Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center has been providing sports medicine/athletic training coverage to area student athletes since 2006 at no cost to the high school or athletes. Services have been provided in partnership with Big Stone Therapies, Inc. since 2009. Avera Marshall continues to cover the cost of providing services while Big Stone Therapies provides staff management and oversight.

Athletic trainers provide immediate care for injuries that occur during practice and games. They also provide follow-up injury treatment, recommendations for follow-up care, injury prevention education and rehabilitation services for student athletes.

Athletic trainers Amy Clemensen, ATC, and Adam Gifford, ATC, staff the training room at the Marshall High School and are available for evaluation of student athletes injuries and concerns. They also provides athletic training coverage at local athletic games and events. In addition, they provide athletic training coverage at Lakeview High School in Cottonwood and Minneota High School.

Amy Clemensen, ATC
Adam Gifford, ATC
Marshall High School
(507) 537-6920 ext. 1109
amy.clemensen@bigstonetherapies.com
adam.gifford@bigstonetherapies.com

A concussion is a common injury, but is often difficult to diagnose and treat. ImPACT helps doctors, athletic trainers, nurses and coaches manage concussions and promote safe return-to-play decisions for athletes.

The ImPACT (Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) program is a computerized exam proven to diagnose and manage concussions. If an athlete is believed to have suffered a head injury during competition, ImPACT is used to help determine the severity of head injury and when the injury has fully healed.

The ImPACT exam is given to athletes before beginning sports practice or competition. Tests are administered by athletic training staff, coaching staff or the school nurse. This noninvasive test is set up in a computer-game type format and takes about 20 minutes to complete.

If a concussion is suspected, the athlete takes a follow-up test. Both the preseason and post-injury test data are reviewed by Dr. John Kemp, Avera Marshall Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. Dr. Kemp will interpret the data to help in the diagnosis and management of the concussion. Additional follow-up tests over days or weeks may be done to track the athlete’s recovery and determine when it is safe to return to play.

More resources about Concussion

• ImPACT
• National Institutes of Health
• Centers for Disease Control

After an injury, physical therapy can be important to help an athlete recover and return to training and competition in their sport. Physical therapy services are offered in partnership at both Avera Marshall and Big Stone Therapies locations. For more information on rehabilitation services, call Avera Marshall at 507-537-9172 or Big Stone Therapies at 507-532-3393.

Peak Performance is a training program to help athletes gain the edge they need to compete in their sport. This strength and conditioning program is offered at the Marshall High School. Athletes will improve their strength, speed, agility and confidence. For more information, contact Aaron Schroeder, Avera Marshall exercise specialist, at aaron.schroeder@avera.org or (507) 537-9095.