Sports And Athletic Training

Sports and athletic training are much more complex than simply playing games and getting in shape. There are many facets to physical training and organized sports, including training as a profession, the different types of training you can undergo and the potential health ramifications of engaging in sports. Before beginning a formal athletic training program or pursuing a long-term, serious commitment with sports, consider the factors that contribute to the art and business of athletics.

Professional Training

Professional athletic trainers are thoroughly educated and rigorously tested industry professionals. Almost any professional trainer holds at least a bachelor's degree, while the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly 70 percent of trainers have at least a master's degree. In most states, trainers must also be certified by the Board of Certification by passing an examination. Once qualified, trainers work to treat athletic injuries and protect athletes by preventing potential injuries. According to the BLS, as of May 2008, the median annual wage for trainers was about $39,000.

Careers

Athletic trainers work in fields not limited to sports. While many work with professional and student athletes, athletic trainers may also be contracted to improve the fitness of professionals with physically demanding careers, like firefighters. They may also work in rehabilitation science, helping patients recover from repetitive stress injuries.

Injuries

Athletic training and participation in sports comes with the risk of suffering both minor and serious injuries -- some injuries so serious that they could end an athlete's career. Herniated discs in the spine, for example, may be more prominent in football linemen or baseball catchers; as they are so often hunched over, players like these suffer from poor posture that can lead to herniated discs. Contact sports like football and rugby also leave players vulnerable to concussions, broken bones and other serious injuries.

Injury Prevention

Injury prevention is a major concern for athletes and their trainers, and proper precautions should always be exercised. Warming up, for example, is a way of avoiding not only immediate injury, but also preventing arthritis later in life. Specialized breathing exercises like inspiratory muscle training are also used not only for improving endurance, but for treating cardiovascular problems like asthma.

Types of Training

Depending on an athlete's individual needs, he may concentrate on different types of training. For example, an athlete who needs to be both fast in an open run and agile with his feet would undergo speed and agility training. This type of training may entail exercises like running uphill to build muscle and endurance while performing footwork drills to improve agility. Athletes like weightlifters would focus instead on improving strength, working primarily in the weight room and focusing less on cardiovascular exercise.