March is Athletic Training Month and a time to thank all AT’s in our lives. Athletic Trainers are the team behind the team making sure the team is as healthy as possible to perform to their best ability. In honor of Athletic Training month the regional Sports Medicine Competition occurred on March 15th where San Dimas ranked 6th in State and are moving onto Nationals. Athletic Training is about taking care of an athelte both physically and mentally. Lets learn about our two AT’s Mrs. Truax and Ms. Joelle.
Ms. Truax 1 of 2 AT’s here at San Dimas. Now she has taken the role of educated students about sports medicine. She has been an Athletic Trainer for 22 years! This is how she describes her job “An Athletic Trainer is a healthcare professional that specializes in orthopedic medicine, and sports injury and general medical injuries that occur in athletics. So we are first responders on the field and we do everything from diagnosis, treatment, and rehab to get them back on the field as soon as possible.” Mrs. Truax said. For the most part an Athletic Trainers job goes unnoticed.
Most people will see them and say the water boys/girls or just people who tape athletes. The job is so much more than what most people see. Firstly to become an Athletic Trainer you must have a Masters in Athletic Training and pass the BOC exam and in most states Registration and Licensure. An AT most complete 50 hours of credit every 2 years to keep their certification. This is because ATs are healthcare practitioners.
An unofficial requirement of an athletic Trainer is to love sports as both Mrs. Truax and Ms. Joelle were athletes before pursuing the career of Athletic Training. . I liked being on the field and learning how the body works and how they were going to fix it. I took an anatomy class and that was it.”
Mrs. Joelle said on her inspiration to become an Athletic Trainer. “I wanted to be an Athletic trainer because I felt like it was a calling that I had. I had a vocational calling, and I am a proud Christian so I truly believe God led me into this career path. Because I have always been around athletics and I have always been around healthcare and its the perfect way to but the two together for me.”
Most Athletes will get to know the AT’s because injuries are a part of sports whether its big or small. Senior wrestling captain Fabio Lara had an injury last year and spent a lot of time with Mrs. Truax. “I dislocated my patella (knee cap) last season Mrs. Truax the Athletic Trainer was the one who treated me. Physical therapy was kind of fun” Senior Fabio Lara said. I personally had an expierance with the Athletic Trainer this year Ms. Joelle. Ms. Joelle helped me recover on her own time so I can come back from injury as soon as possible and play against our rival Monrovia. Athletic Trainers are very important to every team whether its industrial, sports, or teaching they have an impact on many lives.
Celebrating this month is very important because of all the great things ATs do.
