For student-athletes participating in spring sports, April is a busy month as teams prepare for their final championship tournaments before the end of the school year. This month and throughout the school year and sports calendars, Lee Health athletic trainers work hard to ensure student-athletes stay safe, healthy and ready to perform.
In partnership with The School District of Lee County, Lee Health athletic trainers cover the public high schools, providing expert care across five key domains of athletic training:
- Injury and illness prevention and wellness promotion.
- Examination, assessment, and diagnosis.
- Immediate and emergency care.
- Therapeutic intervention.
- Organization and administration of the athletic training program.
The program began in 2015 with three Lee Health athletic trainers and has grown to meet the needs of young athletes throughout our community. “We have 12 Lee Health athletic trainers, plus four employed by the school district, covering all 15 Lee County public high schools,” said Jessica Pasternack, MS, LAT, ATC, FMS, lead athletic trainer for Lee Health. “Each school has at least one athletic training room that we work out of to perform student-athlete evaluations and rehabilitation.”
While baseball, softball, tennis, track and field, and other spring sports are in full swing right now, sports are available to student-athletes throughout the school year. Jessica says schools can roster up to 39 teams if every sport and level is represented, which means a lot of games and practices.
“Having athletic trainers available to handle medical emergencies and manage recovery ensures athletes return to play (games or practice) when it is safe to do so, when they are physically and mentally ready,” Pasternack said…