In the U.S., eight million high school students participate in sports activities each year. As student-athletes strive to become faster and stronger, they may increase their risk of injury. From 2015 to 2019, more than 5.2 million injuries occurred among American high school athletes.
If you’re the parent of a student-athlete, chances are your child may experience an injury at some point in their career. It’s how your sports medicine team works to prevent and care for athletic injuries that makes a difference now and in the future.
At Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, health and safety come first for the student-athletes we care for through our comprehensive sports medicine program. Our physicians and certified athletic trainers do everything they can to keep student-athletes healthy and injury free so they can compete at their best and have a long, successful career. If an injury occurs, an athletic trainer you trust will be there to assist your child and connect them with the best doctor for their condition.
Today, athletes of all ages from Alleghany, Guilford, Wilkes, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County and Yadkin County school systems, Lexington and Mount Airy Senior High Schools, and several charter and private schools receive treatment and injury prevention guidance through the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Athletic Training Outreach Program. Each secondary school is assigned a dedicated Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist athletic trainer who collaborates with the coaching staff, school nurses, athletic administrators, parents, and our Sports Medicine specialists to deliver expert care to student-athletes.
"Certified athletic trainers are an integral part of our sports medicine team at Wake Forest Baptist Health,” says Heath Thornton, MD, Medical Director of the Athletic Training Outreach Program. “On the playing field or court, they act as our ‘eyes and ears,’ keeping athletes safe and healthy during practices, games, and beyond. They work “one on one” with athletes and patients on a daily basis helping them restore function and return to activity as quickly and safely as possible. ATCs are some of the most qualified medical professionals to respond to the needs of the student-athlete and physically active population.”
What Does an Athletic Trainer Do?
Our athletic trainers collaborate with school administrators, coaching staff, school nurses, physical therapists, parents, and student-athletes to deliver expert medical care both on and off the field. We specialize in preventing sports-related injuries, managing emergencies, and providing rehabilitation for injuries of all sizes.
“We provide immediate evaluation and treatment for any injury that occurs during practices or games,” says Christopher Ina, Director of Athletic Training and Outreach at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
As nationally certified and state-licensed medical professionals, our athletic trainers hold advanced degrees in athletic training and undergo extensive training through formal internships, fellowships, and mentorship. They work alongside fellowship-trained doctors who oversee and guide the sports medicine care provided to student-athletes.
Here are some of the key responsibilities of our certified athletic trainers:
Injury Evaluation
- Recognize and assess injuries
- Provide first aid and acute care
- Perform orthopaedic special tests designed to isolate and assess specific structures (ligaments, tendons, etc.) involved in the injury.
- Use standard protocols to help in diagnosing common injuries (e.g., ACL tears, ankle sprains).
- Use sport-specific tests to determine how the injury may affect performance.
- Determine if a referral for further care is necessary
Injury Prevention
- Design specialized injury prevention programs that target common injuries in specific sports.
- Provide ankle taping and bracing techniques to support athletes during practices and games, reducing the risk of sprains.
- Adjust training and prevention strategies based on observations and feedback.
- Recognize how nutrition can aid in recovery from injuries and illnesses
Game-Day Support
- Attend all home athletic events, matches, and games (including practices)
- Monitor field, environmental, and weather conditions (e.g., heat index and lightning)
- Make recommendations for practice and game adjustments based on weather conditions.
- Manage in-game injuries by conducting sideline concussion evaluations and making return-to-play decisions
Emergency Action
- Develop emergency action plans for schools
- Provide acute and emergency care
- Recognize and assess head injuries and concussions
- Communicate with physicians, parents, and coaches regarding injuries
- Adjust training and prevention strategies based on observations and feedback.
Rehabilitation
- Evaluate, treat, and rehabilitate injuries and athletic-related illnesses
- Create return-to-play programs for injured athletes
- Develop and implement strength and conditioning programs tailored to the needs of athletes
- Include balance, agility, and proprioceptive training to improve overall athletic performance
Our outreach athletic trainers offer on-site support during all home games and matches, as well as daily team practices. This presence fosters a strong connection among athletes, parents, coaching staff, and the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist medical team. By being on the field, our trainers serve as the eyes and ears, ready to respond to any medical needs in real time.
This immediate access to healthcare professionals ensures that athletes receive prompt evaluation and treatment for injuries, minimizing the risk of complications and facilitating quicker recovery. The outreach athletic trainers also play a crucial role in educating athletes and coaches about injury prevention strategies, helping to create a safer sporting environment.
This integrated approach allows the medical staff to build trusting relationships with athletes, understanding their unique circumstances and needs. Such rapport encourages open communication, ensuring that athletes feel comfortable discussing any health concerns, which can lead to better overall care and performance.
If necessary, we refer student-athletes to our nationally recognized physical therapy experts. “We provide access to rehabilitation with skilled physical therapists, along with the latest return-to-play guidelines, to ensure a safe and optimal return to sports participation while minimizing the risk of reinjury,” says Ina.
Resources for Convenient Care
We offer several resources to ensure your student-athlete can see our sports medicine experts quickly and conveniently. For example, we provide:
- An on-site athletic trainer at their school and on the sidelines
- Orthopaedic urgent care
- Same-day clinical appointments for injuries
- Saturday hours at select locations
Personalized Support and Treatment
Athletic trainers do much more than ensure athletes' physical safety and performance. Their daily interactions with student-athletes allow them to play a key role in guiding their development as young adults. This relationship enables athletic trainers to deliver personalized treatment when injuries occur. They are also attentive to mental health issues, offering support regardless of the athlete's injury status.
Here’s what some of our athletic trainers said about supporting student-athletes:
- “My passion for athletic training stems from following the athletes day in and day out throughout the season. Watching them improve, accomplish their team and personal goals and become the best version of themselves is what makes my job so special.” - Linsey Ciccocioppo, MS, LAT, ATC, Wake Forest Baptist, West Forsyth High School
- “One of the things I like best about working with high school students is that you have kids who are still impressionable and need leadership and guidance. I love having the opportunity to help mold a student into a better human being.” - Jessica Herman Groulx, manager of Athletic Training Services, Wake Forest Baptist, Central Region
“We are proud to partner with school districts that value the health and safety of their student-athletes,” explains Ina. “The level of service we provide to student-athletes is unmatched. And the peace of mind we provide to parents by watching out for their kids’ safety is invaluable.”
Learn more about how we can support your athlete’s journey to success.
- Overseeing general care of student-athletes - Our athletic trainers are the healthcare professional who takes care of student-athletes even after the school nurse and other staff have left for the day. This is when the athletic trainer begins the daily routine of injury rehabilitation, injury evaluations, protective taping, practice preparation, monitoring environmental conditions such as heat and humidity, consulting with physicians, checking the status of weather conditions, conducting concussion follow-up and honoring return-to-play protocols.
- Coordinating care with teachers and other administrative staff - Research shows that schools with an athletic trainer have more diagnosed concussions. The athletic trainer's background prepares him or her to work day-to-day with the administration, school nurse, staff and parents to help students manage concussions. This includes prevention, on-the-field evaluation should injury occur, and the care, management and recovery protocols required to ensure the athlete recovers and then returns to play in the most effective and efficient manner.
This is vitally important because second-impact syndrome is an extremely dangerous condition that occurs in younger athletes when they have a concussion that doesn't properly heal and then have another concussive episode. This condition can lead to permanent disability and even death. The goal is "return to learn" first, meaning re-assimilation into the classroom environment. Once that is accomplished, the next step is to get the athlete to complete a return-to-play protocol and release him or her back into the sport of choice.
- Directing preventative care for a wide range of injuries - Injuries vary from sprains and strains to more severe, unusual injuries or conditions that require specialized training, recognition, management and treatment. If the school doesn't have an athletic trainer, the coach or athletic director may try to provide this medical care and decision-making. Coaches are hired to coach, prepare and condition their teams; and athletic directors are meant to oversee the department. They should not be expected to also handle medical aspects, and any type of substandard care could put the athlete's health and welfare at risk.
- Providing referrals and expediting medical care for injured athletes - Our athletic trainers have developed strong relationships with our sports physicians and specialists. Wake Forest Baptist Orthopaedic clinics offer same-day or next-day appointments for any injured student athlete. WFBH also offers a convenient after-hours walk-in clinic and Saturday clinic hours to meet the needs of a busy schedule. The ease of making an appointment allows for quicker treatment, rehabilitation and care, which in turn speeds the recovery process and putting coaches, parents and athletes at ease.
- Managing administrative responsibilities - The athletic trainer often becomes the gatekeeper of all medical forms used in an athletic program. This includes collecting medical forms, completing injury reports, completing daily injury and rehabilitation notes, collecting pre-participation physical exam paperwork, conducting baseline concussion testing, and securing medical releases. These are all critical tasks, with the goal of eliminating or decreasing potential liability of the school district should injury occur.
- Assisting in the development of an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) - Athletics administrators should have an EAP for every venue that their athletic teams use for practice and games. The athletic trainer is a valuable resource for a school district and athletic director in helping coordinate this plan, by offering not only knowledge of emergency response and planning, but an established rapport with local emergency responders, as well. The athletic trainer can also help develop response protocol in the event that a spectator, coach or student-athlete is injured as a result of an emergency situation.
We’re here for you when you need us - Wake Forest Baptist Health’s Athletic Training Outreach Program is part of the Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at Wake Forest Baptist.
Our program serves children and teens of all ages and abilities.
Staying and getting back in the game - We pride ourselves on prevention and education. We teach coaches, parents and athletes ways to avoid injury and perform better and more safely throughout the season. In the event of an injury, our team works closely with the athlete, family and coaches to ensure a safe, yet swift recovery back to the field. Whether it’s ruling out a fracture or treating a sprain, our athletic trainers can help save athletes an unnecessary trip to the emergency room. We can also determine whether an athlete has a concussion and when they can safely return to play.
The largest, most experienced team in our region - Wake Forest Baptist Health’s Athletic Training Outreach Program offers the largest, most trusted team of pediatric-focused, North Carolina state Licensed Certified Athletic Trainers in the region. Our athletic trainers provide medical coverage at 27 local high schools watching over and caring for more than 15,000 student-athletes.
Our specialized team includes sports orthopaedic surgeons, pediatric orthopaedics, and physicians who are fellowship-trained in sports medicine. That means they have completed a nationally-recognized, highly-competitive program to become experts in sports medicine. Those physicians enjoy a seamless line of communication with the in-house physical therapy team, working with their patients on sports injury treatment programs, sports injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Our sports medicine team offers both surgical and nonsurgical treatments as needed, with services that include injury prevention, physical therapy, rehabilitation, imaging, complementary medical treatment. We are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of acute and chronic sports injuries, including strains and sprains, concussions, neck and back pain, shoulder and arm programs, hip and knee pain, torn knee ligaments, meniscal tears, shin splints and fractures.
We offer same-day or next-day appointments, a convenient walk-in after-hours orthopaedic clinic, and we are open Saturdays. We do not require a referral from a primary care physician.
Your Official Health Care Provider
Together with Atrium Health, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is proud to serve over 120 high schools throughout the Carolinas, offering one of the largest athletic training outreach programs in the nation. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist serves as the official healthcare provider and team doctors for various secondary schools, offering on-site athletic training services at each institution. Additionally, we provide comprehensive healthcare services, including team doctors and sports nutritionists, for numerous professional, collegiate, and youth sports organizations throughout the Region. Our partners include the Carolina Panthers, Queens College, NASCAR, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, UNC Charlotte, Winston-Salem Dash, Charlotte Knights, NC Fusion, Charlotte FC and the Carolina Core FC.
How Can My School or Club Partner with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist?
Our Outreach Athletic Training Program offers comprehensive medical and orthopaedic services tailored specifically for student-athletes. As one of the few multidisciplinary programs in the country dedicated to the health of young athletes, we cater to individuals at all levels, from elite to middle school. Our staff conducts individualized assessments based on each athlete’s maturity, skill level, and performance goals.
With over 40 certified athletic trainers on our team, all licensed in North Carolina and certified by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, we provide medical coverage to more than 30 high schools and club sports organizations across our Region. Our services include:
- Dedicated, onsite, full-time, athletic trainers
- Home game coverage for all sports
- Injury Prevention
- Emergency care; including cardiac and environmental conditions
- Acute first aid for injuries
- Injury assessment and treatment recommendations
- Concussion management; including head and neck injuries
- Documentation of services provided to athletes
Additionally, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist offers CPR and AED training workshops for coaches and school administrators and sports-related in-services and educational opportunities for athletic trainers.
If you would like to learn more about the importance of working with an athletic trainer or discuss partnership opportunities for your school, please reach out to Christopher Ina, Director of Athletic Training and Outreach at eina@wakehealth.edu.