University to host sports injury prevention conference

As youth sports related injuries continue to rise and receive national attention, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will explore and highlight issues related to prevention and management of injuries by hosting a two-day conference.“The Sports Injury Epidemic” conference, scheduled for April 15-16, will include presentations and panel discussions from nationally recognized speakers. The conference is in partnership with Erlanger Hospital and the National Athletics Trainers’ Association.

For more information about the conference, visit the conference’s website here.

“The purpose of this event is to create a dialogue with parents, coaches, administrators, and educators on this timely and sensitive issue. Injuries such as concussions, heat stroke, and ACL rupture are potentially catastrophic and disabling in young athletes if not recognized and managed properly,” Dr. Gary Wilkerson, UTC Professor of Graduate Athletic Training and one of the organizers of the conference, said.

On Tuesday, April 15, the panel discussion “Local Response to a National Problem” will feature Brooke de Lench, the founder of MomsTeam.com, a nationally recognized information source and online community for youth sports parents.  The discussion begins at 7 p.m. in UTC University Center Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public. The discussion will focus on youth sports and what parents, coaches, and administrators can do to keep children safe while they participate in school sports.

Dr. Brian Hainline, Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA, and Ron Courson, Head Athletic Trainer and Athletic Director for Sports Medicine at the University of Georgia, will give presentations on Wednesday, April 16 at 9 a.m. to noon in UTC University Center Auditorium. The presentation titled “Safeguarding Student-Athlete Health and Welfare” will focus on issues relating to sports medicine practices and administrative policies. This event is free and open to the public.

At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16 in the UTC University Center Auditorium, Dr. Craig Denegar, Director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Connecticut and the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Athletic Training, will serve as moderator of a panel of national experts in a discussion on the best practices in administration of sports medicine programs for youth and intercollegiate athletics. Registration for this event is required.

“With all these panels and discussions, we hope to educate attendees, especially parents of children participating in school athletics programs, that physicians and athletic trainers are dedicated to doing everything they can to keep their student athletes safe on and off the field,” Wilkerson said.