Management Strategies in Athletic Training
Editors: Richard Ray, EdD, ATC Human Kinetics Publishers, Champaign, IL 1994 256 pages ISBN 0-87322-582-1 Price: $32.00 When I finished reading this book by Dr. Ray, two thoughts came to mind. First, where was this book years ago when I started my first position as a head athletic trainer?, and, second, this book will surely make it easier for students to prepare for the dreaded administration questions on the NATA certification exam. For years, athletic training textbooks have gone into great detail regarding prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries, while only briefing us in the area of administration. In my opinion, this book is long overdue. Ray's book is divided into eight chapters, with each focussing on a different aspect of athletic training management. Chapter 1-"Why athletic trainers organize" provides a theoretical basis of managerial effectiveness. Chapter 2-"What athletic trainers do: program management" discusses vision statements, mission statements, and program evaluation. Chapter 3-"Who athletic trainers work with: human resource management" provides the reader with different types of organizational systems. It discusses the entire hiring process, including what should occur during an interview. Lastly, it addresses strategies for staff evaluation. Chapter 4-"What athletic trainers use: financial resource management" is an invaluable chapter dealing with such items as budget, inventory, and purchase of supplies. Chapter 5-"Where athletic trainers work: facility design and planning" takes the reader through a step-bystep process, beginning with the needs assessment and ending with
monitoring of the construction. Ray shares important ideas about the layout and size of an athletic training facility, and how to choose an architect.
Chapter 6-"Helping athletic trainers remember: information management" deals with record keeping and how computers can assist this process. The author includes many sample forms for the reader. Chapter 7-"Helping athletic trainers pay the bills" shares information regarding athletic insurance. Ray presents the strengths and weaknesses of selfinsurance, primary coverage, and the plan used by most institutions, secondary coverage. Third-party reimbursement and how athletic trainers fit into the picture is also presented. Chapter 8-"Protecting athletic trainers: legal considerations in sports medicine" is an invaluable chapter, providing definitions and examples of legal aspects in athletic training.
I recommend this text not only beit contains valuable information, but also because it is wellorganized and well-written. Each chapter includes several case studies, a few at the beginning to stimulate thinking, and a few at the end to test our problem-solving skills based on what we learned in the chapter. In this way, Dr. Ray allows the athletic trainer to practice clinical skills dealing with administration. I find this comparable to the "hands-on" tests that injury evaluation texts provide the reader. The information is also easy to find. The author provides many illustrations to enhance what is written in the text. Through the use of illustrations, charts, sample forms, and case studies, Dr. Ray has presented his information in a way that should be understood by people of varied learning styles. I can see how this book can be a valuable time-saver for athletic trainers and students of athletic training. For example, if you want information cause
regarding only one or two aspects of management such as insurance or how to hire the right employee, you can turn to the appropriate section. This will also save time for the student who is preparing for the NATA exam and wishes to know more about the legal aspects of athletic training or inventory and ordering of supplies, etc. Although this wellorganized book can be used as an excellent reference, I suggest you read it from cover to cover, when you find the time. For too long, athletic trainers have not been adequately prepared in the science of administration and management, and, like me, have had to learn these tasks on the job. As I examined this book, I not only discovered how I could have avoided some of the administrative mistakes I have made, but I also uncovered many strategies to follow in the future that would make work more efficient and meaningful. As an educator, I now feel I have the tools to prepare my students not only for administration questions on the NATA exam, but also for the administrative tasks of their first job. This book is a must for athletic trainers in all settings and is valuable for the student. I feel that it should be mandatory reading for graduate education. David 0. Draper, EdD, ATC YMCA Healthy Back Book YMCA of the USA/Patricia Sammann Human Kinetics Publishers, Champaign, IL 1994 110 pages, illustrated ISBN: 0-87322-629-1 Price: $10.59 The purpose of this book is to promote self management of back pain through a comprehensive back program and a healthier lifestyle. The focus of this book is to support low back pain (LBP) sufferers and to teach them to manage their
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own condition during various stages of recovery. The book is divided into six chapters. Chapter 1 provides good firstaid tips for those in the acute stage. Chapter 2 gives an overview of the various medical professionals who treat LBP without endorsing or condemning any one profession. It also prepares the reader for the first office visit. Chapter 3 overviews anatomy and function, common medications, and identifies risk factors. Chapter 4 nicely illustrates common exercises with a three-level progression back to normal activities of daily living.
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Aerobic exercise, strength training, and aquatic exercise are endorsed and substantiated as important to long-term management. Chapter 5 gives an overview of posture and body mechanics. Chapter 6 introduces weight control, nutrition, and stress management techniques. The strength of this book is in its diversity. A variety of relevant materials are introduced in an organized manner. One minor omission is a discussion of back orthoses and their role in the management of LBP. This book is in no way specific to athletics. It is similar to other self-
management books such as Mckenzie's Treat Your Own Back but avoids being loyal to one specific philosophy. Flexion and extension principles are employed with instructions to discontinue any exercise that aggravates symptoms. I would recommend that athletic trainers obtain and keep a few copies of this book in their work environment. It would be a very useful book to lend to acute or chronic LBP sufferers when they come to you in a time of need. Bob Stahara, ATC, PT
