In another in our series of teaching aids to help benefit high school coaches, ATC Eric Saxton demonstrates the proper principles for using ice…heat…and even both…when injuries occur. The series is hosted by Mick Peterson, Growth and Development Director for Champion and himself a former high school coach for over 30 years.
Each and every day it seems, the sports world has a story about concussions and the trauma involved for the person having one. Dealing with concussions at the high school level is one of the biggest “headaches” a coach or school has to face. It’s come a long way from “seeing stars” or “having the cobwebs shaken” when a blow to the head takes place, especially in football.
Champion Fitness Physical Therapy ATC Kevin Casey, a former student trainer for the Chicago Bears during their Super Bowl run a few years back, takes a detailed look at the signs, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of concussions to help high school coaches better understand this growing concern.
To access Kevin’s Power Point presentation, click here!
Give it a little time to warm up.
Rehabbing the shoulder area after an injury starts here…with a series of range of motion stretches and exercises designed to improve mobility and reduce pain. Dr. Clint Witsman and his assistant Marissa, as well as PT Michael Bennington and his assistant PTA Nick Foster, demonstrate the secrets behind the shoulder rehab process.
This is another in a series of presentations, which, hopefully, can provide the coach with the proper knowledge of some basic skills, the kind, if done properly, could keep the athlete competing and, hopefully, out of the training room. In this entry, Tera Moritz, currently a member of the Champion Fitness Physical Therapy staff and a former member of the ISU football squad’s athletic training staff in 2010, demonstrates the proper techniques for taping the wrist and the thumb, two often-injured areas affecting many athletes. Tera, who performed an internship at Champion Fitness Physical Therapy, is assisted by Champion Fitness ATC Luke Thompson. The series is hosted by Mick Peterson, Growth and Development Director for Champion and himself a former high school coach for over 30 years.
Pontiac High School students wishing to become athletic trainers someday will be given the opportunity to gain valuable experience through a new program to be initiated this fall. The program, formed jointly by the PTHS Athletic Department and Champion Fitness Physical Therapy, will provide selected students with hands-on training techniques and concepts involving athletic teams at PTHS under the supervision of a certified athletic trainer.
“This is a program we’ve wanted to get started for a few years now,” Champion Fitness Physical Therapy owner Jeff Schade stated, “and we finally have the staff available to see it off the ground. Kevin Casey, who serves as our trainer at PTHS, will coordinate the program, but we will also rely on others for input along the way, including our own ATC Luke Thompson and Jill Francis at the high school.”
The program will be open to students who have a love of athletics and a desire to help others. “It could be a manager of a current team; it might be an incoming freshman; it could be someone who loves sports but maybe can’t play for one reason or another; or maybe it could be an athlete who’s involved during one season and maybe not another, but he or she just wants to stay involved,” Schade commented. “There’s a lot of time involved and a lot of commitment, but the rewards are long-lasting.”
Students will attend workshops and seminars early in their training, picking up the necessary knowledge to help service a squad. Taping techniques, assisting injured performers, applying heat and cold treatments will be just a few of the many fundamental principles taught along the way. “We will have them come to our clinic in the morning before school, for example,” said Schade, “so they can actually see how modalities’ applications are done properly. We’ll also emphasize the importance of stretching and focus on specific stretches that they can use with athletes on the teams they will be servicing.”
Both PTHS Principal Jon Kilgore and Athletic Director Ryan Pearson endorse the idea. “We see it as a win-win for everybody. With all the programs we have here, our one trainer on staff can’t be everywhere, and now we have an extra set of hands to help out,” noted Pearson. Kilgore sees the long-range benefit of the program. “It’s an excellent teaching tool and a great possibility for a career choice for our students down the road,” he added.
Students with questions can contact Champion Fitness Physical Therapy at 815-844-5411 (ext 1107). The official sign-up for interested applicants will take place on August 11 during the Parents’ Night meeting at the PTHS auditorium.
Most Americans know that low back pain is one of the most common ailments we suffer from. The list for solutions to the problem is seemingly endless. Dr. Clint Witsman, assisted by Tera Moritz, among others, offers a pretty simple solution….strengthening the core area of the body. He offers a series of stretches that, if done regularly, might just be the ticket to relief. It’s worth a try.
Here we have it! The top three winners in the 2nd Annual “Get Busy Living” Photo Contest have been selected by our panel of judges. Congratulations goes to Lorri Dunn’s daughter Brittany Whitaker from Cumberland High School for taking her game to the absolute heights; Paxton’s own Zooey, a little girl who has shown everybody to overcome major physical obstacles and how to “Get Busy Living;”and finally, Eric Bauman from Bloomington, whose squad had just completed the Warrior Dash obstacle course, a 3.17 mile race with 14 intense obstacles (i.e.; leap over walls, crawl through tunnels, dive into mud and jump over fire) spread over 143 acres of terrain creating the ultimate event for thrill-seeking athletes.
These winners will each receive a digital camera, courtesy of Champion Fitness Physical Therapy, and they will become the focus of the next CFPT poster to be hung in each of the 16 clinics Champion operates.
The ASTYM System is an advanced form of soft tissue mobilization, which enables clinicians to effectively initiate the healing process of dysfunctional tissue. Currently performed as part of our manual therapy at the Tuscola clinic, PT Jessica Ray, who is certified in ASTYM usage, explains the process.
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