Thompson Health | Partners | Summer 2016

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THOMPSONHEALTH.COM | 5
THOMPSON HEALTH’S Rehabilitation
Services Department is offering a sports
performance enhancement program
called HIT—short for “high-intensity
training.”
Ideal for student athletes or weekend
warriors ages 13 to 40, the program
involves customized one-on-one training
with certified athletic trainer Austin Pratt.
One-hour sessions are twice a week for
five weeks, culminating in an individual-
ized home program.
Pratt says HIT challenges each partici-
pant in a different way, taking him or her
to the next level of athleticism.
“The participant can expect to leave
this program stronger, faster, more
functional, more knowledgeable and
everything in between,” he says.
The cost for HIT is $165 and includes a
pretest, the five-week program, a post-
test and the development of a home
program.
HIT is one of several programs offered
by Thompson’s certified athletic trainers.
Other programs are:
• W.I.P.P.—warm-up for injury prevention
and performance
YOUNG ATHLETES
CHEER THEM
ON TO SAFETY
Game time can boost a youngster’s
social skills and provide plenty of
exercise as well as fun, but every sport
poses at least some risks. As a parent,
you can help reduce these risks.
Most often, young athletes are
sidelined by:
• Sprains and strains
• Growth-plate injuries, when devel-
oping tissues at the ends of long
bones get hurt
• Overuse injuries as the result of
repetitive motions that stress and
strain bones and soft tissues
To help your child score in safety,
consider the following advice:
Get equipped. Depending on the
sport, a helmet, body padding, mouth-
guards or shin guards, eye protection,
and proper shoes may be needed.
Play by the rules. Many rules are
designed to prevent injuries. Make
sure your child knows—and follows—
them.
Beat the heat. Give your child a
water bottle and encourage frequent
intake.
Warm up. Encourage warm-up
exercises before and cooldown exer-
cises after both practices and games.
Don’t downplay concussions.
In general, players with a concussion
shouldn’t get back in the game until
medically evaluated and cleared to
play.
Encourage rest. Athletes need
breaks in between seasons and during
practices and games.
Finally, teach your child to speak up
if sick or hurt, and check with the doc-
tor should you suspect an injury.
Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; National
Institutes of Health; Safe Kids Worldwide
• SportsMetrics—knee injury prevention
program focusing on jumping and
landing mechanics
• Tuff Cuff—stretch and strengthen rota-
tor cuff muscles
Thompson provides contracted ath-
letic training services for high schools
throughout the region. Working in the
schools, the athletic trainers are able to
evaluate and treat athletes after an ini-
tial injury and determine if it is necessary
for further evaluation by a physician or
if the athlete would benefit from a com-
prehensive rehab program. The trainers
are liaisons between the coaches, par-
ents, athletes, nurses, athletic directors
and physicians in discussing the athlete’s
status and what steps should be taken
to return athletes safely back to their
sport.
New sports medicine program
aHITwithathletes
Certified athletic trainer Austin Pratt, left, works with a local athlete on the battle ropes,
which help with muscular strength and endurance while improving core, shoulder and
lower extremity stability.
Visit
to download program forms for
HIT. For information about it and
other sports medicine programs at
Thompson, call 585-396-6050.
SPORTS MEDICINE
THOMPSONHEAL