PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – Camden Clark’s Health and Wellness Center is continuing its agreement with Wood County Schools to provide an athletic training program for student athletes.
History of the Program
Camden Clark Health and Wellness Center’s athletic training program for Wood County Schools started in 2018. Initially just at Parkersburg High School and Parkersburg South, the program has since expanded into all the high and middle schools in Wood County Schools.
What Services Are Provided?
The program provides certified athletic trainers who attend football games and football practices to help deal with and prevent injuries to players. Health and Wellness Center Director Louie Haer said the program offers a wide array of health- and fitness-focused services to students. “They are there not only for injuries, but they do rehab for the student athletes,” he said. “Most of them go in, let’s say for example during football season, they might be in the office at 11:00 in the morning doing rehab on student athletes that are trying to get ready to play or get back to practice.”
The Role of Certified Athletic Trainers
Haer says that depth and breadth of health service is possible because the training program employs certified athletic trainers, or ATCs. “Trainers are basically guys that may train them in their physical training, like a strength coach that would deal with getting the kids stronger, getting their flexibility improved,” he explained. “Where the ATCs actually deal with the injuries, the rehab side of it, and then also they have that referral line to the team physician that they can get these kids through the system a lot quicker and get them back on the field. So there’s kind of three different levels of treatment, and we have all that in place for the student athletes around this area.”
Why Is This Important?
Haer said providing these services helps ensure athletes are taking care of themselves and can keep playing their sports. “Most importantly, it’s for safety of the student athletes, but also it gives them an avenue to get back on the field as quickly as possible,” he said. “Not only the kids, but the parents want their kids back on the field and want to be able to participate as soon as possible.”
Expansion of the Program
In addition to Wood County Schools, the health and wellness center also offers its athletic training program to Parkersburg Catholic and, starting this year, to Wirt County Schools.
Source: WTAP
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