ATC flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Wet bulb globe temperature

An index combining air temperature, humidity, and radiant heat to estimate heat stress risk; readings above about 28°C (82°F) generally warrant limiting or cancelling intense outdoor activity.

Flash-to-bang method

Counting seconds between a lightning flash and the thunder, then dividing by five, estimates storm distance in miles; a count under 30 seconds means seek shelter at once.

Preparticipation physical examination

Screening before sport participation that reviews medical history, cardiovascular symptoms, prior injuries, medications, and family history, then adds physical and orthopedic examination to determine clearance status.

Static stretch hold duration

Holding a muscle at the point of mild tension for 15 to 30 seconds, repeated two to four times, improves flexibility; dynamic movements are preferred during the immediate pre-competition warm-up.

Exertional sickling

In athletes with sickle cell trait, intense exertion can cause red blood cells to sickle, producing muscle weakness, severe pain, and collapse; treat as an emergency with oxygen, cooling, and rapid transport.

Intrinsic injury risk factors

Personal characteristics that predispose an athlete to injury, including age, sex, body composition, muscle imbalance, limited flexibility, previous injury, and malalignment such as excessive pronation.

Preexercise fluid replacement

Drinking roughly 5 to 7 mL per kilogram of body weight at least four hours before exercise, and 3 to 5 mL/kg when urine is dark, supports adequate hydration status.

Lachman test

Knee special test performed with the knee flexed 20 to 30 degrees; the tibia is drawn anteriorly and a soft or absent endpoint suggests an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

Thompson test

With the patient prone and the knee flexed, squeezing the calf should produce plantar flexion; absence of that response indicates an Achilles tendon rupture.

C7 dermatome

The C7 sensory level is tested on the middle finger; it is combined with myotome and reflex testing to localize cervical nerve root involvement.

Patellar reflex nerve root

The patellar tendon reflex is mediated by the L4 nerve root; a diminished response suggests L4 radiculopathy or peripheral nerve injury.

Ottawa ankle rules

Ankle radiography is indicated with malleolar pain plus bone tenderness at the posterior malleolar edges or inability to bear weight four steps, both immediately and in the clinic.

SOAP note format

A progress note organized as Subjective (athlete's report), Objective (measured findings), Assessment (clinical impression), and Plan (treatment and referral); it standardizes clinical documentation.

Manual muscle test grades

A zero-to-five scale: 0 no contraction, 1 trace contraction, 2 movement without gravity, 3 movement against gravity, 4 against gravity with some resistance, 5 normal strength.

Adult CPR compression ratio

For a single rescuer of an adult, deliver 30 chest compressions at 100 to 120 per minute to a depth of 5 to 6 cm, then two rescue breaths.

Exertional heat stroke cooling

Core temperature above 40°C with central nervous system dysfunction; cold-water immersion should begin immediately with a goal of cooling below 39°C within 30 minutes.

Epinephrine auto-injector site

Intramuscular injection into the vastus lateralis of the lateral thigh; the adult dose is 0.3 mg, repeated after 5 to 15 minutes if anaphylaxis symptoms persist.

Manual in-line stabilization

Holding the head and neck in neutral alignment during airway management of a suspected spine injury, allowing ventilation without traction and without helmet removal.

Primary survey sequence

Rapid assessment of responsiveness, airway, breathing, and circulation with severe bleeding control, followed by disability and environment, completed before any secondary evaluation.

Hypoglycemia in conscious athlete

Give 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting oral carbohydrate and recheck in 15 minutes; never give food or fluid to an unconscious athlete because of aspiration risk.

Emergency action plan

A written, venue-specific document naming personnel, communication methods, equipment location, and activation steps for emergencies; it must be rehearsed at least annually.

Inflammatory phase of healing

Healing stage lasting roughly zero to six days, characterized by bleeding, edema, and pain; protection, relative rest, ice, compression, and elevation are appropriate.

Continuous ultrasound contraindications

Avoid over the pregnant uterus, malignancy, pacemaker, thrombophlebitis, epiphyseal plates in children, and areas of impaired sensation because thermal effects may cause tissue harm.

Gate control theory

A pain-relief principle in which large-diameter afferent input from heat, cold, or electrical stimulation closes a spinal gate, reducing transmission of smaller pain-fiber signals.

Eccentric exercise

Loading a muscle while it lengthens under tension; it produces high force at low metabolic cost and is used to remodel tendon in chronic tendinopathy.

Return-to-play criteria

Clinical readiness requiring pain-free full range of motion, strength at least 90 percent of the uninvolved side, and successful completion of sport-specific functional testing.

Pulsed ultrasound duty cycle

Delivering ultrasound in on-off bursts, typically a 20 percent duty cycle, produces predominantly nonthermal effects used during acute injury and early soft tissue healing.

Negligence four elements

A liability claim requires a duty owed to the athlete, a breach of that duty, causation linking the breach to the harm, and actual damages; all four must be proven.

BOC continuing education requirement

Certified athletic trainers must document 50 continuing education units every two-year reporting cycle to maintain certification, distributed across required content categories.

Informed consent elements

Disclosure of the nature of proposed care, reasonably foreseeable risks and benefits, available alternatives, and the voluntary right to refuse; required before treatment or research participation.

Universal precautions

Treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious; using gloves, eye protection, and gowns as indicated, and disinfecting surfaces according to the exposure control plan.

Scope of practice

The range of duties an athletic trainer may legally perform, defined by state practice acts and professional standards; exceeding it creates legal and disciplinary risk.