Our sports medicine approach to injury-management facilitates the highest level of reconditioning while shortening the recovery process. We are focused on restoring flexibility, strength, power, endurance and biomechanical function. The goal of our expert staff is to get you back in the game. Sports Physical Therapy of New York provides sports medicine services to numerous high school and college athletic teams throughout the state. We are the official sports medicine provider for the New York Islanders professional hockey team, New York Dragons arena football team and formerly the Rough Riders professional soccer team. In April 2006, Sports PT was named the Official Physical Therapy Provider for the Michael Jordan All-American Classic.

• What is athletic training?

Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as an allied health care profession. The field of athletic training, as a specialization, provides a major link between the sports community and the medical community for the implementation of injury prevention, emergency care, and rehabilitative procedures.

Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as an allied health care profession, and the AMA’s Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accredits education programs.

As part of a complete health care team, the certified athletic trainer works under the direction of a licensed physician and in cooperation with other health care professionals.

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• What does an athletic trainer do?

Look around you - people these days are on the move. We're learning more, trying more, doing more. When the level of physical activity increases, the risk for injury rises as well.  That's where the certified athletic trainer comes in. As part of a complete health care team, the certified athletic trainer works under the direction of a licensed physician and in cooperation with other health care professionals.

Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) are medical professionals who specialize in prevention, recognition, management and rehabilitation of injuries that result from physical activity.  Athletic trainers can help you avoid unnecessary medical treatment and disruption of normal daily life; if you're injured, they can get you on the mend and keep you on the move.

Specifically, the ATC specializes in six practice areas or domains:

• Injury Prevention to minimize risk of injury
• Recognition, evaluation and immediate care of injuries
• Rehabilitation and reconditioning injuries to return back to activity
• Referral to appropriate medial professionals
• Health care administration including medical and insurance record keeping, documentation of injuries
• Education and counseling

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• Where Does a Certified Athletic Trainer Work?

Secondary schools:

Public and private secondary schools offer special job opportunities for ATCs. Parents and administrators are discovering the benefits an ATC can offer in preventing and caring for injuries. Many certified athletic trainers also teach classes at the high school level.

Colleges and universities:

Certified athletic trainers' jobs in colleges generally fall into two categories:

• Athletic department staff assignment.
• Combination teacher/athletic trainer. Employment in this setting remains stable with little turnover. A majority of colleges and universities now require a master's degree for employment.

Professional sports:

In this setting, certified athletic trainers work only one sport, such as football, baseball, basketball, hockey or soccer. Although teams operate only a few months per year, ATCs work year-round conditioning and rehabilitating athletes. Fewer jobs are available in this practice setting due to the limited number of teams.

Sports Medicine Clinics:

This growing setting provides certified athletic trainers the opportunity to work with a number of different health care professionals and a diverse patient population. In addition to athletic injury rehabilitation, many clinics provide athletic training services for secondary schools, colleges and professional teams via an outreach programs.

Clinical/Industrial:

Certified Athletic Trainers act as first-responder medical personnel who specialize in injury assessment and treatment, particularly in the orthopedic and musculoskeletal disciples. ATC’s are a key component to the health care team and work with physicians and other allied health personnel.

Other possible athletic training employment opportunities include Hospitals, health clubs, and the military.

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• What Education Does a Certified Athletic Trainer Need?

Students who want to become certified athletic trainers must earn a degree from an accredited athletic training curriculum or meet other requirements set by the Board of Certification (BOC). A growing number of universities are gaining accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Accredited entry-level education programs include formal instruction in a variety of areas, such as:

• Injury Prevention
• First Aid and Emergency Care
• Evaluation and Assessment of Injury
• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Kinesiology/Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology
• Therapeutic Modalities
• Therapeutic Exercise
• Nutrition
• Psychology
• Pharmacology
• Health Care Administration

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• What are the Qualifications to Become a Certified Athletic Trainer?

Certifying athletic trainers ensures high standards of professional practice. Certification by the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification (NATABOC) is the entry-level credential and is required by most employers. To be eligible to sit for the certification exam, students must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited entry-level athletic training curriculum.

Once candidates have met the curriculum requirements, and complete athletic training experience hours under the supervision of an NATABOC certified athletic trainer, he or she must then pass a three-part test administered by the BOC.

The exam includes three sections:

• Written
• Written simulation
• Practical

Those who pass the exam are certified, and their certification is retained as long as they meet the continuing education requirements set by the BOC.

Continuing education requirements include:

• Completion and reporting of a predetermined number of continuing education units including recertification in CPR at least once in each three-year term.
• Adherence to the BOC Standards of Professional Practice.
• Submission of annual BOC CEU maintenance fee or payment of NATA annual dues.

In addition to certification, athletic trainers must meet individual state licensing requirements in a growing number of states. To determine if these added requirements apply, ATC's should check with the states in which he or she will practice.

For more information about the field of athletic training, please visit www.nata.org


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Recognized for Outstanding Treatments and Care

The success of our sports medicine services is evidenced by the impressive list of professional sports teams, colleges, high schools and associations that have enlisted us as their official sports medicine provider.

Official Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy Provider