March is National Athletic Training Month Theme – Athletic Trainers Save Lives By Matt Shade MEd, ATC

Welcome to the month of March! In the health care world, March is recognized as National Athletic Training Month (NATM). In the last 20 years, Athletic Training has gained momentum as a profession. Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC) are employed by high schools, colleges, medical clinics, the military and industrial companies.

This year’s theme for NATM is “Athletic Trainers Save Lives.” Having worked in the high school, college, and orthopedic medical office setting, I have had extensive exposure to orthopedic injuries. While writing this blog, I initially thought “I have been blessed that I have never had to save a life.” However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I save lives every day. Ok, maybe I haven’t had to perform CPR but I have had to treat:

Compound fracture of the lower leg – soccer player                                                                                                                                            Orbital Blowout Fracture – soccer player                                                                                                                                                    Concussions – one in every contact sport at this point in my career                                                                                                           Spine Related Injuries – soccer, football, wrestling                                                                                                                                Ruptured Spleen - lacrosse  

Depending on how I managed these injuries, they may have become life threatening. After more consideration, I realized saving a life doesn’t have to be treating a traumatic injury. It can be something as simple as helping a patient to recover from an orthopedic injury and return to the lifestyle he/she desired. This discussion can go on for a while…so I will come back to the traumatic injury category.

As spring sports get into full swing, one traumatic injury seems to takes the life of a young athlete each year is commotio cordis. Commotio cordis (Latin, "agitation of the heart") is a disruption of heart rhythm that occurs as a result of a blow to the area directly over the heart, at a critical time during the cycle of a heart beat” (Wikipedia).

For spring sports, commotio cordis is more prevalent in baseball catchers, softball catchers, and lacrosse players due to the ball hitting the athlete in the chest. When hit, cardiac arrest can be almost instantaneous.

As a coach, parent, umpire/referee, or athlete, I plead for you to take one of two precautions to be prepared of commotio cordis.

1.       Have an ATC on site for practices, games, and parents.  (If you don’t know an ATC, contact me at Performance Spine and Sports Medicine)

2.       CPR/AED Training and Emergency Action Plan – Become certified in CPR or have someone on site at games/practices who is (hint hint…an ATC at PSSM). Also, ddevelop, implement and practice an emergency action plan for your field/facility. If you don’t have or know how to create an emergency action plan, have somebody do it for you (hint, hint….an ATC at PSSM).

On behalf of PSSM - Have a safe and healthy season!

THE SPRING SPORTS SEASON! Transitioning from Indoor to Outdoor Venues

Baseline Testing: Obtain the data before Injury Strikes

Injury: It’s More Than Just Physical