Sports Medicine
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic -- Sports Medicine Injury Clinics will be
held by appointment only until further notice and not a walk-in format.
Please see your Athletic Trainer or call
(814) 333-5214 for more details or to schedule an appointment.
Crawford County Sports Medicine (CCSM) Program
Crawford County Sports Medicine (CCSM) at Meadville Medical Center was
developed to provide our local school districts with a complete sports
medicine system including the education, prevention, management, treatment,
and rehabilitation of injuries, accidents, and overuse conditions among
the physically active student athletes within our community. Program development
began in the spring of 1997 after several serious injuries occurred within
our local high schools. Crawford County Sports Medicine at Meadville Medical
Center began providing services to our local school districts in the fall of 1998.
Under the direction of Medical Director
Vincent J. Paczkoskie, Jr. M.D., board certified in Orthopedics and Sports
Medicine with fellowship training in Sports Medicine and Upper Extremity,
Anne White, OTR/L, MS, Vice President of Rehabilitation and Outpatient
Services, Michael D. Carr, PT, LAT, ATC, Athletic Trainer and Physical
Therapist, and Bryanna O’Brien, MS, LAT, ATC, Athletic Trainer,
Crawford County Sports Medicine has developed into a collaborative program
involving Meadville Medical Center and the Conneaut, Crawford Central,
PENNCREST, Cranberry, Valley Grove, Jamestown, and Commodore Perry School
Districts. CCSM was developed by sports minded healthcare professionals
to provide proper care, recovery, and rehabilitation for injured student
athletes within our school systems.
Crawford County Sports Medicine utilizes various medical professionals
including Athletic Trainers, Physical and Occupational Therapists, Orthopedists,
Primary Care Physicians, other Physician specialties, and Neuropsychologists
along with sports first aiders, coaches, athletic directors, and principals
as the foundation of our Sports Medicine team to accomplish the program goals.
CCSM Goals
- Prevent and/or reduce the incidences of injuries and emergencies resulting
from sport activities
- Educate coaches, athletic staffs, and student athletes about sports injury
management and emergency care
- Provide a service which allows for the proper recognition, management,
treatment, and rehabilitation of injured student athletes by sports minded
healthcare professionals
- Provide a complete Sports Medicine system including: education, prevention,
management, treatment, and rehabilitation
CCSM Services
- Attendance and coverage at schools for athletic competitions, practices,
and tournaments
-
Initial recognition and evaluation of injuries which can occur at our schools
or during our injury clinics held at Meadville Medical Center Vernon Place
during the school year on (by appointment only):
Wednesday: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Injury rehabilitation, reconditioning, and return to play
- Concussion management
- Injury prevention education
- Priority scheduling of appointments with physicians for further evaluation
and testing
- Phone consultations
- Physical and Occupational therapy referrals
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What should I do after suffering an injury?
-
The best principle to follow is PRICE:
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Protection: Protect the area from further injury
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Rest: Avoid irritating the area until pain is diminished
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Ice: Ice the injured area 20 minutes every hour for 48-72 hours after injury
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Compression: Wrap the injury with an ace bandage or other wrap to prevent increased swelling
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Elevate: Raise the injured area above the heart to reduce blood flow and swelling.
-
When can I put heat on an injury?
Heat can be applied 48 - 72 hours after an injury occurs or when active
swelling has stopped (may be more than 72 hours)
-
When should I return to activity?
Return to activity should occur when pain in the injured area is gone,
motion is normal and strength has returned. Time frames for return to
play can vary greatly depending on the injury. Proper treatment and rehabilitation
can facilitate healing, prevent future reinjury, and decrease time spent
out of activity.
-
What is the best way to prevent injury?
The best way to prevent injury is to be in appropriate shape and condition
for the activity being performed and to properly warm up and stretch prior
to activity participation and to cool down afterwards:
-
Warm up: 5 - 10 minutes of light jogging, bicycling, or calisthenics
-
Stretching: Stretch the muscles to be used 2 to 3 times each holding 15-20 seconds
— don't bounce or perform a dynamic stretching routine
-
Cool down: After activity do 5 – 10 minutes of light jogging or walking followed
by light stretching. The cool down followed by stretching helps decrease
muscle soreness later.
Helpful resources
Contact Meadville Medical Center
For additional information, call Crawford County Sports Medicine at 814-333-5214.
Call for available hours. We are located at:
One Vernon Place
11277 Vernon Place
Meadville, PA 16335