Kick-Off Week prepares ATI athletic trainers for sports emergencies
A high school football player goes down after a brutal hit and isn't moving. It's a frightening scenario that athletic trainers at ATI Physical Therapy simulated over and over again this week to prepare them to act flawlessly during sports' worst moments. Over 70 athletic trainers, including those from Fenton High School, gathered for the annual “ATI Sports Medicine Kick-Off Week” held August 1-5 at the ATI Training Center in Bolingbrook.
The week-long training camp is an opportunity for athletic trainers to refresh their medical skills before taking to the fields and courts in the coming weeks. The educational program covered hot topics in the field of sports medicine including concussion, emergency response, acute injuries, and injury rehabilitation.
A highlight of the week was the interactive session “In 2 minutes or Less” presented by the Center for Sports Medicine Research & Education. In simulated true-to life conditions, participants performed emergency care techniques without causing secondary injury to a potentially critically injured athlete, including repositioning, stabilization, transfer, and preparation for transport.
“Kick-off Week is an amazing opportunity for our athletic trainers to gather together to learn from experts in the sports medicine field and share their own experiences with colleagues,” said Katie Varnado, ATC, Sports Medicine Supervisor, ATI Physical Therapy. “It's just one example of the outstanding support ATI Physical Therapy offers to its sports medicine team in order to provide the highest quality of care to athletes.”
ATI Physical Therapy's athletic trainers are certified healthcare professionals who work with athletes at all levels of their sports. Athletic trainers are specialists in the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries. In addition to being present at games and practices to treat acute injuries, athletic trainers work closely with players and coaches to improve the overall health of athletes and prevent future injuries.
ATI Physical Therapy has 125 Sports Medicine affiliations with professional, collegiate, high school and club sport athletic programs. Affiliates include Fenton High School, the Milwaukee Brewers, Joliet Slammers, Chicago Bandits, Milwaukee Bucks, UIC, Joliet Junior College, the Plainfield and Lincoln-Way school districts, and Eclipse Soccer Club.
ATI athletic trainers understand the complexities of high–level functional rehabilitation, the athlete's expectation for a quick return to play, and the issues that face the family, the player, and the coaching staff. They understand the psychological impact of being injured and utilize all available resources to ensure that athletes of all levels are able to safely compete at their competitive best and return to play within the shortest time frame possible.
Founded in 1996, ATI Physical Therapy specializes in research-based physical therapy, work conditioning/hardening, functional capacity evaluations, sports medicine and performance, aquatic therapy, hand therapy, and women's health. With corporate offices in Bolingbrook, Illinois and over 130 clinics in six states, ATI has distinguished itself in the industry by focusing on a comprehensive approach of hands-on personalized care and an aggressive whole body approach toward rehabilitation.
For more information, visit www.ATIpt.com.