The terms “athletic trainer” and “personal trainer” are often used interchangeably. However, there are key differences between an athletic trainer and personal trainer, which we’re going to explore in this post.
Here at JAG Physical Therapy, we offer professional athletic training services. This means we’re well-positioned to offer you help and advice, so keep reading to know more.
What Is an Athletic Trainer?
An athletic trainer is a healthcare professional specializing in sports medicine. They provide a range of services, including diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries. Injury prevention is also part of their remit.
Athletic trainer qualifications are demanding. They require at least a bachelor’s degree in the subject to practice. They also need certification from the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer. In addition, some employers may require a master’s degree. Athletic trainers must also commit to ongoing professional development.
Athletic trainers often work with professional sportspeople to help them achieve their goals. This means they work with sports teams or at sports clubs. They may also work in clinics or hospitals, helping people recover from surgery.
What Is a Personal Trainer?
A personal trainer works with clients who want to improve their physical fitness. They do this by understanding their aims, assessing their fitness levels, and devising a fitness plan. This could include showing them how to do specific exercises and supporting them with their nutrition goals.
To qualify, a personal trainer must take a certification course from a recognized body such as the American Council on Exercise. Once they’ve passed the certification exam, they can practice.
How Do the Roles and Responsibilities of Athletic Trainers and Personal Trainers Differ?
The roles and responsibilities of athletic trainers and personal trainers are quite different. This can be seen in the types of clientele each work with. Athletic trainers tend to work with sportspeople, helping them get back to training after injury. Personal trainers work with people of varying levels of fitness. Their role is to enable them to achieve individual, rather than career-focused, goals.
Athletic trainers focus on injury prevention, rehabilitation, and medical care. Their duties include assessing injuries and devising rehab programs so clients can return to sport. Their work also involves delivering injury prevention programs.
Personal trainers have more of a focus on fitness goals, exercise routines, and general health improvement. Personal trainer services include meeting clients to understand their goals and creating personalized exercise and nutrition programs.
Which One Is Right for You?
Now that you’ve read about athletic training benefits vs. personal training benefits, you may be weighing up which service is better for you.
Athletic trainers tend to work with people seeking help with sports injuries or post-surgery recovery. So if you’ve suffered a sprain, fracture, or tear when playing sports or have had surgery, an athletic trainer is a great choice.
If your goals are more about losing weight, improving fitness, or building your strength, check out the services of a personal trainer. They can support you by showing you how to perform exercises and make the right nutritional choices to achieve your objectives.
Schedule Your Appointment with JAG Physical Therapy
If professional athletic training services are what you’re looking for, be sure to reach out to JAG Physical Therapy. We offer personalized services to help get you back to your former vitality and help prevent further injury.
Why not reach out to us today via our contact form or schedule a consultation with one of our highly qualified specialists? We’re here to respond to your needs with a treatment plan made just for you.
Learn More About Athletic Training from JAG PT
- Preparing For Your First Job As An Athletic Trainer
- The Importance of Athletic Trainers on Sports Teams
- Exercises for Indoor Athletic Training