MONROE — It’s a common enough scene — a player at a high school basketball game goes down withering in agony as they clutch their knee and call for help. A medical looking person comes onto the court, but who is it? It is the local athletic trainer.

Certified athletic trainers are licensed healthcare professionals who provide medical services for active patient populations. From injury prevention and enhanced wellness to rehabilitation and return to activity, athletic trainers offer care everywhere in work, life and sport. March is National Athletic Training Month — a time to celebrate the role that athletic trainers play in our communities.

The 2022 theme for National Athletic Training Month is “Providing Health Care Everywhere”. No matter the team or sport, athletic trainers work diligently to reduce the risk of injury, enhance performance and rehabilitate after injuries to get athletes back to the things they love. They provide care at sporting events and at the hospital to help with injury prevention, examination of injuries, immediate and emergency care and therapeutic intervention. 

This March, SSM Health shows its appreciation to the SSM Health Monroe Sports Medicine athletic trainers for the care they provide on and off the court.