Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists
Sports Medicine Newsletter
Fall 2018
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It is my honor and pleasure to introduce the inaugural sports medicine newsletter from our team at Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS).
The sports medicine department at SOS includes physicians, physical therapists and athletic trainers, but we also recognize that the health and well-being of our local athletes relies just as much, if not more so, on the parents, coaches and school administrators who work with them on a daily basis. It is our hope that, in some small way, this publication allows us to share some of our knowledge, brings all of us closer together, and furthers our common goal of keeping our local athletes as healthy and as successful as possible.
This is the first installment of what is planned to be a quarterly newsletter in which we will discuss all aspects of sports medicine, including nutrition, training, injury prevention and injury treatment. We also plan to tailor each issue toward topics and items pertinent to that season’s sports. For instance, in this Fall issue, we have included tips for how to properly fit equipment and pads, resources for nutritional advice, concussion management and much more.
We hope you find this newsletter (and the others that will follow) both informative and entertaining. We are proud to care for your athletes, and we sincerely thank you for entrusting us with their health!
Todd C. Battaglia, MD, MS
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The CDC estimates 1.6-3.8 million concussions occur in sports and recreational activities annually. The proper medical term for a concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). It is important to understand that a concussion is a brain injury, which is especially dangerous to a developing brain. Saying things like, "You just got your bell rung," really downplay the potential severity of the injury.
While you cannot prevent all concussions in contact sports, you can greatly reduce an athlete's risk by teaching proper tackling technique, practicing falling, checking helmets for proper fit and inflation throughout the season, and teaching athletes the dangers of illegal plays. Also encourage your athletes to be honest about their symptoms. Make sure athletes are comfortable telling their coaches if something does not feel right, and conversely, coaches should work on being approachable and receptive when athletes report symptoms.
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Any athletic event can quickly turn into an emergency. Even with careful planning, good conditioning, pre-season physicals, and all the proper precautions, cardiac emergencies can happen to anyone at anytime.
A few weeks ago, the football staff at Christian Brother's Academy experienced just such an event on their home football field. One of the CBA players collapsed during the game and had to be resuscitated on the field.
Thanks to the preparedness of the coaching, medical, and administrative staff at CBA, the athlete survived. CBA has two physicians on their coaching stuff and an Athletic Trainer on the sideline. Because of their fast action and execution of their Emergency Action Plan, this emergency did not become a tragedy.
Read the full article here.
EAP Workshops with SOS
This incident can be a wake-up call for all of us involved in youth sports. Take some time this season to review your facility's Emergency Action Plan. EAPs should be updated and reviewed at least annually. It is important to make sure everyone involved in athletics has a copy of the EAP and understands their role in the event of an emergency.
Components of an EAP:
- Have a plan for every athletic facility.
- Coordinate access routes for emergency vehicles with your local ambulance company.
- Establish roles for administrators, coaches, and medical personnel.
- Practice, Practice, Practice!
It is important to actually get out and practice your EAP in addition to reviewing it with your staff. SOS offers EAP workshops that can be tailored specifically to your facility to help you build and practice your EAP, or more generalized programs where coaches and other athletic staff can practice their skills and executing an EAP. In addition, SOS has several AHA Certified CPR instructors and offers both AHA and NYSED courses.
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Injury Prevention
While youth sports can be beneficial to athletes both physically and mentally, every sport has inherent risk of injury. Some of the most common injuries are the most preventable. It is important to know the common injuries in your sport so you can work to minimize your risk of injury.
Start Your Season In-Shape
Going from sedentary straight into a competitive sport season can cause excessive muscle soreness and increase risk of injury do to fatigue. Make sure your athletes are remaining active even when out of season. Physical activity does not have to be strenuous workout and conditioning. Try some of these activities to help maintain conditioning:
- Hiking with the family
- Swimming
- Pick up games of ultimate Frisbee
- A short 20 minute jog with a friend
- Walk to the store instead of driving
Staying active in your off season will make the transition back into sports much less difficult and help reduce your risk of injury.
Equipment Safety
You can also reduce your risk of injury by insuring your equipment is safe and properly fitted to you.
- Check to make sure volleyball nets are properly secured.
- Walk the fields before a game looking for hazards such as sprinklers or large divots in the grass.
- Educate your athletes on proper helmet fittings and check adjustments on protective equipment throughout the season.
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Tips for a Healthy Season
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- Talk to your athletes about the importance of a healthy, balanced diet. Nutrition tips for athletes can be found at Kelly's Choice.
- Know the signs and symptoms of a concussion and your team's concussion policies. Visit the Heads Up CDC website for resources on recognizing and managing concussions.
- Consult your Athletic Trainer at school about minor aches and pains before they become major injuries.
- Dress appropriately for the weather to avoid heat/cold related illness.
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Lightning Safety
When thunder roars, go indoors!
While lightning strikes are relatively rare, they do happen and cause serious harm or death. Play it safe when thunderstorms are in the forecast and be on the lookout for flashes of lightning and sounds of thunder. Have a shelter plan if weather turns quickly.
In high school athletics, athletic trainers play a role in monitoring safety conditions for sports. This includes during times of poor or extreme weather conditions. During the fall sports season, the most common weather safety concern is with thunder and lightning storms.
No outdoor space is safe when there is lightning. Athletic fields can be especially dangerous because a standing person is likely the tallest conductor in the area. Air is a highly resistant conductor and lightning is looking for the fastest path to the ground. When thunder is heard, or lightning is seen, all play must be suspended and athletes and spectators need to seek shelter. Good locations for shelter at a sporting event are in a nearby building or in a vehicle with a metal top, such as a car or bus. All activity must be suspended until 30 minutes after the last lightning strike is seen or last boom of thunder is heard.
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Athletic trainers work with their school’s athletic directors, site coordinators, coaches and referees to communicate and monitor the thunder and lightning and how much time has passed since the latest strike. Many athletic trainers utilize weather apps such as Spark on the WeatherBug app or My Lightning Tracker, to help keep an eye on the radar and any potential storms rolling in. These apps use nearby weather stations to detect how far away lightning has been detected, which allows athletic trainers to prepare and track storms heading their way. Athletic trainers can alert coaches, players, referees and parents if storms are getting closer, which can make sure they are prepared with a plan for shelter when the storm does arrive.
The official NYSPHSAA thunder and lightning policy can be found
here.
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SOS Sports Medicine Physicians
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SOS PLUS
After-Hours Care
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Convenient, immediate, evening & weekend care for acute orthopedic injuries. Treats medical conditions that need prompt attention, but are not life-threatening.
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Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists | Sports Medicine | 315.251.3100 |
sosbones.com
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