Understanding Your Healthcare Partner:
What is an Athletic Trainer?
You might be familiar with various healthcare providers, but perhaps less so with the specialized role of a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) & Licensed Athletic Trainer (LAT). This page is designed to shed light on our profession, clarify our expertise, and explain how we can be your dedicated partner in health and performance..
An Athletic Trainer is a highly educated and skilled healthcare professional specializing in injury risk mitigation, prevention, assessment, immediate care, therapeutic intervention, and/or reconditioning of injuries related to sport and exercise. In Texas, athletic training is a recognized form of healthcare, and ATC’s work under the direction of a physician.
Our comprehensive scope of practice includes:
Injury Prevention: Designing and implementing programs to reduce the risk of injuries, including warm-up routines, conditioning, and education on proper techniques.
Clinical Assessment: Conducting initial assessments of injuries and illnesses to determine the nature of the problem and guide immediate or continued care.
Immediate & Emergency Care: Providing first aid and emergency care for acute athletic injuries, often on-site during practices or events.
Treatment & Rehabilitation: Coordinating, planning, and implementing comprehensive rehabilitation programs to help individuals recover and return to activity.
Athletic Trainers & Physical Therapists:
Key Differences & Similarities
It's common for people to confuse Athletic Trainers (ATs) with Physical Therapists (PTs), as both professions play crucial roles in injury recovery and movement. While we often collaborate for the best patient outcomes, there are distinct differences in our primary focus, patient populations, and how we operate.
Key Similarities:
Injury Management: Both ATs and PTs evaluate and treat injuries, and develop customized treatment plans.
Education & Expertise: Both professions require graduate degrees and are educated on topics such as kinesiology, biomechanics, and musculoskeletal anatomy.
Hands-On Techniques: Both utilize various manual therapy techniques, to address pain and improve function.
Rehabilitation Focus: Both are deeply involved in rehabilitation, aiming to restore function, strength, and mobility.
Key Differences:
Primary Focus & Setting:
Athletic Trainers (ATs): Athletic Trainers are most often found in the sports setting and work directly with athletics programs. They’re also found in non-traditional settings such as orthopedic practices, physical therapy clinics, and industrial settings. They primarily work with individuals actively involved in sports or physical activity, or those with an injury that prevents them from their preferred method of exercise.
Physical Therapists (PTs): PTs often work with a broader patient population, including those with chronic pain or neurological conditions. PTs are typically embedded in clinical settings, such as hospitals or outpatient facilities.
Patient Access in Texas:
Physical Therapists: In Texas, licensed Physical Therapists have "direct access," meaning patients can seek examination and treatment for common musculoskeletal conditions without a prior physician referral for a limited number of business days (10 or 15, depending on the PT's qualifications).
Athletic Trainers: Athletic Training services are provided under the direction of a physician. This direction is typically established through comprehensive standing orders from a physician, allowing us to evaluate and treat conditions within our scope of practice. This means while you don't always need a new referral for every visit, our practice operates with physician oversight.
Education: While both require advanced degrees, PTs typically hold a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) or Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), while most ATs are required to complete a Master of Athletic Training (MAT).
Collaboration for Optimal Care:
At ATR Sports Medicine, we believe in a collaborative approach. Just as ATs and PTs often team up in university or professional sports settings , we are prepared to work with your existing healthcare team to ensure you receive comprehensive and seamless care. Our goal is always to get you back to doing what you love, safely and effectively.