Principles of Athletic Training: A Guide to Evidence-Based Clinical Practice 16e

The Problem This Book Solves

Every day, athletic trainers face complex decisions about injury prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation — decisions that directly affect an athlete’s health, performance, and return-to-play timeline. Making those decisions without a rigorous, evidence-based foundation puts both the clinician and the athlete at risk. This textbook provides the systematic framework needed to evaluate, manage, and rehabilitate injuries using the best available research, clinical expertise, and patient values — the three pillars of evidence-based practice.

Whether you are a student preparing for the BOC exam or a practicing athletic trainer seeking to refine your clinical reasoning, this book equips you with the tools to move beyond tradition and toward proven outcomes.

What Is Principles of Athletic Training: A Guide to Evidence-Based Clinical Practice?

Principles of Athletic Training: A Guide to Evidence-Based Clinical Practice, Sixteenth Edition by William E. Prentice, PhD, PT, ATC, is the definitive textbook in the field of athletic training. Published by McGraw-Hill Education in 2017, this edition continues a legacy of excellence that has shaped the profession for decades. The text is designed to lead the student from general foundations to specific concepts relative to injury prevention, evaluation, management, and rehabilitation, providing a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to clinical practice.

The book is organized to build knowledge progressively, starting with foundational concepts in athletic training, moving through injury prevention and risk management, then into the evaluation and diagnosis of injuries, and finally covering therapeutic interventions and rehabilitation protocols. This structure mirrors the clinical decision-making process itself, making the content immediately applicable to real-world practice.

Is This Book Right for You?

This textbook is essential for anyone pursuing a career in athletic training or sports medicine. Specifically, it is designed for:

Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in CAATE-accredited athletic training programs will find this book to be the core of their curriculum. The comprehensive coverage aligns directly with the educational competencies and clinical proficiencies required for BOC certification. Practicing athletic trainers seeking to update their knowledge with the latest evidence-based approaches will also benefit. Additionally, students in physical therapy, sports medicine, or exercise science will find the text valuable for understanding the athletic trainer’s role in injury management.

The Sixteenth Edition incorporates the latest research and clinical guidelines, making it a current and authoritative resource for both academic and clinical settings.

Inside: What You Will Master

This book provides a thorough education in the principles of athletic training. Here are seven critical areas the text covers:

• Evidence-Based Clinical Practice: Learn to integrate the best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values to make informed decisions in injury prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation.
• Injury Prevention and Risk Management: Understand the epidemiology of sports injuries and how to implement effective prevention strategies, including proper conditioning, protective equipment, and environmental safety considerations.
• Systematic Injury Evaluation: Master the SOAP note format and learn a step-by-step approach to evaluating injuries of the upper and lower extremities, spine, and head.
• Therapeutic Modalities and Rehabilitation: Gain knowledge of the physiological effects and clinical applications of therapeutic modalities such as cryotherapy, thermotherapy, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound, as well as principles of therapeutic exercise.
• Recognition and Management of Pathologies: Develop the ability to recognize common sports injuries and conditions, from acute sprains and strains to chronic overuse injuries, with appropriate management protocols.
• Nutritional Considerations for Athletes: Understand the role of nutrition in injury prevention, healing, and performance, including macronutrient and micronutrient needs for active individuals.
• Legal and Ethical Issues in Athletic Training: Learn about the legal responsibilities, informed consent, documentation standards, and ethical dilemmas faced by athletic trainers in various settings.

How It Compares

Several textbooks cover athletic training, but none match the combination of authority, depth, and pedagogical design found in Prentice’s work. Compared to Fundamentals of Athletic Training by Cartwright and Athletic Training: An Introduction to the Profession by Ebel, this text offers a more comprehensive scope and a stronger emphasis on evidence-based practice. The Sixteenth Edition alone contains updated research citations, revised rehabilitation protocols, and expanded coverage of emerging topics such as concussion management and emergency action planning.

The book also benefits from a rich ancillary package, including online resources like case studies, lab activities, and practice quizzes that help bridge the gap between theory and clinical application. No other text provides the same level of integration between foundational knowledge and practical, evidence-based decision making.

About the Author

William E. Prentice, PhD, PT, ATC, is a professor of exercise and sport science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he has taught for over 30 years. He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Dr. Prentice has authored numerous textbooks and research articles on athletic training and sports medicine, making him one of the most respected voices in the profession. His deep clinical and academic experience ensures that the content reflects both theoretical rigor and real-world practice.

McGraw-Hill Education is one of the world’s leading educational publishers, known for producing high-quality academic resources that meet rigorous standards of accuracy and pedagogical effectiveness. Their commitment to the Sixteenth Edition is evident in the professional layout, clear illustrations, and supplemental learning tools that accompany the text.

Our Verdict

Yes, absolutely. If you are serious about athletic training as a profession, this textbook is an indispensable investment. It is not merely a collection of facts but a structured guide to clinical reasoning that will serve you throughout your career. The Sixteenth Edition remains current with the latest evidence and best practices, ensuring that you learn what is relevant today. The book’s comprehensive nature means it can serve as a primary reference for years to come. For the price of a single semester’s textbook, you gain a resource that directly supports BOC exam preparation and provides a foundation for lifelong learning in a dynamic field.

The combination of Prentice’s authoritative voice, McGraw-Hill’s production quality, and the evidence-based focus makes this the gold standard in athletic training education.

Download Principles of Athletic Training: A Guide to Evidence-Based Clinical Practice 16e Now

Whether you are an athletic training student building your career foundation or a practicing professional refreshing your clinical skills, this Sixteenth Edition delivers the authoritative, evidence-based knowledge you need to excel. You will gain the confidence to evaluate, manage, and rehabilitate injuries with the latest research guiding your decisions. Get your copy today from a trusted publisher, McGraw-Hill Education, and invest in your professional competence.