Annual sports
medicine seminar
shares UD's athletic
training expertise
The athletic training education program at
the University of Delaware has the
distinction of being one of the oldest
accredited programs in the nation, and the
only one in the state of Delaware. In
addition, for 42 years, the program has been
sharing the University's expertise in this
field with the region's professionals through
the Medical Aspects of Sports Seminar.
The annual event features presentations
and workshops by UD faculty as well as
physical therapists and other practitioners
from the region. This year's presenters
from the University's Intercollegiate
Athletics Program included current UD
head athletic trainer John Smith and
assistant athletic trainer Dan Watson, as
well as assistant director of athletics for
strength and conditioning Augie Maurelli.
Undergraduate and graduate
students contribute
Graduate students from UD's degree
programs in kinesiology and applied
physiology also present workshops and
mini-clinics at the event. Each year, an
interactive taping clinic is conducted by
undergraduates in UD's athletic training
program. Senior athletic training students
demonstrate athletic taping techniques,
with underclassmen serving as the patient
models.
[Photo by Kathy Atkinson]
Since 1988, the seminar director has been
Keith Handling, associate professor of
kinesiology and applied physiology at the
University of Delaware. "This event
provides UD's athletic training students a
valuable opportunity to present to an
audience of practitioners, and to network
and interact with professionals in their
field," he said.
Handling, who joined UD in 1972, served
as head athletic trainer from 1988 to 2008
and as director of the UD Athletic
Training Education Program from 1988
to 2002.
"Just as importantly, it helps meet the
needs of area practitioners who must
participate in continuing education
activities to keep current in the field and
maintain their certifications," said
Handling. "It also gives our students a
concrete experience which makes them
aware of a very important aspect of the
field: the need for continuing professional
development for athletic trainers."
This year's Medical Aspects of Sports
Seminar took place at the University of
Delaware's John M. Clayton Hall on
February 5, and covered topics like
concussions in adolescent sports, sports
injuries to the wrist and hand, youth
baseball, common foot and ankle injuries
in sports, and other current issues and
topics in sports medicine.
A forum for professional
exchange
Craig Oates is a graduate student in the
kinesiology and applied physiology
department and is currently the athletic
trainer for the Blue Hens baseball team.
Oates led one of the conference's
interactive mini-clinics, demonstrating the
Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), an
assessment protocol used by athletic
trainers to determine whether an athlete
has suffered a concussion.
"Giving a presentation at an event like this
was a good learning experience. Since I'm
more involved in training college athletes,
it was a great environment to lead a
discussion with physical therapists and
other types of professionals about
applying the BESS tool in different
situations, with different types of
patients," said Oates. "As a graduate
student, it was a great opportunity to
make a presentation in my area, and relate
to many different types of professionals
and practitioners, and hear about how
they approach their practice and rehab
challenges."
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