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Health Careers in Sports
Once the range of motion is where it should be, the PT
focuses on two other key concerns: full strength and full function.
Building strength involves a variety of exercises, depending on
the body part. Full function means the injured person can do
normal activities with ease. But for an athlete, full function
means more than just combing his hair or putting on her shoes.
For a baseball pitcher, for example, full function means going
back to the field and throwing a pitch at 90 miles per hour again.
Reaching that level of function requires more rigorous treatment
to build strength and flexibility.
On the Field, in the
Locker Room
The work of the athletic trainer, the first line of medical defense
in sports, can vary greatly. At the high school level, a trainer
usually oversees athletes for all home games and may travel with
some teams for away games. At the college level, some schools
have individual trainers for major sports, while other trainers
might be responsible for several sports. At the pro level, one
team usually has several trainers.
The major “office” for athletic trainers is the playing field,
whether it’s a gym used for basketball or a football stadium.