• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
CORA Physical Therapy

CORA Physical Therapy

  • About
    • Leadership Team
    • Faces of CORA
    • Experience the Difference
    • Physicians
    • Partnerships
      • Attorneys
      • MSA’s
      • Acquisition Opportunities
      • Fonhare
  • Resources
    • Shop/Therapy Essentials
    • Blogs
    • News
    • Podcast
  • Pay Bills
    • Patients
    • Medical Records
  • Careers
    • Browse Careers
    • Growth and Development
    • Student Resources
  • 1.866.443.2672
  • Find Locations
  • Book an Appointment
  • What We Treat
    • Neck
    • Shoulder
    • Elbow
    • Wrist/Hand
    • Back
    • Low back pain/Sciatica
    • Degenerative Disk/Joint Disease
    • Arthritis
    • Knee
    • Ankle
    • Foot
    • Hip
    • SI Joint Dysfunction
    • Leg
    • Pregnancy/Post-Partum
    • Incontinence
    • Headaches/Migraines
    • TMD/Jaw Pain
    • Dizziness/Vertigo
    • General Weakness / Deconditioning
    • Post Auto Collision
  • How We Can Help
    • Programs
      • Aquatic
      • Amputation Care
      • Blood Flow Restriction Therapy
      • Complimentary Screens
      • Concussion Management
      • Pain Management
      • Sports Performance
      • Parkinson’s Treatment/LSVT
      • Lymphedema Management
      • Pre- and Post-operative Rehabilitation
      • Post-COVID Recovery
      • Total Joint Arthroplasty
      • Wellness/Fitness
      • Balance and Fall Prevention
      • Injury Prevention Screenings
      • Vestibular Rehabilitation
      • Wound Care
    • Services
      • Physical Therapy
      • Occupational Therapy
      • Orthopedics
      • Pediatric Occupational, Speech and Physical Therapy
      • Neurology
      • Pelvic Health
      • Geriatric/Senior Services
      • Work and Industry/WorkTracks
      • ActiveTracks/Sports Medicine
      • Hand Therapy
      • TeleHealth
    • Specialty Treatments
      • Manual Therapy
      • The McKenzie Method
      • IASTM
      • Dry Needling
      • AlterG
      • Therapy in the Home
  • Patients
    • What To Expect
    • Direct Patient Access
    • Patient Forms
    • Medical Records Payment
    • Make a Payment
    • Share Your Story

What do Athletic Trainers do?

Mar 17 2022 | CORA Development Team

What do Athletic Trainers Do
A day in the life of a high school athletic trainer.

A day in the life of a high school athletic trainer 

Each day the high school dismissal bell rings at 2:10 PM. Some students go home or to a friend’s house. Other students head to the field house to change for afternoon practice. Here you will find Nancy. 

The Role of Athletic Trainers Infographic

Nancy is a member of CORA Physical Therapy’s ActiveTracks team. She arrives at 1:00 PM and gets to work:

  • Filling coolers with ice and water
  • Restocking the medical kit
  • Writing injury reports
  • Preparing the day’s practice and game schedule

“Hey, Ms. Nancy.” Says the first to walk through the athletic training room door. More athletes follow in quick succession. They sing a “Hey, Ms. Nancy” chorus, signaling Nancy it is time to go to work. 

Sparing no time, Nancy has already:

  • Wrapped two thighs and one shoulder
  • Adjusted one knee brace
  • Covered four wounds
  • Taped a multitude of ankles, wrists, thumbs, and arches

With each student-athlete, Nancy determines their return-to-play status by assessing, testing, and passing clinical judgement.  

  • The lacrosse player is strong enough to begin shoulder strengthening exercises.  
  • The football player can return now that the stitches have been removed from his left eyebrow.  
  • The baseball pitcher’s medial right elbow is strong but tender. Nancy will talk to the coach about modifying his activity level.  
  • The javelin throwers wrist is getting better but still needs taping.  
  • The right knee of the soccer player is still swollen and painful after last night’s game.  

Nancy makes a note to call the parents of the soccer player experiencing swelling and pain in her right knee. She will help them understand the referral process for the school’s team physician.  

A football player brings in x-rays of his left foot. They show no signs of fracture. He is cleared to play but with restrictions.  

The large abrasion on the softball player’s right shin is healing well and shows no sign of infection.  

Finally, a volleyball player provides an update on her recovery from a severe quad strain. She tells Nancy “Hi” from her CORA physical therapist.  

Are Athletic Trainers Licensed, Certified? 

In the US, states have varying requirements including – certification, registration, and licensure.  

Athletic Trainers must graduate with a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from an accredited program.

Nancy is state licensed and a certified athletic trainer (AT) through the Board of Certification. She is a recognized allied healthcare professional by the American Medical Association.  

What Services do Athletic Trainers Provide? 

All ATs are equipped with the skills necessary to diagnosis, treat, and rehabilitate acute or chronic muscle and skeletal injuries.  The practice of athletic training also includes injury prevention.

ATs are trained to recognize general medical conditions, injuries and illness. They also possess the unique ability to write and communicate emergency action plans. Emergent care may include:

  • Heat related injuries
  • Inclement weather
  • Life or limb threatening conditions

The ATs of ActiveTracks also work alongside athletic departments at colleges and universities. Here they deliver sports medicine services on varsity athletes. 

Athletic trainers provide coverage at large-scale youth tournaments by working collectively for the health and safety of those playing. When inclement weather threatens outdoor activity, it is the ATs who determine when participants should leave the field and when they can return.  

For those gut-wrenching, heart-stopping moments when an injured player lies motionless on the field, it is our ATs who respond first. The decision to call for emergency medical rests on their shoulders.  

When emergency technicians arrive, they work in concert to stabilize that athlete. The AT will provide hands-on support by removing equipment, bracing fractured limbs, or aiding with CPR and rescue breathing.  

The impact of the work by ActiveTrack’s ATs is vast. Reaching beyond baseball diamonds, football fields, rugby pitches, basketball and tennis courts.  

Within CORA Physical Therapy clinics, they help patient care and operations. An AT will work alongside Physical Therapists delivering functional assessments and work hardening and conditioning programs.  

Outside of the clinics, they are shadowing physicians and help facilitate direct access expansion. They collaborate with private organizations to provide complimentary assessments, find high-risk movement patterns, conduct treatment demonstrations, and present educational services.  

National Athletic Training Month Infographic

What is ActiveTracks? 

The ActiveTracks program serves a broad community and is committed to keeping you in the game.

Our team of allied healthcare providers brings evidence-based clinical and rehabilitative practices to all populations.

As an extension of CORA’s outpatient services, ActiveTracks delivers comprehensive care through outreach, education, and visibility. 

Filed Under: Athletic Training, Blog, Sports Medicine Tagged With: National Athletic Training Month

Primary Sidebar

Schedule a Free Screening
Shop for Therapy Essentials

Learn More About CORA

  • Why Choose CORA: Getting Better Done Better
  • CORA Newsroom
  • Health & Wellness Blog
  • WorkTracks
  • Active Tracks
  • Browse Careers
  • Find a Clinic Near You

Get Expert Health News Delivered to Your Inbox

Name(Required)

Footer

Services

  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatric Occupational, Speech and Physical Therapy
  • Neurology
  • Pelvic Health
  • Geriatric/Senior Services
  • Work and Industry/WorkTracks
  • ActiveTracks/Sports Medicine
  • Hand Therapy
  • TeleHealth

Quick Links

  • Pay Bill
  • Contact Us
  • Book an Appointment
  • Physicians
  • TeleHealth
  • Patients
  • Find Locations
  • Careers
  • Patient Forms
  • Partners

© 2023 CORA Executive Office – 2550 West Tyvola Road., Suite 350, Charlotte, NC 28217 | Sitemap | Employee Email Login | Legal | HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service