Wrestling Tournament

Friday and Saturday brought the "fun" part of my job.  I worked a high school wrestling tournament at my high school (which I graduated from 7 years ago) that featured 28 teams from Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado.  This tournament is arguably tougher than any other high school tournament, and many say it is harder than the regional and state tournaments that these wrestlers will compete in, in a few weeks.

The good thing about Athletic Training is, when I'm 'bored' and not busy, its a good thing.  Generally for most of the weekend, I had a few bloody noses, scratches on the face, and busted lips to treat.  The only "serious" injury I had to deal with, was the dislocated shoulder one of the wrestlers suffered. 

The most challenging thing about being an Athletic Trainer working at a wrestling tournament, is the fact you only have 90 seconds of injury time per match.  We, as athletic trainers, are expected to evaluate, diagnosis and see if the athlete may return to competition in just a mere 90 seconds.  Generally, asking the athlete how the injury occured takes 90 seconds.

I love working events, especially when the competition levels of the athletes are so high.  Seeing these athletes work as hard as they possibly can for 5-6 minutes definitely makes wrestling a sport like no other.

Now off to 5 nights this week of basketball!

Until next time........

I have to brag just a little...

So this isn't related to Athletic Training at all (well not the profession) but it is athletic related and it took some training so I figured I could justify posting about this.

As I've mentioned various places already through out the semester, by brother is a senior track and field/cross-country runner at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas.  Anyway, today his team traveled to Lawerence Kansas to participate in the KU indoor track meet.

My brother placed 6th overall and was only beaten by runners from KU (obviously Division 1 athletes, while Friends is a NAIA school).  The exciting part is, his time is good enough for the #1 ranking in his conference!!!!!  Not only does he have the fastest time, but he is the fastest by 8 seconds (and 8 seconds is ALOT in running)

Anyway, I am definitely one proud big sis today!  THANK YOU for allowing me a chance to brag.

(this is a picture of Tim running cross-country last fall)

GO FALCONS!

P.S. I'll get back to the world of Athletic Training tomorrow :-)

Whats best for the athlete?

Wow, what a day!  I've been a certified athletic trainer for nearly 8 months now.  Its something I've wanted to do since my freshman year of high school and I have never once doubted my career choice...until today. 

In Kansas athletic trainers work under the care of a physician.  When you get your license, your supervising physician "checks-off" what you can and can't do without the athlete coming into the clinic to see them.  Today, for the first time I had a parent of a high school kid get mad at me for these "state laws".

This particular athlete had hurt herself a couple of weeks ago.  Because she was in "extreme pain" she was taken by her parents to another physician.  Because she is not under the physician care of my physician, there isn't anything I can do for her without written documentation and a protocol from her caring physician.

This was explained to her mom Tuesday when I was at the school.  Although mom was not happy, she seemed to understand.  I told her that she either needed to go back to her first doctor, or come to the doctor I work for and we could get her rehabilitation started. 

Mom called me this afternoon and wanted an appointment with my clinic this afternoon.  I called work and pulled a few string to get the athlete in TODAY (talk about patient care!).  Anyway, 15 minutes after the athlete was supposed to be at the clinic (and the physician ready to go home) my office called me and told me that my athlete had not shown up.  I called the mom, and she had decided not to bring her daughter to the clinic and hadn't bothered to call and say they weren't coming.

While on the phone with mom, she wouldn't let me talk at all.  Anytime I went to talk, she would interrupt me and tell me that I didn't care rather her daughter was hurt or not and she didn't agree with the fact that the school paid fore me to be there and I wouldn't help her daughter. 

Sorry parents, I'm not putting my license on the line for you when the rules have been explained to you....hopefully tomorrow will be better!  HAPPY FRIDAY!

-Heather