Sports Medicine

What is a Certified Athletic Trainer?

Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) are skilled health care professionals who specialize in treatment of athletic related and non-athletic related injuries. ATCs can be found in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports programs, and other athletic health care settings.

In the state of Connecticut, ATCs must earn a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited athletic training program and then pass a certification exam from the National Athletic Trainers Association.

Education for athletic trainers includes the following topics:

• Risk management and injury prevention
• Pathology of injuries and illnesses
• Orthopedic clinical examination and diagnosis
• Medical conditions and disabilities
• Acute care of injuries and illnesses
• Therapeutic modalities
• Rehabilitative exercises
• Pharmacology
• Health care administration

ATCs specialize in five domains:

1. Prevention of athletic related injuries
2. Recognition, evaluation and immediate care of athletic related injuries
3. Rehabilitation and reconditioning of athletic related injuries
4. Health care administration
5. Professional development and responsibility

Athletic trainers provide professional care, evaluation, and treatment of athletic related injuries, this may include proper medical referrals.

Who is Select Physical Therapy and what is on-site PT?

Select PT is the physical therapy company that employees the two athletic trainers and the on-site physical therapist. Select is part of the Select Medical Outpatient division, which has approximately 954 locations in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

Christina Tufts is the physical therapist that works on-site at AOF. She treats patients out of the hockey rink training room on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Physical therapy hours begin just after school and conclude prior to dinner so that the boys do not miss any academic time. When an injury is severe and the athlete is unable to continue to participate in his sport, the athlete will work with Christina during practice times, but is still encouraged to attend practices. Once the athlete is allowed to participate in limited practice and games, the physical therapy treatment will be completed prior to the start of practice or before the completion of practice.

We have found that the on-site physical therapy is the most efficient way of returning boys to activities and sports after a major injury.