Athletic Trainers: Stopping Injuries Before They Happen

Watching an athletic event such as football, basketball, or any other team sport involving lots of high-intensity player action can be fun and exciting. But what many people may not realize is that one of the most important positions on the team is working on the sidelines. These are the athletic trainers whose job is to prevent player injuries and to provide rehabilitative services when injuries do happen. These health care professionals not only work with athletes, but they provide preventative and rehabilitative services in a variety of practice settings to individuals who are currently physically active, or who wish to become physically active, but want to do so in a safe way.

Before choosing the activities to include in a training program for a patient or client, an athletic trainer will start by identifying and assessing risk factors which could put that individual at risk of injury. This includes finding out about any neuromuscular injuries a person may have sustained in the past. A past injury can often predict the likelihood of a re-injury because the muscle, tendon, or bone may have failed to heal completely leaving the person with a deficit in strength, flexibility, and the ability to control their movements. Marcie Fyock-Martin, associate professor in the Athletic Training Education Program in the School of Kinesiology at George Mason University, provided an overview of how athletic trainers assess their patients and what they look for in developing a plan for injury prevention or recovery.

Starting With the Basics—Assessment of an Individual’s Proprioception

Athletic trainers often start with a basic assessment of an individual’s proprioception. This refers to an individual’s ability to automatically sense the positioning of their hands, arms, legs, feet, and other joints based on sensory information received by specialized nerve endings or proprioceptors found in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue. Testing for proprioception can show whether an individual is able to control coordinated movements and maintain proper balance. After identifying any deficits of movement or balance, an athletic trainer can then develop an appropriate plan to address these issues.

The “work-to-rest" ratio is a key component of an exercise program.

When working with a patient or client who has either suffered a previous injury or has been physically inactive for a long time, athletic trainers will help them set achievable goals at the start of any exercise program. In any structured physical activity routine, it is important to maintain the appropriate ‘work-to-rest’ ratio which is defined as the amount of time spent doing a workout compared with the time spent resting. A proper work-to-rest ratio is needed for the body to recover from physical activity. Engaging in too much physical activity too quickly and for too long can stress the musculoskeletal system and increase the chance of injury. An athletic trainer can design a personalized exercise or training program that will help an individual build strength and flexibility over time and ensure they get the time their body needs for rest and recovery. Fortunately, there are tools available to consumers today that can help individuals monitor their own progress in enhancing their physical activity workload capacity as they progress with their exercise program. Among these are wearable technology devices that can be synced with smartphones as discussed in this story.

Injury Prevention Tips

Athletic trainers recommend that their patients take the following steps to minimize the chance of sustaining an injury during an intensive workout.

• Use proper technique when exercising. The lack of proper form can lead to overuse of muscle groupings and possible injury.
• Learn how to use gym equipment in a safe manner. If you are not sure how the equipment works, ask a gym employee for help.
• Before trying to do a new exercise, ask a fitness professional to provide you with instruction on the correct way to perform the movement patterns involved.
• Get proper rest and sleep. Research shows that sleep is an essential part of the body’s recovery process. Overworking your muscles without proper rest can lead to overuse injuries.
• Eat a nutritious diet that includes fruits and vegetables and avoid the consumption of processed foods. If food comes in a package, it is likely not as healthy for you as food sources found in their “natural” state.
• Stay hydrated and drink water before, during, and after exercising to replace fluids lost during intensive physical activity. Dehydration can lead to fatigue and dizziness, which can increase the risk of injury.

To learn more about degree offerings in the Athletic Training Education Program in the School of Kinesiology at George Mason University, please visit the program website.