For Athletes: Athletic Trainer vs Physical Therapist
This content was updated for accuracy and relevance on 05/30/2024.
Imagine learning your child was found unconscious on a trail during a cross-country meet. Or seeing a high school football player fracture and dislocate his ankle at the same time, almost rotating it 180 degrees in the opposite direction. You’d want the best medical care on the scene — and stat. And treatment followed by the best rehab care to get your student-athlete healthy and back up to speed. In most school districts across the country, certified athletic trainers serve a critical role in providing emergency care for acute illness and sports-related injuries, according to Eric Armstrong, a physical therapist assistant at Ivy Rehab’s clinic in Roxbury, New Jersey.
Below we’ll discuss the differences of an athletic trainer vs. physical therapist, as well as the important role each plays in sports medicine.
What Do Athletic Trainers Do?
By definition, athletic trainers “are healthcare professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injury and medical condition,” according to NATA (National Athletic Trainers’ Association).
They specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses. Athletic trainers play a vital role in providing immediate emergency care during sports events and are often the first responders when an athlete is injured. They are also skilled in injury prevention techniques, such as developing conditioning programs, and they work closely with athletes to ensure they maintain optimal physical health.
Athletic Trainers are Ready and Waiting to Respond to Emergencies
Athletic trainers provide conditioning and rehab services but are typically hired by professional and college teams and school districts to handle on-the-field injuries and emergencies. Orthopedic injuries, such as torn ACLs, dislocated shoulders, arm fractures—run the gamut.
It’s common to have an athletic trainer on the sidelines, especially at key varsity sports, Armstrong says. He has provided athletic training services and care at every level including the high school, college, and NFL levels.
Some school districts do contract with rehab facilities and physical therapy clinics to provide athletic training services. Usually, the districts are in rural areas that do not have access to a full-time, certified athletic trainer. Ideally, athletic trainers are full-time employees in larger districts. They spend their nights and weekends traveling with teams or making rounds on nights with multiple home sporting events. They’re also called on to treat visiting schools’ athletes at home games.
Triage and Injury Prevention
Athletic trainers are trained to triage injuries and assess what needs to be done. That may be wound care, splinting, or stabilizing an athletic injury until an athlete can get to the emergency room. They often treat muscle strains, sprains, broken bones, and concussions on the scene.
“Really, it’s just making sure the athletes are safe,” Armstrong says. “I’ve had some very serious injuries where the athletes were found unconscious. It’s being on the front lines and providing that care.”
On the sports injury prevention side, athletic trainers work with athletes on proper nutrition, hydration, strengthening, and stretching. Trainers also provide general education about the warning signs of concussions or more serious orthopedic injuries. ATs also monitor the student-athletes recovery and make sure they aren’t returning too soon or putting themselves at risk for reinjury.
“It’s also making sure they are back to 100 percent prior to returning to their sport so they aren’t at risk for further injury or making their athletic injury worse,” he says.
What are Physical Therapists?
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, physical therapists (PTs) are highly trained and educated healthcare professionals who focus on helping patients improve or restore mobility and reduce pain. Often, they can help patients avoid surgery and reduce the need for long-term prescription medications.
Physical therapists often help patients recover from injuries or chronic conditions. They design individualized treatment plans that may include exercises, manual therapy, and other modalities to promote healing and improve physical performance. Unlike athletic trainers, physical therapists typically do not provide on-the-field emergency care but instead focus on the long-term recovery and rehabilitation process.
PTs Support With Long-Term Rehabilitation
It’s less common to have a physical therapist standing on the sidelines because PTs focus on helping a patient on the road to recovery. PTs can attain specialty certifications in orthopedics and sports physical therapy.
While athletic trainers are also sports rehab specialists, PTs are recognized by commercial payers as the provider of choice for rehab services. In most states, they will not reimburse athletic trainers for those services. This delineation by the insurance companies usually results in a job site separation.
“They are two separate degrees and licenses, legally a PT can’t represent himself as an athletic trainer and vice versa,” Armstrong says. “The education (for PTs) is less on the emergency management side and doing more strictly on the rehab side.”
The Benefits of Coordinated Care
By working together to coordinate acute care, athletic trainers, physicians, certified personal trainers, and licensed physical therapists benefit, along with the student-athlete. Due to the demanding schedule of the job, athletic trainers who coordinate the care of their athletes with a physical therapist have more time to attend practices and get to know their athletes. It’s also an opportunity to build relationships with parents, coaches, and the greater medical community.
There are several benefits for athletic trainers who recommend athletes visit a physical therapist for rehabilitation, according to an article on MedBridge:
- ATs can spend more time at practice, games, or in the training room working with athletes and coaching staff.
- Physical therapists may be willing to visit the school and address nagging injuries or concerns from athletes.
- Athletic trainers can refer athletes and parents to the physical therapy clinic for a second opinion if parents think their child needs further diagnosis, imaging or treatment.
Advocates on the Sidelines
If your child has sustained an athletic injury, or your sports team needs a dedicated trainer or specialist, contact your local Ivy Rehab Network clinic. They can connect you with a physical therapist that specializes in sports rehabilitation and performance enhancement skills.
Article by: Holly Lookabaugh-Deur, PT, DSc, GCS, CEEAA
Ivy Rehab
Holly is a practicing physical therapist, partner and Director of Clinical Services at Ivy Rehab Network with more than 40 years of experience in sports management with young athletes, and is board certified as a geriatric clinical specialist and certified exercise expert for aging adults. Deuer is certified as an aquatic and oncology rehabilitation specialist and serves as adjunct faculty at Central Michigan University and Grand Valley State University.
The medical information contained herein is provided as an information resource only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultation with healthcare professionals. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-provider relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. IvyRehab Network, Inc. disclaims any and all responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained herein.