History of Sports medicine

  • 776 BCE

    Ancient Olympics

    The Ancient Olympics in Greece is the earliest recorded organized sporting event. Early forms of sports medicine were practiced.
  • First Athletic Trainer

    In 1881, Harvard Hired the first Athletic Trainer. He was professionally trained and mainly did rub downs.
  • Trainers Bible

    Dr. S.E. Bilik wrote The Trainer’s Bible
  • Cramer Family

    The Cramer family started a chemical company
  • First Sports Medicine Clinic

    The first sports medicine clinic was created in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • First Aider

    The Cramer family published First Aider in 1932
  • National Athletic Training Association

    There was a brief National Athletic Training Association that was short-lived due to World War II. There was no time to develop the program so it failed.
  • NATA Formation

    NATA is the National Athletic Trainers Association. It was formed in 1950.
  • Certification Examination

    Lindsy McLean was in an article stating reasons for why the NATA should develop a certification of examination for athletic trainers.
  • Certification Approval

    In 1969, during the meeting, The committee approved the Idea of the " Procedures of Certification for active members of the National Athletic Trainers Association".
  • First Examination

    Twenty-four candidates took the first examination. This was located at the NATA Annual Meeting in Baltimore.
  • Certification Accreditation

    The Board of Certification Accreditation was granted by the NCHCA.
  • NATABOC

    The Board of Directors elected the NATABOC, with the responsibility of certifying practitioners. This was a separate organization.
  • Health Profession

    Athletic training was recognized as an Allied Health Profession.
  • NATA Education Council

    NATA Education Council was founded. They are those who determined that competencies should be taught in accredited athletic training programs.
  • Development of Telemedicine

    Telemedicine became a thing expanding to sports medicine. It allowed remote monitoring and consultations of athletes.
  • Recognition of Sports Psychology

    Sports psychology addresses mental aspects of athlete performance and well-being.
  • Graduation Requirements

    Students would have to graduate from an accredited athletic training education program in order to take the national certification exam. Colleges have created athletic training majors for students.
  • Zackery Lystedt Law

    The Zackery Lystedt law was created to prevent athletes from coming back to play after an injury without medical consent. I was passed on May 14, 2009.
  • COVID-19 Impact

    The COVID-19 impacted sports medicine by emphasizing public health measures, athlete safety, and new challenges