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Athletic trainer reports decline in severe injuries, renews Penn State Health contract; staffing and intern program expanded
Summary
Head athletic trainer Brad Burrows reported treatments and injury patterns across fall, winter and spring; the district received a three-year contract renewal from Penn State Health and continues internship and prehabilitation partnerships.
Brad Burrows, the district head athletic trainer, told the board the athletic training staff recorded roughly 4,039 treatments through May 1 (he estimated the final season total would approach 4,150), and that more significant injuries appeared to be down relative to prior years though total treatment counts were similar.
Burrows said football accounted for a large share of spring injuries historically and noted track treatments remain an area of attention. He highlighted a successful relationship with a local physical therapist on the swim staff and the role of strength-and-conditioning and corrective exercises in reducing injuries.
On staffing and contracts, Burrows said the district received the Penn State Health contract renewal the day of the meeting and that the district has a three-year commitment with Penn State Health; he named Dr. Miller as the team physician who provides periodic clinic-like visits at the high school. He described an athletic-training intern program with three daily eighth-period interns and an athletic-training club that swings in size by season.
Burrows said the addition of staff in January helped stabilize coverage and that the mix of more frequent minor treatment contacts likely increased visibility of lesser injuries while the number of significant injuries fell. He did not request board action; the note about the Penn State Health renewal was informational for the board.
