Athletic Training

 
Merrillville High School
Sports Medicine
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Francesca Salazar
Athletic Trainer
219-650-5307 ext. 7225
fsalazar@mvsc.k12.in.us
Rachel Dean
 Athletic Trainer
219-650-5307 ext. 7225
Adam Gibson
Athletic Trainer
219-650-5307 - 7225
What is an Athletic Trainer?
Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) are recognized health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.

Certified athletic trainers must earn a degree from an accredited athletic training curriculum. Formal instructions include: injury/illness prevention, first aid and emergency care, assessment of injuries/illness, human anatomy and physiology, therapeutic modalities, and nutrition.

Certified athletic trainers in the state of Indiana must be certified by the Board of Certification (BOC) by passing a comprehensive board examination and maintaining a certain number of continuing education hours. ATC’s in Indiana must also be licensed in the state of Indiana and must adhere to the state’s practice act for athletic trainers.
Services
The Merrillville High School Athletic Training staff is here to provide professional and progressive rehabilitation through personalized care that emphasizes athlete education and prevention of further injury, We provide these services through skilled evaluations and recommended treatment options. We work in conjunction with the student’s treating physicians to create programs that assist our athletes in returning to optimal performance levels on and off the athletic field.

Our athletic training services are provided FREE OF CHARGE to our student athletes. Merrillville high school has two full-time certified athletic trainers. Our facilities are fully equipped with all modalities needed to treat and rehabilitate athletic injuries.
  • Cryotherapy
  • Manual Therapy
  • Thermotherapy
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Physician Notes
In order to provide quality care for our student athletes, we do our best to work along side doctors and other health care professionals. If your son/daughter is seeing or is going to see a physician for an injury, we need a note clearing them for participation. If they do not have a note, they will be unable to practice or compete. It is important that we have this communication to protect our athletes from further injury, as well as enhance our rehabilitation capabilities.
WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THESE PHYSICIANS:
Omar Perez, MD
101 East 87th Avenue
Merrillville, IN 46410
Timothy Mullally, DO
11275 Delaware Parkway
Crown Point, IN 46307
Physicals/Concussions
Every student athlete must have a current physical and concussion form filled out before they can participate in ANY athletic events (conditioning, tryouts, practices, and competition). The physicals must be within the year and must be signed by an MD or DO.
 
Every spring, MHS holds physicals in our facility. Several of the local doctors will come and for a less-expensive fee, fill out a pre-participation exam  for any MHS student athlete or 7th/8th grade student athlete. This is a privilege that we have here at MHS. Your son/daughter will find out when they will be held some time in the spring months. They are held one night for 2 hours.
Hydration
Dehydration is PREVENTABLE!

As temperature rises, so do your children’s risk of suffering dehydration and heat illnesses. Teach your children to take special precautions on       extremely hot days.
 
HELP YOUR CHILD DEFEAT THE HEAT!
  • Think of fluids as essential safety equipment for sports, like a helmet or shin guards, and always back an extra bottle of water for your child’s practice/game.
  • Leading health professional organizations recommend kids drink at regular intervals, not just when thirsty.
The key to prevention is drinking the right amount of the right fluid. Following a drinking schedule helps ensure that your children drink enough to stay hydrated without over drinking.
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Concussions
Concussions can occur in any sport and adolescents are more susceptible than adults, since their brains are still in      development. We continually monitor prevention and care guidelines and will update our approaches as new research becomes available.

Signs and Symptoms of a concussion
  • Confusion
  • Forgetfulness
  • Clumsy movement
  • Behavior or personality changes
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Headache
  • Sensitivity to light and sound
  • Dizziness
  • Double vision
  • Nausea
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Concentration or memory problems
If any of these signs are noticed, the athlete shall be removed from practice OR competition. They then will be evaluated by one of the Athletic Trainers. An athlete diagnosed with a concussion shall be withheld from the competition or practice and note to return to activity for the remainder of the day. Before returning, the athlete must be cleared by the medical care team.