On Monday, May 4th, 2015, University of Tennessee hosted its second annual Sports Medicine Symposium in conjunction with a TATS East Region Meeting. The free event was held on the UT Knoxville campus in the Anderson Training Center and featured presentations on rehabilitation of hip arthroscopies and concussion management. Three Evidence Based Practice CEUs were earned by attendees.
Dr. Chuck Thigpen of Proaxis Therapy in Greeneville, South Carolina provided insight into the rehabilitation of intra-articular hip injuries, primarily femoral acetabular impingement and labral tears. Dr. Thigpen said of hip rehab, “I think it is challenging because it is a fast-evolving approach of how we manage that within the athletic training room and rehab facility as we get kids back to sport.” For him, it was a bit of a homecoming, having played football at UT-Chattanooga and graduating the Physical Therapy program at East Tennessee State. Additionally, Dr. Thigpen previously served as an intern at UT. “I have a strong connection to East Tennessee. It’s really exciting to get to come home.” he said.
UT Team Physician Dr. Christopher Klenck presented information on current trends in concussion management. He gave an overview of UT’s concussion management plan, highlighting new research findings and concepts that should be considered when developing management strategies. Next, UT Director of Sports Medicine Jason McVeigh provided a number of case studies related to concussion and facilitated a lively discussion among attendees.
At the conclusion of the symposium, TATS East Tennessee Representative Mike Van Bruggen provided an update of TATS business to the membership in attendance. He reported that the 2016 TATS Annual Meeting and Symposium will be January 16th and 17th in Nashville. Mike also described the “Hit the Hill” activities of TATS members on April 7 in which TATS members met with Tennessee legislators in Nashville about a host of issues. Mike specifically identified two upcoming pieces of legislation related to sports activity for Athletic Trainers in the state to monitor. SB0985 and HB32 – both titled “Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act”—require education of coaches, administrators, parents, and youth athletes about the risk and symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest and set forth return to play guidelines similar to Tennessee’s Sports Concussion Law. He also reported that TATS representation was present at the Tennessee Interscholastic Athletic Administrators conference in Murfreesboro in April and will also have a booth at the Emergency Medical Services meeting in July. Mike recognized Cocke County High School and Cosby High School as recipients of NATA’s Safe Sports School award, bringing the number of Tennessee schools having received that honor to eight.
Lastly, Mike reminded the TATS members in attendance that elections are begin held now for all TATS executive board member positions and encouraged participation in voting.