Drexel University Athletics
Sports Medicine Offers Support to Dragons During Pandemic
4/21/2020 11:00:00 AM | Drexel Athletics
PHILADELPHIA - Anyone that has been around the Daskalakis Athletic Center knows the athletic training room is the epicenter of the Drexel Athletics Department. The room is busy pretty much all day as Drexel student-athletes take advantage of the treatment they get from the sports medicine staff. The health and safety of Drexel student-athletes has always been the top priority for Mike Westerfer, Drexel's Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine and his staff. Westy, as he is known to students and staff, has had to adjust his approach to helping our student-athletes be ready to get back on the athletic playing fields when they get back to campus.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the training room had its lights on and its doors open for 10 hours a day. Westerfer and his team of Phil Vande Berg, Kerri DiPietro, Scott Ellis, Laura McHugh and Leah Nissle were there to do whatever it takes to assist with more than 450 Drexel student-athletes. They were there to help students prepare for practice, rehabilitate injuries, get treatment after practice or receive medical care. Now, with no practices, games or workouts, things are different, but the level of support has not changed.
"We can continue to offer our student athletes support and medical care, but it's just being done in a different way due to the circumstances around the nation and the world," Westerfer said. "Our student-athletes know they have to continue to take care of their bodies and work back from their injuries despite this difficult and turbulent time."
The sports medicine team has utilized Zoom, a video communication software, like every other area in the department. The athletic trainers have been a part of team meetings and stay in touch with individual student-athletes who are coming off surgeries, injuries or illness. Rehabilitation in the current world includes a combination of photographs and videos. Some of Westerfer's staff is even connecting individually with athletes via Zoom to go through their rehab like they would if they were in the DAC. Team physician Dr. Trojian in involved as well. Dr. Trojian is still providing injury evaluations and consultations for student-athletes via telemedicine.
The athletic training staff has also helped lead the department in managing this challenging crisis. Westerfer is a regular contributor in department meetings, helping explain what is going on and how our student-athletes are dealing with the crisis. His staff has also organized sports performance team meetings with coaching staffs and teams. They have worked collectively with strength & conditioning, dietitians, sports psychology and physical therapy to provide student-athletes the same experience they would have on campus.
Drexel's athletic trainers normally provide clinical education for Temple University students learning the profession every semester. Since their clinical in person learning experience was canceled, members of the sports medicine staff have joined virtual classrooms. Our athletic trainers presented simulated injuries to students and they worked together through the evaluation.
Since the start of the pandemic, the department has made its presence felt on social media. Drexel Sports Medicine is now on Instagram @DrexelSportsMed. Drexel's athletic trainers assist our student-athletes in a variety of topics. They cover everything from how to recover at home, how to make an effective routine all the way to how to make a homemade face mask. Follow along to see the impact sports medicine has on Drexel's student-athletes.
This is the fourth part of a continuing series.
Part one - Drexel Strength and Conditioning.
Part two - Drexel Mental Performance
Part three - Drexel Nutrition
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the training room had its lights on and its doors open for 10 hours a day. Westerfer and his team of Phil Vande Berg, Kerri DiPietro, Scott Ellis, Laura McHugh and Leah Nissle were there to do whatever it takes to assist with more than 450 Drexel student-athletes. They were there to help students prepare for practice, rehabilitate injuries, get treatment after practice or receive medical care. Now, with no practices, games or workouts, things are different, but the level of support has not changed.
"We can continue to offer our student athletes support and medical care, but it's just being done in a different way due to the circumstances around the nation and the world," Westerfer said. "Our student-athletes know they have to continue to take care of their bodies and work back from their injuries despite this difficult and turbulent time."
The sports medicine team has utilized Zoom, a video communication software, like every other area in the department. The athletic trainers have been a part of team meetings and stay in touch with individual student-athletes who are coming off surgeries, injuries or illness. Rehabilitation in the current world includes a combination of photographs and videos. Some of Westerfer's staff is even connecting individually with athletes via Zoom to go through their rehab like they would if they were in the DAC. Team physician Dr. Trojian in involved as well. Dr. Trojian is still providing injury evaluations and consultations for student-athletes via telemedicine.
The athletic training staff has also helped lead the department in managing this challenging crisis. Westerfer is a regular contributor in department meetings, helping explain what is going on and how our student-athletes are dealing with the crisis. His staff has also organized sports performance team meetings with coaching staffs and teams. They have worked collectively with strength & conditioning, dietitians, sports psychology and physical therapy to provide student-athletes the same experience they would have on campus.
Drexel's athletic trainers normally provide clinical education for Temple University students learning the profession every semester. Since their clinical in person learning experience was canceled, members of the sports medicine staff have joined virtual classrooms. Our athletic trainers presented simulated injuries to students and they worked together through the evaluation.
Since the start of the pandemic, the department has made its presence felt on social media. Drexel Sports Medicine is now on Instagram @DrexelSportsMed. Drexel's athletic trainers assist our student-athletes in a variety of topics. They cover everything from how to recover at home, how to make an effective routine all the way to how to make a homemade face mask. Follow along to see the impact sports medicine has on Drexel's student-athletes.
This is the fourth part of a continuing series.
Part one - Drexel Strength and Conditioning.
Part two - Drexel Mental Performance
Part three - Drexel Nutrition
CAA
Thursday, July 20
Maisha Kelly Interview on SportsNet Central
Tuesday, February 28
Drexel Strength & Conditioning Uses Technology to Improve Performance
Saturday, January 21
Drexel Top Plays - November 2022
Thursday, December 01