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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
SPORTS MEDICINE PROGRAM, |
Sports Medicine
Even baby boomers, many of whom continue to lead active lifestyles, are hoping to get another 10 years of jogging mileage from their knees, or play a decent round of golf in retirement without aches and pains. A quest to be the best is fine, but players can be sidelined if they don't condition correctly. Sports injuries on the rise The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission reports a 33 percent increase in sports-related emergency room injuries of 35- to-54-year-olds from 1991 to 1998, with a direct correlation to their increased athletic activities.
In response to these trends, Holland Hospital has created a new Sports Medicine Program as an outgrowth of its Rehabilitation Services. Geared toward both student athletes and adult “weekend warriors,” the program teaches participants how to condition better and smarter to improve their game, as well as how to avoid common sports injuries that could sideline a career or crush a dream. The program is designed for athletes of any sport, including football, basketball, volleyball, track, swimming, baseball, soccer, biking, golf and tennis. Coached by an experienced and multi-disciplined team of professional trainers and rehab specialists, participants learn how to safely enhance their cardiovascular, flexibility, endurance, agility, speed, plyometrics (muscle power) and strength performance. Training begins with pre-testing to determine baseline athletic ability. Student athletes in grades eight to 12 can choose from a variety of options, including the six-week performance training program (most popular), pre-season conditioning, small group sessions, summer sessions and individual sessions. Their participation level is based on the session chosen; post-testing takes place upon completion. Most sessions are held at The Soccer Stop in Holland. Class sizes are kept small, and individuals as well as entire school teams are welcome to participate.
Performance training at the tender age of 13? Brad Kuipers, rehabilitation coordinator for the hospital's Sports Medicine Program, says the sooner, the better. "We are targeting the younger 13- and 14-year-olds because they’re old enough to have an interest in a particular sport and want to excel in it," he explains. "We want to catch them earlier in their athletic careers to teach them how to condition correctly to prevent injuries. We can help them fine tune their performance and push them to excel safely." "They need to know what's it's like to be pushed," he adds, "because that's what they'll face at the collegiate and professional level." Adam Mena certainly knows what it's like to be pushed. The West Ottawa High School junior, who recently earned a spot on the Super Y League national soccer team that's playing in Europe this summer, has played the game since he was 5. Mena completed the program at the urging of his trainer, Ian McMahon, and saw a big improvement in his performance. "I'm used to conditioning hard – I've done it before – but this program helped me focus on my form and controlled landings. I am self-driven, but I like the fact that they pushed me harder," he says. "My cardiovascular endurance and jumping ability really improved. I started at 9'5" and ended at 10'9" – so I increased my jumps by over a foot."
Hunter Townsend, a Hamilton High freshman who is one of the newer members of the Premier Chicago Fire soccer team, saw similar results after going through the program. He wanted to stay in shape during off-season, maintain his speed and strength, and hold his place on the team roster. "The program really helped me improve my speed running and jumping ability," says Townsend. "I have more controlled landings now, and a better understanding of how to train properly to avoid injuries." Achieving balance "Eating properly allows athletes to train harder, feel energized and maximize their overall physical condition," she explains. "Carbohydrates are the main source of energy, and should account for 50 percent to 65 percent of their total caloric intake. Carbs are digested and absorbed quickly; thus, they are effective for high-intensity, short-term exercise. Athletes can endure a longer, more intense workout by consuming fiber-containing complex carbs." Purdy says it's not always wise to overload on protein. It's digested slower than carbohydrates, and is stored as fat if unused. "Protein provides a form of energy that’s essential for proper repair and growth of body tissues and muscle. It is the building block to muscle. Yet, it is important to not exceed the recommended daily allowance, because excess protein will not necessarily increase muscle tissue growth during training."
While the current program focuses on student athletes, training performance also is available to adults on an individual basis, says Kuipers. "There are top executives who may be in their 40s and 50s who want to be able to play good golf well into their 60s and retirement. We'll work with them on their swing and flexibility," he says, adding, "Many middle-aged adults are so stiff, and they get injured because they’re not flexible." Kuipers says individualized conditioning programs can be designed for adults preparing for marathons, triathlons or any sport or competition. "This program is as much about preventing injuries as it is about performance enhancement," he says. "This program really offers high quality sports performance services to local residents for a low cost, making it well within reach for families with even modest means." For more information on the Sports Medicine Program, contact Holland Hospital Rehabilitation Services at (616) 355-3840. |
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