It’s an unhappy scene that plays out in nearly every athletic contest you watch on TV or at your local high school. A play comes to an end and within seconds, a team of people rush out to deliver care for an injured athlete. These healthcare professionals are licensed athletic trainers.

Since March is National Athletic Training Month, it’s time we gave these unique individuals the recognition they deserve. That’s right! National Athletic Training Month is an annual event, celebrated in March, and it’s intended to acknowledge and honor the contributions of athletic trainers to the healthcare profession.

Aultman is making use of this occasion to support the profession and spread awareness regarding the importance of having a licensed athletic trainer as an essential part of a sports team or other physically active organizations.

Every year, the National Athletic Training Association has a theme for the month-long celebration. In 2025, the theme is “Champions in Health Care.”

What are athletic trainers and what are their everyday jobs?

If you’ve ever been at an athletic event, you’ve likely seen a licensed athletic trainer at work and possibly didn’t even know it. An athletic trainer is a qualified, multi-skilled healthcare professional who focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of injuries and illnesses related to physical activity. They work with athletes and physically active individuals of all ages and performance levels, from amateurs to professionals, to help them perform at their physical peak and prevent injuries.

Licensed athletic trainers typically work in high schools, universities, hospitals and clinics, as well as with professional sports teams. Their job duties include:

• Evaluating non-life-threatening injuries/illnesses and establishing appropriate treatment plans.

• Delivering emergency care in life-threatening situations and first aid to injured athletes.

• Developing and implementing rehabilitation programs to help injured athletes recover and regain their strength and mobility.

• Educating athletes and coaches about physical injury prevention and management.

• Participating in pre-participation physical exams to assess an athlete’s fitness level and identify any potential health risks.

In the simplest of descriptions, the goal of an athletic trainer is to protect the athletes they work with and help them perform at their best while minimizing the risk of injury. The complexity of their responsibilities alone makes licensed athletic trainers an indispensable member of any sports medicine team and organization.

Source:
Aultman Sports Medicine