(Batesville, Ark.)—Whether you’re the football player making the tackle, the soccer player making the kick, the sprinter winning the 100 yard dash, or the basketball player making the lay-up, sports are exciting, adrenaline pumping fun. With all of the tackling, kicking, sprinting, and jumping, injuries can be hard to avoid and fun can quickly turn into agony.
Certified and Licensed Athletic trainers (ATC/LAT) are healthcare professionals educated and skilled to prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate injuries where individuals are engaged in physical activity; most commonly athletes. In order to become a certified athletic trainer, one must obtain a bachelor’s degree from a college with an accredited athletic training program. Athletic trainers typically work with athletes in professional sports and college sports, but are rarely seen in high school sports. In Arkansas, as few as 45 of 306 schools employ athletic trainers. Batesville Public Schools and Lyon College are fortunate to benefit from the services of athletic trainers provided at no cost by White River Medical Center Physical Rehab Outpatient Services (WRMC PROS). With a combined 32 years of experience, WRMC PROS Certified and Licensed Athletic Trainers Shawn Tackett (Lyon College), Keith Shireman (Batesville High School), Jeremiah Sanders (Batesville Junior High), work hard to ensure the safety of student athletes in a variety of sports.
“There’s a broad spectrum of what an athletic trainer can do,” said Shireman. “Athletic Trainers focus on the strength training and conditioning so our student athletes can perform to their potential in their chosen sport.”
Much more than taping ankles before a game, athletic trainers make it a point to show, as well as teach athletes how to avoid injuries during a game or practice. Their goal is to educate students on the importance of stretching correctly and taking care of their bodies not only to prevent injuries during sports, but throughout their lives.
“Prevention is key,” said Sanders. “One ounce of prevention really is worth one pound of cure.”
Unfortunately, students do sometimes get injured on the field. Regardless of whether it happens at a practice or a game, athletic trainers have to act fast to assess the injury and, if necessary, facilitate additional treatment with a physician. The program works closely with Drs. J.D. Allen and Jeff Angel, Orthopaedic Surgeons at Medical Park Orthopaedic Clinic.
“It’s great to have athletic trainers in high school,” says Dr. Angel. “When an injury occurs, there is rapid attention by a trained person to evaluate and stabilize the injury.”
That is exactly what Shawn Tackett did when, during his first baseball game as an athletic trainer at Lyon, two opposing players collided on the field. Tackett evaluated the players’ injuries, and called Vital Link after discovering one player had a fracture, and the other had a head injury. Tackett stayed on the phone with Vital Link while they were en route and updated them frequently on changes in the players’ symptoms. When Vital Link arrived, Tackett assisted them in preparing the players to be transported to the hospital where the patients received the necessary care. Fortunately for worried coaches and parents, Tackett was there to update them on the players’ condition and provide the necessary care.
Maintaining open lines of communication with parents and coaches are an important responsibility of an athletic trainer.
“You feel comforted by knowing they are looking after your kids. You can tell they really care,” said parent Denise Gatlin.
Denise’s daughter, Grace Gatlin, is a senior at Batesville High School. Grace and classmate Dylan Massey are very grateful they have an athletic trainer at their school. Both suffered potentially career ending injuries as sophomores. Grace was in basketball practice when tore a ligament in her knee. Dylan was playing soccer when he suffered a broken femur. They relied on their athletic trainer, Keith Shireman, to help them get back in the game quickly and safely after their recovery.
“When I got hurt, he was really good at explaining what was happening,” said Grace.
Dylan, like Grace, was impressed by Shireman’s explanations of what had happened, as well as his explanations of what was going to happen, adding Shireman held his leg “the whole time.”
Trainers help athletes recover from injury by monitoring their rehabilitation, including attending therapy sessions and directing their return to their sport.
Aside from working with the students, the WRMC PROS athletic trainers in Batesville have many other responsibilities. They meet with parents to discuss their role in athletics, as well as alleviate any concerns the parents might have. The trainers, along with WRMC, host a Coaching Symposium each year at the hospital, to explain their role to coaches and teach the latest injury prevention techniques. They collaborate with physicians to provide free sports physicals for Batesville schools and Lyon College student athletes. They also mentor and train students to serve as student trainers. Through all of this, WRMC PROS Trainers are also available for consultation with other area schools as needed.
Although their jobs are challenging and, at times, demanding, athletic trainers work hard to be a positive influence with student athletes and a valuable resource for coaches and parents.