Why Athletic Trainers Are Invaluable in a Sports Medicine Clinic.

Sean Bradley MD
Sep 2
4 min read

Athletic trainers (ATs) in the clinic bridge the gap between the sideline and the exam room. Their deep sports knowledge, injury‑management skills, advanced education, and exceptional communication help athletes and active patients get the right care—faster, safer, and with fewer detours. They are essential in creating and maintaining a dynamic and effective healthcare team.

Who Are Athletic Trainers?

Athletic trainers are licensed and credentialed healthcare professionals who specialize in the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions. In a sports medicine clinic, they work directly with physicians to streamline care from the first phone call to return‑to‑play. The most common setting you see ATs working are on the sidelines of secondary high schools, collegiate and professional sport teams, and higher education; however, you can find ATs working in healthcare admin, occupational health, performing arts, public safety, physician practices and even the armed forces.

Core Competencies: patient care and procedural skills, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, systems-based practice

The Sideline Advantage—Brought Into the Clinic

The same experts who manage injuries in the heat of competition bring that on‑the‑spot clarity to clinic visits.

Early Intervention & Injury Assessment: ATs translate the mechanism of injury, timelines, and functional demands into an efficient exam, so patients see the right provider the first time.
Collaborative Practice Model: ATs work well in multidisciplinary teams, facilitating communication between physicians, physical therapists, and other providers.
Patient Education: ATs provide guidance on injury prevention, exercises, and post-treatment care, which improves understanding and compliance.
Accessibility: Patients may get quicker access to care through athletic trainers, reducing frustration and enhancing the patient's experience.

Advanced Education = Better, Safer Care

ATs are required to complete accredited professional programs and hold a board certification, with many also earning advanced degrees and other certifications (e.g., manual therapy, strength & conditioning, concussion care). Some ATs also complete specialized, advanced training focused in an area of specialty practice, such as orthopedics.

Evidence‑based practice: ATs continuously update protocols for common problems like tendinopathy, hamstring strains, and ankle sprains.
Technical skills: Proficient in bracing, casting, therapeutic exercise progressions, diagnostic ultrasound, and assisting with procedures (e.g., ultrasound‑guided injections set‑up, post‑procedure care).
Broad Skill Set: Beyond sports injuries, ATs are trained in emergency care, therapeutic modalities, strength/conditioning programs, increasingly complex patient cases, advanced imaging and intervention literacy. They possess robust clinical education, immense hand-on-experience, and refined decision-making skills that go beyond just sports.

Communication That Moves Care Forward

ATs are elite communicators—between athletes, parents, coaches, and clinicians.

Plain‑language translation: Turning medical findings into clear, actionable steps that athletes and families can follow.
Team coordination: Seamless updates to coaches, school ATs, and therapists keep everyone aligned on restrictions and progressions.
Expectation setting: Honest timelines and criteria‑based goals reduce re‑injury and frustration.

Where ATs Add Value in a Sports Medicine Clinic

Front‑end efficiency – Pre‑visit triage, accurate injury histories, and targeted outcome measures speed up diagnosis and reduce unnecessary imaging.
On‑visit support – Special tests, functional screens, taping/bracing, immediate home‑program instruction, and equipment fitting.
After‑visit momentum – Check‑ins, exercise progressions, school/team communication, and return‑to‑play documentation.
Concussion management – Symptom tracking, academic accommodations coordination, and stepwise exertional protocols.
Prevention programs – Warm‑up templates, workload guidance, and movement prep to lower injury risk.
Time Management for Physicians: ATs handle non-complex cases, prep patients, collect histories, and assist with procedures—freeing up physicians to focus on more critical cases.
Streamlined Workflow: Their involvement reduces wait times and increases patient throughput.
Documentation Support: Many ATs assist with charting, coding, and documentation in EMRs

A Day in the Life of a Clinical AT (Example)

7:30a: Triage calls and messages; slot same‑day ankle injury with the sports physician.
9:00a: Evaluate a runner’s knee pain; teach a graded loading plan and fit a patellar strap.
11:00a: Assist with ultrasound‑guided injection; review post‑procedure activity.
1:00p: Concussion re‑check; coordinate school accommodations and RTP Stage 2.
3:00p: Communicate weekend tournament guidelines to a soccer coach; update restrictions in the chart.
4:30p: Build a quick prevention handout for volleyball landing mechanics.

For Athletes & Families: What to Expect

Same‑day practical help: Taping, bracing, crutch fitting, and first exercises you can start tonight.
A clear plan: Step‑by‑step milestones with criteria (not just timelines) for practice and game return.
One point of contact: Your AT helps you navigate imaging, PT, school notes, and follow‑ups.

For Coaches & Programs: Partnership That Pays Off

Availability: Quick answers about participation status and progression.
Consistency: Unified messaging from clinic to sideline.
Education: In‑season talks on hydration, heat, recovery, and injury‑prevention warm‑ups.

Myth vs. Fact

Myth: “ATs are the same as personal trainers.”

Fact: Athletic trainers are licensed and credentialed healthcare professionals trained in injury evaluation, emergency care, and clinical rehabilitation.
Myth: “Once the doctor visits are done, care is over.”

Fact: ATs keep recovery moving with communication, progress checks, and RTP testing.

How This Helps Your Clinic

Better patient experience: Immediate solutions + a trusted guide.
Clinical efficiency: Focused visits, fewer bottlenecks, clearer follow‑up.
Safer, faster returns: Criteria‑based progressions reduce setbacks and repeat injuries.

Meet Our Clinical Athletic Trainer : Kacey Ohlemeyer, MS, LAT, ATC, OTC

Clinical Athletic Trainer — Atrium MSKI–Waxhaw

Bio: Kacey is a dual board‑certified Athletic Trainer with advanced training and specialization in orthopedics and diagnostics. He brings over a decade of sports medicine experience to the clinic.

Kacey earned his undergraduate degree in Athletic Training from Indiana State University, followed by graduate work at the University of South Carolina, where he worked with Division I softball, volleyball, and track & field, and supported SEC football training camp. He completed his clinical residency at Boston University with a focus on orthopedics and diagnostic evaluation, serving Division I men’s basketball, track & field, club sports, ROTC, student health, and Boston Medical Center’s Ryan Center for Sports Medicine.

Beyond clinical practice, Kacey is Chair of the Residency and Fellowship Standards Committee for the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and serves on its Residency and Fellowship Council. He has published peer‑reviewed articles on energy availability, therapeutic interventions, youth football protective equipment, and privacy in sports medicine, and has lectured nationally on professional development and complex orthopedic conditions.

Certified by both the Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers (ATC) and the National Board of Certification for Orthopedic Technologists (OTC), and licensed in North Carolina, Kacey has provided care at all levels—from recreational to Olympic athletes, including national and world champions

Content expert: Kacey Ohlemeyer, MS, LAT, ATC, OTC