The National Athletic Trainers’ Association recently settled with the American Physical Therapy Association on a lawsuit pertaining to professional jurisdiction.

The athletic trainers’ group said APTA unfairly restricted athletic trainers from practicing manual therapy and gaining access to continuing education courses about manual therapy.

The NATA and the APTA released a joint statement. Highlights include:

• Physical therapists are neither the exclusive providers of manual therapy nor the exclusive providers of physical medicine and rehabilitation services. The APTA agrees with NATA that athletic trainers are qualified to perform these services.
• The scopes of practice of athletic trainers and physical therapists overlap.
• The APTA recognizes athletic trainers as health care professionals qualified to assist their patients.
• The APTA will not make false or misleading statements about athletic trainers, including improper references to them as “unqualified,” “not qualified,” “non-qualified” or any variation of these terms. The APTA agreed that it will not make false or deceptive statements that mislead patients, employers or others regarding athletic trainers.
• Athletic trainers are qualified and authorized to provide interventions within their state scope of practice and licensure.
• Decisions related to reimbursement are to be decided by public and private insurers, state and federal legislators and regulators, patients and other stakeholders.
• Athletic trainers are qualified to pursue continuing education in manual therapy. APTA’s internal policies regarding continuing education do not apply to athletic trainers in the 47 states where athletic trainers are licensed or regulated.

NATA filed the civil lawsuit in February 2008, indicating it would fight what it called “anti-competitive” actions taken by the APTA after NATA members reported restricted access to education in and practice of manual-therapy techniques. Manual therapy is included in the athletic training abilities, scope of practice and licensure.

“I am pleased that we can move forward with respect for each profession’s knowledge, skills and abilities in manual therapy and physical medicine and rehabilitation,” NATA President Marjorie J. Albohm said. “In this time of health-care reform, it is more important than ever that all health-care professionals work as a team to deliver high quality, safe, affordable patient care. Athletic trainers contribute to their patients’ wellness, physical activity level and musculoskeletal health, no matter the age of the patient.”

The joint statement and other documents related to the case are available at www.nata.org.