Off The Field: From Traditional to Industrial Athletic Training

In the field of athletic training there is an exponential growth occurring as the modern workplace realizes the value of the Industrial Athletic Trainer. Briotix Health supervisors and athletic trainers weighed in on this growing trend for National Athletic Training Month, letting us know about the ins and outs of modern care through athletic training.

Looking to make a pivot to or learn more about industrial athletic training? This is the guide for you.

1. Understanding the Landscape

2. Assessing Transferable Skills

3. Pursuing Additional Education and Training

4. Gaining Practical Experience

5. Tailored Approaches

6. Embracing Continuous Growth

Understanding the Landscape

Industrial athletic training presents a new perspective, offering athletic trainers a chance to apply their skills and knowledge to non-traditional settings such as manufacturing, construction, and other on-site, virtual, or remote work environments.

If you are considering making the leap to industrial athletic training, it's important to understand the distinct characteristics of industrial athletic training along with its similarities.

Unlike traditional athletic training, which primarily focuses on enhancing performance and preventing injuries with athletes in sports, whether professional, collegiate, or recreational, industrial athletic training addresses the unique physical demands and injury risks encountered in the modern workplace and for "working athletes". This includes tasks such as heavy lifting, repetitive motions, prolonged standing, and exposure to ergonomic hazards.

Though the setting is different, and clientele often face differing and unique challenges, there is a large overlap in shared skills used by both industries!

Assessing Transferable Skills

Traditional athletic training utilizes a diverse skill set that can seamlessly translate into the industrial setting. 

1. Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation: Athletic trainers are adept at identifying injury risk factors and implementing preventative strategies. This expertise is invaluable in designing injury prevention programs tailored to the specific needs of industrial workers.

2. Functional Movement Assessments: Conducting functional movement screenings and assessing movement patterns are integral components of both traditional and industrial athletic training. Athletic trainers can leverage these skills to evaluate workers' mobility, stability, and biomechanics in industrial settings.

3. Exercise Prescription and Conditioning: Designing and implementing exercise programs to improve strength, endurance, and flexibility are fundamental aspects of athletic training. Industrial athletic trainers can apply these principles to enhance workers' physical fitness and job performance with the backing of trained teams of ergonomists and clinicians.

4. Health Education and Promotion: Educating individuals on topics such as nutrition, hydration, ergonomics, and injury management is a core function of athletic trainers. In the industrial setting, this practice is especially vital. Promoting wellness and safety awareness fosters a culture of health and reduces the risk of workplace injuries. This then leads to reduced claims and better cost savings for clients.

   Emmanuel "Manny" Osaseri, an Industrial Sports Medicine Professional with Briotix Health and Certified Athletic Trainer, had this to say about the transferable skills he's used in his roles both on the sports field and in the warehouse:
   
   "My love for sports naturally led me to Athletic Training while I studied Kinesiology. From there, I knew that I could also impact individuals both on and off the field by helping general populations with essential basic movements needed for daily living. For instance, a squat is both important for an athlete's strength, in the same way that a squat is helpful for a stocker who lifts 40x a shift. This is why I love Athletic Training because I get to help different groups of people with the same injury prevention methods. "

Pursuing Additional Education and Training

When transitioning to the field of industrial athletic training, there is ample opportunity to expand on current knowledge and expertise with certifications, workshops, and networking opportunities. The opportunity for career growth, whether vertical, or horizontal, is huge.

Industrial athletic trainers can become a Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist (CEAS) or Certified Industrial Ergonomist (CIE) depending on their job interests or dive more into the clinical side of care. Additional certifications can expand an athletic trainers' capabilities giving them greater insight on care and the healing journey for their clients. 

Many businesses sponsor employees to attend workshops or educational courses and in the industrial setting this could be for occupational health and safety, ergonomics, or workplace injury prevention. New networking and mentorship initiatives continue this trend of personal and professional growth. 

Gaining Practical Experience

Hands-on experience is essential for transitioning into industrial athletic training. Working part-time with industrial organizations, occupational health clinics, or physical therapy clinics that specialize in industrial rehabilitation provides valuable exposure to the unique challenges and considerations of industrial settings.

Shadowing experienced industrial athletic trainers to observe their day-to-day responsibilities, interventions, and interactions with workers can be another approach if you already know individuals in the field. But many businesses are offering entry-level or part-time roles for athletic trainers. These positions allow you to familiarize yourself with specific job tasks and dynamics to determine if industrial athletic training is for you.

Tailored Approaches

Industrial athletic training presents the opportunity for athletic trainers to be creative and find unique approaches in every work environment. Tailoring a unique approach to each workforce, depending on work requirements, environment, and job demands lets athletic trainers expand their skills sets and work with new departments.

1. Customized Programs: Develop customized training programs that align with the physical demands of various job roles within the organization. Tailor exercises and interventions to address specific ergonomic risks and injury patterns prevalent in the workplace.

   At Briotix Health, our athletic trainers have the opportunity to build these customized programs with support from supervisors and experts. Read more about how a Briotix Health provider created their own program to enhance care in the workplace!
   
   

2. Collaborative Approach: Collaborate with occupational health and safety professionals, ergonomic experts, and management to integrate athletic training principles into existing wellness initiatives and safety protocols.

3. Cultural Sensitivity: Understand and respect the unique cultural norms, work practices, and communication styles prevalent in industrial settings. Building rapport and trust with workers is essential for fostering engagement and compliance with injury prevention programs.

Embracing Continuous Learning

The field of industrial athletic training is continuously evolving, with new research findings, technologies, and best practices regularly emerging. Embrace a mindset of lifelong learning and professional development by staying informed! Looking for industry trends, regulations, and advancements in occupational health and safety through relevant publications, conferences, and online resources can only improve care for employees.

Soliciting feedback from colleagues, supervisors, and clients to refine your skills can improve the effectiveness of your interventions alongside regular evaluations. The outcomes of your programs and interventions can help identify areas for improvement and demonstrate the impact of your work on reducing workplace injuries and promoting employee well-being.

Looking to learn more?

Listen to the Briotix Health Spotlight to hear from Briotix Health team members who made the transition from traditional athletic training to industrial athletic training! 

Transitioning from traditional athletic training to industrial athletic training offers new and exciting opportunities to expand your professional horizons and make a meaningful impact in non-traditional settings. By leveraging your existing skills, you can pursue fruitful education and training, gain beneficial experiences, and grow professionally.

So go out and embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with this evolution, and continue to strive for excellence in promoting health, safety, and wellness in the industrial workforce.