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Tell Me Where It Hurts: Physical Therapists, Doctors, and Other People in Sports Medicine

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Athletes cannot perform to the best of their abilities if they are not healthy and strong. Even the most powerful and physically fit athlete is going to suffer an injury at one time or another. Sports physicians and trainers are the ones who run to the rescue and get the athlete back into fighting shape again.

THE HISTORY OF SPORTS MEDICINE

Sports medicine has been around almost as long as sports itself. Hundreds of years ago, scientists and philosophers like Leonardo da Vinci and Aristotle studied the human body, how it moved and how different body systems worked together. Later, during the nineteenth century, a Frenchman named Étienne-Jules Marey did extensive work to study things like the amount of force exerted by a foot hitting the floor. He also took photos showing the different ways body parts moved as an athlete ran. Marey is considered by many to be the father of sports medicine.

FAST FACT

The Olympic motto is “Citius, Altius, Fortius,” which means “Faster, Higher, Stronger” in Latin.

It’s amazing to think about it, but even a simple movement such as taking a step or throwing a ball requires an enormous amount of coordination among muscles, tendons, nerves, eyes, and other parts of the body. It’s easy for things to go wrong, especially if part of the body is overused. Think of a baseball pitcher who wears out his elbow or his shoulder from all that throwing or a runner who injures her leg because she lands wrong on her foot. All of these motions have been studied by scientists to allow doctors to find the best way to prevent and treat injuries.

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Name: Elizabeth Bennett

Age: 21

Job (when not studying!): Swimmer, Sacred Heart University, Connecticut

Dream Job: Physical therapist

What sports have you participated in and when?

Growing up, I played various sports and was part of several activities. I joined my local swim team when I was ten but did not start becoming competitive until I was about twelve. It soon became my passion. I trained with a local club team and traveled in and out of state competitions during high school. In high school I also joined the cross-country and track teams. I feel that this transition was easy for me because swimming and running are sports that are most used for cross-training.

What are you doing now in terms of education/sports participation?

I am a member of my university’s NCAA Division I swimming team. I was attracted to Sacred Heart because of academic and athletic purposes. When I was searching for colleges, I knew I wanted to swim at the Division I level, and I was interested in a profession in physical therapy. Sacred Heart offers an exercise science degree, which will aid in grad school. Sacred Heart also has a doctorate of physical therapy program, which I have been accepted into.

How did you get started in sports?

I was pretty active when I was younger, but I only got into sports when I was about ten years old. I remember watching the 2000 Summer Olympic Games and being fascinated with the swimming events. Hearing the swimmers’ stories and watching them compete was so amazing, and it got me interested in the sport. I took swim lessons when I was about five, so I knew how to swim. I just didn’t join a team once I graduated from all of the swim levels. It’s incredible to me that I joined a swim club on a whim, and the sport became such as huge factor in my life.

Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness.

Edward Stanley

EARL OF DERBY

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What do you like best about sports?

The best thing I’ve been given from sports is the passion that I feel whenever I participate in them. I feel this way about swimming, and I remember feeling this way when I was in cross-country and track in high school. Of course, the sports I joined are more individualized, but I think that is what makes them so worthwhile. I know that I am putting the effort into my races and technique, so when I get the results I want, it is so much more rewarding. I thrive on the adrenaline and competition. I have a competitive nature, which makes me focused. Finally, sports give me a purpose. As a student athlete, swimming and school are the two main things I am working toward in college. Swimming has given me the opportunity to have an education, to meet a wonderful group of friends, and to learn skills, such as time management, that I can use in life.

Do you plan to stay in sports for a long time?

I feel that swimming and running will always be a part of my life. It’s hard to invest much of your life in something and just completely give it up when your athletic career is over. Of course, after I graduate college, I will focus more on my studies in grad school, but I can see myself getting back in the water and working out or running outside once in a while.

What are your career goals and dreams?

My career goals and dreams include certain goal times that I want to reach before I graduate. Most of my goals relate to how I perform at our conference championship meet at the end of the season, but there are other goals that I would like to accomplish that are not related to swimming. I want to come to practice with a positive attitude and contribute my positive attitude to the team. We are a small group of individuals, but whenever we have a tough workout or a challenging meet, we always come together and try to push through the obstacles. As a rising senior, I hope to be a role model for my younger teammates, especially the incoming freshmen. Most of all, I want to give 110 percent this upcoming year. Sadly, this will be my last year of competitive swimming, but that makes me more determined than ever to make the most of it this upcoming season.

THE DOCTOR IS IN

The term sports medicine covers a number of different careers, including:

• Sports physicians

• Orthopedists (doctors who specialize in bones and muscles)

• Sports psychologists

• Athletic trainers

• Physical therapists

What advice or tips can you give young people thinking of a career in sports?

The best advice I could give someone who is considering a sports-related career is to love what you do. As an exercise science major, I know that some of the classes and workload seem unbearable, but I need to get through them in order to reach my goal of being a physical therapist. Someone once told me, “Don’t live to work; work to live.” That is something that keeps me going when I get discouraged in school. People interested in a sports-related career must be sure that this is what they truly want to do. If their heart is in it, then they will surely benefit from what they are studying and will be happy with their career in the future.


JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

Sports physicians treat injuries and illnesses in athletes, both professional and amateur. Some physicians work for teams and only care for the athletes on that team. Similarly, sports physicians who work for universities handle the medical needs of the student athletes at that school. Other sports physicians have independent practices and see any athlete who has an injury. These doctors or regular physicians might also visit local schools to care for athletes, perform physicals, and do other medical checkups.

Orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons are especially necessary in the sports medicine field, treating common athletic ills such as sprains, fractures, injured joints, and muscle damage. These doctors also create rehabilitation programs and work closely with athletic trainers and physical therapists.

Sports physicians often attend team practices and games. Being present allows you to monitor athletes who may need help, such as an athlete who gets overheated on a hot day or an athlete who is injured. Sports physicians are also able to perform first aid and determine if more serious medical help is needed. Many doctors enjoy being present at games and call this one of the best things about the job. One sports physician said that he loves “covering sports events and feeling a part of the action on the sidelines, in the locker room, or in the heat of the battle.”1

Surpassing my achievements feels incredible; I want to replicate that again and again.

Katherine Reutter

SPEED SKATER

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You need a medical degree to become a sports physician or orthopedist. Anyone who is interested in a medical career should take as many health and science courses as possible in high school. Courses like biology and chemistry are especially important. Future sports physicians should then go on to a premed program at a college or university and then move on to medical school. After years of school, internships, and medical residencies, doctors generally have to take written and oral exams in order to get a license to practice medicine. From there, the doctor can go on to join the staff of a team, school, or hospital, or go into private practice.

Other than school, potential physicians should look for volunteer and on-the-job experience while still in school. Doctors in the field suggest working with athletic trainers at your school, volunteering or working at a local hospital or rehab center, and working or volunteering at a doctor’s office.

Becoming a sports physician is a long, hard road, but the benefits can be tremendous. Along with helping people feel better and perform at their best, doctors are also well paid (although they usually have a lot of student loans to pay off!).

Keep Moving While Sitting!

Even if you can’t run or jump, you can still have fun!

Warm-Up: Throw a ball back and forth with a friend. Lift weights.

Wheelchair Dance: Learn coordinated dance steps that involve moving forward, backward, and from side to side. Do dances that focus on a lot of upper body movements.

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Race: Challenge your friends to an obstacle course you wheel through, or see how many basketballs you can get through a hoop in a minute.

Parachute: Gather your friends in a circle and hold a big piece of fabric. Move the parachute up and down, coordinating the movement.

Bubbles: While one person blows bubbles, the others race around tracking and popping them!

Cool Down: Stretch your arms. Listen to some music while you turn your head this way and that and wiggle your fingers.

MIND OVER MATTER

Sometimes, the way athletes think is just as important as how they feel physically. Sports psychologists are specially trained doctors who work with athletes to improve their mental and physical health and their athletic performance. They use goal setting, imagery, focusing strategies, relaxation techniques, and mental preparation to help athletes both on and off the field. They may work with individual athletes or entire teams.

Sports psychologists can be divided into three groups:

Clinical sports psychologists work with individuals who are experiencing emotional problems connected to their sport. For example, suppose an athlete has a fear of failure or believes he or she is not able to complete a task. The clinical psychologist works with that athlete to create coping strategies and ways to overcome the problem.

Educational sports psychologists teach students in a classroom setting and may also assist coaches on the field, teaching mental skills to help athletes perform.

FAST FACT

Eating the right food is essential for an athlete. An athlete’s diet depends on the sport. For sports that require a lot of energy, an athlete might consume six thousand calories a day—about three times the calories needed by the average adult.

Research sports psychologists conduct studies to come up with scientific facts and figures that help clinical and educational psychologists do their work. These studies are usually done in a laboratory or other testing facility.

Like the course of study for a sports physician, the educational requirements for a sports psychologist are strict. Students should take a wide variety of courses in high school, particularly English, math, science, psychology, and foreign languages. Of course, taking part in sports will give you insight into how athletes’ minds work and what problems they might have. Students then need to complete college and get an advanced degree, a doctorate, to become a psychologist. You may opt for a PhD, which qualifies you for teaching, research, and counseling positions, or a PsyD, or Doctor of Psychology, degree. This degree is generally required for doctors who want to do clinical research. There are no programs that specifically train sports psychologists, so a general PhD or PsyD is your best bet.

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Name: Garret Kramer

Job: Founder and managing partner, Inner Sports

Why do you love sports?

I really don’t know. It was part of my life and how I grew up, so I guess it’s just habit.

Why do you think it’s important for young people to get involved in sports?

In principle, sports on their own can’t teach lessons. The value is in you, so don’t look for something outside of yourself (like sports) to provide answers. Being active has physical benefits, of course. But don’t be a narrow-minded athlete. Sports are great but, contrary to what most people think is true, they are not a vehicle to directly teach leadership, discipline, or teamwork.

What is a typical day like for you?

When I started Inner Sports, most of my day was spent doing counseling sessions and teaching. Over the last couple years, I’ve been doing more writing and speaking engagements. However, I still work with players, coaches, parents, and even business leaders.

What education did you pursue to get a job in this career?

I have no degrees in this field. It was something I came up with through my own study and experiences.

What work or volunteer experiences helped you gain experience and contacts as you moved up in your career?

I grew up around ice sports. My dad managed a skating rink and was a hockey coach. I played hockey and coached, and was also a competitive amateur golfer. Then I went to Hamilton College in New York State, where I played hockey and majored in history. After I graduated, I worked in the construction business, but I kept coaching a high school hockey team on the side. So I became interested in athletes’ mental ability—what was happening in their heads? When I was having trouble with my own game, I looked for help, but the resources I found only gave short-term help. They had no staying power with me or with the athletes I coached. I figured that I had to be missing something about the mental side of sports. I realized that using mental strategies to help someone who is struggling is like finding fool’s gold. I decided that when I was struggling, I would not try to change. I would just keep living and see what happened. Guess what? It worked! Doing nothing to fix my mental state led to feeling better. The reason for this is the human mind is designed to default to clarity. That’s what athletes call being in the zone. When we do things to force that clarity, we thwart it instead. I started to live this idea and point athletes in this direction. These athletes became successful and leaders in life, not just sports. People started seeking my advice, so I created Inner Sports twenty-two years ago.

I never could have achieved the success that I have without setting physical activity and health goals.

Bonnie Blair

SPEED SKATER

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What’s the best thing about your job?

The best thing is pointing people in a direction that will help them not only on the field, course, court, or rink, but in their lives and careers as well.

What’s the most challenging thing about your job?

The most challenging thing is that sports psychologists and mental coaches have turned off athletes and coaches with their quick-fix strategies and external techniques, and I often get lumped in with them. My aim is to straighten out the misalignment between the experience of performers when they’re at their best (no thought) and the tools of performance coaches, which require the performer to think in order to be implemented.

I think the way to become the best is to just have fun.

Shaun White

SNOWBOARDER

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As a kid, did you think you would have this career when you grew up? Why or why not? What were your expectations?

No! That was not in the cards at all. Even when I graduated from college, I worked in construction, not in any sports-related career.

What advice or tips can you give young people thinking of a career in your field?

If you want to have an impact on others and you love sports, this is a great career! Just remain open to the journey because you never know where it’s taking you. Don’t have tunnel vision. I think the quarterback on a football team is a good example. He has a plan when he is calling plays, but things don’t always work out the way he expects, so he has to be able to remain open, adapt, and embrace the shifting landscape. Young people should live their lives the same way.

What demands does your job put on your personal life? How do you deal with them?

In the early days, there was lots of travel. I was away a lot and missed many of my family’s activities and my children’s games. However, my experiences were exciting and invaluable. Helping others is the only thing that could keep me away from my wife and children.


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SPOTLIGHT

The Welsch Sisters: The Endurance of Champions

Endurance running is a demanding sport that is meant for grown-ups. Competitors run for miles, but they don’t run on a track or a road. Instead, they tackle wilderness trails and rocky paths that wind up and down cliffs, through forests, and along rivers. It’s a grueling, difficult sport. Yet two sisters who haven’t even reached their teens are making names for themselves in this extreme racing world.

Kaytlynn and Heather Welsch were twelve and ten years old, respectively, when they fully caught people’s attention in 2013. The sisters, who are from Texas, have competed in many endurance events, including marathons and triathlons. They started running because their small size made it hard for them to succeed at other sports. Plus, they just love to run, especially along wilderness trails. Kaytlynn once complained that competing in road races was boring because, as she said in a New York Times article in 2012, “All you see is house, house, lamppost, lamppost.” However, the girls do sometimes worry about being lost in the woods or running into a bear.

Although Kaytlynn and Heather say they love running and are determined to compete—and even dream of running in the Olympics when they are old enough—some people are worried about them. Endurance running is hard on the body, and many doctors warn that young people can damage their bones, muscles, and joints, and also affect their physical development if they push themselves too hard. Their parents have the girls checked by doctors and have gotten the medical okay for them to compete. It remains to be seen what’s in store for Kaytlynn’s and Heather’s running careers, but one thing is for sure—they certainly are off to a flying start!


TRAINING ATHLETES

Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating injuries and illnesses related to sports. They usually work for schools or teams and work under the direction of a physician.

An athletic trainer needs excellent knowledge of medical skills, along with health, anatomy, nutrition, and pretty much anything else that has to do with the human body. Along with having medical knowledge and the ability to use it, trainers also need to be good at making decisions and be detail oriented and good record keepers. Good people skills and excellent communication skills are also a must.

Athletic trainers generally take medical courses and get a bachelor of science degree in athletic training. Look for a program that is accredited, or approved, by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, or CAATE. In addition, trainers need to be certified through an exam given by the Board of Certification (BOC). This is generally done after the student has graduated. Athletic trainers also require a license and may also need a teaching license. This is a well-paid field.

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WHO EMPLOYS ATHLETIC TRAINERS?2

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Name: Danielle DeLay

Job: Athletic trainer, Clarkstown North High School, New City, New York

Why do you love sports?

I’ve loved sports since I was a little kid. I love competing, winning, learning from others, being part of a team. I love watching and reading about sports because there is always a common theme of excitement and work ethic, and I have a really strong appreciation for those things.

Why do you think it’s important for young people to get involved in sports?

There is such a strong sense of pride and accomplishment when you achieve a goal in sports that I don’t think you get quite anywhere else. The hours of blood, sweat, tears, and fighting through pain all become worth it when you win a championship or earn an MVP [most valuable player] award. I can’t think of any other feeling like that. The benefits of finding something to keep you physically active are also necessary for a healthy lifestyle, which will carry over even when your playing days end.

What was your professional journey? How did you get to where you are today?

I graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland in 2010 with my bachelor of science in athletic training. From there I was hired by Mercy College and worked there for a year. I heard about the opportunity at Clarkstown North, which just so happens to be my alma mater. It was an opportunity I could not pass up and was lucky enough to get. I’ve been here for a little over a year and a half now and could not be happier.

What is a typical day like for you?

I usually arrive at North by 12:30 PM or 12:45 PM, in the middle of our seventh period of the school day. I use this time to answer emails, catch up on any paperwork, and file doctor’s notes with our school nurses. I also use this time to set up my athletic training room for when the athletes begin to arrive around 2:00 PM, when the school day ends. The next one and a half to two hours are always chaotic, with athletes arriving in the athletic training room to perform their rehabilitation programs or to see me to have their injuries evaluated or treated. Most practices begin between 2:30 and 3:00 PM, so depending on what season it is (fall, winter, or spring), I am either driving out on my golf cart to various practice fields or walking through the buildings of our school to check in on various practices. Depending on the scheduling of practices or games, my day usually ends between 7:00 and 8:00 PM. Weekends and school breaks are usually my most hectic times, when I’ll get to my office by 8:00 AM and stay until the last practice ends, which could be any time, depending on the coach’s schedule.

What education did you pursue to get a job in this career? What classes were particularly helpful?

I have a bachelor’s in athletic training from SUNY Cortland, and I am working toward my master’s in exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania. CalU is great because it is an online program, which means I do schoolwork on my own time. The classes that were particularly helpful for my career were anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, emergency management techniques, essentials of athletic training, and rehabilitation program design. All of these make up the basis of my athletic training knowledge.

What work or volunteer experiences helped you gain experience and contacts as you moved up in your career?

During the winter break of my senior year of college, I volunteered at a physical therapy clinic. At the time, I was considering the possibility of obtaining dual certification as an athletic trainer and physical therapist. Since getting the job at North, I often refer my athletes to physical therapy at the same clinic. Attending conferences and continuing education events have also been very helpful in making contacts throughout my career.

THE TRAINER’S MANY HATS

A trainer has many responsibilities:

• Prevent injuries by teaching athletes and implementing programs, as well as applying protective devices such as tape or padding

• Recognize and evaluate injuries

• Apply emergency first aid

• Develop and carry out rehab programs

• Take care of administrative tasks, such as keeping medical records and writing reports

What is the best thing about your job?

Definitely the best part of my job is watching an athlete return to play after an injury. Nothing makes me happier than seeing all the hard work that the athlete put into rehabilitation manifest in a return to fully playing the sport that [that athlete] loves.

What is the most challenging thing about your job?

The hours are probably the toughest part of my job. Although it is wonderful to come to work around noon, this often means staying later into the night. The fact that my hours revolve around sports practices and games means that I don’t get conventional vacation days, so it’s difficult for me to plan vacations or long weekends away with friends and family.

Who helped you the most in furthering your career and how?

It’s a tie between my high school athletic trainer, who got me interested in the profession, and my favorite professor in college. Both were always very encouraging of me which was a huge help, mainly because at times I tend to doubt my abilities and not trust myself. I never would have considered being an athletic trainer if it weren’t for my high school athletic trainer, and my college professor really pushed me to practice my skills and get better each and every day.

As a kid, did you think you would have this career when you grew up? Why or why not? What were your expectations?

As a kid, I really wanted to be a veterinarian. I have always loved animals, but as I got older, I became more interested in the human body. I knew when I chose this career path that I would be in for long hours, low pay, and minimal recognition, but the idea that I could be around sports and athletes as a career for the rest of my life made it all worth it.

What advice or tips can you give young people thinking of a career in your field?

If you are not good at time management, you need to fix that before you become an athletic trainer. Your clinical field experience is an absolutely necessary part of your education, and it will take up most of your free time. Being able to budget your time wisely so that you can fit in school, athletic training, family, and friends is very important in this career. My other tip would be to have a sense of humor. It is one of the best attributes an athletic trainer can have—it makes the stress of the job a lot easier to handle.

Do you plan to stay in your career for a long time? If not, what do you think you will do after your career is over?

As of right now, I see myself being an athletic trainer for the rest of my professional life. Things could always change, however, which is why getting my master’s degree is so important. When my career is over, I think the first thing I’ll do is take a long vacation to make up for all those I have missed. Then I will probably teach athletic training at a college.

Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: the potential for greatness lives within each of us.

Wilma Rudolph

TRACK-AND-FIELD ATHLETE

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What demands does your job put on your personal life? How do you deal with them?

Time is probably the biggest demand of my job and also the one that mostly impacts my personal life. It’s hard to balance the hours I put in at my job with spending time with those most important to me. I’m lucky in that I almost always have one day off per week, so I try to always take advantage of that day by spending time with my friends and family. Even then, though, I miss out on some events because of my job. It’s an unfortunate reality but one that I was perfectly aware of when I chose my career.


HELPING TO HEAL

A physical therapist works with patients to restore movement and flexibility after an injury. You may work in doctor’s offices, hospitals, rehab centers, gyms, or for sports teams and universities. Some physical therapists work independently and visit patients in their homes. You’ll need to focus on health and science in high school and college. The next step is a master’s or doctorate degree in physical therapy from a school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Physical therapists do not need to be licensed, but it is a good idea and makes you a better job candidate.


Notes:

1. Ferguson Publishing, Careers in Focus: Sports, 4th ed. (New York: Ferguson Publishing, 2008), 135.

2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Athletic Trainers,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012–2013 Edition, US Department of Labor, accessed March 18, 2013, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/athletic-trainers.htm