What is an Athletic Trainer?
Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic trainers work under the direction of a physician as prescribed by state licensure statutes.
The Athletic Trainer here at Innovation Academy works closely with the Athletic Department, coaches, school nurses, physical therapists, and physicians to provide the highest possible quality of care.
Physicals
All updated physicals must be passed in directly to the Health Office. Physicals for participation in athletics expire exactly 13 months from the date that the physical was performed. If your child’s physical is set to expire during an athletic season, please make sure to schedule their physical appointment promptly and pass in an updated copy to the Health Office. A student-athlete with an expired physical will be held from participation until an updated physical is on file with the Health Office.
Doctor’s Notes
Any athlete that sees a physician outside of a routine check-up must provide a doctor’s note to the Athletic Trainer. Student-athletes cannot return to play until a doctor’s note is provided stating that the athlete is clear to participate or provides restrictions for that athlete during their participation.
ImPACT Testing
All student-athletes are required to complete the ImPACT Baseline Concussion Test in order to participate in sports here at IACS. This test will be completed with the team during a practice session. Once an athlete takes the test for the first time, they only need to retake the test during their freshman and junior years for high school and 5th and 7th grades for middle school. All new student-athletes to IACS, regardless of which grade they are entering, are required to take the baseline test and then will be put on a bi-yearly schedule like the other student-athletes.
There are two different types of tests:
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ImPACT Concussion Baseline Test – All athletes are required to take this test. This test helps to measure verbal & visual memory, processing speed, and reaction time in a healthy athlete.
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ImPACT Post Concussion Test
– This test is only taken if an athlete sustains a concussion. These test results are compared by medical professionals to an athlete’s initial baseline scores. If the post concussion and the baseline scores match, medical professionals can be confident that the athlete has recovered from their concussion.
If an athlete suffers from a concussion during the season, they will have to complete the following steps in order to be cleared to participate in athletics again at Innovation:
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Rest until symptom-free for 24 hours.
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Complete the ImPACT Post Concussion Test. If their scores match the ImPACT Concussion Baseline Test they can then move on to step 3.
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5 Day Return to Play Protocol
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Return to participation in athletics with no restrictions.
Here is a sample ImPACT Concussion Baseline Test available for parents/guardians and/or students to preview:
For more information on the ImPACT Baseline Concussion Test visit the following link:
