Naoko Aminaka,MS, ATC
naminaka@hotmail.com
Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer
Naoko is in her first year as a Doctoral Graduate Assistant working with the ATEP. She was born and raised in Japan until she was 16, when she came to the US as an exchange student. She graduated from Central Michigan University with the Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training in December, 2002. Naoko spent her last semester in Clearwater, FL, at an internship with Health South and Clearwater High School.
Naoko worked at Riverside Community College in California from January to July, 2003, as an assistant athletic trainer. Her primary responsibilities were Men's and Women's Tennis and Track and Field. She started her Masters work at the University of Akron in August 2003, where she worked with Cross Country and Track and Field as a graduate assistant athletic trainer. Although she enjoyed working with NCAA Division 1 athletics, she decided to transfer to the University of Toledo after one year because of more established research facility here. As a graduate assistant athletic trainer, she worked at Cardinal Stritch High School in Oregon, OH for two years.
Naoko completed her Master of Science in Exercise Science (Athletic Training track) in May, 2006 and began her Doctoral work in August. Her primary research interests are patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) and functional deficits associated with PFPS. She is also interested in involvement of arthrogenic muscle inhibition on quadriceps as a contributing factor of PFPS.
Naoko was certified by the BOC in 2003 and licensed by the State of Ohio in 2004. She is a member of the NATA and GLATA.