Pitt-Johnstown athletic trainers have an important role in athletes’ careers.

The trainers work around the athletes’ schedules to be available to stretch, heat or massage muscles.

According to Pitt-Johnstown head athletic trainer Elissa Till, NCAA student athletes are able to receive medical care for sport-related injuries.

“Many individuals sustain injuries during their competitive season that require long-term attention, such as post-surgical rehabilitation, for several months,” said Till.

Trainers work throughout the day, during indoor sports practices and games: volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball.

When the spring season hits, trainers are at the home games for baseball, softball and track and field.

In the fall, trainers are at home games for men’s and women’s soccer.

Trainers are available to athletes during their seasons, but also in their offseasons, probably the most important time for the athletes during the year.

During the offseasons, athletes sometimes put in more work than they do the rest of year.

The trainer’s room has many tools available to cover different types of injuries.

“Various types of modalities are available to the student athletes,” said Till.

“Therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation and heat (and) cold are used,” said Till.

“Also, compression to decrease healing time of injuries (is available).”

If, for some reason, the trainers are not available during a certain time of the day for athletes to see them, appointments can be scheduled.

Of the various Pitt-Johnstown sports, according to Till, contact sports produce the most athletes to the training room.

  “Sports that have a collision or contact component tend to have a higher incidence of injury than non-contact sports,” said Till.