Policy for Student Athletes

General Sports Medicine Topics for Bowdoin College Student-Athletes

Sport Participation in intercollegiate involves an inherent risk of injury, and the student athlete must share in the responsibility of prevention through following established safety protocols, communicating and reporting injuries to the sports medicine staff in a timely manner, reporting for treatments and rehabilitation as directed.

The following are general topics relevant to the health care of the student-athlete and are specific policies only to Bowdoin College Sports Medicine.

Injury Prevention

• Blisters can result in time loss from practice if not properly cared for. To prevent blisters, avoid breaking in brand new athletic shoes during practice. Wear two pairs of socks while breaking in sneakers/cleats. The feeling of a hot spot or rubbing should be referred to an athletic trainer to protect the area. Change all bandages covering blisters daily after showering.
• Drink plenty of fluids - proper hydration begins well before the student-athlete arrives to practice (2-3 hours prior). Athletes should drink plenty of clear non-caffinated fluids both before and after practice. Water is the best fluid to prevent dehydration.
• Cramps - can be prevented by drinking more fluids and replenishing minerals by eating oranges, bananas, and potatoes.
• Flexibility - stretching and proper warm-ups can prevent muscle strains.
• Proper fitted equipment - make sure equipment is fitted properly. Student-Athletes should inspect equipment issued to them once a week for unusual wear and damage.
• Taping, Wrapping – athletes with a history of a chronic injury should protect the injury by taping or wrapping.
• Mouthpieces - Mouthpieces not only protects the athlete’s teeth (and your smile), they can lessen the severity of a concussion or prevent one from occurring.

Procedures for Reporting an Injury by Student- Athletes

• Injuries must be reported immediately to the sports medicine staff for evaluation.
• Athletes must shower before being evaluated in the sports medicine facility following a workout session unless it is an emergency.
• Always wear gym shorts and T-shirt for injury evaluations, treatments and rehabilitation.
• Since some injuries are not noticed until the next day, please report injury/illness by 11:00 AM Monday - Friday.
• Athletes may call the sports medicine facility to notify the staff that they are injured. Messages may be left on the voice mail indicating the problem and what time they will be reporting to the sports medicine facility for evaluation.
• Athletes who are sick - colds, flu, etc must call Dudley Coe Health Center directly for an appointment, but should also notify the sports medicine department.
• Athletes must never miss a class to report an injury or to receive rehabilitation in the sports medicine facility.
• All appointments with the team physician or consultants must be approved and scheduled through the sports medicine department.
• Student-athletes must refrain from purposely keeping medical information from the sports medicine staff.
• Daily injury/illness reports are given to each athlete’s coach. This report includes limitation of activity and/or indicates the athlete’s ability return to full activity.

Basic Treatment of Athletic Injuries – Sprains, Strains and Open Wounds

Since some injuries are not noticed until the next day, student-athletes should be advised of the following basic treatments for minor athletic injuries.

• The best treatment for a majority of sport related injuries are to apply ice. Ice should be applied for 15 - 20 minutes every two hours for a new injury, along with a gentle compression wrap and elevation. DO NOT SLEEP WITH WRAP ON AT NIGHT.
• Heat applied to an injured area may increase swelling. This will cause more pain and will result in a loss in the normal motion to the joint. Do not apply moist heat. Do not use ointments or rubs such as Icy Hot or Mineral Ice - they will increase the swelling. Do not use the warm whirlpool.
• Wounds occurring in athletic settings often become infected. Thoroughly clean even minor scraps and especially turf burns. If the wound becomes swollen, red, or sore to the touch, see an athletic trainer as soon as possible.
• Remember to have all wounds covered properly for practice to prevent infection and bleeding. All wounds should be cleaned in the sports medicine facility after showering. Do not leave the same bandage on for days.
• Teammates should refrain from recommending “home remedies” for the treatment of injuries to student-athletes.

Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries

• Athletes are encouraged to schedule an appointment for treatments and rehabilitation.
• Treatments often take 45 minutes to 1 hour, so please arrive on time.
• No rehabilitation will take place 15 minutes before practice time.
• No athlete will be allowed to receive treatment or rehabilitation in the sports medicine facility during practice time without the permission of the head coach.
• The student-athlete is expected to follow their prescribed treatment or rehabilitation program - athletes who fail to keep scheduled rehabilitation or treatment appointments will be reported to their head coach.
• Treatment and rehabilitation programs are to be continued until the sports medicine staff informs the student-athlete to discontinue - it always takes more than one treatment to recover from an injury. The more consistent the student-athlete is with the treatment regime, the quicker the recover.
• Bowdoin College Sports Medicine staff will not perform rehabilitation of any injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents or job related accidents in which litigation is being pursued.
• Bowdoin College Sports Medicine facility is limited to providing rehabilitation of injuries sustained by current student-athletes.
• At times a rehabilitation program may produce minor residual discomfort. It is the student-athlete’s responsibility to communicate directly to the sports medicine staff their pains and concerns regarding their rehabilitation program.

General Guidelines for Return to Activity

The Bowdoin College physician and/or team physician or their designee is the FINAL AUTHORITY concerning when the student-athlete should be removed from participation for medical reasons, and when the student-athlete may return to partial or full participation.

The team or college physician may instruct the sports medicine staff to determine the readiness for return to full activity of an ill/injured athlete through the use of functional sport specific criteria.

The length of time to return the athlete to full participation is dependant on many factors such as: injury/illness severity and type, the athlete’s individual healing process, the athlete’s sport, the athlete’s position, as well as the athlete’s readiness to return to activity.

At the discretion of the sports medicine staff the injured / ill student –athlete’s return to participation may be restricted to limited activity such as: individual skill sessions, group drills, non-contact activities, limited contact drills, non-running activities, etc. 

Athlete’s who seek medical care from an outside physician must have a medical note that clearly states the athlete’s ability to return to full activity to their designated sport.  The sports medicine staff will re-evaluate all orthopedic injuries and determine readiness as stated in the criteria listed below. Should the sports medicine staff find significant signs, symptoms or positive tests in the orthopedic evaluation, the athlete will be referred to a Bowdoin College team physician who will be the final authority for medical clearance. For illness/sickness the final authority for medical clearance of a student-athlete to return to participation is determined by the Bowdoin College Physician.

For Orthopedic Injuries

In general, for orthopedic injuries the sports medicine staff requires the athlete to be minimally 80% in strength, coordination, agility, speed, and endurance; have full pain free range of motion; and be functionally pain free.  Upon instruction from the team physician or college physician, the sports medicine may use their discretion in restricting or determining readiness for full participation.

For Illnesses/Sickness

Dudley Coe Health Center determines clearance for return to activity following an illness.  Student-athletes who are under the care of their personal physician and are returning from a serious illness such as mononucleosis must be referred to the Health Center by the sports medicine staff or coaches for clearance to return to sport participation.

For Head Injuries

Clearance to return to activity is determined by the Bowdoin College Physician and/or Team Physician. Returns to play decisions are made on an individual basis after the student-athlete has had full recovery from the head injury and can be informed of the potential risks for subsequent concussion and possible complications. At the appropriate time as directed by the College or Team Physician, the sports medicine staff will be permitted to perform exertional provocation tests to determine the athlete’s readiness to return to activity.  At the discretion of the sports medicine staff, activity may be restricted or limited based on the results of the exertional testing.