Setting it straight: Athletics trainers are not physical therapists

In your article regarding Horry Schools’ possible hiring of athletic trainers, Daryl Brown was quoted as saying that the high school athletic trainers “perform physical therapy.” This is an incorrect statement.

Physical therapists perform physical therapy. Athletic trainers, under the advice and consent of a licensed physician, carry out the care, prevention and physical rehabilitation of athletic injuries, which is not physical therapy. Physical therapists are licensed and can see a patient without a physician referral for the first 30 days of treatment in South Carolina.

Physical therapists see diagnoses across the age spectrum and the care provided is not limited to athletic injuries. Insurance companies pay for care provided by physical therapists but not by athletic trainers. Mr. Brown, The Sun News and the general public needs to understand the difference in the two fields and realize that though similar in nature, they are not the same thing.

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 9:02 PM with the headline "Setting it straight: Athletics trainers are not physical therapists."