Lee Health: Athletic Trainers Support Student-athletes

Student-athletes have a lot on their plates as they balance the demands of their sport and their studies. Through a partnership with The School District of Lee County, a team of Lee Health athletic trainers help student-athletes throughout our community stay safe and healthy.

According to our experts, there are five key domains of athletic training, including:

• Injury and illness prevention and wellness promotion
• Examination, assessment and diagnosis.
• Immediate and emergency care.
• Therapeutic intervention.
• Organization and administration of the athletic training program.

“The expertise of our athletic trainers in handling medical emergencies and managing recovery process, including ensuring athletes return to play only when they are physically and mentally ready, is vital for the overall success and safety of student-athletes,” explains Jessica Pasternack, MS, LAT, ATC, FMS, lead athletic trainer for Lee Health.

Form football, basketball, wresting and lacrosse to weightlifting, soccer, swimming and diving, volleyball, cheerleading, golf and more, Jessica says schools can roster up to 39 teams if they have every sport and level. That’s a lot of games and practices.

“We have 12 Lee Health athletic trainers, plus four employed by the school district, covering all 15 Lee County public high schools,” Jessica says. “Each school has at least one athletic training room that our athletic trainers work out of to perform student-athlete evaluations and rehabilitation each day.”

This program—which began in 2015 with three Lee Health athletic trainers—has grown to meet the needs of young athletes throughout our community.

“Our athletic trainers most important goal is to ensure the safety and health of the athletes under their care,” Jessica says. “They are focused on helping athletes perform at their best while minimizing the risk of injury and supporting their long-term health and wellness.”

The athletic training program is an important offering from the Lee Health Musculoskeletal Institute experts for the health and well-being of our community.

More: Lee Health: Navigating colorectal cancer – The role of screening and support

And: Lee Health: Donors support educational pursuits of team members

Also: Lee Health: Expanding our commitment to care

Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA is the president & CEO of Lee Health, Southwest Florida’s major destination for health care offering acute care, emergency care, rehabilitation and diagnostic services, health and wellness education, and community outreach and advocacy programs. Visit LeeHealth.org to learn more.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Lee Health: Athletic trainers support student-athletes