March is National Athletic Training Month

Athletic Trainers (ATs) are an extension of health care within our community. They collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. ATs complete a baccalaureate or graduate level athletic training program and become eligible to sit for the national certification through the Board of Certification, Inc.

Although “athlete” is in the name, there are numerous athletic trainers that work within different settings other than sports; performing arts, occupational health, military and medical clinics. Here at Newport Orthopedic Institute(NOI), our certified athletic trainers work with our orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine doctors to provide immediate care for patients who have had a sports or overuse injury. Since our athletic trainers are right on the field, they are there when an injury takes place and can assess the severity of the sports injury and determine if further treatment is needed by one of our physicians. Best of all, referrals from our ATs will be seen within 24 hours and sometimes sooner if the injury takes place during our Orthopedic Urgent Care extended weeknight hours, Monday – Thursday 5pm – 6:45pm or on Saturdays 8am – 11am.

The athletic trainers at NOI also provide invaluable help to local athletes and community through our concussion program. The concussion program includes baseline concussion testing as well as post-concussion assessments and follow up care, so coaches, parents and athletes know when it is safe to return to their sport.

Our ATs work at multiple community events at different levels, and as medical assistants and cast technicians here at Newport Orthopedic Institute. Catch them working with athletes at Newport Harbor High School, adult recreational flag football with Beach City Sports, Belmont Shore Rugby Club & youth soccer leagues across Orange County.

Thank you to our NOI athletic training team and to athletic trainers across the country! We appreciate all you do.

To learn more about athletic trainers or National Athletic Training Month, please visit NATA.org.

To learn more about how athletic trainers help our NOI community, please visit our Human Performance & Sports Medicine Program.