During National Athletic Training Month, stories like Katie Kuykendall’s highlight just how wide-reaching the impact of Athletic Trainers can be.
“Sports have always been a part of my life… With all those sports came injuries, so I ended up in physical therapy a lot,” she said. “Once I saw it up close, I thought, ‘This is cool. I want to do this someday.’”
That passion has carried her to the professional level, where she tailors rehab programs to each athlete.
“It has always been important to me to not just be cookie-cutter… every player is different and may need different things to get them back out on the pitch,” she explained.
But her impact isn’t limited to the sideline.
During a match in Los Angeles, Kuykendall noticed a fan in distress and quickly stepped in to perform the Heimlich maneuver, ultimately saving the woman’s life.
“It was such a random and lucky moment… I just happened to look over and see what was going on,” she recalled.
Despite the heroic moment, Kuykendall remains humble, emphasizing the everyday role Athletic Trainers play behind the scenes.
“I feel like ATs are such a behind-the-scenes type job… They don’t always see how much work goes into all the planning and prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.”
This is just a snapshot of an incredible story! Be sure to read the full feature by Isabella Rubis on the Real Salt Lake website to see the full impact of Kuykendall’s journey.