Our certified athletic trainers are experts in caring for athletes. They treat simple to serious sports injuries and illnesses, ranging from heat illness to orthopedic injuries of muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and bones. Discover the common conditions we treat and our specialized treatments:
Musculoskeletal & Orthopedic Injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Fractures and dislocations
- Tendonitis and overuse injuries (e.g., tennis elbow, runner’s knee)
- Ligament injuries (ACL, MCL, etc.)
- Muscle tears
- Post-surgical rehabilitation (after orthopedic surgeries)
Neurological conditions
- Concussions
- Balance or coordination issues following injury
Other conditions
- Chronic pain from overuse or repetitive movements
- Strengthening and conditioning to prevent injury
- Flexibility and mobility limitations
- Sport-specific movement and performance optimization
Specialized treatments
Concussion Protocol and Rehabilitation: A concussion is a head injury that alters mental status, with or without a loss of consciousness. It can result from a direct blow to the head or an impact to the body where the force is transmitted to the head. While symptoms often resolve quickly, they can sometimes evolve over several hours. Our certified athletic trainers specialize in recognizing, assessing, and managing concussions, playing a key role in safe return-to-play decisions. Our Concussion Rehab program is a specialized service designed to help you recover from the physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms of a concussion. This program moves beyond the old "rest in a dark room" approach, using a gradual, targeted process of rest followed by a controlled return to activity to help the brain heal.
All student-athletes must complete our concussion protocol, which follows the Iowa Concussion Law, before being cleared to return to their sport. We know that concussions aren’t limited to athletes; they can happen to anyone after a fall or accident. To get concussion care if you are not a student athlete, our sports medicine providers can see you in our orthopedic clinic. If you are having a medical emergency, dial 911 or visit your nearest emergency department.
Our concussion protocol includes:
- Baseline Testing: We assess the athlete's balance and brain function before the season starts.
- On-field Evaluation: Any athlete with a suspected concussion is immediately removed from play. After providing any necessary first aid, an athletic trainer will conduct an assessment and compare it to the athlete's baseline. A player with concussion-like symptoms will not return to play on the day of the injury.
- Clinical Evaluation: The athlete is reassessed by a certified athletic trainer 24 to 72 hours after the injury to receive follow-up care instructions.
- Return to Play: We provide a gradual return-to-play guideline to ensure the athlete safely returns to their sport.
How to make an appointment with an Athletic Trainer
To schedule an appointment with a Great River Health athletic trainer, call 319-768-4152. For care outside of normal clinic hours, a certified athletic trainer may direct athletes with possible fractures or dislocations to one of Great River Health's emergency departments or walk-in clinics.
Not a student athlete but looking for similar care? Check out our sports medicine services.