Locations:

Buchanan High School
St. Joseph High School

Career Opportunities Include:

· Athletic Trainer
· Physical Therapist
· Physical Therapist Assistant
· Sports Medicine
· Strength and Conditioning Specialist

GRADES: 11-12

*This course may be available for college credit through Lake Michigan College.

Class Description

The Sports Medicine programs assists students in career exploration and a mastery of basic injury care skills. The course provides students with a combination of classroom instruction and clinical experience that leads to career exploration in various sports medicine fields. Students learn the skills needed to provide basic injury care skills in their area of interest.

* This course may be available for college credit through Lake Michigan College.

Content Areas

· Injury Prevention
· Management of Athletic Injuries
· Sports Medicine Careers
· Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries
· Anatomical Structure and Related Injuries
· Biomechanics of Sports

Career Outlook

Physical therapists (PTs) provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health.

All states require physical therapists to pass a licensure exam before they can practice, after graduating from an accredited physical therapist educational program.

Employment is expected to increase faster than the average, as growth in the number of individuals with disabilities or limited function spurs demand for therapy services.

Median annual earnings of physical therapists were $57,330 in 2002.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,Occupational Outlook Handbook 2004-2005 Edition.http://bls.gov/oco/