We have reached the month of March, which means it is National Athletic Training Month! Some may wonder what the difference is between an athletic trainer and a physical therapist. Both professions are dedicated to helping people optimize movement to return to and/or maintain their best level of function. Let’s go through a few more similarities and differences of the two professions.

What does an athletic trainer do?

• Athletic trainers require a Bachelor’s degree, however, 70% of ATs get a Master’s degree.
• Often, they are first on site with athletes to report to acute injuries.
• They work with athletes of various ages and skill levels. This includes athletes in youth sports, professional sports and industrial athletes in work settings. Athletic trainers can also work in clinics and hospitals.
• Focus on injury prevention, assessment and management of acute and/or chronic conditions.
• May use injury preventative devices such as tape or braces to help as needed.
• Athletic trainers provide emergency care and then collaborate with other healthcare professionals, including physical therapists.
• They must react and think quickly under pressure when on sidelines with athletes.
• Just like physical therapists, athletic trainers must complete ongoing education requirements to maintain their certification.

What does a physical therapist do?

• Physical therapists require a Bachelor’s degree with specific prerequisites to enter a Doctoral program. Typically it takes about four years to complete a bachelor’s degree, then 2-3 years to complete the doctoral program.
• Like athletic training, physical therapists work in multiple settings, including the following: outpatient clinics, hospitals, home health care, skilled nursing and some are self-employed.
• Physical therapists can specialize in different patient populations. Examples include: orthopedics, pediatrics, vestibular and neurological rehabilitation.
• A physical therapist’s role is to evaluate, diagnose and treat a variety of conditions. This includes acute, chronic and post-operative.
• A physical therapist may treat using stretching, strengthening, joint mobilizations/manipulations, modalities (ice, heat, electric stimulation, etc.), balance training and proper prescription of assistive devices (crutches, braces, orthotics).

How do athletic trainers and physical therapists work together?

• Both athletic trainers and physical therapists have the goal of returning the athlete to prior level function.
• A physical therapist is able to provide one-on-one patient care that can focus on rehabilitation of injury. They can provide treatment to reduce symptoms and develop a program to maximize function.
• An athletic trainer can assess the individual during sport activities to determine how the individual is responding to treatment and ensure they are implementing rehabilitation program effectively.
• Healthcare provides best serve an individual when working together as a team. Communication between an athletic trainer and physical therapist can enhance an athlete's ability to return to prior level of function at a safe and efficient rate.

Sources:
Athletic Trainer Vs. Physical Therapist: Career, Salary, Education of PT Progress
National Athletic Training Month: 20 Facts About Athletic Training

What's New at PT Plus
Spring Fever YMCA Family Event
Join our therapist, Jordan Weyker for some family fun at the YMCA, swimming in the Family Adventure Pool, bounce houses, games and activities. Hosted at the Feith Family Ozaukee YMCA on 3/17 from 5-7PM and the  Kettle Moraine YMCA - West Bend on 3/18 from 10AM-12PM. RSVP with the Facebook Event links above to see complete event details. ​

Blood Flow Restriction Training Workshop
Join Mark Snyder at the Hartland Movement Center on Saturday, March 25th to learn about how BFRT works and what the benefits are. This training technique allows for quicker recovery and faster strength gains making it popular among athletes and health enthusiasts. RSVP on our Facebook Event. ​

Nearly 5 million people in the United States have fibromyalgia. This chronic condition causes widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues. It can be difficult to manage and can severely impact quality of life. The best treatment plans combine exercise, modalities and education. Physical therapists are experts in all three, so they're the perfect practitioner to help!

Exercise
Currently, recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia include patient education and non-pharmacological interventions. The right exercise routine can help with pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, and more. A combination of strengthening, stretching and aerobic exercise is the most effective. You and your PT will work together to find the right type and intensity of exercise to best manage your symptoms.

​Modalities
Exercise isn't the only tool the PT has to help people with fibromyalgia though. Gentle manual therapy and massage have been shown to help reduce pain and muscle stiffness caused by fibromyalgia. Physical therapists also use modalities to reduce symptoms.
 
Examples include:

• electrical stimulation
• laser
• biofeedback
• dry needling in states where it is allowed

 
In addition to land-based exercise, some clinics also have the option of aquatic therapy. This combines the benefits of exercise with the warmth of a therapeutic pool.
 
Education
Education is another important component in treating fibromyalgia. A physical therapist spends more time with their patients than most other practitioners. They have the time to help you understand what's going on, and what you can do about it. Research shows that people with more knowledge about their condition have better outcomes, more confidence, and cope better.
 
While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, physical therapists can help with pain management, strength, mobility, fatigue and function to help patients find relief from their symptoms.

References:

1. Research (peer-reviewed)
   1. Therex effectiveness - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5632473/
   2. PT for fibromyalgia - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31140398/
   3. Exercises for fibro - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29185675/
   4. Manual therapy for fibro - ​​https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32604939/
   5. Aquatic PT for fibro - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23818412/
   6. Effectiveness of exercise with fatigue, etc for fibro - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32721388/
2. Articles and Content
   1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11028838/
   2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36051912/
   3. https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-fibromyalgia