About This Career

Evaluates and treats musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provides preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Conducts an initial assessment of an athlete's injury or illness to provide emergency or continued care and to determine whether they should be referred to physicians for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
• Assesses and reports the progress of recovering athletes to coaches or physicians.
• Cares for athletic injuries, using physical therapy equipment, techniques, or medication.
• Evaluates athletes' readiness to play and provides participation clearances when necessary and warranted.
• Performs general administrative tasks, such as keeping records or writing reports.
• Cleans and sanitizes athletic training rooms.
• Instructs coaches, athletes, parents, medical personnel, or community members in the care and prevention of athletic injuries.
• Applies protective or injury preventive devices, such as tape, bandages, or braces, to body parts, such as ankles, fingers, or wrists.
• Collaborates with physicians to develop and implement comprehensive rehabilitation programs for athletic injuries.
• Travels with athletic teams to be available at sporting events.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
• Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overnight travel
• Weekend work