An overwhelming number of students participate in sports or some form of physical activity. Many of these sports, such as football, are incredibly physically demanding, and coupled with the growing pains that accompany every teen, injuries may seem unavoidable. Muscle strains stemming from lack of stretching, hard knocks from collisions, and the disastrous contactless injuries that come from field quality are all part of the game, and they are all trials that every athlete has faced and will continue to face throughout their athletic journey. However, physical therapy can be difficult, and finding the right forms of physical therapy can be even more troublesome. This is where nurses fall short. Many do not have the specialized training to help athletes, and the importance of athletic trainers shines here.
Specializing in athletic injuries, athletic trainers provide a desired perspective to athletes going through injuries. Many were once athletes themselves, so they know the desire to get back as fast as possible, allowing them to provide tips that help speed recovery without rushing them back. When injuries first happen, they can be quickly called upon to give support and initial thoughts on how to go forward. Their importance is further highlighted in the role they play in injury prevention, though. By designing programs and educating athletes on proper techniques, they can greatly reduce the risk of injury while also bolstering performances. After all, stretching and taking care of your body properly can not only reduce injuries, but allow your body to move in ways you would not have thought before, going faster and stretching further than you would have before being introduced to proper techniques.
Unfortunately, many athletes are not the most proactive, leading them to only visit athletic trainers as a reactive measure rather than a proactive one. In doing so, many visits have frustrations or sadness as companions, emotions that can extend far beyond the boundaries of the field. Athletic trainers, while excellent at physical injuries, can treat emotional ones as well. Being injured is depressing, and can feel like you are slacking off or letting your team down, and being the subject of everyone's pity can lead to more negative emotions as well. On the other hand, athletic trainers are usually enthusiastic and cheerful, willing to help anyone that walks through their doors. Dishing out exercises as well as jokes, it is not uncommon for athletic trainers to be some of the most popular people in the athletic setting. By doing so, they help alleviate some of the stress of being injured, allowing athletes to focus on getting better with a positive mindset.
The importance of athletic trainers in a public school setting can not be highlighted enough, and because of that Stoughton Public Schools in Massachusetts is seeking bids from qualified contractors to provide athletic trainer services for them. These services will provide athletes with resources that will help them not only get better for the current season, but can help them stay healthy for the rest of their playing career. If interested in this opportunity, click on the link to learn more. The bid closes April 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM EDT.
