Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Hydration Status • Manual Therapy • Injury Screening

Modalities

Term from Athletic Training industry explained for recruiters

Modalities are different types of treatment methods and equipment that athletic trainers use to help athletes recover from injuries, manage pain, and improve healing. Think of them as the tools in an athletic trainer's toolkit. These include things like ice therapy, heat treatment, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation. When you see "modalities" in a resume or job description, it refers to someone's ability to use these various treatment techniques and equipment. It's similar to how a chef needs to know different cooking methods, an athletic trainer needs to understand and be skilled with different treatment methods.

Examples in Resumes

Applied various Modalities including ultrasound and electrical stimulation for student athletes' injury recovery

Supervised and trained staff in proper use of therapeutic Modalities

Developed treatment plans incorporating multiple Modalities for both acute and chronic injuries

Typical job title: "Athletic Trainers"

Also try searching for:

Athletic Trainer Sports Medicine Specialist Physical Therapy Assistant Sports Rehabilitation Specialist Clinical Athletic Trainer Sports Training Professional

Where to Find Athletic Trainers

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you decide which modalities to use in a treatment plan?

Expected Answer: Should explain their decision-making process based on injury type, patient condition, and evidence-based practices. Should mention considering contraindications and how they modify treatments based on patient response.

Q: How do you train staff on proper modality use and safety protocols?

Expected Answer: Should discuss creating training programs, documentation procedures, safety protocols, and ongoing education to ensure proper use of equipment and treatment methods.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What modalities would you use for an acute ankle sprain?

Expected Answer: Should be able to outline a treatment plan using appropriate modalities like ice, compression, and when to progress to other treatments, explaining why each is chosen.

Q: How do you document modality treatments and track patient progress?

Expected Answer: Should explain their system for recording treatments, parameters used, patient response, and how they use this information to adjust treatment plans.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic safety precautions when using therapeutic modalities?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of basic safety protocols, contraindications, and proper application techniques for common modalities.

Q: Can you explain the difference between thermal and electrical modalities?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain basic differences between heat/cold treatments and electrical stimulation, including when each might be appropriate to use.