EMMA

Certified & Licensed Athletic Trainer (ATC, LAT)
University of Michigan Health-West

What does a Certified Athletic Trainer do in a sports medicine practice?

In the clinical setting, Emma sees patients after an injury occurs. While that sometimes includes high school, collegiate, or professional athletes, most often it’s everyday people — someone who slipped on the ice, tweaked something playing pickleball, or developed nagging knee pain.

After a detailed evaluation, the team builds a recovery plan. Sometimes that means splinting or casting. Other times, it’s education and a clear set of exercises to follow at home.

How does working both in the clinic and on the sidelines shape your approach?

Being on the sidelines gives Emma a real-time understanding of how injuries happen. Watching movement patterns and mechanisms of injury in live action sharpens how she evaluates patients in the office.

But beyond that, she sees every patient the same way: as someone who loves to move and wants to get back to what they enjoy doing.

What do you look at first when someone comes in with a new injury?

The history tells most of the story.

When did it start? Where does it hurt? What makes it worse? How would you describe the pain?

Mechanism, location, and description often reveal what’s going on before hands-on testing even begins. A detailed history combined with targeted “special tests” helps narrow things down quickly and accurately.

What makes a home exercise plan actually work?

Consistency.

It sounds simple, but it’s the hardest part. Life gets busy, and “I’ll do it tomorrow” becomes the pattern. Emma encourages patients to build exercises into a daily routine — even 20 minutes over a lunch break — and stick with it.

Small, consistent effort adds up.

What are the most common rehab mistakes you see?

Lack of consistency and improper form.

When movements aren’t done intentionally, the body compensates and results stall. Having an Athletic Trainer or Physical Therapist demonstrate exercises ensures patients are activating the right muscles and moving correctly.

How does early evaluation change long-term outcomes?

Small issues can snowball.

Tight quads and weak glutes, left unchecked, may eventually turn into persistent knee pain because muscles aren’t firing properly. Getting evaluated early helps prevent bigger, more stubborn injuries down the road.

If something is nagging for more than a week or so, it’s worth being seen.

How do you help patients rebuild confidence after an injury?

Trust the process.

Healing rarely happens overnight. Emma reminds patients that safe, steady progression works. When people understand what’s happening and have a plan, confidence starts to return.

For someone who doesn’t consider themselves an athlete, how can an athletic trainer help?

In Emma’s words, anyone who is active is an athlete to some degree.

You don’t need to be a professional or have a sponsorship deal to qualify. Movement is medicine. The goal is to help people keep doing what they love, whatever that looks like.