Understanding the Interprofessional Relationship between Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers by Riley Shore
A team is most successful when all members work together to achieve a shared goal. Conflicts occur when team members don’t know how to work together despite their differences. The ability to recognize those differences and acknowledge all of the member’s contributions to the team is crucial for success. Physical Therapists (PTs) and Athletic Trainers (ATCs) work as a team of healthcare professionals who have a shared goal of providing athletes with the most optimal care. One should not work without the other. PTs work alongside ATCs in a variety of clinical settings including professional, collegiate and high school athletics as well as outpatient orthopedic clinics. In my experience as an ATC and now as a student PT I’ve developed a passion for improving the interprofessional relationship between PTs and ATCs. By using my personal experiences and the experiences of other PTs and ATCs, I’ve identified ...