OCH Regional Medical Center's Sports Medicine Program provides athletic training coverage for about 12 area schools. Trainers work with athletes of all ages and in all types of sports. They attend team practices and are on the sidelines during games.

With the help of OCH volunteers and staff physicians, the OCH Sports Medicine Program provides more than 800 area athletes FREE pre-participation sports examinations each summer. These exams help detect abnormalities as well as problems that could potentially arise as a result of a player's medical history or a pre-existing condition.

Upgrades and expansions to OCH Regional Medical Center's sports medicine services have been warmly embraced by the community and area schools, and, according to OCH Certified Athletic Trainer Ken Lee, ATC, the sports med program is really taking shape. All three of the staff ATC's are board certified and state licensed.

Lee, who graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi, works primarily with Starkville High School but coordinates the overall sports med program. Troy University graduate David Ruffin, ATC, has a master's degree from Mississippi State University and covers all Starkville Academy sports. Another of OCH's full time trainers is Gil Cochran, ATC, who covers the West Point territory. In addition, OCH employs several student trainers who make it possible to provide trainer coverage for more than a dozen area schools as well as Mississippi State University intramural games.

Lee and his team work as liaisons between the hospital, its medical staff and the coaches and athletes at area schools and community organizations to enhance the health care provided athletes. Trainers are on hand for team practice sessions and games to help prevent and treat injuries, and all sports are included in the program.

According to Starkville High School (SHS) Athletic Director Bill Lee, SHS has experienced a reduction in injured athletes and quicker recoveries for those who do get injured as a result of OCH's Sports Med Program. "We are certainly reaping the benefits of the hospital's athletic trainer services," Coach Lee said. "It's great to have someone to actually oversee the treatment and recuperation of our injured players. Now we (the coaching staff) can focus on what we were trained to do--coach-- and leave the injuries to those trained to handle them."

The OCH Sports Medicine Program handles scores of injuries each year; however, working with athletes, high school trainers and coaches to prevent injuries is also a large part of the job, according to Ruffin. "Educating coaches about measures that can be taken to reduce the chances of players getting hurt is a really important part of what we do," he said, explaining that properly taping a weak ankle or simply recommending that an athlete "sit out" a few plays are examples of simple steps that often reduce or prevent injuries.

Lee said sprains and strains are the most common sports injuries; however, athletic injuries can frequently be quite debilitating. "Knee injuries such as ACL tears and shoulder injuries such as rotator cuff injuries require surgery and rehabilitation," he said, noting that it usually takes about three months for those who require surgery to get "back in the game." OCH Physical Therapist Jody "Buz" Bennett, who works with many of the injured athletes, said, "Decreasing swelling is the first step in rehab; this, along with gait training, strengthening, range of motion and proprioceptive training, is essential to return the athlete to his or her respective sport."

For more information about
preparticipation sports exams
or the OCH Sports Medicine Program
call (662) 615-3020.