Sports Medicine
St. Anne’s-Belfield aims to provide every student-athlete with the most comprehensive, highest quality individual sports medicine health care available.
Our professional, compassionate, and service-oriented staff provides care to all student-athletes on our middle and high school teams. We strive to create a diversified prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation program that assures a healthy recovery experience and a safe return to full athletic participation.
The Sports Medicine Program
The Athletic Training Staff
St. Anne's-Belfield employs two full-time Athletic Trainers (ATs) at our Belfield Campus (with rotational hours at our Upper School, Greenway Rise Campus). Athletic Trainers (ATs) are healthcare professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.
Meet the Athletic Trainers
To become a Certified Athletic Trainer, candidates must graduate with a degree from an accredited Athletic Training program and successfully pass the Board of Certification (BOC) Exam.
To practice in most states, the Athletic Trainer must also be credentialed within the state. In addition, Athletic Trainers must comply with National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) ethical standards and practice acts while remaining current with their continuing education requirements to remain certified.
Team Physicians
We are proud to partner with local physicians to help provide the best care possible to our students. Our network of team physicians includes:
- F. Winston Gwathmey Jr., M.D.
- Thomas L. Schildwachter, M.D.
- Paige Perriello ' class year
We also collaborate with the UVA Health Concussion Clinic, if a student athlete is not progressing with in 2 weeks of diagnosed concussion. Learn more about our concussion policies here. We are a clinical site for the UVA M.S. Athletic Training Program.
Athletic Training Rooms
The Vito A. Perriello, Jr. Athletic Training Room is located on the School's Belfield Campus in the Conway Convocation Center.
Hours:
- Monday - Friday: 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.*
- Weekends: As required by athletic schedule
*Students can see the Athletic Trainers before 2:00 p.m. by making an appointment via email or online. Morning hours vary by day and by season because of the varying evening schedule. Closing times vary and can be as early as 4:00 p.m. for game/event coverage.
The athletic training room is named in honor of the School’s long-time team pediatrician Dr. Vito Perriello, Jr. Dr. Perriello dedicated much of his life to the health and safety of young athletes. He gave selflessly of his time and talents to the athletic training room and sidelines. Not only did he provide excellent care to the School’s student-athletes, but he also helped shape the Sports Medicine program. His support set a standard for exceptional care, which continues today.
Athletic Training Room In the Upper School Infirmary
The Athletic Training Room at the Upper School is located in the Infirmary on the bottom floor of the Scott Center for Arts and Sciences
Hours:
- Tuesday & Thursday : 12 - 1:15 p.m.
- OR by appointment
Concussion Policy
Our concussion policy encompass education, baseline testing, and returning our students back to the classroom and sport. We feel all of these components are essential to the health and safety of our student-athletes.
Concussion Education
Students
- Baseline Concussion Testing: Each rising Grades 7 - 12 student must complete concussion baseline testing (regardless of athletic participation) with the School's Sports Medicine staff. Baseline testing needs to be completed every school year from when the student starts participating in athletics at the School. Students who plan to play a sport at any point during the school year are strongly encouraged to attend summer baseline testing, if their schedule allows.
Concussion Return to Learn
Once a student is diagnosed with a concussion, he or she is monitored closely by the head athletic trainer, who is the liaison between the student and the teachers. Our Return to Learn program was designed in an effort to simplify and clarify expectations of the student, parents, and teachers and aid in reducing the anxiety involved with a concussion recovery.
Concussion Return to Play
Once a student has returned to full academics, then he/she begins our Return to Play protocol. This is a gradual five-step process to ensure a safe return to sport. Each step is performed on a separate day, so the student will return no sooner than five days after his/her first symptom-free day.
All questions regarding the Concussion Policy should be directed to the athletic trainers.
Appendix II | ||
|
Driving After a Concussion Recommendations
ImPACT: Driving After Concussion: When Is It Safe to Drive after Concussion?
Study by: Dr. Julianne Schmidt
Common impairments: reaction time, executive function, attention, ability to concentrate
Key points as returning:
- Minimize distractions
- Drive familiar routes
- Minimize night driving
- Avoid following cars close
- Drive a short distance
- Avoid freeways/interstates initially
Clinical Recommendations on “Return to Drive”
- Step1: Refrain from driving 48-72 hrs after injury
- Step 2: Drive a short distance with supervision ie 2-4 miles/15-20 min. Avoid freeway/interstate & limit distractions.
- Step 3: Drive a short distance independently
- Step 4: Moderate distance with supervision ie 8-15 miles/30-60 min. Short freeway/interstates. Music & conversations are allowed.
- Step 5: Moderate distance independently
- Step 6: No restrictions- return to drive
Keep in mind: What is in the best interest of the driver? Is he/she impaired to make a judgment/decision to determine if well or fit to drive? It is the driver’s responsibility to determine if well to drive safely, if they are a minor a parent/guardian may assist with these recommendations.
If a student is driving, suggest no passengers as that will lead to further distractions.