Stemming from childhood, it’s bound that everyone has fallen down at some point, resulting in a scraped knee or cut. Some fall harder than others when enduring games and competitive athletics and others get bruises from just their clumsiness. 

But what happens when these minor stumbles create major long-lasting injuries?

For many college students that compete in sports, falling over is just a part of the experience. However, at Chapman University, when these unplanned tumbles occur, the athletic training staff is available to help guide rehabilitation for injury and educate athletes on injury prevention. 

Pamela Gibbons, the director of athletic training and sports medicine at Chapman, told The Panther what the athletic training services staff is able to provide for the 600 athletes on campus. 

“We work with the student athlete and our team physicians to develop the best protocol for rehabilitation and recovery,” Gibbons said. “We have a variety of rehabilitation equipment, cold whirlpools, NormaTec (intermittent compression), electrical modalities and ultrasound, as well as an assortment of manual therapies.”

There is often debate if an injured athlete should immediately see a doctor after experiencing new, uncomfortable pain as a result of their sport.

Gabrielle Leveratto, the assistant athletic trainer and Chapman softball alumna, said immediately seeing a doctor isn’t always possible.

“Seeing a doctor isn’t the easiest or even most convenient thing to do for most athletes,” Leveratto said. “Having an athletic trainer allows for an athlete to get seen quickly so we can determine if it is something more urgent or something that can wait. Athletic trainers have physician oversight. Here at Chapman our team doctor comes to campus once a week to look at

athletes we may be concerned about.”

Alberto Huerta, a Chapman alumnus who completed his Master of Science in athletic training in 2017, discusses the importance of seeing athletic trainers and the ultimate goal to heal injuries.

“In the clinic, we can take our time to evaluate, develop a treatment plan and strategize a plan of action to proceed forward,” Huerta said. “On the field, we were limited on time. Although, we must know the severity of the injury (and) possible limitations.”

In addition to emphasizing recovery plans for athletes, the athletic trainers at Chapman have also taken the steps to create educational videos to teach student athletes the significance of health in injury prevention. The trainers also specialize in helping athletes recover with note of their individual backgrounds and medical history.

“You will see different injuries from sport to sport and individual to individual,” Huerta said. “Everyone comes from different backgrounds, and it's important to be mindful and respectful towards those individuals. Ultimately, some injuries you will find to treat them similar or different depending on the individual, the severity of the injury, the rehabilitation of the sport and the goals. There will be some up and down moments, but my job is to guide our student-athletes and build confidence within themselves.”

However, the rehabilitation and injury prevention process is not just limited to the athletic training room. Gibbons is also responsible for a swim class open to all students. The purpose is to enhance athletes’ strength and conditioning by the time their season rolls around.

“The benefits of swimming and aquatic exercise are significant,” Gibbons told The Panther. “Using a swimming workout as a source of cross training can significantly improve range of motion, overall conditioning and lung capacity which transfers to all sports. We also use aquatic therapy and exercise to assist in the rehab and recovery process. The pressure of the water as well as the buoyancy allows the injured athlete to do more than they may be able to do on land.”

Huerta gave to incoming freshmen who came from high school sports and are seeking the transition into their new collegiate teams wanting to prevent as much injury as possible. 

“The common trait that I see is being fearful of seeking help,” Huerta said. “Some student-athletes either have good or bad past experiences, they are afraid to speak up (or are) unaware of the system in place. Perhaps (they) are unaware of how we can help them or maybe they did not have an athletic trainer. 

“In the long run we are here to help and support our student-athletes. Whether that is helping them with an injury, dealing with something mentally, seeking other resources or simply helping them develop practical skills to become better members of society as they transition into an adult lifestyle.”