Delaware Administrative Code
Title 24 - Regulated Professions and Occupations
Department of State
Division of Professional Regulation
2600 - Examining Board of Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers
Section 2600-5.0 - Athletic Trainers (24 Del.C. Sections 2602(2) and (3))

5.1.1 Athletic trainers may treat athletic injuries. Athletic injuries shall be considered musculoskeletal injuries to athletes that occur while currently participating in, or currently training for, scholastic, professional, or sanctioned amateur athletics, where such injury limits the athlete's ability to participate or train for their sport. Athletic Trainers may also treat musculoskeletal injuries received by athletes that occur while currently participating in recreational activities, where such recreational activities are recognized by the Amateur Athletic Union. All Athletic injuries must be documented by the Athletic Trainer as interfering with participation in or training for such athletic activities. Nothing prohibits the Athletic Trainer from treating minor sprains, strains, and contusions to athletes currently participating in professional, scholastic, recreational, or sanctioned amateur athletic activities.

5.2.1 Athletic Trainers may treat musculoskeletal injuries as part of a physical therapy plan of care only under the direction and supervision of a Physical Therapist as defined in subsections 1.2.5 and 1.2.7. The Athletic Trainer may perform physical therapy and athletic training procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the supervising Physical Therapist. The Athletic Trainer may administer treatment with therapeutic exercises and modalities such as heat, cold, light air water, sound, electricity, massage and non-thrust mobilization. The Athletic Trainer may document treatment progress. The ability of the Athletic Trainer to perform selected and delegated tasks shall be assessed by the supervising Physical Therapist. The Athletic Trainer shall not perform interpretation of referrals, physical therapy evaluation and reevaluation, modification of the treatment plan, final discharge of the patient, or therapeutic techniques beyond the skill and knowledge of the athletic trainer without proper supervision. The supervising Physical Therapist must be contacted for approval to make any modification of the treatment plan within the physical therapy plan of care.

5.3.1 Nothing in this regulation shall limit an Athletic Trainer's ability to provide preventative care procedures of conditioning, taping, protective bandaging, padding and icing. Nothing in this regulation shall limit an Athletic Trainer's ability to provide emergency treatment to injuries, or to provide immediate care to athletes who are currently participating in scholastic, professional, or sanctioned amateur athletics, within the scope of their training, so long as the immediate care does not last longer than 5 days without a consultation with a physician.

5.3.2 Nothing in this regulation shall limit an Athletic Trainer's ability to provide care that the general population is permitted to perform as long as the Athletic Trainer does not represent himself or herself as an Athletic Trainer during the performance of such care, and if working in a physician's office or as a physician extender, only provides assistance to the physician during regular physician office visits where the patient is provided direct on-site care by the physician and the visit is not for rehabilitation purposes.