Many people may see someone sitting among the school's team or running out onto the field to help an injured player, but who is that person?  As many people are unaware, March is National Athletic Training month.  An athletic trainer has many duties which often occur before or after an event and is not seen by the public.  So, just how qualified is this person and what is he/she able to do?

An athletic trainer is a highly qualified and skilled allied health professional who is educated and experienced in dealing with the health care problems of high school, college, professional, recreational, and industrial athletes.  The athletic trainer is responsible for injury prevention, recognition, treatment, and rehabilitation procedures designed to allow the injured individual to return to competition, work, or play as quickly and safely as possible.  Athletic trainers also have strong backgrounds in nutrition, conditioning, and personal health.  Athletic trainers must meet the NATABOC's (National Athletic Trainers; Board of Certification) certification requirements through educational programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).  To become certified as an athletic trainer, individuals must graduate from an accredited athletic training program and must successfully complete the NATA Board of Certification Examination including a written, oral, and practical examination.  Athletic trainers must be skilled in the areas of taping, wrapping, padding, and have knowledge of first aid and emergency procedures and protocols.  The athletic trainer must also be proficient in evaluation, treatment, and management of athletic injuries.  The athletic trainer may also be involved in such areas as development of individual and team conditioning programs, nutritional counseling and intervention, menu planning, equipment purchasing, equipment fitting, budgeting, and other administrative duties.  Not to be confused with a personal trainer, an athletic trainer is nationally certified and works under the direct supervision of a physician, and is an essential and integral part of any complete health care program.

What is the growth plate?  The growth plate is the area of developing tissue near the end of the long bones in children and adolescents.  Each long bone has at least two growth plates: one at each end.  The growth plate determines the future length and shape of the mature bone.  When growth is complete, the growth plates are replaced by solid bone.

Who gets growth plate injuries?  Injuries to growth plates can occur in active children and adolescents.   The growth plate is the weakest area of the growing skeleton, ewaker than the nearby ligaments and tendons that connect bones to other bones and muscles.  In a growing child, a serious injury to a joint is more likely to damage a growth plate than the ligaments that stabilize the joint.  An injury that may cause a sprain in an adult can be a potentially serious growth plate injury in a child.

Most growth plate injuries are fractures.  They comprise 15 to 30% of all childhood fractures.  They occur twice as often in boys as in girls, with the greatest incidence among 14 year old boys and 12 year old girls.  Older girls experience these fractures less often because their bodies mature at an earlier age than boys.  As a result, their bones finish growing sooner, and growth plates are replaced by stronger, solid bone.

What causes growth plate injuries?  A majority of growth plate injuries are a result of an acute event such as a fall or a blow to the body.  They can also result from overuse.  For example, a gymnast practices long hours, a long distance runner, or a young baseball pitcher throwing too many curve balls.

Whether an injury is acute or due to overuse, a child who has pain that persists or affects athletic performance should be examined by a doctor.  A child should never be allowed or expected to "work through the pain".  Children often experience some discomfort as their bones and muscles grow and they practice new movements.  Some aches and pains can be expected, but a child's complaints always deserve careful attention.  IF left untreated, growth plate injuries can cause permanent damage and interfere with proper physical growth.

The shoulder's rotator cuff is made up of four muscles.  Those muscles are the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis.  These four muscles together are responsible for the stability and control of the shoulder.  Each muscle plays an important part of movement of the shoulder for an athlete.

Injuries to the rotator cuff muscles can range from mild strains to complete tears of the muscle.  Injuries occur from repetitive blows or motions, or can occur from one specific, sudden movement.  A mild strain may not hinder an athlete, while a complete tear of a rotator cuff muscle could require surgical intervention.

Since the shoulder is such a functional joint in the body, injuries of the shoulder are common injuries in active adolescents.  Throwing sports, as well as swimming, typically produce the most injuries to the rotator cuff muscles.  Proper conditioning and proper techniques are an integral part to avoid injuries to the rotator cuff.  Off-season shoulder strengthening exercises in an athlete with a past history of rotator cuff muscle injuries may also help alleviate future problems for that athlete's rotator cuff.

In any case, evaluation by a certified athletic trainer or sports medicine physician will help to better determine an effective rehabilitation program and return to activity plan for each specific individual.