Injury Reporting at North Hills
This info is provided to aid the parents of athletes in the event their child suffers an injury prior to the athletic season or while participating in an athletic event sponsored by North Hills School District.
Reporting an Injury
- If your an athlete is seen by a licensed physician during the school year for an injury, you will need to obtain a written release to return to play for the sport that they are participating in currently.
- If the athlete is currently participating in a sport season and sees a licensed physician for a non-sports related issue – a written release is required. You must inform the physician what sport your athlete is participating in.
- If the athlete sees a dentist, dermatologist or other specialist; then a written release must be obtained for the sport that they are participating in.
- If the athlete sees a Chiropractor, Physical Therapist, Sports Performance Specialist, etc. and is restricted from participating, the athlete will need a written release from a licensed physician.
Pennsylvania Law requires Licensed Athletic Trainers to work under the direction of a Licensed Physician and therefore must obtain a written release from a licensed physician if the athlete has been restricted from participation in sport.
If in doubt, obtain a written release from a licensed physician. If an athlete is seen in an Emergency Room or an outside emergency clinic, the same rule applies, and a written release from a licensed physician is needed.
Note
This note may be given to either the coach or athletic trainer. Your son/daughter will not be allowed to participate without this release from the physician.
Use of ice in the treatment of injuries
In the event of playing a sport it is inevitable that injuries will occur. Sprains, strains, and bruises are the most common.
- Apply ice to the injured area – this will help decrease pain and reduce swelling
- Ice should not be applied directly to the skin – use a plastic bag, damp towel or thin cloth to place between the skin and ice
- Ice massage is the only time ice should be applied directly to the skin, and the ice is constantly being moved during the application
- Ice should be applied for no longer that 10 min. at a time, but can be used several times throughout the day
- Heat should not be applied to a new injury because it will increase the swelling to the injury site.
Prevention of throwing injuries
- Overload – throwing too many pitches in one inning can lead to shoulder problems.
- Overuse – pitching too often and not having adequate recovery time can also lead to shoulder injuries.
- Proper conditioning – the entire body needs to be in condition, legs, arms, and core muscles. Use of proper stretching and warm-up program is important.
- Pre-season – throwing too much, too hard, and too early can lead to shoulder injuries.
- Improper throwing techniques – this places stress on the shoulder and can cause injuries.
- Recognizing pitching arm fatigue – when the accurateness, and speed of the pitches decreases
7 Tips for Pre-season Conditioning by Eric Cardwell, Athletic Trainer for North Hills
- Prepare for your upcoming season by start early enough and maintain a routine.
- Get FIT – When training, consider the 3 prongs to success – frequency, duration, and time.
- Use weight lifting to enhance performance and prevent injuries. Follow a program prescribed by a certified strength coach.
- Use running drills that mimic the type of running that you will use in your sport. This is called drill specific conditioning. Refer to the Community Recreation Program on the main page for the Speed & Agility Clinics.
- Maintain a flexibility program. Paying attention to flexibility will decrease the chance of incurring a muscle injury.
- Good nutrition is training for the energy system of the body. Like a car, when the fuel is of high quality, the body will run better and longer.
- Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Drinking sufficient water and sports drinks are essential to maintaining the body’s cooling system.
Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Make hydration part of your game plan. Get acclimated to the pace of vigorous exercise prior to the start of practice. Drink fluids 2-3 hours before coming to practice. Rehydrate or replace fluids after practice. Let someone know if you are having symptoms of dehydration such as fatigue, loss of performance, muscle cramps, nausea, or vomiting