Athletic Trainer’s Thanksgiving

I have many things to be thankful on this Thanksgiving. Way too many to truly name, but I’m going to certainly give it a shot!

• I’d be in trouble if I didn’t mention them first: my parents and my family. The support over the last few years while I have worked to build my career has been amazing. 
• The administration at Bishop Lynch High School for believing in me and giving me the ability to make the move to Texas to become their new Head Athletic Trainer this summer. The staff, parents, and kids for welcoming me into the Bishop Lynch community.
• My mentors over the years. The advice and encouragement has made me into the Athletic Trainer that I am today. They are there by my side when I need them the most!
• The #ATtalk and #AT4ALL Twitter family. We are creating change in sports safety. And we will not give up until we complete our mission!
• My wonderful assistant, Sarah, and team physician, Dr. Moore. They have made our first fall season as a staff a success! The three of us work together so well in order to achieve athlete safety for our Friar athletes.

Every Athlete Deserves an Athletic Trainer.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Injuries in sports are going to happen. There is nothing we can do to change them. We can simply work to prevent as many of them as we can while reducing the life-long effects of injury when they do occur. Unfortunately some injuries are catastrophic and may even lead to death. Additionally, catastrophic injuries can be the result of a missed symptom of a general medical condition. In this paper, the author will attempt to enlighten readers to a series of conditions known most frequently as sudden cardiac death. A specific emphasis will be placed on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) however sudden cardiac death and the controversy that surrounds the entire climate of testing and participation shall be examined.

To read the full paper, please click SuddenCardiacDeath.

What Does #AT4ALL Mean?

Simple question, but is there is a simple answer? Occasionally I get asked this question. What does #AT4ALL mean? To so many people, it can mean so many different things. I recently asked this question on Twitter and as of this writing, I only had one reply. And her reply was different than mine. Her reply was on a more global picture than my definition.

Patient First

Healthcare providers often get mixed up in many different priorities when it comes to their jobs. We must remember to always put the patient first. They are the reason we are here. They must always be Priority #1. Do what is best for your patient. The rest will take care of itself.

 

Every Athlete Deserves an Athletic Trainer. #AT4ALL 

Humans, Not Electronics, Detect Concussions

There has been so much press about many different helmet sensors coming onto the market. Or computer testing such as ImPACT. While these tools can be great, they still cannot detect concussions. They can provide great data and it’s data we should use. But humans still must detect and diagnose concussions. This is why the value of having a Certified Athletic Trainer is so great. Do your kids a favor; make sure they are protected by a Certified Athletic Trainer.

Every Athlete Deserves an Athletic Trainer #AT4ALL