Athletic Trainers

Supporting Text

Education

The ATR is a continuing education provider with the Board of Certification.  We are committed to providing up-to-date CEU opportunities to athletic trainers around the country.  As sports medicine providers, it is critical that athletic trainers stay connected to the most current research and practice based on those results. Every two years, each certified athletic trainer needs 50 CEU’s with 10 of those hours being Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) credits.  Here is a link to the BOC webpage for more information regarding maintaining certification: http://www.bocatc.org/ats/maintain-certification

Click the links below to view our online Continuing Education sessions and EBP Workshops.  You can register online or call 515-964-5000 to reserve your seat.

Workshops
There are no scheduled workshops at this time
Continuing Education
There are no scheduled Continuing Education Webinars available at this time

Event Coverage

The ATR provides medical coverage for sporting events for athletes of all ages and ability levels. We are committed to the health and safety of every athlete and hold our athletic trainers to the highest standard.  For each event, we are in contact with local emergency medical providers and work through an Emergency Action Plan with all staff.
Athletic Training Students
We understand the importance of on-the-field experience for athletic training students and provide as many opportunities as possible to help the athletic trainers of the future.  Event coverage outside of your school will set you apart from your peers when interviewing for graduate school or jobs after college. If you are interested in helping out with an event and/or want to be on our email list, use the contact boxes below.
Certified Athletic Trainers
If you are a certified athletic trainer, are interested in covering community events, and would like to be put onto our mailing list for upcoming opportunities, use the contact boxes below.

Get Involved

Iowa Athletic Trainer’s Society

Involvement with the Iowa Athletic Trainer’s Society is a great way to help influence the standing of athletic trainers in the State of Iowa.  The members of this group fight for the rights of athletic trainers and help to define the role of the profession in the state.  They are also involved in increasing public awareness of health issues facing athletes. Other responsibilities of IATS include:

  • Planning and hosting the Annual Meeting each year
  • Increasing public understanding of athletic training
  • Lobbying to ensure the advancement of the profession as well as increasing athlete safety
  • Encouraging development of young professional and student athletic trainers

Mission

The Iowa Athletic Trainers Society is composed of highly skilled healthcare professionals.  Through research, education and service, IATS works to advance, encourage, and improve the profession of athletic training.

Vision Statement

Advance the profession of athletic training in Iowa to best care for Iowans.

Visit the link below for more information on IATS and how to get involved.

Mid-American Athletic Trainer’s Association

MAATA is known as District 5 and is one of the 10 districts overseen by the NATA.  The district is made up of Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota.  The district is tasked with providing current information about issues facing the profession and encouraging active involvement in the organization.

Mission

Our Mission is to enhance the professional and leadership abilities of the membership by providing encouragement, mentorship and improvement opportunities in the profession of athletic training.

Vision

Mid-America Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA) is strongly committed to providing leadership in addressing the concerns and needs of its membership. It is the vision of the MAATA to become the benchmark association of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.

Visit the link below for more information on MAATA and how to get involved.

Available Services

Treatment of Orthopedic Injury

The Athletic Training Room is staffed by athletic trainers with many years of diverse sports medicine experience at all levels of competition. We have been trained to progress an injured individual from initial injury back to full participation using evidence-based practice to ensure that the best care is given to each individual. All active people are susceptible to injury and our staff is here to return you to the activities you love.

Pre/Post-Operative Rehabilitation

The Athletic Training Room is staffed with certified athletic trainers who specialize in rehabilitation of sports and activity related orthopedic injuries. We use an evidence-based approach to the rehabilitation of sports and orthopedic injuries by applying the most current research and working with your surgeon. We work with you before your surgery to enhance the outcomes and then develop your long-term rehabilitation program designed on an individual basis, to speed your recovery. ” We are committed to returning each individual to the fullest participation level in the activity they love.

We believe each person should expect the quality of care that was once exclusive to professional athletes. Contact our staff for an evaluation and consultation about your injury.

Soft-Tissue Therapy

Each of the certified athletic trainers at The ATR have been trained in various methods of soft-tissue therapy, including Active Release Technique, myofascial release, joint mobility, various manual techniques, and deep tissue massage. We help our clients; improve flexibility, range of motion, and mobility, enhance athletic performance, and decrease pain, soreness, and injury risk.

Athlete Development Program

This program is designed on an individual basis to increase speed and agility, improve balance and proprioception, and decrease injury risk.  Each athlete is assessed individually with a Fusionetics functional movement screen.  The athletic trainer will take the results from the movement screen, and incorporate sport-specific drills and strengthening to encourage athletic development.

Fusionetics

Concussion Management

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that can be caused via a direct blow to the head, neck, or face, or an indirect blow to the body resulting in an impulsive force transmitted to the head. As a result of the rapid movement of the brain within the skull, delicate neural pathways in the brain can become damaged resulting in neurological impairments. Brain injuries can lead to long-term issues including, but not limited to, memory loss, concentration issues, visual disturbances, chronic headaches, and difficulty concentrating. All athletes, regardless of sport, are susceptible to concussions. Fewer than 10% of sport related concussions result in a loss of consciousness or reports of blacking out/seeing stars. Recognition, proper response, and proper treatment of concussions when they first occur can help prevent any further injury, and even death. Recovery from a concussion will be significantly influenced by the degree of injury, in addition to the number of concussions that a person has sustained.

What are common signs and symptoms of a concussion?

  • Headache or “pressure” in the head

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Balance problems

  • Dizziness

  • Blurry or double vision

  • Sensitivity to light

  • Sensitivity to noise

  • Feeling sluggish

  • Concentration or memory problems

  • Confusion

  • Irritability or sadness

  • Sleep disturbances

  • Changes in appetite or energy levels

The Vestibular System and Concussion

The vestibular system is a sensory system in the body that provides feedback about motion, equilibrium, sense of balance, and spatial orientation. This system helps to produce reflexive movement of the eyes and limbs in response to head motion in order to properly stabilize and orient our bodies. When these reflexive movements of the eye are disrupted due to an injury such as a concussion, it can result in symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, blurry vision, and imbalance.

What is vestibular training?

Vestibular training is an exercise-based program that is used to help improve concussive symptoms associated with the vestibular system, such as balance difficulties, motion sensitivity, dizziness, and visual issues. Training can be used to treat patients with prolonged symptoms lasting longer than three weeks, but can also begin as soon as one week after a concussion is sustained. The key to providing proper care and treatment is to screen for any vestibular impairment. Therefore, a vestibular evaluation assessing eye movements, tracking, and all concussive symptoms will be performed for each incoming patient and an individualized program will be created to best suit each person for their particular problems and sport/activity.

Education Opportunities

At The ATR, we value education, and provide materials for coaches, parents, athletes, and other athletic trainers in order to encourage evidence-based practice.

 

 

 

Parents

The ATR is committed to the health and safety of every athlete.  We help to accomplish this by educating parents on recognition and understanding of injuries, injury prevention methods, and basic treatment information.  If you have any questions regarding a specific injury, please contact us at 515-964-5000

Coaches

The ATR is committed to the health and safety of every athlete.  We provide educational opportunities for coaches to help them recognize common injuries and conditions, provide first aid, and manage emergency situations.

If you are a coach looking to complete your authorization, need to renew certifications, or just interested in evidence-based sports medicine topics – check out the links on this page.

Athletic Trainers

An athletic trainer is an allied healthcare professional who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of muscle, ligament, tendon, and bone injuries.

An Athletic Trainer:

  • The first healthcare provider at the scene of an injury

  • Able to recognize and evaluate the injury

  • Provides immediate care when needed

  • Treat short and long term orthopedic injuries

  • Create and Implement rehabilitation programs

  • Provides injury prevention techniques

The ATR is staffed with athletic trainers in a private clinical setting.

We provide educational programming as a BOC provider to keep ATC’s and students up-to-date on the newest information.

We provide AT coverage throughout the state and understand the importance of on-the-field experience for students.  We provide unique coverage opportunities to AT students, which seperates them from their peers

The ATR values volunteer involvement and works closely with IATS and MAATA to enhance the profession of athletic training.

Event Medical Coverage

The ATR values the health and safety of all athletes.  We provide certified athletic trainers at sporting events all over the state of Iowa.  Athletic trainers are specifically trained to; assess acute orthopedic injury and determine participation status, handle cardiac and respiratory emergencies, evaluate concussions and critical head and neck injuries, and work with event planners to develop emergency actions plans.  We strive to keep athletes safe and healthy while they perform the activities that they love.

Walk-ins are welcome, or call 515-964-5000 to schedule an appointment.

Contact Us

2 + 7 =