This is the month of “March Madness” with basketball tournaments galore, and in a related move, it’s been declared “Athletic Trainers” month. Iowa Athletic Trainers Society president John Roslien says an athletic trainer does more than tape up sprained ankles. Roslien says athletic trainers are concerned about the total health of athletes, so they do things like make sure equipment is properly fitted. Roslien says when an athlete is injured, having a trainer on site can jump-start the healing process. There are 200 licensed athletic trainers in Iowa. The Iowa Athletic Trainers Society has about 450 members. Roslien says some work for college athletic departments, others work for hospitals or clinics, and others work for businesses. Just a few Iowa high schools employ athletic trainers. Roslien, by the way, is an athletic trainer at Central College in Pella. For more information about athletic trainers, visit nata.org on the web.
