March is National Athletic Training month. Athletic trainers have a long history of providing quality health care not just for athletes but also for those engaged in physical activity. Their ability to deliver care to patients is based on specific tasks, knowledge and skills acquired through their nationally regulated educational processes. Athletic trainers are trained in the prevention of injuries, recognition, evaluation and treatment of injuries, rehabilitation, health care administration, education and guidance while also providing compassionate care for all. If you're interested in learning more about the athletic training profession visit www.nata.org
This month we are going to spotlight athletic trainers we work with everyday to give our patients thorough and competent care. Our first athletic trainer, and newest member to the Beacon Orthopaedics and Drayer Physical Therapy team, is Joe Hacker, MEd, ATC, CSCS. He is the Regional Athletic Training Coordinator for Ohio and Kentucky. We asked him a few questions and his answers are below.
Overall, what is your favorite sport to cover and why?
"My favorite sport to cover would have to be Friday night high school football. I was raised in South Texas and grew up in the athletic training room/sidelines as my Step-Father was an athletic trainer at a smaller school called Gregory Portland. That is when/where my true love for not only sports medicine but also being under the lights on a Friday night began."
What are some of your favorite ATC memories so far?
"I have a few favorite ATC memories and moments so far including the first time my wife won a district title in volleyball at the same school that I was an athletic trainer at, the two of us taking our then 2 week old daughter to her first volleyball game, and many more. One that was pretty influential was the first opportunity I had to volunteer as the only medical professional for a disability games event, where I found myself providing athletic training care to an event of over 100 intellectually disabled athletes. This not only sparked a new passion, but also was the driving factor behind my research in graduate school, “The self-efficacy of entry level athletic trainers in working with intellectually and/or physically disabled athletes.”
What do you love about your current position?
"I love the fact that I get to build amazing relationships with some of the regions top physicians, athletic trainers, and schools while working every day to serve others in a wide range of duties, all of which revolve around providing the absolute best care for every one of our student athletes no matter their background or circumstances."
Anything new or exciting coming up career/life wise?
My wife and I are expecting an addition to our family of three very soon. We have a five year old daughter and are expecting identical twin girls this spring.
What is one ‘dream’ sports medicine/biomechanical equipment addition you would put to use if money wasn’t an option and why.
"I am very simple and somewhat “Old School” in that I believe my hands are one of the best sports medicine tools that I have, but if money was no option I would easily put to use a combination of two pieces of equipment as they go hand in hand;
1: Omegawave: this helps identify the optimal types and intensities of training and recovery, to improve athletic performance and help avoid injury.
2: A sensory Deprivation Float Tank: If with the Omegawave we see the nervous systems are “off”, we use the float tank to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, while at the same time decreasing activity of the sympathetic nervous system, thus bringing the body to an optimal state for performance and balance."
