Explore the escalating burnout crisis in athletic training, examining widespread prevalence across practice settings, contributing workload factors, and cultural influences. Discover actionable solutions for building sustainable careers while maintaining professional excellence and athlete care quality.
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Leaps of Faith can lead to Career Milestones
Destiny Adkins, MAT, LAT, ATC · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Destiny
Destiny Adkins is a certified athletic trainer (MAT, LAT, ATC) with six years of experience in the sports medicine industry, specializing in secondary school athletics and athlete care. She currently serves as an Athletic Trainer with Terrebonne General Health System, providing outreach services to high school athletes across multiple sports. Her role involves injury evaluations, rehabilitation, treatment planning, emergency response, wound care, concussion testing, injury prevention, and coordinating return-to-play programs to help athletes safely return to the activities they love. Adkins earned her Associates of Arts degree at Lincoln College in Illinois, her Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Athletic Training from Eureka College in Illinois and her Master’s degree in Athletic Training from Charleston Southern University in South Carolina. She is a Board of Certification (BOC) certified athletic trainer, licensed in Louisiana, and holds certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), CPR, and first aid instruction. She is an active member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the Louisiana Athletic Trainers’ Association (LATA). Her expertise and dedication to sports medicine have also been recognized through her feature in School Health magazine. Passionate about athlete advocacy and healthcare education, Adkins takes pride in being the medical professional responsible for guiding injured athletes through recovery and helping them achieve their goals. She credits her success to the coaches and professors who supported her growth and values integrity, transparency, respect, and building meaningful relationships in her work. Beyond her clinical responsibilities, she contributes to her community through volunteer efforts, including providing first aid and CPR education, supporting local initiatives, and offering free athletic physicals to student-athletes.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Destiny
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the guidance and support of the coaches who have mentored me throughout my journey, as well as the professors who challenged, encouraged, and helped shape my growth. Their knowledge, feedback, and belief in my potential played an important role in my personal and professional development.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to remain open-minded and committed to continuous growth. Being willing to explore new possibilities, learn from others. Understanding different approaches has helped me expand my knowledge, adapt to change, and continue developing both personally and professionally.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be ready for the challenge - embrace being the underdog, and desiring to be the best medical professional out there, because you are going run into plenty of obstacles.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Having to explain to others what we do and who we are. Not alot of people know the difference between and athletic trainer versus a personal trainer. We are still a medical field that often is undermined and not recognized as a professional medical field, requiring a master's degree.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are integrity, transparency, and respect. I strive to build genuine relationships by being relatable, trustworthy, and respectful in both my personal and professional interactions.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Destiny
Burning Alive
Understanding the Crisis of Burnout in Athletic Training and Pathways to Professional Sustainability
By Destiny Adkins, MAT, LAT, ATC
Burnout has become one of the greatest threats facing the athletic training profession
Burnout has become one of the greatest threats facing the athletic training profession, and for many clinicians, it is no longer a matter of if it will happen, but when. Behind every practice, competition, and rehabilitation session is an athletic trainer carrying the responsibility of protecting athletes while navigating a profession built around constant availability. The expectation to be present physically and mentally at all times has created an environment where dedication can gradually become exhaustion, leaving many clinicians questioning how long they can sustain the demands of the profession.
The World Health Organization defines burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by emotional exhaustion, increased mental distance from one's job, and reduced professional effectiveness. Within athletic training, burnout is not simply the result of a difficult day or a demanding season. It is the culmination of prolonged exposure to high expectations, limited recovery time, and a professional culture that has historically valued sacrifice as a measure of commitment.
Burnout is widespread among athletic trainers across multiple practice settings
Research suggests burnout is widespread among athletic trainers across multiple practice settings. A 2024 study examining collegiate athletic trainers found that 72% of respondents reported experiencing moderate-to-high levels of burnout, demonstrating the emotional and professional strain many clinicians face. Additional research involving secondary school athletic trainers found that approximately 28% reported moderate-to-high levels of burnout, reflecting the demanding responsibilities placed on clinicians managing youth athletics and providing comprehensive athlete care.
Burnout has also contributed to growing challenges surrounding workforce retention. Nearly 50% of collegiate athletic trainers reported leaving their position since 2019, while secondary school athletic trainers continue to report issues related to workload, burnout, and job dissatisfaction that may influence their decision to remain in the profession.
The workload placed on athletic trainers contributes significantly to this growing challenge
The workload placed on athletic trainers contributes significantly to this growing challenge. Unlike many healthcare providers who operate within scheduled appointments, athletic trainers work in an environment where injuries, clinical decisions, and athlete needs often require immediate attention. The work rarely ends when the final athlete leaves the facility, as administrative responsibilities, patient follow-up, and clinic management often continue beyond traditional hours.
The challenge is further amplified by the patient volume athletic trainers manage. During a typical season, one athletic trainer may be responsible for dozens or even hundreds of athletes across multiple teams. This creates a unique healthcare environment where clinicians must continuously shift between patients, injuries, and priorities while maintaining the same level of attention and quality of care. The ability to multitask is essential, but constantly operating at maximum capacity can eventually become unsustainable.
Beyond workload, burnout is also influenced by the culture surrounding athletic training
Beyond workload, burnout is also influenced by the culture surrounding athletic training. For decades, the profession has been shaped by the belief that the best athletic trainers are the ones who always answer the call, stay late, and put the needs of others before their own. While dedication remains one of the profession's greatest strengths, the expectation of unlimited availability can blur the boundaries between professional responsibility and personal well-being.
Creating sustainable careers in athletic training requires a shift in how success is measured. Commitment to athletes should not require sacrificing personal health, relationships, or overall quality of life. Establishing boundaries is not a sign of reduced dedication; it is an essential component of maintaining a long and effective career. Athletic trainers must be encouraged to leave work at work when possible, utilize time away from the profession without guilt, and recognize that recovery is necessary to continue providing high-quality care.
Organizations also play a critical role in reducing burnout. Athletic training programs, schools, and healthcare systems must evaluate staffing models, workload expectations, and available resources. A culture that supports work-life balance, encourages open conversations about burnout, and prioritizes clinician well-being creates an environment where athletic trainers can thrive rather than simply survive.
Addressing burnout does not mean lowering standards or diminishing the passion that defines athletic training. Instead, it requires recognizing the profession can only continue protecting athletes when clinicians have the support and resources necessary to sustain their careers. The future of athletic training depends on creating a culture where excellence and sustainability exist together.
Burnout does not have to be the final chapter of athletic training. The fire fueling this profession has always come from passion, dedication, and a commitment to athletes. The challenge is not to extinguish the fire, but to create a profession where sports medicine providers can continue to fan the flame without being consumed.
Author Bio
Destiny Adkins, MAT, LAT, ATC, is a licensed and certified athletic trainer in Louisiana with more than five years of experience working in the secondary school settings. She is passionate about advancing the athletic training profession, improving clinician well-being, and advocating for sustainable practices that support both healthcare providers and athletes.
References
National Athletic Trainers' Association. (n.d.). Professional resources and position statements on athletic trainer well-being, workforce concerns, and professional sustainability. National Athletic Trainers' Association.
World Health Organization. (2019). Burn-out as an occupational phenomenon: International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). World Health Organization.
Singe, S. M., et al. (2022). Burnout, job satisfaction, and professional challenges among secondary school athletic trainers. Journal of Athletic Training.
Singe, S. M., et al. (2024). Burnout, workplace stressors, and professional sustainability among collegiate athletic trainers. Journal of Athletic Training.
Exploring how athletic trainers can maintain professional excellence while protecting personal well-being, examining the profession's culture of constant availability and the critical importance of work-life balance for clinical longevity and quality care.
Permission to Rest:
How Athletic Trainers Can Reclaim Their Lives Without Compromising Professional Excellence
When Commitment Becomes Consumption: Finding Balance in Athletic Training
At what point did your profession begin to occupy the space once reserved for life outside of work?
Athletic training is built on responsibility, service, and an unwavering commitment to patient care. These qualities define exceptional clinicians. Over time, however, the same commitment can quietly blur the boundary between professional dedication and personal well-being.
For many athletic trainers, the realization becomes most evident only when they attempt to step away from work.
For many athletic trainers, the greatest obstacle is not requesting paid time off—it is allowing themselves to mentally disconnect. Even while away, many clinicians remain preoccupied with the possibility of a missed injury, the quality of patient care provided in their absence, or the impact their absence may have had on an athlete’s outcome. These concerns do not reflect a lack of confidence in colleagues. Rather, they reflect the high standards we establish for ourselves and the meaningful relationships we develop with those entrusted to our care.
At what point does professional dedication begin to compromise professional effectiveness?
According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), long work hours, staffing shortages, work overload, and limited control over scheduling continue to challenge work-life balance across the profession. Research published in the Journal of Athletic Training further demonstrates that athletic trainers experience significant work-life conflict due to the unique demands and culture of sports medicine. These findings suggest that the challenge extends beyond the individual; the profession has historically equated constant availability with professional commitment.
The conversation should shift from measuring dedication by presence to recognizing work-life balance as an essential component of professional longevity and clinical excellence.
Athletic trainers consistently educate athletes on the value of recovery. Recovery restores performance, sharpens focus, and prepares the body for future demands. The same principle applies to the professionals providing that care.
Intentional time away from work is a professional necessity, not simply a personal benefit. Time away restores perspective, strengthens personal relationships, and reinforces an identity beyond professional responsibilities.
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement, Facilitating Work-Life Balance in Athletic Training Practice Settings, published in the Journal of Athletic Training, identifies work-life balance as a key contributor to clinician well-being, professional commitment, job satisfaction, quality of life, and career longevity.
Complementing those findings, research published in the Journal of Athletic Training found that greater work-family conflict was associated with lower job satisfaction, higher emotional exhaustion, and a greater intention to leave the profession. Together, this evidence reinforces a simple truth: work-life balance is not merely a personal benefit—it is an investment in the quality of care we provide.
A meaningful career should complement life, not replace it.
Athletic training demands commitment, but commitment should never diminish the very qualities that define exceptional clinicians: clarity, compassion, sound judgment, and presence.
Professional excellence has never been defined by the amount we sacrifice. A sustainable career requires the same intentional care we encourage in those we serve.
So, consider this question:
Has your commitment to your profession strengthened your work-life balance—or has your profession quietly become your life?
References
Eberman LE, Mazerolle SM, Eason CM, et al. Facilitating Work-Life Balance in Athletic Training Practice Settings. Journal of Athletic Training. 2019;54(2):164–177.
Mazerolle SM, Bruening JE, Casa DJ. Work-Family Conflict, Part I: Antecedents of Work-Family Conflict in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A Certified Athletic Trainers. Journal of Athletic Training. 2008;43(5):505–512.
National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Improving Patient Care by Improving Work-Life Balance for the Athletic Trainer.
National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Surviving Sports: Professional Well-Being in Athletic Training.
- National Athletic Trainers’ Association. New Study Examines Work and Life in the Sports Industry. 2022.
Women now comprise 59% of certified athletic trainers, yet face persistent gender bias, pay disparities, and underrepresentation in leadership roles. Despite these challenges, female athletic trainers continue advancing equity and reshaping the profession.
Women in Athletic Training
Breaking Barriers: How Women Are Reshaping Leadership in Athletic Training
Athletic training has long been viewed as a male-dominated profession, but women continue to redefine what leadership, expertise, and resilience look like in sports medicine.
Today, women make up approximately 59% of certified athletic trainers, yet many leadership positions within athletics remain predominantly held by men.
Female athletic trainers often work under male head coaches or administrators and may face the ongoing challenge of having to prove their knowledge and clinical expertise in environments where gender bias still exists.
These disparities extend beyond workplace culture. According to the National Athletic Trainers' Association's 2023 Salary Survey, male athletic trainers working in secondary school settings earn more, on average, than female athletic trainers in comparable roles, highlighting that pay equity remains an important issue within the profession.
Despite these challenges, women have made remarkable progress by increasing their representation, advocating for equitable treatment, and supporting one another through mentorship and professional development. Every barrier broken by today's female athletic trainers creates new opportunities for the next generation.
As more women step into leadership roles and continue to champion equity, the future of athletic training is becoming more inclusive, diverse, and representative of the professionals who dedicate their careers to caring for athletes.
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