Blog

Unless you are an athletic trainer or physical therapist, you may have never heard of manual therapy. And even within the profession, some practitioners know many manual therapy techniques and use them often, while others may know few techniques and do not use them at all. Here at the University of

Athletic Training began as an all-male profession, with no female members in the National Athletic Training Association (NATA) until more than twenty years after its inception in 1950.  Fast forward to today, and there are more women in the athletic training profession than men.  What changed?  How did the field evolve? 

Introduction Sports nutrition is a vital component of an athlete’s performance and overall well-being.  To learn more, we sat down with Dr. Ann Brown, Performance Nutrition Specialist and Director of the Human Performance Laboratory here at the University of Idaho.  In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of nutrition for

Unlocking Opportunities: How to Finance Your Athletic Training Education A degree in athletic training is a transformative experience, opening doors into a rewarding career with ample job opportunities in a variety of placements.  However, the financial aspect of graduate studies can be daunting.  In this blog, we will help you navigate

Introduction At the University of Idaho, we have had the privilege of witnessing tremendous growth and diversification in the field of athletic training over the last decade or so.  Athletic trainers, with their comprehensive knowledge of musculoskeletal injuries, therapeutic techniques, and preventive care, are no longer limited to traditional sports settings. 

What It’s Like to Be an Athletic Trainer in the NFL In the United States, American football has the most participants of any other sport at both the high school and college level.  The NFL (National Football League) is the leading professional football league in the United States. It comprises 32

One of the most common questions our faculty and staff hear from people outside the profession is “What do athletic trainers do?”  According to the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), “Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Stephen Panteleakos, who graduated earlier this year from our University of Idaho MSAT program.  As an athletic training student, Stephen was always a delight to be around.  Our faculty and staff were excited when he decided to continue his education with a

If you are applying to athletic training programs, you’re likely going to need letters of recommendation.  Our program here at the University of Idaho requires three.  We talk to many students who have questions about this.  What does LOR stand for?  Who should they ask for a letter?  What is the

Have you recently completed your degree, and are ready to start your athletic trainer career?  Finishing your degree and earning certification is a big step towards landing your dream job, but the next step is nailing your interview.  While interviews for athletic training jobs may have similarities to interviews in other

Skills and Knowledge Checklist for Aspiring Athletic Trainers Athletic training is a growing field found at the intersection of active lifestyles and healthcare.  Athletic trainers support their patients in a variety of ways, such as emergency care, diagnosis, and rehabilitation.  They are also found in a variety of settings, from traditional

Like it or not, social media usage is on the rise.  We see it on our campus, in our clinic, and even in our classrooms.  While social media is often viewed as a distraction and hinderance (especially in our classrooms!), there are many social media tools available for athletic trainers and

Effective communication skills are a must for athletic-training graduates, and something we focus heavily on at the University of Idaho.  While things like injury treatment and prevention are more visible athletic trainer duties, empathetic communication is important also.  Unclear or ineffective communication can easily undermine an athletic trainers’ relationships with their

Since the first woman joined the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) in the early 1970s, the field has seen significant growth.  Here at the University of Idaho, we’ve mentored many women into their development as athletic trainers and have answered many questions specific to females entering the profession.  For example, what

Unless you are an athlete or medical professional, you may be one of the many who do not necessarily know what an athletic trainer is, or what they do.  Is an athletic trainer the same as a personal trainer?  What sort of education do athletic trainers receive?  What are the duties

How Athletic Trainers Manage Catastrophic Sports Injuries One of the benefits of having an athletic trainer on-site for athletic competitions and practices is that they are available to diagnose and treat athletic injuries and illnesses immediately.  Often injuries are relatively small, short-lived, and patients can quickly return to their activity.  But

Why Choose the University of Idaho’s DAT Program? If you are an athletic trainer, you may have heard of athletic training doctorate programs, and you may have heard that they can boost your career.  But what exactly are DAT programs and what do you learn through them?  At the University of

Athletic training is potentially one of the most misunderstood allied healthcare professions.  Some may even be surprised to learn that athletic trainers are healthcare professionals.  Who exactly are athletic trainers, and what do they do?  Read on to burst three common myths in athletic training. Myth: athletic trainers only use tape

More and more, we’ve seen mental health in sports becoming a topic of conversation.  Whether it is Simone Biles and her decision to withdraw from the Olympics, or Michael Phelps talking about his struggles with depression, our society is slowly realizing that depression and anxiety can be found everywhere, and that

Are You Preparing to Become an Athletic Training Major? Found at the intersection of active lifestyles and healthcare, athletic training is a growing career field with ample job opportunities.  While many students find this prospect intriguing, they struggle with questions like “What is an athletic trainer’s job description?” and “What degree

Have you heard of an industrial athletic trainer?  You may know that athletic trainers have been steadily pushing outside of athletics, as other industries have discovered the benefits of having a highly trained healthcare provider on-staff.  Athletic trainer job settings are increasingly varied, with athletic trainers being found in doctor’s offices,

To become a board-certified athletic trainer, a candidate must first complete an entry-level athletic training education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).  Earning the “ATC” credential is required to practice athletic training in 48 states. What is an entry-level athletic training degree? An entry-level athletic

Athletic trainers are highly trained healthcare professionals who, as part of a healthcare team, provide services such as primary care, injury and illness prevention, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic interventions and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses.  They specialize in the care and prevention of athletic injuries.  Athletic trainer responsibilities

Athletic training is a growing field, with many graduates finding employment in new and emerging settings.  Athletic trainers have many opportunities to find a rewarding and fulfilling placement that fits with their interests and strengths. What do you learn in an athletic training program? Athletic trainers are medical professionals who help

Athletic training education history The profession of athletic training has evolved over the last 25 years. Leading up to and during this period, athletic trainers were typically found in “traditional” settings such as secondary schools, colleges, and professional sports teams.  Bachelor’s degrees were the minimum education requirement which meant that many

At the intersection of emergency care, evaluation/diagnosis, and rehabilitation, athletic training creates opportunities not often seen in other allied health professions.  For example, athletic trainers can work closely with patients over long periods of time, developing relationships while providing personalized care.  There is also a lot of variety in job placement. 

The medical field is one that has seen significant impact from changes in technology over the last few years.  Athletic trainers, whether they work with a professional sports team, in a high school, or in a clinic, have seen the changes in technology first-hand and the ways it has impacted patient

Athletic training is a dynamic field; one that is always evolving to lead and sometimes follow the latest innovations and technologies.  As educators in the field, we help create, identify, and establish these trends by the research we perform and the practices we teach our students.  However, at the University of

If you ask most people “What do athletic trainers do?” the first thing that pops into their minds is working for a professional sports team.  Although athletic trainers have been moving into other arenas of healthcare, sport teams are still a very common employment setting.  So do you have what it

If you’re considering a career in Athletic Training, congratulations!  You are launching into a fast-growing career field with a great deal of opportunities.  However, you may find yourself facing a lot of questions.  Do you need a master’s degree in Athletic Training, or a bachelors?  Is there such a thing as

As far as athletic training positions go, there are few as highly sought after as those in the NFL.  Why?  The glitz and glamour of professional football plays a role, but they also offer an opportunity to work in some of the best facilities and on the cutting edge of the

We see a lot of students who struggle with the differences of exercise science vs athletic training, and with good reason!  These are related and intersecting fields.  Both support physically active populations, but in very different ways.  For example, graduates from an exercise science program and an athletic training program may

Kyle North ATC, LAT As a recent graduate of a master’s in athletic training program, you may be wondering “what can you do with an athletic training degree?” As healthcare providers, athletic trainers are in a unique situation regarding their flexibility and where they can work. When we think of athletic

Athletic trainers (ATs) are healthcare professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency medical care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions in the physically active population. Those who want to become an athletic trainer (AT) have to earn an athletic training degree from an

The Importance of Athletic Trainers in High Schools Dr. Matthew Smitley DAT, AT, ATC, SFMA It’s an unfortunate scene that plays out at High School sports fields, courts, and facilities. An athlete sustains an injury and a health care professional runs out to the field to help them… sometimes. A recent

5 Essential Steps to Follow When Applying to an AT Program If you are interested in becoming a certified athletic trainer (AT), you have chosen a rewarding and growing healthcare career! With a little bit of planning and the right information, you will be well on your way to earning your

Exploring the Relationship Between Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists Athletic Training and Physical Therapy are strongly related professions due to similar and complementary education, job settings, and skills sets. Many athletic trainers (ATs) and physical therapists (PTs) work together in different health care settings and will often collaborate in the care

1. General Overview:   Is athletic training a good career? For many, becoming an athletic trainer (AT) is not just a dream profession/career, but it is a calling to help others. The job brings about a sense of satisfaction for those who are certified athletic trainers. These healthcare professionals are, in part,

Career Opportunities with a Degree from an Athletic Training Program Athletic training is a good career and well known in athletic settings such as high school, college, and professional sports. As healthcare professionals, athletic trainers are trained in diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, and injury prevention. These skills go beyond the sporting

Understanding The Causes of Injury in Physical Rehabilitation Most people will experience at least one significant injury in their lifetime. Fortunately, we understand more about the human body and physical rehabilitation than ever before. As we understand more about injury, we realize that there is often more to the injury than

It’s an unfortunate scene that plays out in almost every athletic contest you see on TV. A play comes to an end and within moments, there’s a team of people rushing out to provide care to an injured athlete. There’s a time where this team surveys the environment, the athlete (patient),

Athletic Training Tips for Effective Sports Injury Prevention For those of us in active populations, we all want to feel great and perform our best. However, it is very common for athletes and active individuals to experience pain and injury. While these create unfortunate experiences, there are a number of ways

Dr. Matthew Smitley, DAT, LAT, ATC Rehabilitating from sports injuries can be quite the complex process for any patient or clinician. Regardless of the injury, location, or its severity, a timely and appropriate progression is paramount to the success of the rehabilitation plan. Despite the seemingly endless types of injuries that