Jan 29, 2015

Chronic Challenges Not An Issue

Generally, athletic trainers have a well-known protocol to follow when it comes to helping athletes through acute injuries. But more complicated, chronic conditions require overcoming a different set of obstacles. Here, we take a look at how athletes have managed them.

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A recent article in the Courier-Post detailed how several New Jersey high school athletes dealt with their conditions, including:

• Becca Hall, a field hockey goalie for Collingswood High School, whose chronic migraines were so severe she had to be hospitalized twice. She had several precautions, such as avoiding direct sunlight.
• Quinn Collins, a quarterback for Delsea High School, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. He wears an insulin pump during games, and an athletic trainer will bring out food for him if his blood sugar gets too low.
• Haddonfield boys’ soccer player Charlie Clark, who has Cystic Fibrosis and uses an inhaler to help manage symptom

 

Collingswood athletic trainer Carl Lange had this to say about working with Hall:

“We modified her practice and game schedules when she was having increased symptoms,” he said. “She was instructed on proper nutrition and hydration, which if neglected, could increase her symptoms…Val Dayton was very good about giving her time to recover when needed. She (Hall) took on the majority of the responsibility. She persevered through the days she could tolerate the pain, and was honest about bad days when she couldn’t. As a goalie, she needed to make sound, mature decisions.”

Read the full article here