Sports Injury Management and the Athletic Trainer

Chapter 1

The Sports Medicine Team Primary Sports Medicine Team:

Team Physician, Certified Athletic Trainer, Coach, and the Athletes.

Additional Members: Orthopedists, Physical Therapists,

EMT’s, podiatrists, radiologists, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, sport psychologists, dentists, chiropractors, and ophthalmologists.

Team Physician responsibilities Pre-participation examinations On-site coverage of catastrophic

sport contests Dispense medications Facilitate referrals Determine return to play guidelines Provide in-service trainings

Athletic Trainer responsibilities Prevention

Educate and Instruct Bracing and Taping Monitor Safety of Participation Facilitate Safe Conditioning Sanitation Promotion of Nutritional Concerns

Athletic Trainer Resp. Cont. Recognition,

Evaluation, and Assessment History Observation Palpation Special Tests Assessment

Educate Inform Plan

ATC Duties Cont. Immediate Care

Initiate emergency medical care procedures

Stabilize musculoskeletal injuries Facilitate referral when appropriate Educate members of the health care

team on immediate care procedures

ATC Duties Cont. Treatment, rehabilitation, and

reconditioning Therapeutic Modalities Therapeutic Exercises Reassess and Treat Educate Provide Guidance

ATC Duties Cont. Organization and Administration

Plan of Action Write policies and procedures

concerning: Safe Participation Facilities Timely Care Safety Legal Compliance Sanitation

Manage resources Maintain records

ATC Duties Cont. Professional Development and

Responsibility Demonstrate professional conduct Continuing education Adhere to professional ethics Follow legal responsibilities

ATC Job Settings High Schools Colleges and

University’s Professional

Sports Sports Medicine

Clinics Clinical health

Care programs

Industrial health care programs

Health and fitness clubs

Legal Liability Tort Standard of Care Scope of Care 12 major domains

of Athletic Training Pathology Assessment Pharmacology

Modalities Exercise General Medical Nutritional

concerns Psychosocial

intervention Health care adm. Professional

development

Negligence Malfeasance Misfeasance Nonfeasance Malpractice Gross Negligence

Possible causes of litigation Failure to warn Informed consent Foresee-ability of Harm Product liability Confidentiality

Ways to Avoid Litigation Licensing Pre-participation

plan Well developed

Sports Medicine Team

Post Warning Signs

Protective Equipment

Use only NOCSAE approved equipment

Continuing education

Act as a reasonably prudent professional in caring for all sport participants.