athletic trainers: Your athlete’s biggest fans

KEEPING STUDENT-ATHLETES IN THE GAME IS THE GOAL but SAFETY is ALWAYS the TOP PRIORITY.

You see her on the bench during your son’s hockey game. She’s keeping a keen eye on the action and, when your son doesn’t get up from a hit, she’s the first one on the ice to assess possible injury. She is an Essentia Health athletic trainer and she is one of your son’s biggest advocates.

The National Athletic Trainer Association says the profession encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions.

Tessa Martin and Alex Gebeke are two of the 16 athletic trainers at Essentia Health-Fargo as part of our orthopedics and sports medicine team. Both women were student-athletes in high school and college and say their own injuries and experiences with athletic trainers is what brought them into the field.

Their work is multifaceted. They watch practice and help to identify any possible body mechanics that may be setting an athlete up for injury. They attend games to assess injuries. They’re on hand to safeguard athletes when they are back at practices, helping with accommodations if needed and giving the final word if an athlete can practice and, ultimately, return to play.

“Our job is to evaluate injuries, which often happen under our watch,” Martin explains. “We’ll determine what we think happened, what we think the injury is and then we’ll decide if it’s something we can treat ourselves or if we need to consult with or refer to an orthopedic provider. We’ll also work with the athlete to rehabilitate and get back to playing when they are ready.”

Gebeke says athletic trainers ultimately have the authority to say yes or no to playing. “There are some hard conversations and we aren’t always well-liked, but we are here to do what is best for the athlete,” she says.

“We’re looking at the injury in the here and now, but also in the athlete’s life ahead,” Martin says. We want to make sure that they have function and quality of life 30 or 40 years down the road.” Injuries like concussions can cause life-long effects if not treated correctly at the time of injury.

Most people don’t realize the wide scope of knowledge athletic trainers must have to assess injuries from a variety of different sports involving athlete’s musculoskeletal systems. In addition, they are certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and able to respond to a variety of situations as a healthcare professional.

Martin and Gebeke agree that multitasking and excellent communication skills are vital in their work. “Being able to prioritize multiple injuries in a game and put the attention where it’s needed most — as well as being able to explain what’s going on with an athlete, to the athlete, as well as the coaches and parents — is critical in our work,” Martin says.

Gebeke offers a piece of advice for student-athletes. “Don’t be afraid of the athletic trainers. If you are hurt or injured, let them help you. Our goal is to keep you in the game and, if that’s not possible, get you back as soon as possible. We all want the same thing — athletes who are playing the sport they love.”