NATA Now

The 2019 National Athletic Training Month theme – ATs Are Health Care – provides an opportunity to shed light on the many contributions athletic trainers have made, and continue to make, in areas such as research, innovation and patient care, contributions that cross a variety of settings – from sports to the military – throughout the U.S. and abroad.  

In continuation of the NATA’s Student Leadership Committee’s blog series, we start the year off looking at the performing arts setting. Of the many settings athletic trainers are found in, performing arts may be one of the most unique. With various modifications, considerations and groups of patients, this setting allows clinicians to be as creative as their patients and provide excellent health care in an exciting setting.

By Kim Diggs

Every year, high school students return to school; the football season revs up, and media outlets far and wide ask the same question: Is football safe for students? In 2016, Oklahoma Athletic Trainers’ Association (OATA) decided to get ahead of the inevitable by debuting the Safety in Football Campaign – a public-relations initiative to raise awareness about the athletic training profession.

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is one of the most common knee problems affecting active individuals, especially young athletes. Despite its commonality, PFP is often misunderstood and can be challenging to manage due to its complex nature. The January NATA News features a PFP infographic handout which explains what it is, some of its possible causes as well as preventative measures and treatment options.

The January NATA News features an article about the Prehospital Care Committee of the UPMC Sports Medicine's Athletic Training and Development Program in Pittsburg, which has spent the past 12 years developing and implementing an equipment athlete class focused on collaborating with area EMS groups in the care of a potentially spine-injured athlete.

By Kim Diggs

On the heels of a bipartisan triumph for sports medicine, NATA members will get the opportunity to participate in an annual political tradition. ATs from all over the country will travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in the annual Capitol Hill Day April 3, 2019. Registration is free and open now through Feb. 28, 2019.

Here’s the latest student news from the athletic training profession:

To promote individual health and well-being and advance population health, NATA and American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) have announced a commitment to greater collaboration in a joint statement released Dec. 19. The statement outlines how both organizations can work together to advance patient care and encourages members of the two organizations as well as stakeholders to do the same.  

Five Things Santa and His Elves Have to Do to Avoid Christmas Disaster 

Dear Santa, 

As you and the elves at the North Pole prepare for your busiest and biggest night of the year, we know that you and your team will face challenges including extreme weather, dangerous and slippery rooftops, hauling heavy packages and maneuvering down a wide variety of chimneys. These working conditions put you and the elves at risk for concussions, sprains, overuse and cold weather injuries, and much more. 

For this blog post, the NATA Student Leadership Committee talked with two graduate assistants about their experiences, how they came into their positions and some advice they have for students.