NATA joins the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, National Federation of State High School Associations, National Collegiate Athletic Association, U.S.
By Dana Bates, PhD, LAT, ATC, and Jessica Moore, EdD, LAT, ATC
When the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in March 2020, Broadway went dark and theaters across the country closed, forcing performers and dance companies to figure out how to navigate the unknown circumstances ahead of them.
According to the old adage, “The show must go on,” and that’s just what Louisville Ballet has been able to do thanks to the efforts of its dance medicine team, including athletic trainer and KORT Physical Therapy Director of Sports Medicine Kevin Brown, MEd, ATC.
Like much of the world, in March 2020, colleges and universities, as well as secondary schools, shut down to help stifle the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. For some colleges and universities, that meant students were sent home – that’s if they could go home. International students, graduate students and medical students who didn’t and couldn’t go home had to remain on campus.
Over the past year, collegiate athletic trainers on campuses big and small have stepped up to slow the spread of and manage the COVID-19 pandemic. While many ATs have transitioned to testing and even vaccinating in the athletics department, some institutions have turned to their athletic trainers to take the lead for the entire campus as essential health care providers.
As unpredictable as the last nine months of the COVID-19 pandemic have been for everyone, athletic trainers are uniquely trained to handle the unexpected. Some outreach athletic trainers deployed to the front lines in non-traditional roles, such as coronavirus screeners, became some of the first recommended groups to train and administer the COVID-19 vaccine, and to receive it.
The Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation (CPR), of which NATA is a member, is seeking feedback from patients, providers, caregivers and advocates regarding the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and the need for COVID-19 rehabilitation. Specifically, CPR is seeking:
1. Access to Rehabilitation: Specific recommendations to increase access to COVID-19 rehabilitation – think of barriers that you or your patients have encountered in accessing care for the long-term effects of COVID-19 or policies you think should be in place to increase access.
As discussions progress surrounding the release of a COVID-19 vaccine, NATA is advocating for athletic trainers to be included on the list of health care providers considered for early vaccination.
By the NATA International Committee
What is happening specific to the return to sports globally during the COVID-19 pandemic? That was the fundamental question the NATA International Committee aimed to address with the information outlined below. We thank the members who responded to our email survey asking about their experiences as athletic trainers practicing internationally and hope their shared information provides some insight to all members about what is happening around the world.
NATA, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) hosted a three-part virtual educational event to help parents, guardians and community leaders make informed decisions about sports participation during the pandemic. The discussions featured leading medical experts in pediatrics, sports medicine and athletic training on the state of safety in sport and COVID-19.