A Safe Return to High School Sports Post COVID-19 | ATI Physical Therapy

Keeping High School Athletes Game-Ready & Injury-Free

High school sports are an annual tradition. The teams are beacons of pride in communities across the country. And to the athletes, it’s often much more than just a “game.” Sports bring people together, which, in a time of the COVID-19 virus, has become completely redefined. What with new norms like social distancing, protective face coverings and a number of other safety measures. 

Back in February, no one could have predicted that high schools and athletic departments would be facing their current challenges. With mandates and rules varying not just by state, but also at the county and district levels, the challenges are unique for each school. 

Even with all this uncertainty, we want you to know that ATI continues to be here for our athletes, supporting their physical health needs both on and off the field. Our therapists and athletic trainers have the knowledge and expertise to help guide athletes, as well as coaches, during this unique time.

High School Sports During COVID-19: Where We Stand

At the time of this post’s publication, several states across the country are separating contact sports from non-contact sports in evaluating when it might be safe enough for those sports to be played during the 2020-21 academic/athletic year. 

• For non-contact sports like golf, tennis and cross country, athletes at those schools will likely be able to play as expected, with the addition of safety measures.
• However, contact sports like football, basketball and soccer warrant greater consideration because of the nature of their play. 

The primary distinction being that athletes in contact sports are more likely to be in close proximity for a duration of time such that the probability of the coronavirus spreading is heightened. Other measures by different state administrators and organizations include: delaying the start of the fall season, moving it to 2021, or simply starting the fall season as scheduled. 

Back in May, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) provided guidance for its 51 member state high school associations to consider in reopening high school athletics and other activity programs across the country. This guidance document was developed by the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, which is composed of medical doctors, certified athletic trainers, high school coaches and research specialists, among others. 

In the document, a phased approach was outlined, similar to the phases of “opening up” that were once outlined by the White House during the coronavirus. Overall, this guidance was intended as ideas for state associations to consider with their respective sports medicine committees and state health departments in determining return-to-activity plans that fall in accordance with state or local restrictions.  

Prepare for a Safe Return to Sports with Athletic Training and Physical Therapy 

Much is yet to be determined, but in the meantime, high school athletes still need to stay game-ready and injury-free. That’s where our team comes in. 

ATI’s athletic trainers and physical therapists have the expertise to work with athletes at all levels of skill and competition and develop customized training programs to help them achieve their goals. As one of the largest employers of certified athletic trainers in the country, here’s a look at some of the services offered by our team:

•  Onsite sports physical therapy services at practices, games and events
• Education for coaches, physicians, parents and athletes
• Clinical evaluation and diagnosis
•  Immediate and emergency care
• Treatment and rehabilitation
• Strength and conditioning program development
•  Therapeutic massage

All high school athletes can and should be supported by physical therapy treatment, especially after what has likely been a longer-than-usual period of inactivity during the coronavirus. 

Preventative Physical Therapy Keeps Athletes Game-Ready 

Assisting athletes in getting back on track with their physical fitness is one important, and perhaps lesser known, use case for therapy. Often, we think of therapy as being primarily needed for the treatment of injuries sustained. But proactive and preventative therapy treatment is just as critical. 

Personalized Strength and Conditioning Programs

Strength and conditioning programs are another therapy use case. Our team can develop personalized treatment for high school athletes that is focused on sport-specific function in order to maximize their performance and reduce the risk of injury.  

Jason Pequette, ATI’s Sr Sports Medicine Director, shared how he views ATI’s synergistic approach to working with athletes. “Our athletic trainers are highly skilled in sports medicine, specifically in areas like exercise physiology, nutrition and rehabilitation. There is a wide array of services they can provide. When you combine the two diversities of athletic training and physical therapy, athletes have a well-rounded treatment experience; not only do you get sport-specific training, but you also get manual therapy. And that’s what we aim to provide at ATI.” 

Treat Pain, Discomfort, and Injuries Immediately 

Of course, if an athlete is experiencing any type of pain or feeling of discomfort, that is reason enough to seek therapy treatment as quickly as possible. One of the easiest ways to seek treatment is through our complimentary injury screening. With clinics in 25 states and over 850 locations, we likely have a location near you.

A complimentary injury screening lasts 15-20 minutes and includes a thorough assessment of the injury or pain the athlete is presenting with. A determination will be made as to whether therapy treatment is necessary.  

In states with direct access to physical therapy, athletes in need of treatment can begin their sessions immediately without having to first get a referral or prescription. We recommend contacting your insurance provider or your local ATI clinic to check if you have direct access to PT.

Online Physical Therapy: A Socially Distant Alternative

For families and high school athletes who feel more comfortable receiving treatment virtually or face schedule conflicts, we offer online PT through our ATI CONNECT service. ATI CONNECT is a great way for athletes to continue receiving necessary treatment and progressing toward their goals.  

Each session is personalized to athletes’ needs and they’ll receive dedicated one-to-one guidance from one of our licensed therapists. One additional benefit is that therapists can provide athletes with individualized home exercise programs to complete on their own time. This exercise program is made available and accessible right within the ATI CONNECT platform. Click here to learn more about ATI CONNECT and the reasons why virtual physical therapy works.

Stay Safe & Ready to Play in This Extended Offseason

Just as the rest of the country is rapidly changing and adjusting due to the coronavirus, so too are the sports medicine world and athletics. ATI’s athletic trainers fall in line with individual schools’ policies, so our team must be adaptable and remain in compliance with the latest safety precautions. 

One important precaution being social distancing — an interesting one to navigate when you consider that athletic trainers must be in close contact with athletes when hands-on care is needed. Critical spaces, like athletic training rooms at schools, will need to be rethought as well since there are space limitations. Even through the shifts that are to come, one thing remains the same — our dedication to keeping athletes safe and healthy. 

ATI’s athletic trainers work with athletes of all levels of competition to prevent, evaluate and treat sports injuries through sports physical therapy. If you or a high school athlete in your family has been dealing with a strain, sprain, ache or pain, don’t wait any longer to schedule a complimentary sports injury screening at an ATI clinic near you. Our mission is to keep athletes game-ready and injury-free for their current season and all future seasons.  

Jason Pequette is Sr Director of Sports Medicine at ATI Physical Therapy and has been with the company for over 15 years. Having earned his Master of Science in athletic training, Jason has vast knowledge and expertise around athletes’ physical health needs, and the ways in which they can benefit from physical therapy and athletic training programs. 

Katie Varnado is Director of Sports Medicine at ATI Physical Therapy and has been with the company for over eight years. As a board certified and accredited athletic trainer, Katie has first-hand experience working with athletes and developing training/sports medicine programs.