The parks and recreation departments of both Auburn and Opelika will welcome two new members to their youth sports teams this fall, thanks to the Orthopedic Clinic. The clinic is providing each city its own certified athletic trainer, free of charge, to aid in their youth recreational sports programs.
“We’ve partnered with Auburn Parks and Recreation and Opelika Parks and Recreation to provide certified athletic trainers for youth sports,” said Dr. Trent Wilson, sports medicine orthopedic surgeon with the Orthopedic Clinic. “Our clinic has taken care of Auburn High School, Opelika High School, Lee-Scott Academy and their programs, in addition to nine other area high schools, for 30 years. So we have a lot of relationships. … This was kind of a natural next step.”
Though the cities have provided trainers for tackle football teams in the past, this is the first year Auburn and Opelika rec teams will have trainers at all sports, from club soccer and football in the fall to basketball in the winter to softball and baseball in the spring. They’ll also have the ability to move from one league to another if needed.
In the past, parents, coaches and field managers have helped diagnose injuries. Adults have had to rely on the child’s reaction to the injury, which Opelika Youth Sports Coordinator Melissa Martin said can be difficult.
“You need to have somebody educated to look at it. They’re a great bunch of doctors at the Orthopedic Clinic,” Martin said. “That assures the kid, but it really assures the parent.
“I think it’s going to be fabulous. I don’t see how it’s not a win-win for everybody involved.”
Wilson said the trainers will help triage injuries, which ensures athletes quickly get appropriate professional care. They’re trained in everything from basic injury management to lifesaving measures.
“You’re going to find that some injuries that may be diagnosed by a mom or a coach are going to be treated right away by a professional,” Wilson said, adding in the past, a child with an injury may not have a relationship with an orthopedic doctor. In those cases, the athlete typically visits a pediatrician who will make a referral, which can take several days. “By having a trainer around, there’s going to be some comfort for the parents knowing their kids are safe.”
He described youth sports injuries as an “epidemic” and attributed many injuries to overuse.
With tackle football season on the horizon, Auburn Parks and Recreation athletic program director Houston Manning said concussions are a primary concern.
“The big focus is on concussions. If a player is suspected of having a concussion, our rules make them sit out until they have a doctor’s visit,” Manning said. “Definitely, if it’s a bad injury, (trainers) can stabilize them quicker. It’s the best thing for the kids, and I think the parents will like it, too.”
Though the Orthopedic Clinic treats injured patients, Wilson said providing the cities with certified athletic trainers will put an emphasis on injury prevention and awareness.
“This is something that the cities want to do, provide high-quality care,” he said. “We’re honored to be a part of that.”
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