Athletes make up a large portion of the student body at Northwestern, and even in the off-season, practices and lifts continue year-round. With so much activity at once, injuries, major or minor, are all too common. Thankfully, NW athletes have access to the Athletic Training Clinic, where they can receive care from our own athletic trainers (ATs). From wrapping ankles on gameday to screening for concussions, the ATs work behind the scenes to ensure that athletes can recover quickly and perform to the best of their ability.
“We set up our athletes for success by providing the best level of care we can,” Athletic Trainer Natalie Lausen said. “Our goal is to have all of our athletes competing to the best of their ability while competing safely. In the clinic we are open in the mornings and afternoons to work around student athletes’ schedules, which allows them to be more successful in the classroom.”
Injuries and setbacks cause not just physical damage, but also mental hardship, which can be difficult to navigate. The ATs acknowledge the difficulty that these athletes face and do their best to make the road back to participation smooth.
“The most rewarding part of the job is watching an athlete get back into competition following their sport,” Athletic Trainer Kayla Tindall said. “Sports are a big part of their lives, and when they are injured, it can be hard to be away from it, so watching them overcome injury and then seeing their confidence grow as they get back to playing their sport is one of my favorite parts of the job.”
The ATs do not just stay within the clinic walls but are ready for action along the sidelines as well.
“We get the field or court ready for gamedays by providing water, cups, ice and an emergency care kit,” Lausen said. “On the sideline we provide emergency care, and we do full evaluations, tape,and provide care as needed. We are there for anything that may arise in a competition.”
All the members of the NW Athletic Department, whether it be coaches, players or trainers, use their specialties for the glory of God and to serve others.
“Through being an athletic trainer, we all use the gifts that God gave us to serve Him,” Tindall said. “We are in a role where we can serve Him through being a light to others.” The athletic training clinic is an amazing resource to have on campus and we are lucky to have such accessible care for Raider athletes.
Student athletes can get care for injuries and recovery between training.
