27 Aug 2017 Trainers prep parents for football season
by John Patton
Heat-related illness, numerous strains, pulls and tears, and concussions are on the radar of coaches, parents and athletic trainers alike as football games begin throughout the 501.
Athletics are important in households all over Arkansas and the intensity grows on and off the field as old rivalries are renewed. For football, practices are followed quickly by pre-season scrimmages and the season kicks off. Volleyball, basketball and soccer are not far behind.
It can be overwhelming for parents as they prepare their young athletes for each busy day. They often turn to coaches and athletic trainers for advice. Athletic trainers provide key advice to coaches as they decide whether a player is able to continue to practice and play after an injury. They work closely with physicians to help athletes rehabilitate injuries. They also offer advice for parents who want to ensure their child is safe and able to perform at a high level.
Safety begins with hydration before and after practice, advises Jason Carruth, a seasoned athletic trainer who watches more than 120 athletes at Conway Christian High School. He is also the head athletic trainer at Central Baptist College with more than 15 years of experience.
At Conway High School, Brooke Meins and new athletic trainer Jacob Walton-Conner are providing coverage for the majority of CHS events this fall, including most practices and games for football, volleyball and basketball. Meins has provided athletic training for Conway High for more than 10 years. More than 700 athletes participate in sports at CHS.
Griffin Hawthorne is the athletic trainer for Greenbrier High School, where he covers more than 300 athletes.
Most athletic trainers in Faulkner County work directly or indirectly for Conway Regional Health System. “The biggest thing is being able to integrate services with the hospital,” said Carruth. “The partnership between the schools and the hospital will enable us to provide better coverage this year.”
Meins added, “Conway Regional made it possible for us to hire a second athletic trainer at Conway High School. Now with two athletic trainers on staff, our ability to ensure safety for all of our athletes has been greatly enhanced.”
The top preseason safety challenge for the athletic trainers and coaching staffs is usually dealing with the heat. However, cooler weather in early August was helpful along with summer activities.
“We are having fewer problems with heat illness than in the past,” said Carruth. “Seven on seven practices and other summer activities are helping the athletes stay acclimated to the heat. The danger is when ‘Johnny’ spends all summer inside under the air conditioning and then goes out in the heat for the first time during practices.”
Beating the heat
Temperatures for practices and games are likely to soar into the high 90s in August and September, so parents should help their athletes prepare for the heat before and after practices and games. Here are some tips from the athletic trainers:
Make sure your athletes stay hydrated. Athletic trainers advise 20 ounces of water replaces about one pound of water lost during a practice. Anyone who has lost more than 3 percent of their body weight can be at risk.
Don’t require children to do outdoor chores following practice during the first few weeks.
Be aware of fevers over 102 degrees after practice. A visit to an after-hours clinic or ER may be needed if a fever remains excessive.
Be aware of unusual behavior, such as being excessively lethargic, after a practice. Listen to your son or daughter if they report not feeling well.
Athletes should wake in time to eat a good breakfast and consume fluids prior to heading to practice.
Make sure athletes eat and drink water or a sports drink after practice.
Head injuries
Concussions, another area of concern, have received considerable national and statewide attention over the past few years. A concussion is a brain injury resulting from the trauma of the brain striking the inside of the skull after impact with another player, the ground or another object.
Some common symptoms of a concussion include:
Nausea.
Memory difficulties.
Slowed thinking.
Tiredness.
Change in sleep.
Dizziness.
Ringing in the ears.
The Arkansas Activities Association has a protocol for schools to use when monitoring athletes who have been diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms.
“Once they have been cleared by a healthcare provider (doctor, athletic trainer, nurse practitioner or physician assistant), then an athlete is ready to start a five-day progression back to the field,” said Carruth.
Problems can arise after they go home.
“Parents should be aware of worsening symptoms, personality changes,” said Carruth. “If the overall symptoms get worse, parents should have it checked immediately.”
In general, parents should be aware of unusual behavior after practice or games and take their children to a doctor if symptoms persist.
