Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Brittany Butkiewicz / Daily Vidette Staff Katie Lorens, an athletic training graduate student, works on an athlete's shoulder.

Media Credit: Brittany Butkiewicz / Daily Vidette Staff Motoko Ugajin, a junior athletic training major, works on an athlete's knee.

Media Credit: Brittany Butkiewicz / Daily Vidette Staff Kelly Haley, an athletic trainer, stretches an athlete's shoulder.

Many athletes become injured playing sports and other physical activities and there's one group of people that come to their aid: athletic trainers.

March is National Athletic Training Month and is a spotlight on the profession itself. Every year holds an educational theme to endorse to the public. This year's theme is "Who's taking care of your kids?"

"Through a variety of marketing campaigns at the grassroots level, we help to spread the correct message regarding the role of Certified Athletic Trainers and to promote the profession," Todd McLoda, associate professor in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation, said.

Just over 100 students are enrolled in the demanding athletic training program at ISU. Many of the courses are a mixture of human science classes and courses designed to prepare the students for the board certification exam they must take to become a certified athletic trainer.

"There is widespread confusion among the general public and even those associated with athletics about the role of the athletic trainer versus a personal trainer or others associated with sports. Some others are confused between athletic training and physical therapy since we are each involved in rehabilitation of injured persons," McLoda said.

The biggest difference between an athletic trainer and a personal trainer lies in the education. While many personal trainers have been trained, they do not necessarily need to go through a rigorous program to become certified. Also, athletic trainers deal a lot more with injuries while personal trainers have clients who wish to change the way their bodies look.

According to the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), over 70 percent of athletic trainers hold a Master's degree. NATA is the professional organization which can be joined by both athletic trainers and those who wish to support the profession.

The specific areas in which future trainers must become well educated include: injury and illness prevention, first aid, emergency care, nutrition, human anatomy, human physiology, therapeutic care and nutrition.

Athletic trainers play an important role in college, high school and professional sports, but are not available to the general student population on campus. A test program was set up a few years ago that employed an athletic trainer at student health services, but only lasted a semester.

"Whether or not people knew about this program might have been a reason for its failure. However, I don't think enough people knew someone was available and the pilot was only scheduled to last for one semester when it was discontinued. If there was enough interest from the student population, I imagine that the idea could be revisited," John Munn, head athletic trainer, said.

Students who are not on the sports teams or in the education program can still see the effects of this month on the campus.

"I imagine that a large number of students on campus play intramurals, workout at the rec, or just do their own thing. Having access to an athletic trainer would assist those students who are injured or not performing at their highest level due to injury," Munn said

Despite not being a more popular major, the field of athletic training offers more than just jobs with schools. Those who are certified athletic trainers can also work with professional sports teams, hospitals and medical clinics, military and law enforcement and even performing arts can require their services.

"Maybe if more high schools had athletic trainers it might promote athletic training more," Joe Whitson, assistant athletic trainer, said.

The Horton Field House has three full service training rooms and a rehabilitation center that are used with current athletic trainers and the students-in-training.

Those who work as trainers have access to other doctors and health care specialists in all areas of medicines. All three rooms are equipped with all the necessary things needed to assist those with recent injuries or long time injuries.

Even with the board certification being passed, students will continue taking courses to be considered "certified." ISU offers up a great range of classes to take and great clinical training on campus to accommodate students.

Overall the biggest benefit of the month is to be able to spread the knowledge about what athletes can do if they are injured, and to promote the profession itself for those who are in the field and who wish to be in the field.

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