Every year, high school sports injuries account for at least 2 million injuries, according to the Center for Disease Control. That is equivalent to about 500,000 doctor visits and 30,000 hospitalizations each year. These injuries are things like concussions, broken bones, injuries to muscles and ligaments, and more.

The Orono trainer, Michelle Zenz, works with the Institute for Athletic Medicine. Zenz works to help with injuries and injury prevention. Trainers can also work with other organizations, like Tria Orthopedics.

Trying to prevent injuries is most athletes and coaches primary goal. Simple things like getting in shape before the season and getting enough calories and nutrition are basic ways to prevent injuries in the first place.

Activities like stretching and cooling down also can help prevent injuries. However, sometimes injuries can not always be prevented. Knowing the signs of injuries can help stop an injury or slow the progression. Each sport may be more prone to one injury than another.

Although each injury is different, there is an easy way to help stop further damage especially for minor injuries.

“R. I. C. E.” is the rule of thumb. Rest is the first step. “It’s imperative that you give the muscles a break” said David Messenger, MD. “Without rest, you will continue to have damage to the muscle.”

Ice is second. The cold will help with inflammation. It may also give short- term pain relief.

Compression is the next step. This will also help stop and reduce swelling.
Finally, elevation will also reduce blood flow and help reduce swelling.

New technologies come out every day that enable doctors and therapists to help their patients.

Currently at Tria Orthopedic Center, Bradley Nelson MD and Devanshu Kansara MD are working with a new innovative study called Cartilage Autograft Implantation System or CAIS. This is currently being used on knees.

CAIS takes healthy cartilage and implants that cartilage in with injured cartilage to help regrowth and damage reduction.

Katherine Odland is a Staff Reporter for The Spartan Speaks.