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Injury Treatments

If your student athlete is injured while participating in a sport:
  1. If you have an athlete that was injured while participating in athletics the athlete will be given an instruction sheet on how to treat the injury at home.
  2. Use ice for the first 72 hours.  Ice for 15 minutes at a time and off for 2 hours.  Repeat 3 to 5 times a day.
  3. Heat can be used after the 72 hour period.  If heat is used in the first 72 hours, swelling and bleeding can increase which will cause more pain and longer recovery.
  4. Elevate in injured area above the level of the heart if possiable.
  5. Use the crutches, ace wraps, splints given by the athletic trainers/doctor's office.
  6. If we feel that the injury needs immediate attention by a physician or Emergency Room, we will notify the parent/guardian immediatly.
  7. If we feel that the injury can be treated and managed by the athletic trainers we will send instructions with the athlete on injury care at home along with instructions to return to the fieldhouse training room for early morning treatments.
  8. If you feel that you need to take your child to the physicians office, you may request school insurance claim form.  It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to request this form.
  9. If you take your child to the physician, the athltetic trainers need a release written and signed by the physican that evaluated your child.  Notes from parents will not release a student back to activity.  This can only be done by the physician or physican's office that placed the restictions on the athlete and their injury.
Ankle Sprains   

The following are guidelines to be used at home for the treatment of ankle  injuries.  Basic treatment consists of:


   Ice  Compression  Elevation   

  • If the athlete is injured at school, the athlete will usually come home with a compression wrap and horseshoe on the injured ankle. 
  • This is not to be removed unless the athlete is icing the ankle or if the wrap is becoming too tight as the result of swelling. 
  • Once the ice therapy is done, the horseshoe and compression wrap should be re-applied. 
  • The wrap and horseshoe is to remain on until the athlete goes to bed and then it is removed. 
  • Upon getting up in the morning, the horseshoe and wrap is placed back on the ankle.

Applying the horseshoe and compression wrap will help to minimize the swelling within the ankle joint.  This will help to speed up the rehabilitation process.    During the first several days after the injury, the ankle will generally be very painful.  This is normal in a ligament injury.  The pain may be controlled with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.    Do not be alarmed by the swelling that may occur. 


Ice therapy should only be applied to the ankle for only 15 minutes every two hours.  Ice may be applied several times over the evening hours to help reduce swelling. Elevation should be used in addition to the ice treatment.  Pillows or blankets may be used to elevate the ankle above the level of the hips or heart. Elevation should continue after the ice treatment and during the time the athlete is sleeping.   


Ice therapy should be used exclusively for the first 72 hours after the injury.
     NEVER APPLY HEAT DURING THIS TIME FRAME!   

Applying heat during this time will result in a marked increase in the  amount of swelling around the ankle joint.   

Crutches may be issued initially if the athlete has severe pain when applying pressure to the ankle when walking.  If the pain is not severe, the athlete should try to walk.  The athlete should try to walk as normal as possible, even if this requires taking slow, small steps.   


If your son/daughter is taken for medical evaluation, we must have a medical release form from the physician before they will be allowed to return to  participation.  


If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.