Although traditionally associated with athletic injuries, Athletic Training has grown to include a wide variety of aspects, ranging from initial injury evaluations, rehabilitation, and prevention of injuries to the now common administration, education, and continuing education factors. As long as there have been sporting events, there have been injuries. While at first, athletes of long ago primarily took care of themselves, ever-expanding research and methods have transgressed to the point where today we have specialists, concerned primarily with certain areas of medicine. Athletic Trainers are often called upon as the first person to see an injury. While physicians are still needed to properly diagnose and prescribe the best treatment to an injury, often Athletic Trainers are the ones who must care for an injury from the time of injury occurrence to the physician's care.
Injuries are as individual as an athlete is.
This primary care and evaluation is the traditional job description that Athletic Trainers face. Utilizing their vast background in anatomy and injury care, it is often the Athletic Trainer that has to make the first decision as to what is needed to best care for an injury. Often they will refer an athlete to any number of other specialists, such as orthopedic surgeons, internal medicine specialists, neurologists, dentists, physical therapists, or even to another Athletic Trainer for a second opinion. At all times the welfare of the athlete must be a priority. It is hoped that the extensive amount of schooling that Athletic Trainers need to achieve their title will help them in making their informed decisions.