Technological advances, research, prove trainer importance

MELISSA BRASS
Special to The Leader

FRANCIS TORIAGA/ Special to the Leader

Waiting on the sidelines on game day with water on hand and ready for anything is an extremely vital and often misunderstood person in the world of sports. During games athletic trainers stand ready for disaster but what they are seen doing most of the time, taping wrists and giving water to players, is a very small part of what the athletic trainer does today.

The role of athletic trainer actually evolved from that of the people who stood by to help the team in any way they could, first with just handing out water and later by treating minor injuries.

"They found a hole in the medical care of athletes," said Erik Barkley, head athletic trainer at Fredonia. "The physician could not be there all the time and there was not much in the way of therapy at the time."

The role of an athletic trainer has since been evolving and expanding and is confusing. People often think of fitness or personal trainers as people who design exercise routines and teach exercises. However, an athletic trainer is someone with a wide scope of knowledge including physiology, therapeutic modalities, assessment of injury and first aid or emergency care.

According to The National Athletic Trainers' Association at nata.org, the professional membership association for certified athletic trainers, those who wish to become certified athletic trainers must earn a degree from an accredited athletic training curriculum. They must also meet ongoing educational requirements to remain certified. More than 70 percent of certified athletic trainers hold at least a master's degree.

Along with advances in technology and an increased interest in the specific field, advances have been made in treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of injuries.

"Sports medicine has changed tremendously and dramatically in the last 20 years," said Gregory Heffernan, assistant coach of the Blue Devils hockey team.

Research has provided insight to specific methods for rehabilitating athletes after injuries and procedures for surgery.

Sports injury recovery times have decreased dramatically and players are now assessed more carefully so they do not participate again until they are physically ready. The athletic trainer's job is to judge when an athlete is ready to perform again and how far they should go so they do not incur further injury.

Research in sports medicine has brought new surgical techniques and equipment. There is a device used in arthroscopic surgery on rotator cuffs. The product allows two implants to be placed through one small incision directly through the rotator cuff, allowing maximum use of the joint. This product will be used within a month.

Improved and more specific exercise equipment has helped keep athletes from getting injured. Equipment made specifically for certain areas of the body help so that individuals with injury can continue to work their body without putting too much stress on the injured part.

Along with better research to improve areas, it also opens up possibilities for problems or abuse of technology. Medicines that can be life saving to someone with a certain condition can boost performance when taken by a healthy athlete.

Medicines designed to aid in oxygenating blood for anemic patients or those suffering kidney failure give a definite edge to the healthy athlete. Some athletes even go as far as gene doping, which is planting new genes in a person's cells to create missing proteins.

This contributes to the need to constantly improve tests for enhancing substances.

"Players go to the trainer on their own much more than they used to," said Matthew Palisin, head coach of the Fredonia baseball team.

Trainers are not only being seen for their great expertise, but are being utilized by athletes to stay healthy. They are recognized as medical professionals now that they are required to have medical knowledge and perform the physical therapy and acute injury care.

"We want athletes healthy as fast as possible," Heffernan said. "The [athletic trainers] are as important a member of the staff as the coaches. Without those people we can't perform."