Qualities you need in an athletic trainer

Today, it’s almost imperative that a sports team have an athletic trainer as part of the coaching staff.   Athletic trainers are professional healthcare personnel who look after the health and wellbeing of players during training and games.  They treat injuries and can even spot problems before they turn into something big and career-threatening.  If you’re looking for an athletic trainer for your team, here are some qualities to take note of.

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Prepared for anything

In sports, anything can happen.  A bad fall can mean the end of a player’s career and responding quickly to the incident may very well save that player’s career.  When interviewing an athletic trainer, go through their experiences and ask their professional opinion on previous predicaments you and your players experienced before.

High ethical standards

Some athletic trainers turn a blind eye on players who use performance-enhancing drugs.  But this isn’t just the case where ethics are tested.  An unethical athletic trainer would allow a player to risk further injuries by continuing to play when they are not in the best shape.

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Honest and trustworthy

Players and coaches don’t need to have sugarcoated opinions.  If a player needs to be benched to avoid injuries, the athletic trainer says so.  They also need to be approachable so that players feel at ease talking to them after games or during training.

Ryan Shephard here, future sports therapist. I am currently a student at the University of Michigan majoring in Athletic Training. These days, I have courses in anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and pharmacology. I'm enjoying learning from the industry's best. What's even more interesting is that we also get to work with the country's top athletes. For more insightful reads on athletic trainers, visit this blog.

Wrist and hand injuries you can get while playing sports

The wrist and hand combine to provide people the ability to lift and carry objects, using them as they please.  Athletes are prone to sustaining injuries in these parts or develop a condition involving them, which is why care and caution are necessary when using the wrists and hands.  Here are some common injuries to watch out for.

Tendonitis

This is the inflammation, swelling, or irritation of a tendon, and it often results from overuse.  Typically, the tendon becomes irritated when people start a new activity or exercise.

Distal radius fracture

Also known as a broken wrist, this commonly experienced fracture in the body involves the radius bone, a long forearm bone.  A distal radius fracture takes place near the wrist joint on the thumb side, usually taking place from a fall onto an outstretched arm.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

This is a frequently occurring disorder that happens even without playing sports, but just the same it causes pain as well as tingling in the hand, wrist, thumb, and the first three fingers.  Risk factors include having a small carpal tunnel, being female, aging, having wrist trauma or injury, and having certain conditions such as hypothyroidism or diabetes.

Tennis elbow

This overuse injury involves a tendon on the outside of the forearm, which fails and starts to tear away from the bone.  The injury originates near the elbow but may be painful down the forearm.

’Basketball finger’

This occurs during an athletic activity where the hand comes in contact with a ball, ranging in severity from a sprain to a dislocation. 

Ryan Shephard is studying to become a certified sports and rehabilitation specialist. He is majoring in athletic training at the University of Michigan. And has courses in anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and pharmacology. Read more on this site.