NATA EducATe: New Courses in September 2026
NATA EducATe provides users with an extensive educational library, customizable experience, ability to interact with peers and more. New courses are constantly being added to the platform to ensure you have the knowledge needed to stay up to date in your practice and earn CEUs.
NATA and Niel Asher Education have partnered to expand access to high-quality professional development for the athletic training community. Built around a shared commitment to lifelong learning and improving standards of care, these courses offer practical, relevant education designed to strengthen knowledge, build confidence and support continued professional growth.
Foundation in Sports Nutrition
CEUs: 6 Category A; Pricing: $59.95 Members/$89.95 Nonmembers
Athletic trainers are frequently the first sports medicine professionals athletes consult regarding daily energy, hydration and nutritional strategies. This course equips ATs with foundational, evidence-based sports nutrition principles necessary to guide athletic performance, body composition goals and injury recovery. Clinicians will examine macronutrient timing, energy availability concepts, micronutrient optimization and fluid replacement guidelines tailored to varying training loads and athletic environments. The course details the physiological role of nutrition in muscle protein synthesis, glycogen replenishment and systemic inflammation reduction during acute and chronic injury rehabilitation. Additionally, the course provides practical guidance on evaluating dietary supplements, recognizing red flags for relative energy deficiency in sport and practicing within the athletic training scope of practice while effectively collaborating with registered dietitians. ATs will complete this course ready to deliver sound, practical nutritional advice that enhances athletic resilience and fueling strategy.
Functional Anatomy of the Pelvis and Sacroiliac Joint
CEUs: 6 Category A; Pricing: $69.95 Members/$104.95 Nonmembers
The pelvic complex serves as the central hub of force transfer between the upper body and lower extremities. This course provides athletic trainers with a modern, holistic understanding of pelvic anatomy, sacroiliac joint (SIJ) mechanics and pelvic floor function within athletic performance. Led by Sonja Forster, DPT, the curriculum explores how pelvic ring alignment, intra-abdominal pressure regulation and deep core stability influence lumbopelvic hip complex stability. ATs will learn non-invasive assessment techniques to evaluate SIJ dysfunction, pelvic tilt and muscular imbalances in adductor, gluteal and abdominal groups. The course demystifies the role of the pelvic floor in athletic hernia prevention, core stiffness, breathing dynamics and incontinence in high-impact sports. Clinicians will gain practical therapeutic exercise progressions that stabilize the pelvic ring and enhance kinetic chain power transfer.
Treating the Complex Shoulder
CEUs: 8 Category A; Pricing: $89.95 Members/$134.95 Nonmembers
The overhead athletic shoulder presents complex anatomical, biomechanical, and neurological challenges that require multifaceted manual care. Taught by osteopathic practitioner Rebecca Tyler, this course offers athletic trainers an advanced manual therapy approach to managing shoulder complex pathologies. Clinicians will dive into the interrelated mechanics of the glenohumeral, scapulothoracic, acromioclavicular and sternoclavicular joints. The course covers specific osteopathic manual techniques, soft-tissue mobilization, fascial releases and capsular stretching tailored for impingement, rotator cuff tendinopathies, labral stress and scapular dyskinesis. Emphasis is placed on evaluating thoracic spine mobility, rib cage positioning and cervical nerve influence on shoulder function. ATs will enhance their clinical problem-solving skills and leave with an expanded toolkit for returning overhead athletes safely to high-level competition.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
CEUs: 5 Category A; Pricing: $79.95 Members/$119.95 Nonmembers
Post-acute edema and chronic soft-tissue swelling can severely impede range of motion, delay tissue healing and increase pain following athletic injury or orthopedic surgery. Taught by an athletic trainer specialized in lymphatic manual therapy, this course provides ATs with specialized skills in Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) tailored for sports medicine environments. Clinicians will study the anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system, lymph node pathways and fluid dynamics. The course covers gentle, rhythmical light-touch strokes designed to stimulate lymphatic vessel contractility, accelerate interstitial fluid removal and decrease localized swelling. ATs will learn how to apply MLD safely for acute ankle sprains, post-operative joint swelling, contusions and hematomas to promote faster tissue recovery and return to activity.
Yoga Anatomy, Physiology, and Biomechanics
CEUs: 7 Category A; Pricing: 79.95 Members/$199.95 Nonmembers
Mind-body movement modalities such as yoga are increasingly integrated into sports medicine for flexibility, injury prevention and athletic recovery. Led by Constance Bradley, this course offers an anatomical, physiological and biomechanical analysis of yoga postures for athletic trainers. Clinicians will study joint angles, fascial tension, muscle activation patterns and spinal loads involved in foundational postures. The course covers the physiological effects of controlled breathwork and parasympathetic nervous system stimulation on athletic recovery, stress regulation and pain perception. ATs will learn how to critically evaluate yoga postures, modify poses for injured athletes and safely utilize movement sequences to enhance joint mobility, neuromuscular control and tissue resilience.
Also in September, NATA EducATe added two new courses to the Enhanced Access Catalog. Don’t forget: The NATA EducATe Enhanced Access Catalog is free with your NATA membership.
Heart Rate Variability and Its Use in Evaluating Exercise Recovery
Athletic trainers can benefit from having a working knowledge of cardiac changes with exercise, including non-pathological changes to the left ventricle, as well as the normal response of the autonomic nervous system to exercise and recovery. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive way to track autonomic balance, but as it lacks normal values, identifying factors contribute to change is beneficial. A working knowledge of recovery heart rate and HRV can help the athletic trainer navigate data provided by wearable technology to determine normal physiological changes with training versus changes that could put a patient at risk for under recovery.
Administration in the Sports Medicine Clinic: Role Delineation for ATs in Multidisciplinary Collaboration
The physician practice setting has increased job opportunities for ATs. The duties the AT may fulfill in a clinic has also evolved to include wide range of skills and tasks, some that may overlap with other health care professionals on the same sports medicine team. Data exists that identifies benefits of ATs working in physician practice to improve productivity and patient outcomes. However, there can still be a significant variable in workflow and specific role for the ATs, potentially creating misunderstanding for ATs new to the setting and administrators or team members of other disciplines.
