THREE THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW AN ATHLETIC TRAINER COULD DO
Alyssa Drouin LAT, ATC, M.S., CSCS
Athletic Trainers are a vital part of a team, studio, and clinic. They can provide emergency care as well as a skill set to help you perform at your very best. Whether you are preparing for a sports season, enjoying recreational activities, or are just curious about what an athletic trainer can do for you, AT’s have your back. We are excited to share our three favorite things you may not have known an athletic trainer can do to help you!
Injury Prevention
Athletic trainers have a unique skill set that allows us to both treat current injuries, as well as prevent them from occurring in the first place. We are able to provide sport specific exercises to help you enhance your performance, as well as provide stability to muscles to prevent an injury. For example, a common injury we hear about is the ACL. So- how do we prevent this?
Year round training including sport specific movements like running and jumping
Proper return to play protocols following surgery
Strength Training
Proper warm up including stretching and mobility exercises
Our job is to keep you safe as an athlete, as well as allow you to compete at the highest level. As a former college athlete, I wish I had known how important injury prevention is! I am excited to share my knowledge with you to help keep you safe, and allow you to continue to participate in the activities you love.
Taping and Bracing
In a perfect world we would not need taping or bracing. But, the reality is we need it sometimes and that's okay! Athletic Trainers are trained to tape and brace to assist an injury, and help an athlete return back to play. We are able to tape your everyday sprained ankle, or jammed fingers, which can help assist your rehab process and reduce your symptoms.
We can also fit you for a brace! If you’ve ever wondered if a brace is something you should be using for your injury, an AT is the perfect person to ask. Knowing the degree to lock in a knee after ACL surgery, or how to bolster a sling following rotator cuff surgery is a very important skill set we carry. We can also assist the everyday population in tying a lace up ankle brace, or putting on a strap for tennis elbow. This skill set allows us to help you perform while also reducing your risk for injury.
Assessment of Injury
While we do not have X-ray vision, (I wish!) we are provided with a skill set that allows us to assess injuries and illnesses. More often than not, it can take days, weeks, or even months to be seen by a doctor. We can assess orthopedic injuries, concussions, heat and cold illnesses, cardiac episodes, and more! A pre-participation exam is almost always necessary in order to play or compete in a sport, and by doing this we can help prevent a sudden onset of certain injuries and illnesses. If we have a medical history prior we can prevent you from running into any trouble during your season.
Athletic Trainers can use their skill set to continue to help people thrive in what they love to do every day. If you’re not sure where to start to help you compete your best this season we have several athletic trainers here on staff at Fixxed! We are here to answer your questions, and provide you with tips to set you up for success!
Fixxed is a first of its kind recovery studio offering bodywork techniques to help you move and feel your best. We offer quick and effective hands-on services in a one on one setting performed by a licensed physical therapist or athletic trainer. Click HERE to book a free consultation with FIXXED!
