One may argue that athletic trainers are not necessary due to the fact that schools already have athletic directors and coaches and that students have primary physicians. An October 2015 study found that a main factor in the difficulty of hiring an athletic trainer is community interference (de Lench). While this is a proven fact, it has been found that the amount of diagnosed sports injuries by a primary physician do not compare to the number of injuries full time athletic trainers are able to correctly diagnose. A study found that nearly nine out of ten concussions are assessed by an athletic trainer, and only 9.7% are diagnosed by primary care physicians (de Lench). Full time athletic trainers, unlike physicians, are there at the scene of the injury and can possess immediate hands on action. If a full time athletic trainer is not on staff, the coach or athletic director may try to provide medical decision making, putting an athlete’s health at risk. A happy medium has also been found in the case of primary physicians. Full time athletic trainers often have relationships with local doctors and specialists and, in many cases, can have the student-athlete be seen within 24 hours of the injury (Cooper). That way, the student athlete can meet with a physician to go further into their injury, or to get prescriptions for the correct medicines, x-rays, or MRIs. In summary, a full time athletic trainer on the scene can address injuries quicker than a primary care physician that could be too late to
One may argue that athletic trainers are not necessary due to the fact that schools already have athletic directors and coaches and that students have primary physicians. An October 2015 study found that a main factor in the difficulty of hiring an athletic trainer is community interference (de Lench). While this is a proven fact, it has been found that the amount of diagnosed sports injuries by a primary physician do not compare to the number of injuries full time athletic trainers are able to correctly diagnose. A study found that nearly nine out of ten concussions are assessed by an athletic trainer, and only 9.7% are diagnosed by primary care physicians (de Lench). Full time athletic trainers, unlike physicians, are there at the scene of the injury and can possess immediate hands on action. If a full time athletic trainer is not on staff, the coach or athletic director may try to provide medical decision making, putting an athlete’s health at risk. A happy medium has also been found in the case of primary physicians. Full time athletic trainers often have relationships with local doctors and specialists and, in many cases, can have the student-athlete be seen within 24 hours of the injury (Cooper). That way, the student athlete can meet with a physician to go further into their injury, or to get prescriptions for the correct medicines, x-rays, or MRIs. In summary, a full time athletic trainer on the scene can address injuries quicker than a primary care physician that could be too late to