NATA Now

San Antonio firefighter Tim Worley knew something was wrong as soon as he heard the pop.

The 16-year San Antonio Fire Department veteran was playing with his dog when he stumbled backwards, twisting his leg and causing a loud pop from his knee.

“He actually came in and told me he thought he tore his [anterior cruciate ligament]. I did an assessment and said I agreed,” said SAFD athletic trainer Deena Kilpatrick, MS, LAT, ATC.

In the cover story of the March NATA News, “Caring for Those Who Care for Others,” athletic trainer and Metis Tactical founder Hunt Whitten, ATC, LAT, EMT, discusses his work in the public safety setting, specifically with firefighters in the Houston area. While Whitten has impacted the health and well-being of firefighters with the Spring, Ponderosa and Cypress Creek Fire Departments, no one has been impacted more than firefighter Jason Randall.

Adjusting your skills from the field or court to the warehouse isn’t always one-size-fits-all. To make an industrial injury prevention plan more attainable, NATA has created an infographic that appears in the March NATA News. This infographic handout makes it easier to examine and care for this unique patient population.

For this entry in the ongoing SLC Blog Series, the NATA Student Leadership Committee talked with athletic trainer Shelly Mullenix, MS, ATC, about the opioid crisis facing America and athletics.

The NATA Student Leadership Committee will hold its spring webinar “Putting On Your Oxygen Mask Before Helping Others: From Wanting Life-Work Balance to Living Life-Work Balance,” by Kenneth E. Games, PhD, LAT, ATC, at noon (CST) March 4.

“Secure your mask first and then assist others around you.” If you have ever flown in an airplane, you have probably heard a similar phrase regarding what to do in an emergency if the aircraft loses cabin pressure. This announcement is also a valuable life lesson, especially for athletic trainers and athletic training students.

The International Sports Science Conference: Diagnosis, Management and Rehabilitation of Injuries in Elite Upper Extremity Athletes was held Jan. 17-19 in London. This international conference was presented by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society, St. Mary’s University – Twickenham, NATA and the British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers. Among the attendees was Madelyne Barton, a University of Montana master’s student and incoming chair of the NATA Student Leadership Committee.

By Kim Diggs

The roads that lead to athletic training are varied. James Collins, ATC, president of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) and director of football and medical services for the Los Angeles Chargers, found his way as an athletic trainer after a full career in the U.S. Navy.  

He spoke about his journey in a video posted to the Department of Defense website.

By Kim Diggs

Hello students and welcome to the continuation of the SLC’s blog series. In this post, Brian Zeller, PhD, ATC, chair for the NATA International Committee (IC), explains the purpose of the committee and how it has affected himself and those around him.

The Super Bowl is arguably the most important game in football. While strength, strategy and player skillsets are important in reaching the height of their profession, none of it is possible without a healthy team.  

NATA had the pleasure of speaking with the Director of Sports Medicine and Performance for the Los Angeles Rams and National Athletic Trainers' Association member, Reggie Scott, MS, ATC, PES, and he shared with us some key things his team does to keep the Rams players healthy and physically ready to compete.