healthcare professionals involved in a multidisciplinary health care team.
Not everyone wants to teach however, so recognition can be spread in more ways and settings than just education at the secondary school level. To begin, exposure leads to recognition and understanding, so by fighting for athletic trainers working in various settings and environments, we can make athletic trainers more understood through first hand experience. More established healthcare professions get recognition in classes, career days, job fairs etc. so the goal is to get athletic trainers to be on the same level of understanding and discussion as other healthcare professions, such as nursing and physical therapy. This is especially important in the secondary school level, as we can expose young teens to athletic training as a possible profession for them in the future. By explaining athletic training at a younger age, they can better prepare themselves to apply to schools and programs and increase the number of athletic trainers working and advocating for the profession.
Finally, international recognition is the ultimate goal. As athletic trainers we have been limited in the possible countries we can work in. As someone who grew up internationally, I don't have a strong desire to stay in the United States, however I don't want to just be limited to Canada, Ireland and Japan as possible places to work as an athletic trainer. A lot of the disconnect globally comes from differences in education systems and requirements and a lack of understanding of the similarities between athletic training and jobs of different titles worldwide, such as sports physiotherapist. I think it's important to educate future young professionals about how to work internationally more. In my experience it was made to seem like I could only work in the US, which is discouraging for me. It wasn't until I met a UGA alumni who works at an international school in Bangkok, that I was even made aware this was an option. When my family was looking to move to New Zealand is when I found out about the potential to sit for an exam to become a licensed sports physiotherapist in European and Oceanic Countries, something I had to learn for myself. I think if people were more aware of these possibilities, other adventurous spirits like myself may work to be international athletic trainers or more international individuals may come to the US to obtain the AT credential or bring a better understanding of athletic training back to their home countries.
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