NATA Now

About 28,000 ankle injuries occur each day in the United States. An ankle sprain is believed to be the most common sports injury, however, not all ankle sprains are alike. To help you educate members of your community on ankle sprains, how they’re treated and how to prevent them, NATA has created an ankle sprain handout (pdf).

As NATA President Scott Sailor, EdD, ATC, addressed the crowd during the NATA General Session and Annual Members’ Meeting, Friday in Baltimore Convention Center, Swing Hall, he announced that the association will launch a new public website, www.atyourownrisk.org, to better communicate the role of athletic trainers in work, life and sport.

“Athletic trainers – man, you guys are the unsung hearos,” said famed figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton as he addressed the pack Baltimore Convention Center Swing Hall during his J&J Keynote Friday, June 24.

Hamilton spoke about the stages of his life, beginning with his childhood. Adopted at six weeks old, Hamilton grew up in a loving family with a mother who was compassionate and full of humor.

By Beth Sitzler

The next time you’re perusing the aisles of your favorite retail store to refill your supply of Johnson & Johnson Coach Brand tape, be sure to check the packaging – you may see a familiar sight.

At the beginning of the summer, J&J added the NATA logo to its Coach Brand tape, a marketing idea that was in the works for two or three years, said Jack Weakley of J&J.

Megan Little, ATC, head athletic trainer at Hedgesville High School in Martinsburg, West Virginia, decided her close proximity to Baltimore made 2016 the perfect year to attend her first NATA convention. She is one of the volunteers who helped NATA staff prepare for the convention this week and took a few minutes to share her thoughts on the convention experience with us.

In conjunction with the 67th Clinical Symposia & AT Expo, NATA held its annual Capitol Hill Day Wednesday, June 22, the association’s biggest advocacy event of the year.

By Todd Christman

On June 22, the Career Development Pre-Conference Career Workshops helped kick off the academic programming for the 67th NATA Clinical Symposia and AT Expo. The all-day event, hosted by the Committee on Practice Advancement and Ossur, started at 7:45 a.m.

Andy Carter, MS, ATC, the senior associate athletic trainer at the College of William & Mary, traveled from Williamsburg, Virginia to attend NATA 2016 in Baltimore. As a member of the NATA College/University Athletic Trainers' Committee, Carter was part of the group of athletic trainers who traveled to Washington, DC on Wednesday to advocate for the profession.

By Beth Sitzler

As Kansas City Chiefs Head Athletic Trainer Rick Burkholder, MS, ATC, addressed the NATAPAC Breakfast crowd Thursday, June 23, his message was clear: “You are all leaders in this profession. People are looking to us for direction. We must come through as leaders.”

As you walk toward the Baltimore Convention Center, you’ll notice a familiar shade of blue along the way. From the banners hanging from the light posts to the NATA decals placed on the sidewalk, NATA 2016 has left its mark on the Charmed City.