Athletic Training

Athletic trainers are allied health care professionals who work to prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate injuries. They are also present to intervene and provide emergency care during sporting events. Athletic trainers work under the supervision of physicians, and in conjunction with physical therapists, paramedics, physicians, school nurses, and other health care professionals. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in athletic training is required before you can take the national certification exam; however, 70% of athletic trainers also have post-graduate degrees. Continuing education within the field must be done in order to maintain certification.

Athletic trainers' areas of knowledge include but are not limited to anatomy and physiology, nutrition, orthopedic assessment, therapeutic modalities, kinesiology, exercise physiology, sport psychology, therapeutic exercise, biology, statistics, taping and bracing, administration, emergency care, general medical conditions.

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Ithaca City School District Athletic Trainer Ainsley Orloff Our school’s athletic trainer is Ainsley Orloff. She is employed by Cayuga Medical Center and outreaches to Ithaca High School. Ainsley first began working at Ithaca High School in the 2018-2019 school year. Prior to that, she was the graduate assistant athletic trainer for Ithaca College’s Indoor Track & Field team for the 2017-2018 school year and a per diem athletic trainer for Cayuga Medical Center. During her time working in the collegiate setting, Ainsley has also worked with various out of season teams, as well as in the athletic training clinic.

Ainsley graduated with her Bachelors of Science from Cornell University in 2014, majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Nutritional Science. While attending Cornell she was a member of the Varsity Women’s Volleyball Team. After graduating from Cornell she attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and graduated with her Bachelors of Science in 2017, majoring in Athletic Training and minoring in Kinesiology. After that, she was hired as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for Ithaca College, where she earned her Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Science (concentrating in human performance) in 2018. She has maintained her connection with Ithaca College by working closely with students to gain clinical field experience hours at Ithaca High School. Ainsley grew up in Las Vegas, NV. She currently resides in Cortland, NY.

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The athletic trainer's role in the secondary setting spans from first aid and emergency response to evaluation and treatment/rehabilitation of orthopedic conditions. Ainsley is also a liaison for communication between parents, physicians, nurses, physical therapists, coaches, and teachers. See "what is an athletic trainer" for more information regarding the profession.

Ainsley works 5-6 days/week with the athletes, depending on how the sports schedule plays out each week. She is present on-site for every home contest and travels with teams during the post-season. During the school year, Ainsley arrives at the school in the early afternoon to treat athletes at the end of the day, prior to practices and games. She is present for the majority of practices and is available via phone call for consultations if she is not directly on site.