Mars Area School District, in conjunction with UPMC Sports Medicine, provides comprehensive care for all of its student-athletes. This includes having two full-time Certified Athletic Trainers, who are contracted through UPMC, available for coverage of all practices and home events for all High School and Middle School sports. In addition to the full-time coverage, the partnership with UPMC not only allows Mars student-athletes direct access to the finest in Sports Medicine physicians and orthopedic surgeons, but also to physical therapy, sports nutrition evaluations, sports performance training, neuropsychologists for concussion care, mental training, and easy access to all other specialists within the hospital system. The UPMC Sports Medicine program is the area's leader in the prevention, care, treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries.

What are certified athletic trainers (ATC’s)?

• Licensed allied health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize patient activity and participation in athletics, work and life.
• Have obtained a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from an accredited college or university & passed a national board of certification exam.
• Experts in:
  
  
  • Prevention of injuries.
  • Examination and diagnosis of injuries.
    
    • Possess a thorough understanding of musculoskeletal and systemic anatomy and the physiological response to injury and illness. 
      
      
• Treatment and rehabilitation of emergency, acute and chronic conditions
  
  
  • Because certified athletic trainers work with a physically-active population, they are skilled at tailoring rehabilitation programs to suit the younger athletic population so that Mars athletes are progressed through injuries quickly, yet safely & at a pace conducive to returning to the playing field/court/surface in a timely manner.
  • Also experienced in therapeutic modalities, nutritional aspects of athletics, psychological intervention, and wellness and conditioning.