Featured BOC Approved Provider: ArmCare.com
Matt Unthank, MS, CSCS
The BOC regularly features BOC Approved Providers for notable efforts to enhance its continuing education programs for Athletic Trainers (ATs). Featured organizations follow the guidelines set forth by the BOC. Director of Training and Education Matt Unthank, MS, CSCS from ArmCare.com shares his organization’s experience.
Why does your organization choose to participate in the BOC Approved Provider Program?
At ArmCare, our mission is to revolutionize the way overhead athletes, particularly baseball players, are assessed, trained and protected from injury. ATs are central to that mission, and the BOC Approved Provider Program allows us to deliver high-quality, accredited education that advances this work. Being part of the program enables us to champion a new, evidence-based approach, while helping ATs develop the specialized skills and confidence to manage the demands of overhead athletes.
How have the BOC standards and guidelines for BOC Approved Providers impacted your program development and administrative processes to offer continuing education programs for ATs?
The BOC standards have provided both structure and accountability. By following their guidelines on learning objectives, assessments and evaluation, we’ve enhanced how we design and deliver programs. For ArmCare, that means ATs can trust that our education is not only research-driven but also structured in a way that maximizes learning and application.
How do you design your curriculum to help participants improve outcomes in the patients they serve?
Our curriculum begins by identifying the unique challenges that ATs face in caring for overhead athletes. From there, we integrate the research with our hands-on experience working with elite pitchers, professional organizations and youth athletes. The result is education that provides ATs with both the scientific foundation and the actionable strategies they need to improve arm health, durability and performance.
What advice do you have for organizations looking to be on the cutting edge and maintain compliance as they develop education programs?
Our advice is to stay rooted in evidence while always bridging it into practice. Clinicians don’t just need theory; they need tools that address the daily challenges they face with athletes. By combining practical field experience with the structure of BOC standards, organizations can deliver education that is rigorous, credible and trustworthy, while pushing the field forward with new ideas and perspectives.
