Final answer:
An athlete's key responsibility is to keep their coach and athletic trainer informed about their treatment history to ensure their well-being and compliance with regulations. Athletic trainers play a crucial role in injury prevention and rehabilitation and need to have a broad knowledge of health sciences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary responsibility of an athlete includes keeping both the coach and athletic trainer informed about their treatment history. This is essential to ensure proper and safe athletic performance, as well as to adhere to regulations regarding the use of nutritional supplements and medications which, if misused, could lead to sanctions or bans from competition.
Athletic trainers hold a critical role in an athlete's health care, where they are expected to perform tasks such as recognizing, evaluating, and providing immediate care for athletic injuries. They also implement injury prevention strategies and are responsible for the rehabilitation of injured athletes. Furthermore, athletic trainers should have knowledge in various scientific and health-related subjects, including biology, chemistry, and pharmacology, to understand the effects of drugs and supplements on the body, hence aiding in appropriate medical decisions.
It is vital for an athlete to be proactive in their health care, maintaining open and honest communication with their healthcare professionals, such as athletic trainers and coaches. This ensures the best possible treatment outcomes and maintains the integrity of the athletic program.