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| Tom
Love
Head Athletic Trainer
As head athletic trainer at The College of Wooster for more
than 20 years, Tom Love has dealt with a wide range of health issues
related to intercollegiate athletics. From minor strains and sprains
to serious head and spinal trauma, he has had an opportunity to
observe and treat a large number of different injuries. He received
his bachelor's degree from Tennessee Technological University and his
master's degree from the University of Cincinnati. A certified
athletic trainer for the National Athletic Trainers Association and
a
licensed athletic trainer, Love is also affiliated with the Ohio
Athletic Trainers Association and the North Coast Athletic Conference
Trainers Committee. In 1994, he was named Ohio Athletic Trainers
Association, University/Collegiate Athletic Trainer of the Year.
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Summer sports camps are in full swing, but not all campers are prepared for the experience. The physical strain of a rigorous summer camp may overwhelm a young camper and lead to an assortment of injuries. Tom Love, head athletic trainer at The College of Wooster, has worked summer camps for many years, and he offers some useful advice for everyone who wants to be a happy camper. Q. How should young campers prepare for the rigors of a summer athletic camp? A. The most important preparation for any camp would be to condition specifically for the types of activity that will be involved. It is virtually impossible to totally prepare the body for six hours of basketball or soccer per day, but playing or doing drills with game intensity will certainly help. We see the most problems with campers who have spent the early part of the summer playing video games and watching TV. Q. Should a physical examination be part of the pre-camp checklist? A. Since most campers participate in organized sports at home, a physical exam specifically for the camp is usually not necessary. A copy of the physical form used for school or other leagues at home is usually adequate. Be sure to check the requirements for the camp you will be attending. It is extremely important to make the camp medical staff aware of any significant health problems. Also, be sure that the emergency contact information is accurate and complete. Q. Should parents address the emotional anxiety of going to camp for the first time? A. While most kids adapt well to the camp environment, some younger campers struggle with being away from home for the first time. The busy schedule of most sports camps helps to alleviate many of the problems. We have found that coming with a friend from home often helps the more anxious campers have a positive experience. Brief phone calls with parents during the evenings when the schedule is slower are helpful as well. Q. How important is sufficient rest before and during the camp? A. Especially for the younger campers, a 4-5 day camp is really pushing the limits of what their bodies can handle. For most kids, the free time at the dorms is as much a part of the camp experience as the sport activities, but getting adequate rest is essential. Parents should encourage campers to enjoy time with their new friends, but "lights out" should mean bed time. Q. What should young campers eat and what should they avoid at camp? A. Kids do amazingly well on what most experts would consider less than an ideal diet. If possible, they should try to stay with foods that they are familiar with. The anxiety of being at camp may cause some upset stomachs, so limiting spicey/greasy foods is usually a good idea. The most important thing is to increase the intake of water and non-carbonated beverages. We recommend that campers at least double their normal consumption of fluids. Q. What are the most common types of injuries at summer camp and how can they be avoided? A. The majority of problems that we see are overuse injuries related to a rapid increase in activity. As mentioned earlier, coming to camp in good condition and accustomed to the type of activities you will be participating in is extremely important. To avoid problems with blisters, good quality shoes that are well broken in are essential. Summer camps are not the time to break in a new pair of basketball shoes or soccer cleats. Ankle sprains are very common. Adequately rehabilitating previous sprains and wearing a good quality lace-up ankle brace will prevent or minimize most re-injuries. |
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