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Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Case Study

Instructor:
Rochel Rittgers

Rochel Rittgers is the head athletic trainer at Augustana College. She earned her undergraduate degree from Northern Iowa University and her master's degree from Eastern Kentucky University.

Now in her 26th year as director and education coordinator, she oversees the Augustana athletic training staff of three professionals and more than 40 students, provides care for all 23 varsity sports during the school year, and teaches in the sports medicine curriculum. In November 2007 she was inducted into the Illinois Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame.

Two program dates:
June 18-19 or
June 20-21

Cost $150

Includes lodging, all meals and any field trips. Students arrive on campus either Monday, June 18 (departing Tuesday, June 19) or on Wednesday, June 20 (departing Thursday, June 21).

Course description

You are the clinician in this two-day interactive experience. Follow a sports injury from onset through emergency handling, orthopedic assessment, surgery, therapy and sport performance enhancement - all to bring the injured athlete back to a peak level of participation. You will spend time in the cadaver lab identifying and working with the tissues involved in injury.  You will be in the surgical setting, watching Dr. Jason Clark, orthopedic surgeon and graduate of Augustana College, as he reconstructs the injured joint on one of the cadavers.  You will design and implement the necessary rehabiliation to set your athlete on the road to recovery.

Tentative schedule

Day 1

2:30 p.m. — Students check into rooms in Swanson Commons
3 p.m. — Introduction (Sports Medicine Lab in Roy J Carver Center) and "Sports Injury, Onset to Recovery"
4 p.m. — Tour of sports medicine and cadaver lab facilities
5 p.m. — Dinner
6 p.m. — Introduction to taping and wrapping injuries; practice taping
7 p.m. — Evening group activities in the residence hall

Day 2

7:15 a.m. — Breakfast
8 a.m. — Introduction to Summer Academy Sports Medicine Team, Dr. J.C. Clark (Class of 2000), orthopedic surgeon; and James Earel (Class of 2002), PA and orthopedic surgeon assistant
8:05 — Anatomy of an ACL injury
8:50 a.m. — Remarks and information regarding the upcoming surgery
9 a.m. — Move to Hanson Hall of Science building and cadaver lab
9:15 a.m. — Introduction to cadaver knee anatomy with hands-on investigation
9:40 a.m. — Surgical reconstruction of an ACL on a cadaver. (Students will be Dr. Clark's surgical assistants along with James Earel.)
10:50 a.m. — Wrap-up comments regarding surgery and "Hoops and Hurdles: Conquering the Paths to Being a Doctor and a PA"
11:20 a.m. — Campus tour
Noon — Lunch
1 p.m. — ACL injury evaluation techniques and practice
1:45 p.m. — Treatment and emergency care of the ACL injury
2:30 p.m. — Long-term rehabilitation of the ACL; use of electrical stimulation, ultrasound and other treatments; exercise techniques and return to activity programs
3:15 p.m. — Conversation with Dr. Clark, James Earel and Rochel Rittgers to explore questions related to the events of the day, career thoughts, school choices, etc.
3:45 p.m. — Wrap-up, program evaluation and close