Versatile athletic trainers and the critical roles they serve

Originally posted 3/17/2023, updated 3/5/2025 with new information.

Sports medicine’s specialists on and off the field

You’ve seen them hustling across the playing field or crouching on the sidelines next to an athlete whose face is twisted in pain.

They don’t wear the black and white stripes of on-field officials, but in their khakis and team Polo shirts they are as easy to spot. Their presence is just as critical – and, at times, more.

Like a good referee, a quality athletic trainer isn’t supposed to be front and center in the public’s consciousness. When they are, it’s because athletic trainers are in the midst of essential tasks.

Oftentimes, it’s on the field, but they also work in diverse places with myriad responsibilities. 

Here’s a deeper look at these health care specialists:

What do athletic trainers do?

No matter what sport, athletic trainers are at the center of athletic health care.

They are generally first on the field, court or rink when a player goes down. They must quickly conduct an initial assessment and determine the type and severity of injury or issue. In an emergency, they’re the ones signaling for physicians and medics to help.

Whether in games or at practices, athletic trainers must keep calm and provide reassurance in times of medical uncertainty.

After all, sports injuries happen.

And if you’re an athlete, a weekend warrior or have a physically demanding job, you’re more likely to be injured than someone who’s not as active.

From athletic injury to onsite emergency care

Although it’s not something we like to think about when suiting up for a game or packing the stands to watch our favorite teams, medical emergencies can occur in any setting. Sports medicine personnel need to be prepared for all scenarios. That’s why athletic trainers are versed in first aid, CPR and how to operate automated external defibrillators (AED).

Perhaps the most profound and public example occurred in January 2023, when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after making a tackle during Monday Night Football. Athletic trainers and emergency personnel immediately took control, administering CPR and an AED, ultimately saving his life. Hamlin returned to the field nine months later and started 14 regular-season games and three in the playoffs during the Bills’ 2024-25 season.

Hamlin’s quick medical treatment thrusted a spotlight on how valuable athletic trainers are due to their skills and quick thinking in emergency medical situations.

While the on-site response is critical, there’s a tactical aspect to an athletic trainer’s work that’s also important in times of crisis. They must be highly organized and have key components at the ready. Those include:

• Emergency action plans to handle crisis situations
• Emergency phone numbers available
• Unblocked ambulance access points at all venues
• On-site emergency equipment, like AEDs, inspected and in working order

Another thing that’s a must for all athletic trainers: great communication skills.
Athletic trainers are bridges between coaches and families when players are injured. Their job includes reporting on the injury and explaining expectations from the incident’s occurrence to the next steps toward recovery.

Getting you back to what makes you tick

OK, you’ve been injured. You’re doing well in your rehabilitation and recovery.

So, are you done?

Nope. This is another crucial stage in the process: Your return to play or to work.

It happens when your medical care provider is satisfied with your progress and clears you for physical activities. Working with athletic trainers is essential in getting to this stage; they are in your corner to guide you.

As recovery continues, there are functional tests and performance analytics to gauge your readiness for activity, its level and its pace. The athletic trainer often takes the lead in this return process, but may work closely with other medical professionals, such as:

• Doctors
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Nutritionists
• Strength and conditioning coaches
• Massage therapists
• Sports psychologists

Athletic trainers use the analytics to pinpoint any deficits remaining post-injury recovery, such as limping or weakness, which could hinder a safe return to play.

If testing is clear of any concerns, you’ll get the green light to return to full activity.

If there are obvious limitations lingering, your athletic trainer may plan additional exercises or modify your activity level to help you improve deficits and continue toward full clearance.

Return to sport is unique to each athlete and injury. The goal of functional testing and injury recovery is to ensure your safety on the playing field when returning from an injury. And to make sure when you are back, you can perform at or above your level prior to injury.

Getting ahead of the game with ATs and prehabilitation

Working with athletic trainers is not only for post-injury. They can help you to avoid future problems by identifying weaknesses or conditions that lead to physical limitations, and correcting them before they sideline you.

This approach is called prehabilitation – or prehab – and is preventive activity to decrease risk of future injury. Two important areas include:

Functional movement screens

These are administered by athletic trainers to identify dysfunctional or painful movement patterns. Exercises are taught to correct any bad habits acquired while compensating for pain. These can be done on their own or as part of a warm-up before activity.

Recovery planning

Proper nutrition, hydration and sleep are all needed to keep the body in the right state for exercise. But it takes planning and discipline to adopt the right approach for your body and activity level. Your athletic trainer can advise you on achieving the right balance.

Reaching beyond the playing field

As part of their training and education, athletic trainers must graduate with a bachelor's or master’s degree and pass the Board of Certification Exam (BOC) to work with pro athletes. There are also regular certification renewals necessary to show continued learning and competence.

It’s a way to ensure professional athletes are receiving quality care. But athletic training is not only for, well, the pros. It’s not even solely for athletes. According to ATyourownrisk.org, only 3% of athletic trainers work in professional sports. So, where do athletic trainers work?

They are in multiple job settings, including doctors’ offices, hospitals and emergency rooms, and urgent and rehabilitation centers. They are also finding new opportunities in public safety, military schools, the armed forces and in performing arts and aeronautics. There’s an “Industrial Athlete” program at the Boeing aerospace company designed to keep employees who work in physically demanding jobs healthy.

Add in other commercial settings, such as airlines, warehouses and resorts/theme parks, and an athletic trainer’s scope of practice broadens even more.

For each of these sectors, athletic trainers undergo specific instruction to provide medical care based on the unique activities, physical demands and requirements of the employees.

It’s a career that’s grown from its origins in sports to stretch beyond the sidelines and into patient and employee health care.

No matter where you encounter them, athletic trainers share the goal of keeping active people safe, well and moving forward.

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