Experiences Available to Sports Medicine Athletic Training Students
Clinical Track: The intern will have the opportunity to work closely with Certified Athletic Trainers and Sports Medicine Physicians in the clinic setting. Here you will experience all aspects of patient care from documentation, diagnostic testing, brace fitting and home exercise programs. Other experiences may include:
- Radiology: Observe the radiology department at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and gain experience with all aspects of diagnostic testing performed on a daily basis.
- Orthopedic Clinic Setting: Athletic training students will have a rotation with the orthopedic department at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to observe the Orthopedic Surgeons in the clinic setting and the operating room.
- Sports Nutrition: Spend time with the registered dietitian during sports nutrition appointments. Observe as how the registered dietitian assesses dietary intake and nutritional demands; sets and evaluates sports nutrition-related goals; tailors diets after identifying the patient’s unique nutrient needs; and educates patients and families on methods to properly fuel for athletic competition and lifestyle.
Functional Rehabilitation Track: Working with Certified Athletic Trainers, this is an aggressive program designed to fully return our patients to their pre-injury level of play, focusing on flexibility, muscle strength, power, balance, agility and functional coordination or body control.
- PlayStrong: With one of our athletic trainers, an athletic training student will be able to gain experience with children and adolescents (ages 5 and older) who may be living with or recovering from chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease or obesity. This medically supervised wellness program aims to help patients become more active and change their physical activity habits.
- Adaptive Rehabilitation: The Adaptive Sports Medicine Program provides an individualized treatment for pediatric and adolescent athletes with physical disabilities. Regardless of skill level, this program is designed for a range of physical disabilities, including: congenital and acquired amputations, limb deformity, spinal for injuries and paralysis, combinations of intellectual and physical impairments, and other conditions.
- Complex Concussion Rehabilitation: With one of our athletic trainers working in Complex Concussion Clinic, athletic training students will see patients who have had symptoms of a concussion longer than a month. The goal of rehabilitation in the Complex Concussion Clinic is for patients to maintain or increase their physical fitness levels while simultaneously working to reduce symptoms.
Outreach Track: Nationwide Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine department provides athletic training services for many high schools in the greater Columbus area. These athletic trainers are responsible for injury prevention, injury evaluation, rehabilitation, event coverage, and physician referrals. Physician coverage for some events is also coordinated as a part of our school outreach service. Athletic training students will have the opportunity to gain experience in clinical outreach at various high school settings. They will also have the ability to see how athletic trainers serve the community as education resources to teachers, administrators, school nurses, and parents. Other experiences may include:
- Special Event Coverage: Athletic training students will have a chance to use their skills and knowledge working alongside Certified Athletic Trainers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital providing medical services for outside events, camps and tournaments.
- Sports Performance: Athletic training students will have a chance to see how the athletic trainer and sports performance specialists work together to improve the health and wellbeing of student athletes. Observe an athlete’s sports performance session and learn about proper lifting and functional movement techniques.