For Sale: 1 candle, burnt at both ends

I think it is generally around this time of year when the grind of football meets with the beginning of basketball and soccer, not to mention the pressure of the impending holiday season, when most of us are just looking for an opportunity to take a deep breath, much less a break. Coupled with crazy schedules are the pressures of maintaining a life and balancing personal responsibilities. It can be frustrating to the point of ...BURNOUT.

Athletic trainers in most settings do not get an "off-season," and burnout is a real issue facing our profession. We often feel we work too much, get paid too little and it begs the question "Is this worth it?"

Well? Is it?

Athletic training loses many young professionals to burnout. What can we do to curb that trend? What needs to happen?
Less hours?
More pay?
Greater public knowledge and improved overall perception of our role in health care?
All of these would be great, but would they really decrease burnout?

I try to take full advantage of my weekends off, and thoroughly enjoy my holidays away from work by spending time with family and chilling out. I take work, and life, as it comes and make sure to prioritize and this really helps me. Work is important, but it is not most important.

What are some things you do to prevent burnout for yourself?
What do you suggest the profession do to decrease burnout overall?

Athletic Training in nontraditional setting

Well I figure that everyone else has posted on the YPC blog. So now its my turn. As some of us start to wrap up with football its important to think about all of the other avenues that athletic trainers work in.

I started out as an assistant at a private university here in Houston. I left to become an intern with the Houston Texans. After that I became a Head, and only, trainer at a small junior college. During that time I was also an assistant with the Houston Ballet. I never would have thought about dancers needing the services that can be provided by an athletic trainer. Like baseball, swimming, or tennis, dance has many of the same overuse injuries that other sports do.

My first night working with them my counter part and I were sent to watch a performance that was being put on by summer intensive students. The summer intensive is like their version of a camp. It is just six weeks long 8 hours a day and six days a week. This group of students came from all over the world China, Japan, Australia, Finland, Canada and Mexico. One young man got ready to do his solo performance and began. In the middle of it he jumped in the air and landed. When he landed he didn’t get back up. Being my first night I was not sure what to do. As I started to walk out on to the stage, the stage manager pulled me back and said wait. The young man had to crawl off the stage to me. After a few special test it seemed clear that he had torn his ACL. He went to the doctor and it was confirmed. He did tear it. Trying to talk to a frantic mother in another country was a very interesting experience for me. The young man made a full recovery and is currently at National Ballet in Canada.

The longer I spend working with ballet dancers the more I realize that there are similarities between dancers and other athletes. As everyone else begins to wrap up with football we are getting ready for our big season. 36 shows of The Nutcracker in 30 days. The life skills that are learned in the field of athletic training can take you places you never knew about.

As some of you know I work part time with the ballet. My full time job is an administrative position with Cy Fair ISD. I am the districts Athletic & Aquatic Safety Coordinator. It has been an interesting experience going from being a full time athletic trainer to being a full time administrator. Much of my time is spent looking over and reviewing policies. I also over see the districts 11 competitive pools, schedule lifeguards, and EMT’s. I also work very closely with our districts athletic trainers as well as some of our other safety departments. I communicate with our districts Security Department and our Health Services Department. I also conduct critical incident stress debriefings when we have athletic related catastrophic injures, which at times has been difficult for me. I have learned that no matter how much classroom training we get when we, as athletic trainers, are put in certain situations it is difficult for us when we are helpless. With any newly created job people will have to be open to change. This includes the person whose job has just been created. I look at everyday as a learning experience. This job has taught me so much, and yet everyday there is something more to learn.

I have been very fortunate that I have had some of the experiences that have had. They have led me to a great job and even better people. I work with some of the most well respected athletic trainers in the field. As a Young Professional I could not find myself in a better place to learn.

Best of luck to those in playoffs,
Anthony

More on the three day...

I, along with Kelley, worked the 3 Day Race. This was my second year being on the sports medicine crew, and I can say with some certainty that I will continue to work it as long as I am around. It is such an up-lifting experience, both for the touching moments you share with walkers and survivors, like Kelley mentioned in her post, and for the excitement and tenacity every single walker shares.

I had one walker at the 6 am medical tent Sunday morning that needed me to take care of a monster of a blister in between her toes. After I was finished I asked her to put her shoes on and tell me what she thought; whether the big bandage would be OK there between her toes. She then confessed to me that she didn't have her shoes with her and that her teammates were looking for them from the previous day's campground. This lady fainted on Saturday, was taken to the ER for fluids, monitored all night long, and was released at 5:30 that morning to come and finish the race. She was adamant about finishing what she started and was all smiles about the 18+ miles ahead of her. I don't know what happened to her on down the road, but it is my hope that she reached the finish line and met her goal.

I even had another man, ask for my hand in marriage after stretching his hamstrings and calf! Stuff like that doesn't happen to me everyday! :)

The gratitude the walkers have for us, the medical staff, is genuine and reassuring, and like Kelley said, it fills your heart with the idea that there is good in the world. I know that as athletic trainers, we give and serve others daily, and that this is just one more example of this what we do so well. I love the opportunity to be an advocate for the profession. Almost every walker asks, what do you do for a living, and it is great to answer back "I'm an athletic trainer." It all makes me proud to be a part of this profession and to surround myself with those who work tirelessly (and tired!) to help out those in need. Thanks for the mammories!

3 Day Walk

In light of Carissa's last blog, I thought I would do a follow up after the 3 Day Walk.

It was yet again another amazing weekend. We had 3,131 walkers and raised $7.9 million for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. At one point during the weekend, Ted Perry said he looked up and counted 31 people hard at work. This included LATs and students, a few OT and PTs and even a medical student. Needless to say, when we send out a call for volunteers, it is answered triumphantly.

The mornings and evenings were cold, the lines to the sports medicine tent were long, and the blisters were large but the hugs, tears and thanks made it all worthwhile. There are many stories that could be told about the weekend and some of you may have heard them already. The one that touched my heart the most follows: Mike Pruitt, Mike Stokic, Cindy Trowbridge, Cheryl Ferris (ATC from PA) and I decided to leave the last pit stop on foot Sunday and walk the last 2 1/2 miles with the walkers. We joked along the way with everyone, asking why they had been complaining so much; "this is easy" we said as they glared and laughed at us. It was nice to see the weekend through the eyes of all of those we had been caring for. About 3 blocks from the finish line, a young lady was struggling to walk and had to stopped to climb into the gator that the EMT offered. She had a couple of friends with her but they too were almost done with 60 miles and exhausted. As she sat down, with tears in her eyes, I heard Mike Pruitt say "oh no you're not! you have come this far and you will finish". Before anyone could blink, Mike Stokic and Cindy Trowbridge (they were closer in height) had their arms around her and the young woman out of the gator. For the next 3 blocks, the 3 of them slowly finished the 60 miles. I don't think any of us had a dry eye. This is what we do...we leave no one behind, we help those that can't finish, finish and we give everything we have. This is why we are athletic trainers and this is why when we are asked to help, we step up.

God bless those 3,131 walkers and God bless the sports medicine crew of close to 100. I hope that those that were there are a little more energized and a little more aware of the small things. I know that I am.

Charitable Contributions

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to make you all aware of some volunteer opportunities for Athletic Trainers that are coming up.

As Kelley mentioned last month, the Susan G. Komen 3-day is fast approaching, and they are always looking for volunteers. Ted Perry and Cindy Trowbridge have done amazing things for Athletic Trainers and the Sports Medicine Team for this event, and everyone should be a part of it. This year they are walking on November 7,8,9th in the North Dallas Area. The camp is Timberglen Park (Dallas TX 75287) and the route begins at Southfork Ranch and ends at Southern Methodist University. For more information, CLICK HERE >>> The experience is worth every bit of sleep you miss, sweat you put in and tear you cry. I promise you, it will be the three most rewarding days of your career. DO IT if you can.

Also, The Avon Walk will be returning to Houston on April 4th and 5th 2009. This is an equally rewarding event, but it is only two days. Last year at the Houston event the medical team was small, but athletic trainers were well represented. Let's do even better this time around. Right now, there is a reduced registration fee of only $35! Currently the non reduced registration fee is $65. This promotion will be ending on November 1st so if you want to take advantage you have to act soon!

To register at the reduced rate of $35 before 11/1, simply call 1-800-510-WALK, or better yet- go online and register at http://www.avonwalk.org/. To obtain the discount, simply enter in the promotion code 123108! Volunteer for the Medical Crew, and make sure you identify yourself as an Athletic Trainer.

There will be more opportunities to volunteer and use your athletic training skills to serve the greater good, so keep an eye out. I know that so much is asked of all of us on a daily basis and I know that it can be a lot to give up a weekend to volunteer. You have no idea what impact your presence has not only on those you encounter, but even those watching from the sidelines.
I just want to say I'm proud to be part of such a wonderful, selfless profession.

Keep up the good work!

A reminder to love your job...

Time flies genuinely and truly when you are having a good time. And I am genuinely and truly having a good time. I cannot believe it is already October and high school volleyball is close to an end and we are half way done with high school football. So many athletic trainers get stuck in a rut, doing the same rehab, making one too many ice bags, seeing the same athletes, watching the same monotonous football drills. In order for me to have fun and enjoy what I do on a daily basis I have learned that I need to challenge myself to do something new and think outside of the box. It pains me when a kid comes into treatment and says “Let me guess, straight leg raises?” Keep it fresh and challenge yourself with rehab…what else could a plyoball be good for besides core? Besides internal and external rotation, what shoulder exercises can be done with a theraband?

I have been a certified athletic trainer for only five years, but have already began to see that injuries are cyclical and that one body part will dominate your seasons. As of today, I am out of aircasts, boots, and crutches and have seen more ankle and fib injuries to last a lifetime. Last school year, we had nine shoulder surgeries plus several non-surgical injuries in various sports. If I wasn’t encouraged by wonderful professors at the start of my career to get creative, I might have hung myself with one of those therabands before I was done with that large group of gunslinger-wearing kiddos. But even then, I felt I had to do my homework to provide the very best medical care these students could get.

Not to be cliché, but learning shouldn’t end with graduation. If you don’t know what injury an athlete’s signs and symptoms are presenting, go back to the books and find it out. Don’t be too proud to say to an athlete “I don’t know, but I will find it out, or get you to someone who can.” I am convinced that the smartest people ask the most questions, are the most inquisitive. Our new group here is an awesome place to start. Those who need help, seek it out; I promise that we are all in this together.

A Roll of Tape or a Band-Aid...

From Jace Duke-GHATS President, and Mike Carroll-SWATA VP...

There are those in need following the recent Hurricane, and any help you may be able to offer them would be greatly appreciated.

Hull Daisetta ISD is need of athletic training supplies. Daisetta is a 1 A high school in East Texas located 35 miles from Beaumont. In the past year you may remember the East Texas “Sinkhole”. The sinkhole is located about 500 yards from campus.
The Bobcats most recently lost all of their athletic training supplies and training room during Hurricane Ike. The roof was ripped off the field house and saturated the training room, coach’s offices, etc.
Below is a list of some of the supplies they need:
Athletic Tape
Elastic Tape
Pre-Wrap
Ace Wraps
Band-Aids (various sizes)
Gauze Pads

Hull-Daisetta High School
117 N. Main Daisetta, TX 77533

Athletic Director is Joe Allen Slack

I'm sure in the coming weeks and months there will be more needs like this, and while we will not be able to help everyone, we can surely do our best.

And The Show Must Go On...

Wow, what a wild, humbling and sometimes scary week and a half. I had effectively avoided every previous hurricane to hit my hometown, and therefore may have been slightly ill prepared for what was to come.

Thursday 9/11/2008 we were scheduled to play our varsity contest that had been pushed up in preparation for the storm. By the end of the day, the path of this Category 2 Storm had shifted so that we were directly in its path, and all events and school was cancelled for Friday.
Have you ever left one day with the thought that you would be back on Monday, and then everything changes? The strong winds and rain hit my house late Friday night and my power was out by 2:30am on Saturday morning. My family and I were mostly spared from damage, for that I am truly grateful and very blessed. We were without power for 12 days (and I celebrated my birthday in the dark :)).

After a week of recovery and repair, this great city and state and its great people began to put everything back together again, and life must go on.
Galveston, areas in the Golden Triangle, and other coastal areas were not spared from devastation. It will take a long time to rebuild and much support will be needed. Any help we can offer would be great! Any ideas on how we can reach out and help, post them here and we will get to work!

Several area athletic trainers were taking care of athletic practices with no power, ice and under a boil water notice. WOW!

I, as I know others, have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern and offers of help from my peers. We are an innovative and adaptive group, athletic trainers, we persevere and take care of each other.

I am so proud to be an athletic trainer!

Athletic Trainers affected by Hurricane Ike

Last Friday night and early Saturday morning Hurricane Ike came ashore on the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coasts and left incredible damage in its path. The area around Galveston was hit the hardest. The Greater Houston area, Golden Triangle area, and western coast of Louisiana were also adversely affected. Because of that many athletic trainers were forced to evacuate their families from their homes. Now that the storm has passed these athletic trainers and their families are returning to their homes, but many are still without the certain necessities like electricity, safe drinking water, sewer, and other important things that we all take for granted in life. Also because phone service (both land lines and cell service) is spotty it has been difficult at best to determine if our friends in these areas are in need of anything.

The NATA, SWATA, and TSATA families would like to use this forum as a way for fellow athletic trainers to communicate their whereabouts, if they need assistance of any kind, and also for anyone who wants to help can do volunteer to do so. If you need assistance please do not hesitate to ask because your fellow athletic trainers can and will help you. Whether it's athletic training supplies or something as simple as clothing for your children please do not hesitate to let someone know. If you do not feel comfortable posting this in the general forum please send me a private message or e-mail me directly michael.carroll@sville.usAlso if anyone wants to make a general donation there are several organizations that would be good places to start.

Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org/
Salvation Army - http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

Finally the NATA has set up a forum in the Think Tank titled "Urgent Information" it can be found at http://forum.nata.org/thinktanks/index.php . This Blog, the SWATA Young Professionals Blog, and the NATA Think Tanks are all excellent places to go to get information.

Also know that everyone in that region is in our thoughts and prayers.

__________________

Mike Carroll M Ed, ATC, LATHead Athletic Trainer/Assistant Athletic Director

Stephenville HS

2650 W. OverhillStephenville, TX 76401

254-552-6426 (office)

254-413-2407 (cell)

michael.carroll@sville.us

Athletic Training services to Drill teams, band, dance and flag girls?

I work at a new 4A high school with 9-11 grade and there is a situation arising on my campus that is like a fire storm, and we need fire trucks to put it out. For some reason athletic training has popped up on somebody's radar and they are aiming to control what we do.
Our district policy states that we provide services to UIL enrolled student-athletes and includes cheerleaders. (not fine arts)
We have been dealing with the whole, cheerleader and drill team issue for over a year (school opened in 2007). Well, now it has blown up. The drill team sponsor has gotten mad because she is not included. She claims that we are neglecting her kids and not recognizing them as "athletes" and not meeting their needs. She has gone as far as writing a letter to the principal and others telling them how we have refused treatments, and she goes further to say that if there was an emergency we would not assist. Our principal is worried and wants to make her happy.
So now it seems that they want to make a change to our district policies to have athletic trainers care for “all extra-curricular students” like drill, dance, flags, band,...etc.
We here at Springs are not into denying kids aid or treatments, we are just trying to follow what has been done all across the state for ages. Furthermore, we are just following what I understood to be District Policy. Taking on a whole new set of kids brings many headaches, like consent to treat issues, physicals. My advice to the school principal and personnel was that if they added a third "fine-arts" athletic trainer, there should be an increase in our budget and we wouldn't have any problems!

Please, I would like to know what you guys think on this situation.


Mayra Rodriguez, ATC, LAT

What would you do?

You have a senior, star athlete with a knee injury that requires surgery. He's 18 and has potential to go to the next level and play. He and his parents want him to play without having surgery so as not to limit his abilities to move up. The parents have taken their son to several physicians all of whom have agreed that he needs what would be season-ending surgery. You are receiving pressure from the parents, player and coaches to play him despite what you know to be a potentially catastrophic knee injury.

What do you do?

Unfortunately, situations like these do happen and we, young athletic trainers, have to rely on our education and experience and make the right decision.

You are in a lose-lose situation. You let him play with a waiver signed by the parents and possibly the physician, he gets hurt worse, you lose (maybe everything if it gets to court despite your waiver). You don't let him play, everyone is upset with you, you lose. (There have even been cases of litigation against AT's and MD's for future possible earnings.)

The bottom line is, it is our liability. It is our responsibility. What a weight!

Luckily for me, this is not my case, but it is happening right now in California.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3556123

What would you do?

Experiences are what makes it all worthwhile

Let me preface this blog by saying: "I am not a blogger"

However, sometimes neat things happen and you feel like sharing it with everyone. So, I blog. I had the opportunity this weekend to work (not an appropriate word) the DFW 3-Day Expo. For those of you who don't know, it is the 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk kick-off, learn new things, buy much needed items, and get advice event.

A little history may help you understand where this is going. When I moved to Texas in 2006, I was asked to be a part of the sports medicine team. Being new to the area and busy with a new job, the only time available was small but much needed. I helped out at a couple of pit-stops for a few hours. In 2007, I was more settled with life, knew more people and gave up the whole weekend to camp and give of myself for three straight days. I cannot even begin to put that experience into words. To think that something as small as a band-aid or piece of 2nd skin could bring such huge hugs and smiles from women and men, well, it's amazing. We had some of our students come out to help and they talked of the event and the blisters for weeks. I could go on and on with stories but I will get to the point of this blog.

I was asked to help at the Expo and I did so without hesitation. It was basically 3 hours of repeating how to take care of a blister with a few quick evaluations thrown in. Towards the end, I was walking around handing out a hydration recommendation sheet and a couple of women stopped me. With the hundreds of feet I looked at last year, I was unable to remember all of them. However, this lady remembered that I had taken care of her feet and once again thanked me for getting her through the walk. I will admit that I was already tired of talking about blisters, but you know what? That small reminder of my past experience made it all worthwhile.

At this point, I will insert a shameless plug for the sports medicine crew. We are always in need of volunteers for the team; either for the weekend, the day, a few hours, whatever you can give. The 3 Day is Nov 7-9 this year and information will be sent via SWATA listserve calling for volunteers. Don't just delete the email; think about a few hours you could give up to gain so much.

What a week!?!

I don't know about you, but this is what my week has felt like. I apologize in advance, because this will be short. Please forgive me :)

Between bad weather (everyday), torn up fields and change of contest venues, I have had to be a miracle worker.

I know people often underestimate the amount and extent of our role in athletics, but incidents like these definitely make people thankful for us.

So if you have had a rough week, just hang in there! Keep up the good work! It may go un-acknowledged, but I promise it never goes unrecognized!



On another note-I have a conference call on Monday with the NATA Young Professionals Committee to discuss our Community Service and San Antonio Programming. I will report back to you in the coming weeks!

Have a great restful weekend!

A New Job

Hello Everyone!

My name is Elizabeth Heyer and I am a member of the Young Professionals Committee. I am a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University (Go Cowboys!) and Tarleton State University (Go Texans!). As many young professionals I have embarked on a new job this year, and I want to share with you all my experiences of my first week.

Everyone remembers what it is like to be at a new school or living in a new town...it can be scary! Well in one month's time I have not only joined a new school but also moved to a town to which I am not very familiar. I have taken a new job at Colleyville Heritage High School in the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD which is right in the middle of the DFW Airport. What a huge move from Abilene, TX to the metroplex, not to mention the insane amount of traffic to which I am not accustomed.

For the past four years I have worked at the college/university setting and have decided to make the move to the high school setting which was a huge decision for me. I am very excited about all the opportunities that are available to me as I begin a new year at a new school, but it is also very nerve racking.

Last week I began working volleyball practices without ever meeting the coaching staff and never even stepping foot into the high school. This summer the entire high school was renovated so absolutely no one was allowed in the building. As you can imagine this caused a huge mess. We have only been allowed in the building for two days now, the first being the first day of football. An even bigger mess! We have survived thanks to the wonderful staff her at CHHS. I now have access to an athletic training room, an office, and supplies just in time for our first home volleyball scrimmage.

This week has been and will be full of new teacher training and inservice. We all dislike inservice but it is a necessary evil that will happen every single year of your career...so get used to it! My inservice was actually a great experience being new to this district and this work environment. I have one major piece of advice for all young professionals....listen to the people who have been in your place recently. I have a wonderful mentor here at CHHS who I have already met with several times. She is too a young professional but she has been coaching/teaching in this district for three years. She remembers exactly how it feels to be in my shoes and has wonderful advice.

I am enjoying my new job and city greatly after only one week of being here. I hope that continues throughout the year and years to come...I will let you know!

For now if you have any questions you can e-mail me directly at elizabeth.heyer!gcisd.net or you can just post on the blog.

Four Weddings and a...

Life and a Job. Over the next 12 months I will be IN 4 weddings. People keep telling me..."well, it's that time in your life." EXACTLY! I'm young and all the people I know are at the time in their lives where they are ready to settle down. I dearly love my friends and am happy to stand with them on what will be a very important day in their lives, but it is no simple one-day commitment. Bridal showers, buying dresses and accessories, traveling to out-of-state weddings, etc.

Unfortunately, not all of my friends are Athletic Trainers and therefore do not necessarily keep the same schedule as I do, so their weddings are in December, March and May (not calm times in our lives). Do you politely decline because of work commitments or do you pass the responsibility to your associate (if you have one), go happily to the wedding and try not to think about the events you are missing?

I think one of the issues that faces all Athletic Trainers, but even more so Young Professionals, is this battle to balance all aspects of your life. How can you keep your significant other satisfied (and take care of kids, if you have them), still see your friends and work the hours that we do? I know that when I got my first job, I really felt I had to prove that I was good at what I did. I showed up early and stayed late and while I missed my family and friends, I poured myself into my work. I am now a newlywed, and luckily my husband has been around throughout my entire journey as an Athletic Trainer, so he definitely understands the time commitment and is fully supportive when I tell him I'm going to apply to be on a committee that will require even more effort and time. Thanks, honey! My friends and family know they won't hear from me much in August, and honestly, who goes out on Friday nights anyway?!

There also always seems to be a sharp division between young and veteran Athletic Trainers about work commitment. To have weekend treatments or not to have weekend treatments, that is the question! I think finding common ground without condescension will also help bridge this gap between us, but that is for another post.

I still feel like I'm trying to prove myself and my worth at work and in this profession, but I'm also trying now even more than before to find that balance. Things happen in your life that will give you great pause about your priorities. Loss of a loved one that you haven't seen in a long time, missing your best friend's wedding, birth of a child, niece or nephew. I think the new SWATA Life Balance Committee will tackle some of these issues and will help us to not only take care of our athletes/patients/clients, but also take greater care of ourselves and our families.

How do you balance everything? What do you struggle with?

Hi, My Name is...

In keeping with the forward thinking of SWATA and NATA, we can now communicate INSTANTLY with the help of these blogs. Instant feedback!
I'm new to the whole blogging thing, but I'm excited about it. It will be a great way for us to keep a finger on the pulse of the membership and offer a whole new means of communication.

First, a little introduction...
My name is Carissa Spraberry and I am the Young Professionals Committee Chair for SWATA. I am a 2004 Stephen F. Austin State graduate, and I'm an athletic trainer with going-on 5 years experience into my 3rd year at C. E. King High School in Houston, TX.

So the burning question is..."What is a YOUNG Professional?" Well the criteria we have is, an athletic trainer under the age of 32 with less than 10 years experience. I'm definitely not saying that someone over the age of 32 is OLD (haha), but the thought is they have experienced enough to be able to advise and support those just graduating :)

The Young Professionals Committee was created to offer the growing number of young athletic trainers an opportunity to get involved in the future of our association and continue to grow as professionals and leaders. I think this is definitely a move in the right direction and will help secure our future.
We have a great group of people on this committee that I hope will contribute to this blog over the coming months. We have a number of great ideas, initiatives and I feel we understand the issues of young professionals.

Some of the important issues we hope to address...
1. Communication with Young Professional members and involvement of students-bridge gap between students, YPs and Veterans
2. Involvement of YPs in the leadership of the Association
3. Development of networking and mentoring/advising programs to facilitate YPs in their first few years
4. Promoting athletic training to the general public, and promoting membership to the professional association to YP ATs that are not members.
5. Development of annual meeting programming for students and general membership.

We are in the development phase of all of this and I will keep you updated on our progress on each of these issues.

Please consider "subscribing" to this blog. Check back every week or two to keep yourself informed of the Young Professional's activities.