HOT
TOPICS
This
page will focus on current hot
topics in Sports Medicine and
is intended to provide educational
materials to students, student-athletes,
parents and anyone else that could
gain something from this information.
This page will be updated periodically
to reflect common illnesses, injuries
or other concerns as they relate
to Sports Medicine.
Washing
MRSA Away
What
is a Certified Athletic Trainer
(ATC)?
Washing MRSA Away
Methicillin
Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
(MRSA) is a bacteria that is resistant
to certain antibiotics. MRSA was
commonly found in hospital or
health care environments but,
more recently, has affected healthy
people. This type of MRSA, CA-MRSA,
commonly affects athletes in the
form of skin lesions.
What
does MRSA look like?
These
lesions often look like pimples
or spider bites, making it difficult
for students and athletes to differentiate
between potentially harmful or
benign skin lesions. MRSA can
also appear as a red, pus filled
boil and can be painful. Any sign
of redness or increased temperature
around a skin lesion should be
concern for infection. The picture
below represents one way MRSA
can present, although it must
be noted that MRSA does not always
appear like this.
What
if I don't get it checked out?
MRSA
untreated can lead to significant
infections that could result in
amputation of limbs or death in
worst case scenarios. Student-athletes
should practice good hygeine and
clean all cuts and scrapes to
prevent bacterial infections.
In addition, student-athletes
should consult their athletic
trainer or team physician if they
have anything resembling a skin
infection.
How
do I prevent MRSA?
Student-athletes
can prevent bacterial infections
by practicing good hygeine and
caring for wounds. Showering following
activity and washing practice
and game uniforms daily is a must.
Student-athletes should not share
personal toiletry items, towels,
or practice gear. A number of
antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers
has proven to be effective as
well.
What
Sports are Affected by MRSA?
All
sports are affected by MRSA. Contact
sports typically are affected
the most by MRSA. However, it
is important to realize that coming
into contact with a player or
surface infected with MRSA can
occur at any time.
Download
a patient information sheet here
For
more information about MRSA please
visit the CDC website
What
is a Certified Athletic Trainer
(ATC)?
Certified
Athletic Trainers (ATC) are health
care professionals who specialize
in the prevention, care, management,
and rehabilitation of athletic
injuries. Athletic Trainers are
graduates of four year colleges
or universities, taking courses
in fields such as anatomy and
physiology, assessment of athletic
injuries/illness, therapeutic
modalites, nutrition, as well
as various other science or kinesiology
courses. Upon graduation, students
must take and pass a challenging
three part certification exam
to become an ATC. Certified Athletic
Trainers are traditionally employed
in school settings such as high
school and college, professional
athletics, physical therapy clinics,
physician clinics, and non-traditional
settings such as rodeo, extreme
sports, military branches and
police departments to name a few.
A
common misconception is that the
athletic training profession is
the same as personal training.
This could not be farther from
the truth, although each profession
has its own role in physical activity.
This confusion often occurs when
athletic trainers are referred
to as simply 'trainers', which
has been the case until recently
when the
National
Athletic Trainer's Association
(NATA) made a concerted
effort to promote 'athletic trainer'
as opposed to 'trainer'.
For
more information on the roles
of Certified Athletic Trainers
please visit the NATA website
at the link below.
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