Lemak Sports News

Lemak Sports Medicine performs more than 3,500 athletic physicals in one weekend

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:41:00 GMT

Free pre-participation physical exams were given to local middle and high school athletes

Birmingham, AL (April 26, 2012) – Lemak Sports Medicine & Orthopedics had a remarkable turnout this past weekend for its annual mass athletic physical exams. Dr. Larry Lemak and his highly trained staff of medical experts, along with students in the nursing programs of Jeff State Community College and Virginia College, performed over 3,500 pre-participation physical exams to 30 middle and high schools.

Lemak’s staff performed a complete head-to-toe physical routine evaluation which included medical history assessment; orthopedic evaluation; vision, height and weight checks; blood pressure evaluations; and heart/lung assessments.

When asked about his experience, Oak Mountain High School Athletic Director David Hogue said, “Oak Mountain High School is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the athletic Physical Day put on by Lemak Sports Medicine. We were able to get over 200 of our athletes seen by a vast array of medical staff and doctors, who provided comprehensive examinations in a short amount of time. This can be a stressful day for an athletic department, but due to the hard work and resources provided by the Lemak staff, our time at Physical Day was smooth and stress free.”

“The AHSAA requires all athletes who participate in any sporting events to have a physical each year and this service creates a system to keep all physicals due on the same month of that particular year,” added Jemison High head volleyball coach Leighsa Robinson. “Due to the amount staff on site, we were able to send about 200 athletes through the entire process in about 50 minutes. We are very fortunate to have Lemak Sports Medicine and we appreciate everything they do for our athletes and our community.”

The following schools participated in this year’s mass physical two-day event: Columbiana Middle, Verbena High, Oak Mountain High, Chelsea High, Irondale Middle, Shades Valley High, Carver High, Thorsby High, Hueytown High, Shelby County High, Isabella High, Jemison Middle, Clay Chalkville Middle and High, Cleveland High, Maplesville High, Thompson High, Jemison High, Montevallo Middle, Fairfield High, Center Point High, Fultondale High, Hope Christian Academy, Pell City, Southeastern High, Moody High, Hewitt-Trussville Middle and High, and Appalachian High.

For more information about Lemak Sports Medicine, call 866.252.3618 or visit www.lemaksports.com.

Lemak Sports Medicine is committed to providing its patients with unsurpassed care as quickly as possible. As a leader in sports medicine and orthopedics, our focus is redefining health and wellness for athletes, active professionals, and youth.

Dr. Lebeck in Chelsea

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:33:00 GMT

Dr. Ann Lebeck will now be seeing patients at our new Lemak Sports Medicine and Orthopedics office in Chelsea.

The office is located in the Baptist Health Medical Systems building on Highway 280.

Dr. Lebeck will be seeing patients at the Chelsea location every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Learn more about Dr. Lebeck.

Winners announced in High School Spirit Challenge Contest

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:04:00 GMT

Congratulations to the winners of our High School Spirit Challenge Contest:

1st Place: Chilton County High School
2nd Place: Childersburg High School
3rd Place: Maplesville High School

Chilton County HS will receive $1500 for its athletic department, Childersburg HS will receive $1000, and Maplesville HS will receive $500.

Congratulations!

For more details on the contest, click here.

Will Power wins 2012 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:59:00 GMT

Congratulations to Will Power, winner of this year's Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama held at Barber Motorsports Park. We here at Lemak Sports Medicine and Orthopedics were proud to be a sponsor of the finish line. Congratulations!

Q&A - Bone Disease

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:28:00 GMT

Dr. Amanda Martin – Bone Disease

1. What role does exercise play in prevention of bone disease?

Exercise is very important in all aspects of health. It not only promotes a healthy heart and lungs, but also is critical in developing strong, healthy bones. Weight-bearing exercise (i.e. walking, jogging, weight lifting, etc.) helps bones to improve their density (strength). Bones respond to stress by absorbing calcium and fortifying themselves. Exercise is the best form of healthy stress we can apply to our bones. Muscles attach via tendons to the bones, thus the pull of muscles during exercise on bone causes a stress reaction that tells the bone to absorb calcium from the body and get stronger.

2. Myths

One of the most common mistakes people make is to assume osteoporosis is an old person’s disease. In reality, 98% of our bone mass is obtained by the age of 30. After that we lose our bone density each year until death. Bone loss rapidly increases in post-menopausal women due to a decrease in estrogen. The single most important thing we can do is eat a balanced, healthy diet, rich in calcium and vitamin D, exercise, avoid carbonated beverages, alcohol and smoking as teenagers and young adults. The supplement commercials are targeted to women over the age of 50 who certainly do need to use them. However in reality, teenage girls should be encouraged to obtain 1300 mg/day of calcium and 600 mg/day of vitamin D daily so they build the strongest bones possible during the density formation years. The calcium requirement then drops to 1000 mg/day during adulthood (19 yrs-50).

Often, teen girls shy away from healthy eating habits out of body image concerns. They severely restrict their diet from healthy lean meats and dairy and consume empty calories in preprocessed “diet” foods in attempt to conform to an unrealistic thin body type. They consume far more soda pop than 20 years ago, and are pressured into smoking and drinking alcohol. These pressures can render them with substantially weaker bones as young women. It’s much easier to develop osteoporosis at a young age when the threshold you start with is already much much lower. This is why we must educate young women on the importance of healthy eating and exercise habits for life.

Another myth is that only women are affected by osteoporosis. It is true that Caucasian and Asian women are affected in more substantial numbers, however anyone (including men) can suffer from osteoporosis that puts one at risk for vertebral (spine) fractures, hip and wrist fractures.

3. Is it ever too late to start exercising?

No! Weight-bearing exercise can help slow the rate of bone loss. It won’t make the bones stronger after peak bone density is reached around the age of 30, but it will slow the rate of bone density loss. In addition, a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise will improve strength and balance, which are key to preventing falls, improve the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and help prevent diabetes, and a number of cancers that are linked to obesity. You don’t need a lot of money for a gym membership or fancy equipment. Lace up your sneakers, grab a friend (or your dog) and hit the pavement. Walking is a brilliant routine that anyone can do anywhere.

4. What won’t help?

Bone density is adversely affected by smoking tobacco products, excessive alcohol intake, excessive intake of soda pop, and diets rich in sugar and processed foods rather than lean meats, lean dairy, and lots of vegetables and fruits.

Swimming is a wonderful cardiovascular exercise, but it won’t help with bone density as it isn’t weight bearing. Many people with arthritis prefer the water because it is less painful on the joints. My message to them is to keep up the water aerobics, but add a weight lifting and walking routine a couple of times a week to help build a strong skeleton.

5. Other important facts

Many medications used to treat osteoporosis are available and your doctor will prescribe them to you based on your bone density. A bone density test is a simple, noninvasive scan that your physician can order to help define your personal bone density. If it is low, they may recommend a number of treatments including Calcium and Vitamin D supplements, or medications like Bisphosphonates.

Long-term use of Bisphosphonates has been associated recently with femur fractures. They are very important for bone density, but like all medications, should be monitored closely by a primary care physician. Currently, recommendations are being made for “drug Holidays” every three years instead of taking the medication indefinitely to prevent negative consequences associated with the medication. A primary care physician should actively monitor liver and kidney functions as they would with any medical intervention.

Dr. Faulkner named Physician of the Month

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:37:00 GMT

Congratulations to our own Dr. Stan Faulkner, who was named Monday as Physician of the Month at Trinity Medical Center!

A Brief Review of Stress Fractures

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:33:00 GMT

A Brief Review of Stress Fractures

By Kristine Banks, M.D.

“The dreaded black line” refers to an anterior tibia shaft stress fracture which is the most commonly known of all stress fractures. Such injuries can plague athletes of all ages and levels of competition. Running and dancing are common mechanisms, as these fractures are due to overuse and repetitive stresses. While there is a recorded history of fractures in the military, the actual incidence in the general population is unknown.

Bone remodeling is an ongoing process. Normally, the cycle of bone catabolism and anabolism is balanced. The pathophysiology behind stress fractures follows from an imbalance in this cycle. The bone does not have time to repair the damage from repetitive stresses, thus resulting in the fracture.

The majority of stress fractures involve the lower extremity. Examples include: femoral neck, tibia, metatarsals (2^nd and 5^th), and tarsal navicular.

Symptoms can include a localized area of pain and tenderness, and inability to bear weight on the extremity. For an accurate diagnosis the physician needs to obtain a detailed history and physical exam. Further identification can be made via a combination of X-rays, cat scans (CTs), MRIs, or bone scans.

The best form of treatment is prevention, which includes cross-training, appropriate equipment, and a healthy diet. However when a fracture is present, treatment is generally conservative, with a few exceptions (fracture location, duration, special circumstances of elite athletes). Initial management involves rest, avoidance of aggravating activities, and protected weight bearing. Occasionally, bracing or casting is needed. Rehabilitation is used to strengthen the surrounding muscles and joints for future protection of the bone.

Stay Injury-Free This Winter

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:20:00 GMT

Stay Injury-Free This Winter

Lemak Sports Medicine & Orthopedics Demonstrates How to Stay Safe

By Dr. Mike Patterson

Winter is the season in which people participate in activities like snowboarding, skiing, ice skating, or sledding. If proper precautions are not taken, a serious injury can occur. According to the 2007 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 684,740 winter-related sports injuries were reported. You don’t want to spend your getaway with a broken leg, sprained ankle, or dislocated shoulder. Lemak Sports Medicine & Orthopedics advises you to keep the following preventative measures in mind before participating in any winter sport or activity.

Warm-up muscles prior to participation in any cold weather activity. A moderate warm-up and stretching route will prepare your body for physical activities.
Be aware of pre-existing conditions that may affect your tolerance in cold weather. (Never participate with an injury.)
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Just because it is cold doesn’t mean you cannot become dehydrated.
Wear protective clothing and gear. Properly-fitted clothing and gear will help protect you from an injury.
Make sure any equipment you use isn’t damaged. Equipment that is unsafe could pose a hazardous situation.
Monitor environmental conditions. Be advised that weather conditions can quickly change—resulting in potentially dangerous situations.
Avoid consumption of alcoholic beverages. Consuming alcohol while engaging in winter sports causes dehydration and is dangerous to you and others. An injury may not be as obvious if you are intoxicated.
Don’t push your body beyond its physical limits. Know your body’s limits and do not exceed your boundaries. Avoid participation if you experience pain.
Allow your muscles to recover during a cool-down period. A cool-down activity allows your body to return to its normal temperature.
Engage in post-activity stretching exercises. This will help maintain muscle balance, while reducing muscle soreness.
Seek a medical professional if an injury occurs.
Early recognition and appropriate treatment for cold (and heat) illness is essential. Look for signs of vigorous shivering or irregular heartbeat. Note: Temperatures can rise during the winter so be mindful to avoid heat cramps or exhaustion.

At Lemak Sports Medicine & Orthopedics, our number one goal is returning you to your pre-injury level of competition. We strive for nothing less. We have an experienced team of physicians, certified athletic trainers, and physical therapists at four locations around the Greater Birmingham Area. For more tips on how to stay injury-free this winter or to make an appointment, please call our Alabaster clinic at (205) 358-9120 or visit us on the web at www.LemakSports.com.

Runner’s Knee

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:34:00 GMT

by Dr. Jose J. Echenique

Lemak Sports Medicine & Orthopedics

Patellofemoral pain syndrome is pain in the “front” of the knee and around the knee cap. It is often seen in runners, hence its alternate name “runner’s knee”. However, it is commonly seen in non-runners as well. The pain may be exacerbated after a run, when using stairs (especially going downstairs) or when getting up after sitting with the knee bent for a prolonged period of time (ie. stepping out of the car).

The cause of runner’s knees is unknown but it is believed to have to do with "incorrect tracking" of the patella (knee cap) on the trochlea (the grove of the femur). This may place abnormal stress on the undersurface of the patella that may lead to pain.

The good news is that there are simple exercises that are often very effective in relieving the symptoms of runner’s knee. It is believed that they do so by strengthening the muscles that help the patella track appropriately, thereby decreasing the stress on the cartilage.

Exercises aimed at quadriceps strengthening and stretching, and hamstring stretching for 1 month may be all that is needed. Other tips that may accelerate recovery is to try to keep the knee straight when sitting and avoid running, squatting or using stairs if possible while in the rehab period.

If the pain does not resolve, or if there are other symptoms like clicking, catching, locking, instability or history of an injury, it may be worthwhile to see a sports medicine orthopedist.

Lemak Sports Opens in Hoover

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:32:00 GMT

A great article from the Shelby County Reporter about our new Hoover location!

Lemak Sports Medicine and Orthopedics, a center of excellence in orthopedic surgery with expertise in all areas of orthopedics and sports medicine with an office in Alabaster, opened its newest facility Feb. 6 in Hoover.

Dr. Amanda Martin will take the reins as the leading orthopedic physician in a new Hoover facility, providing unsurpassed care to athletes, active professionals and youth.

Lemak Sports Hoover is located at 2949 John Hawkins Parkway next to the Patton Creek shopping center – a great location that allows the Hoover community convenient access to some of the best orthopedic care in the country. Martin will provide patient care for a variety of orthopedic needs whether it is a strain, sprain, or an acute injury. She is also fully committed to being heavily involved in community events.

“Local participation in civic organizations, senior independent living facilities and the community as a whole is the cornerstone for success in our practice,” said Martin. “We appreciate all of the opportunities the Hoover and surrounding communities have offered and hope we continue to have the opportunity to be involved.”

Martin is fellowship trained in Orthopedic Sports Medicine by the American Sports Medicine Institute under the leadership of world-renowned Dr. Lawrence Lemak. She is a graduate of The University of Arizona and completed her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Oklahoma State University. Martin is currently the medical director for NCAA Soccer Cup, a consultant for Major League Soccer and serves as the team physician for Hueytown High School and Jacksonville State University.

To date, Hoover will be the 10th clinic Lemak Sports Medicine has opened.

Martin will continue performing surgeries at Trinity Medical Center on Montclair Road in Birmingham. To schedule an appointment with Martin, please call the Hoover location at 444-2025 or the Birmingham location at 397-5200.

The Lemak Sports Medicine and Orthopedics office in Alabaster is located at 831 1st Street North. For more information, contact the location at 358-9120.

http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2012/02/07/lemak-sports-medicine-and-orthopedics-opens-new-office/

Griff Redmill, Former Alabama Offensive Lineman, Recalls the Outstanding Care From Dr. Lemak

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:05:00 GMT

Courtesy of alabama247sports.com

The path Griff Redmill took to the University of Alabama back in 1996 had as many dips and curves as the winding stretch of AL-69 that led him from his Jasper home south to Tuscaloosa.

Looking back, the recruitment of the former University of Alabama offensive lineman, who was initially pegged as a defensive lineman by Gene Stallings' staff, had a little bit of everything. Among the highlights: a significant knee injury during Redmill's junior year that wouldn't be revealed until months later; a commitment to a rival SEC program, followed by a late offer from UA and subsequent flip to the Crimson Tide.

The only thing missing was BamaOnLine.com to cover it all. BOL set up shop on June 6, 1996, about the same time Redmill, a member of Stallings' final recruiting class, picked up his diploma from Walker High.

The following is Redmill's recollection of his recruitment. Many thanks to Griff, a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide at offensive guard from 1998-2000, for allowing us to share with our readers a fascinating account of how a kid defied the odds to realize his life-long dream.

First contact

My first recruiting letter came from (recruiting coordinator) Randy Ross at the University of Alabama. Growing up an hour from Tuscaloosa, my family had always been huge Alabama fans and it was no secret where I always dreamed of playing college football.

The letter came after my sophomore year at Walker High School. Honestly, it was probably more of a courtesy because of some family friends who were influential boosters at that time. I think they wanted to see me at Alabama as much as my own family did.

At the time, I was a 6-foot-4, 205-pound defensive end/tight end playing on a team with a 2-8 record, so I wasn’t exactly a blue chipper. But that letter gave me a lot of confidence and reinforced the idea that playing college football could be a reality for me.

I began working toward that goal and as I finally started to mature physically, I picked up more and more interest from other schools. I still wasn’t as big as most of the other recruits at my position but teams seemed to like that I was versatile enough to play several positions. I also had good grades and was a good kid.

It was then that I started hearing from most of the SEC schools. Shortly thereafter schools outside the SEC began to show interest: Colorado, Florida State, Louisville and Penn State. However, none of those schools seemed to be very serious about me at first. Alabama contacted me the most throughout the entire process.

At the end of my junior year, we hired a new head coach, Bubba Davis. Coach Davis retired from the Mississippi school system after winning four state championships [at West Point High School] and turning several struggling programs around throughout his career.

Coach Davis had been around the block when it came to the recruiting game. He had put kids in college at every level. When he came to Walker, I expressed to him my goals and concerns with getting where I wanted to be. He told me to keep working like I had been and he’d handle the rest of it.

During spring training leading up to my senior year, coaches from various universities started coming to watch practice. Most, if not all, of these guys were there as a result of relationships coach Davis had developed over the years. They would take a look at a kid solely on his endorsement.

The Setback

I was having a great spring and interest from coaches was starting to pick up. Then something happened that almost changed the course of my football career. During spring training I was also participating in track and field. Three days before our spring game, I hurt my knee participating in the long jump competition.

I remember going to see Dr. Larry Lemak at HealthSouth in Birmingham. He prodded me for about 30 seconds before bluntly telling me that I had sustained a torn ACL and would require surgery. Dr. Lemak said he would do the surgery on Tuesday and I would miss my senior football season in the fall.

I knew my chances of a SEC scholarship offer were marginal without a great senior season and If I didn’t play at all I would probably fall off the recruiting map. So I did what any 17-year-old whose dreams had seemingly been crushed would do: I started to cry uncontrollably.

Dr. Lemak was a little shocked by my reaction. But when I explained my situation, he seemed to understand. Before I left his office, Dr. Lemak offered one long-shot option: rehab all summer, brace the injured knee in the fall and see how long I could go on it. He said he didn’t recommend the option and that he’d never seen it work out but in my mind, it was the only option I had.

After a spring and summer in coach Davis’ program, I reported for fall camp at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds. A few weeks into my senior season, college coaches started calling and coming to see me at school.

Amazingly, I managed to keep my injury a secret for the first seven games or so. I was having a great year and never missed a play due to my injury, so no one ever thought to question my knee. Of course, the news about my knee did eventually get out and once it did, teams were obviously concerned.

In a Trying Year for Sports, Robert from Waterloo is a Shining Light

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:28:00 GMT

Contributor - Sports Illustrated - http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/

As a journalist, one often becomes hardened and cynical, seeing dark clouds on the horizon even when the sun is shining bright and the birds are singing.

Every year there is happiness in the world of college sports whenever a team wins a big game, scores a shocking upset or wins a national championship. However, in 2011, especially in the last few months, there has been so much darkness it almost seemed like a total eclipse.

The list of tragedies and scandals has been staggering while depressing many who seek sports as an outlet away from the usual maddening stories that land on Page 1. While seeking shelter from the bad news, I recently found comfort and joy in the most unlikely place: Waterloo, Iowa.

For months I knew him only as "Robert from Waterloo." He was just another faceless friend from a faraway town who called my radio show.

His name is Robert Fisher, a 33-year-old college football fan who has cerebral palsy. He's in a wheelchair, but works part-time at Hy-Vee, a supermarket chain based in the Midwest. He's smart and sensible and simply enjoys the games, never fretting too long on the wins and losses. He has no hate or bitterness and doesn't want pity or sympathy. He just wants your friendship and respect for his opinions. Every day when he calls, his customary salutation is: "Hey, what's up, buddy?"

He is always cheerful and wants to know how I'm doing. He spends a chunk of every day listening to my show. In his phone calls, Robert asks questions, pontificates about timely topics or about games he's seen on TV, and offers predictions just like other callers.

What is a bit different and refreshing about Robert is that he looks for the good in sports and in people. He gives "shout outs" to fellow callers instead of bashing them just for the fun of it. It is clear that he really enjoys sports very much and the constant debate about teams, coaches and players. The audience enjoys hearing Robert's enthusiasm as well.

I was fortunate to spend a few hours with Robert and his family several weeks ago. If the experience doesn't change my life forever, I'm wasting a rare and precious gift.

Not long after Robert began calling the show, he invited me to come see him in Waterloo. I said sure, without really thinking about it or calculating the distance (862 miles) from my front door. Several months later, the renowned sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Larry Lemak, a regular show guest, was in studio. Once again, Robert, while on the air, invited me to come to Iowa. Lemak, who owns a private plane, looked at me and said, "Let's do it." So, on a late October day in the middle of football season, we took off from Birmingham at dawn for the nearly two-hour flight to Iowa.

Lemak Holds First Annual Medical Soccer Symposium

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:09:00 GMT

Shelby County Reporter
Published 12:36pm Wednesday, December 14, 2011

In light of the NCAA 2011 Men’s College Cup coming to the Magic City, Lemak Sports Medicine and Orthopedics in Alabaster held its first annual Medical Soccer Symposium Dec. 10 at the Ross Bridge Golf Resort in Hoover.

The goal of the medical symposium was to increase awareness of athletic injuries at any age and any level – concentrating on soccer.

Through educating coaches, parents and the athletes, the number of injuries or at least the severity of the injuries, can be reduced. Presentations made by the panel of experts focused on common soccer injuries, concussions, heat illness, return to play, common soccer injuries and life-impacting experiences.

The panel of professionals included Dr. Lawrence Lemak, Dr. Ann Lebeck, Dr. Robert Agee and Dr. Amanda Martin, all of Lemak Sports Medicine. Other speakers included Dr. John Galluci, President of JAG Physical Therapy; Taylor Twellman, former US Men’s Soccer player and current ESPN analyst; and Mr. Joe Cummings, CEO of the NSCAA.

When asked the importance of the medical symposium, Dr. Lawrence Lemak (Dr. Soccer) said, “Injuries occur at an extremely high rate, especially in the game of soccer. It is vital that we educate and raise awareness to decrease risks to the athlete.”

The second annual Medical Soccer Symposium is being prepared for 2012.

For more information, contact Jenna Beach by phone at 329-7528 or by email jbeach@sportssafety.org.

Dr. Lemak Discusses JSU's Quarterback Marques Ivory's Season-Ending Injury With The Anniston Star

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:31:00 GMT

By Al Muskewitz, Star sports writer Anniston Star

JACKSONVILLE — Losing a veteran starting quarterback the way Jacksonville State did in its season opener Thursday night can be devastating to a season, but the head coach and offensive coordinator both were confident Friday the Gamecocks will be all right going forward — and with minimal tweaking of the playbook.

Senior quarterback Marques Ivory underwent season-ending surgery Friday in Birmingham on the fractured right fibula he sustained in the second quarter of Thursday’s dramatic 24-23 season-opening conference win over UT Martin.

Although the one-hour operation was considered a success, Ivory is expected to miss the rest of the season, the school said. The Gamecocks will seek a medical redshirt for the senior, who has played in all three of his previous seasons with the team.

Interestingly, preseason all-conference offensive tackle Odie Rush had similar surgery three weeks ago, but he is expected to return at midseason. The team medical staff, headed by surgeon Dr. Larry Lemak, said they were “different types of injuries,” in addition to its severity and timing, athletic department spokesman Greg Seitz said.

Upon Ivory’s injury, the ninth-ranked Gamecocks immediately installed true sophomore Coty Blanchard as the starter for next week’s game at No. 21 Chattanooga and moved Thomas Darrah and Steven Coates up in the backup rotation. They will practice for the first time in that mode Monday after the coaching staff spends the Labor Day weekend trying to figure out how to make it work.

“I think we’ll be OK,” offensive coordinator Ronnie Letson said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who are good around him. The thing Coty has to realize — all the quarterbacks have to realize — is you don’t have to win the game for us, just put us in position to win it. You’ve got to let players make the plays for you. I have no doubt about those guys making a lot of plays.”

Read More

Dr. Lawrence Lemak talks about the importance of keeping athletes safe in sweltering heat conditions

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:41:00 GMT

Football Player Safety Becomes Burning Concern

By Steve Hummer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

These are the most dangerous days of the year to be a high school football player.

Practices ramp up just as summer’s blowtorch burns hottest. Kids who may or may not have been true to their off-season conditioning wrap themselves in heat-trapping pads and helmets and take to simmering fields. Their bodies never will be tested more than this moment.

Coaches know this, and they are sweating out another summer.

“This is the most stressful time of year, even more than the games,” said Terry Crowder, head coach at defending state Class AAAA champion Chattahoochee High.

“It’s constantly on my mind: God forbid that anything happens to one of our players.”

The worst has happened this summer to four young players scattered across the South. Last week, two Georgians — Locust Grove’s Forrest Jones and Fitzgerald’s D.J. Searcy — died following workouts. Before that, a 14-year-old South Carolina player similarly died. On July 27, a Miami-area high school football player collapsed and died after a training session. Pending autopsy results will reveal if summer’s swelter contributed to their deaths, as some suspect.

The news of these tragedies resonated across Georgia last week as teams opened practice amid one of the hottest summers on record. More than 30,000 teenagers in the state take part in the rite of high school football. Prior to last week, there had not been a heat-related death of a player in the state in five years.

“Bottom line: One is too many,” said University of Georgia researcher Mike Ferrera.

Despite an ever-growing awareness of the dangers of hot-weather training and the advent of guidelines that tailor practices to the conditions, players across the country still die. The recent spate of deaths has frustrated experts in the field who consider heat-related tragedies largely preventable.

Meanwhile, in the furnace of another southern summer, the latest generation of big men on campus continues to be forged.

Early to rise

Welcome to Thursday Morning Lights. Chattahoochee’s Crowder learned long ago that he couldn’t beat the heat, so he stopped trying. Several years ago, he decided to begin August practices in the early morning hours, training under stadium lights until the sun peeked over the rim of the stands.

At the beginning of last week, practice began as usual around 7 a.m. But so extreme was the heat and humidity that Crowder was having to either cut back on practice or stop altogether as climate readings exceeded levels considered safe. By midweek, he was ordering his players suited up and ready by 5:30 a.m. just so he could complete his scheduled work.

The concerns of parents certainly were aroused by the recent deaths. “The mommy issue is high right now,” senior running back/linebacker Jake Kingree said with a slight smile, “but I don’t think we have a lot to worry about.”

And players can feel for themselves the difference in the earlier start.

All parties made the transition to farmer’s work hours without too much carping, Crowder said. The team will continue on that schedule, he said, until the heat breaks, no matter how long that takes.

There was a rare reprieve on Thursday from the worst of the swelter, as passing showers stirred a welcome breeze. The temperature at the start of practice was 70 degrees.

Chattahoochee nevertheless stayed with the routine that it had in place to monitor the heat and deal with its effects. The school has the luxury of a full-time athletic trainer — one of 14 that the Gwinnett Medical Center provides to schools in the area.

It’s Tangela McCorkle’s job to oversee the players’ safety, and she takes her job seriously. “I’ve been with a lot of these kids since they were in the sixth grade,” she said. “They’re like my kids. Parents trust me to make sure they’re safe.”

Each morning, all 110 players (both JV and varsity) weigh in. They re-weigh at the end of practice. Any player showing a 3 percent or more weight loss from one day to the next — indicating excessive fluid loss — is held from practice.

Along with wraps and splints, McCorkle’s standard equipment includes both a hand-held psychrometer and a so-called wet bulb gauge that produce differing measurements of air temperature, humidity and radiant temperature. She takes readings from both every quarter hour. Operating from a chart that correlates these readings with suggested actions on the practice field, she alerts Crowder if he needs to make adjustments such as additional water breaks, more rest periods, stripping out of pads and helmets or even stopping practice altogether. She said the coach has always heeded the chart.

Change in approach

Hard-nosed coaches of the past may have scoffed at such perceived coddling, instead restricting their players’ water intake and holding grueling practices in order to test players’ commitment and build toughness. That mentality has had to change with the times.

“Any coach in this day and age who pushes through heat-related problems shouldn’t be coaching,” said Dr. Larry Lemak, an orthopedic surgeon and founder of the Birmingham-based National Center for Sports Safety. “He’s not smart enough to know that he’s not only putting his kids at risk, he’s putting himself [professionally and legally] at risk.”

Brookwood coach Mark Crews remembers his college coach ordering trainers to take their temperature readings in the shade. His high school coach used to ration water like it was Dom Perignon. “You wouldn’t do that today for a million dollars,” he said.

Thursday, Crews’ defending Class AAAAA champion Broncos began practice at a steamier time, 11:30 in the morning. Still, this day was not as sultry as the one before, with temperatures in the mid-80s compared to the 100-degree readings the athletic trainer was getting Wednesday on a back practice field.

Brookwood follows basically the same protocol as Chattahoochee. But there is no one set of standards for all schools in Georgia.

Following the heat-related death of a player in 2006, the Georgia High School Association directed each county school system to come up with its own plan.

Critics have stated the need for statewide regulation, with definite limits on practice, especially in August. One of the loudest of those is Douglas Casa, chief operating officer of the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut. Stringer was the Minnesota Vikings lineman who died of heat stroke in 2001.

“No one wants to ever upset any football coach. It’s a constituency that knows nothing about medical and safety policies and yet they still rule the roost in terms of what the policies are going to be,” Casa said.

Specifically, Casa points to a set of seven guidelines for safe heat acclimatization that he helped author. They include having an athletic trainer on hand for every practice, as well as setting limits on early season practices — eliminating twice-a-day practices, setting time limits and barring practices in full pads.

Only New Jersey among the 50 states meets all seven of the criteria, Casa said. Georgia meets none of them.

Ralph Swearngin, executive director of the GHSA, disagrees with the assessment that the organization is unresponsive. He maintains a strong trust in coaches to know what is good for their players, and to strike the delicate balance between getting their young men ready and keeping them safe.

Swearngin listens when a coach like Crews says, “Some people think they are still dealing with the coaches of 30 years ago, the old Neanderthal guy who’s going to make you run sprints when it’s 9,000 degrees. We feel we do a great job of trying to protect our kids. We don’t really want someone to mandate what we do, because we feel we have medical professionals in place and policy in place where we can act professionally and safely.”

Ferrera, a UGA professor of kinesiology and curriculum director of athletic training, is currently completing a three-year heat study, gathering data from 25 practice fields around Georgia. The results will be available to the GHSA by early 2012 and will shape the organization’s heat policy in the future, Swearngin said.

The recent deaths across the South indicate that science still has a big chore in front of it.

“This past week is probably the worst week that we’ve had in the last 35 years in terms of that many kids dying in that short a period of time,” Casa said.

Such deaths madden researchers who maintain that heat stroke deaths could be practically eliminated with the proper precautions and rapid recognition and treatment of a player in trouble.

As this hot, hot August grinds on, none of the experts is saying anything to put parents, coaches or players at ease.

“This is a critical problem — and this heat isn’t over yet,” warned Lemak.