Athletic training encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an allied health care profession.

Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education, training and the state's statutes, rules and regulations. Athletic trainers provide medical services to all types of patients, not just athletes participating in sports, and can work in a variety of job settings.

As a part of the health care team, services provided by athletic trainers include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. 

Athletic trainers improve functional outcomes and specialize in patient education to prevent injury and re-injury. Preventative care provided by an athletic trainer helps to reduce injury and shorten rehabilitation time for patients. 

Athletic trainers are sometimes confused with personal trainers. There is, however, a large difference in the education, skillset, job duties and patients of an athletic trainer and a personal trainer. The athletic training academic curriculum and clinical training follows the medical model. Find out more information HERE. 

Proctor Academy utilizes a multifaceted, cutting edge approach to ensure any concussed student receives the treatment they need in an individualized manner.  

Neurocognitive Testing:
We subscribe to ImPACT Applications and have every student take a Baseline Test to establish pre-injury norms.  In the event of a suspected concussion, a student is retested to help determine if a concussion diagnosis makes sense and then again to help gauge recovery. In the recent past, as part of our partnership with Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center’s Neuropsychology unit and The Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire, we have been able to provide baseline and post-injury testing free of charge to students.

In 2019, The Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire is unable to provide funding for ImPACT tests.  As a result, Proctor is implementing a fee structure for post-injury ImPACT tests. Tests will be charged to a students’ account if they are treated for a concussion. Most students who incur a concussion take three post-injury tests. Each test costs $7, resulting in a $21 total charge.  

Proctor will continue to provide baseline ImPACT tests as well as Return to Learn and Return to Play support at no charge. Additionally, post-injury tests will continue to be interpreted by Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center’s Neuropsychology unit at no charge to students.  

A multi step approach to care:

Return to Learn:
Once placed in the concussion protocol, care is taken to monitor a student’s symptoms daily and when appropriate, to get feedback from a student’s teachers.  Students are generally excused from homework during the recovery time, including all assessments. As a student recovers they slowly take on academic burdens ending with the taking of assessments.  All assessments are eventually made up after recovery while most of the missed daily homework is exempt.  

Return to Play:
Once a student returns to normal affect, they begin a multi day return to play protocol.  A student will initially begin with a few days of cardiovascular workouts and then increase to sport specific activities.  Once cleared by a Doctor, Neurologist (both can be supplied by Proctor), a Parent and the Athletic Training staff, the student is allowed to begin team practices, beginning with non-contact one day, full-contact the next and finally ending with game clearance.

Proctor's athletic trainers use a variety of techniques to treat, prevent, and rehabilitate athletic injuries. Learn more below.

Instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (or IASTM for short) is one of a number of our manual therapy approaches that uses specialized instruments to massage or “scrape” the skin gently. This is done to release adhesions in the fascia (connective tissue), increase localized blood flow, and aid in the healing process of tendons, ligaments, and scars. All of the Proctor Academy Athletic Training staff has been certified in this technique. In addition to the healing benefits mentioned above, we want to let you know that some IASTM massage may have slight bruising associated with it. Like many manual therapies, it may also cause soreness the following day. These side effects usually resolve in one to two days after treatment. Learn more HERE.

In addition to this, cupping has been added to the list of potential treatment options our AT staff can provide. Cupping has been used as a healing modality for thousands of years across different cultures, spanning multiple continents. While it comes in a variety of forms, generally speaking, cupping is the use of suction on the body to produce therapeutic effects. At Proctor, the AT staff has been trained in the use of silicone and plastic cups to treat musculoskeletal injuries and pain via the separation, hydration and encouragement of fluid exchange in the body's tissues. As with IASTM, a cupping treatment may leave marks on the body that resemble bruises. While these marks have the potential to appear quite significant, they are completely benign and, unlike in other manual therapies, should not be sore or tender. Our cupping does not involve the breaking of skin or the use of fire as in other forms and is completely safe. Learn more HERE.
 
Other modalities provided:

• Ice 
• Electric Stimulation
• Heat
• Ultrasound
• Laser
• Cold whirlpool
• Game Ready