Brad Bussey received his BS in PE/Athletic Training from East Tennessee State University in 1994. He then served a year as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina covering baseball and football. In 1995, Brad Returned to the area as an outreach ATC for Appalachian Orthopedic Associates in Bristol and began providing coverage for John S. Battle High School until 2002. He worked for Heartland Rehabilitation Outreach, where he also covered Battle for 2 more years. Brad has been a clinical instructor and mentor for area athletic training and medical students. Presently, Brad is an account manager with Cardinal Health and a part-time Athletic Trainer for Washington County, covering Holston & Battle. Brad is nationally certified and state licensed to practice as an athletic trainer and is a member in good standing with the National Athletic Trainers' Association.
What is an Athletic Trainer?
The certified athletic trainer (ATC) is a highly educated and skilled professional specializing in athletic healthcare. Certified athletic trainers are medical experts in preventing, recognizing, managing, and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity. As part of a complete health care team, the ATC works in cooperation with physicians and other allied health professionals, administrators, coaches, and parents to provide the best possible care for athletes. Athletic trainers can help you avoid unnecessary medical treatment and disruption of normal daily life; we can get you on the mend and keep you on the move!
The American Medical Association recognizes athletic training as an allied healthcare profession and recommends certified athletic trainers in every high school to keep America’s youth safe and healthy.
ATCs specialize in:
• Prevention of athletic injuries
• Recognition, evaluation, and immediate care of injuries and conditions
• Rehabilitation and reconditioning of athletic injuries
Basic Sports Injury Guidelines:
Proper injury care will speed your recovery and allow a faster return to action! Rest the injured area by avoiding painful activities Ice your injury. Apply 20 minutes on, 40 minutes off several times a day. Compression wrap with an elastic bandage Elevate the injured area when possible
See a physician if you:
Have severe pain
Have severe swelling
Have severe loss of function or movement
Have numbness or tingling
Have any doubts about the injury or if your condition suddenly worsens
Please provide your ATC with follow-up instructions from your physician.
Follow-up Care:
See your ATC for treatment and rehabilitation instructions.
We’ll focus on reducing your pain and swelling while restoring normal motion, strength and function.
Without rehabilitation, you put yourself at risk for another, possibly worse, injury.
Return To Play:
You can return to your sport when...
Your pain and swelling are gone
You’ve restored normal range of motion and strength levels
You can run, cut, jump and perform any activity required of your sport without difficulty
You’ve received the OK from your ATC and/or your doctor
