Caring for and Preventing Sports-Related Injuries
The licensed athletic trainers at Spectrum Health Lakeland work with athletes at high schools throughout Berrien County and at Lake Michigan College. As part of the Sports Medicine team, athletic trainers cover the teams' practices and games, providing triage for common injuries, such as sprains, strains, and bruises; assessing concussions; monitoring weather conditions to prevent heat illness; as well as working to prevent injuries by taping, bracing and conditioning. Often, the athletic trainers are the first health care provider to assess an injury and the last professional to clear an athlete to play again.
Multidisciplinary Team of Sports Medicine Specialists
Athletic trainers are supported by orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, and other specially-trained health care professionals — all dedicated to helping athletes regain their health and performance. They will often refer students to their primary care physician, concussion specialist, or an orthopedist depending on the nature of the injury. They also work alongside physical therapists in the rehabilitation setting to offer functional training and specialty programs, such as Medical Fitness and Fit Fore Golf.
All of the athletic trainers at Spectrum Health Lakeland are certified by the National Athletic Trainers' Association and licensed through the state of Michigan. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health care profession and recommends that certified athletic trainers be available in every high school. For more information, contact Lakeland Orthopedic Physical Therapy or Lakeland Rehabilitation Services, Niles.