March is National Athletic Training Month. Veterans Memorial Hospital has three athletic trainers on staff including Brad Krambeer, ATC, LAT; Austin Troendle, D-PT, ATC, who is also a physical therapist; and Shelly Valley, PT-A, ATC, who is also a physical therapy assistant. These trainers use their variety of skills to rehabilitate athletes, often communicating with the physicians to help coordinate the best recovery.
Athletic trainers help treat and prevent injuries for people of all ages from athletes to laborers. They specialize in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of physical injuries to the muscle, ligament and bone, as well as rehabilitation following surgery. Athletic trainers are also key in teaching injury prevention by explaining flexibility exercises, proper use of equipment and applying prevention devices such as tape, bandages and braces.
The Veterans Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Department works and communicates well with the Gundersen Sports Medicine department as well as the Mayo Sport Medicine programs in both LaCrosse and Rochester.
If a student has an injury that needs to be assessed, the student should contact their coach or school office. They then contact the hospital’s Rehabilitation Department to complete the assessment which can be performed at the school or at the hospital.
For more information on Athletic Training services at Veterans Memorial Hospital, please call VMH Rehabilitation at 568-3411.
