For Southwest athletes whose number one priority is physical health and wellness, injuries during the athletic season can be devastating.

Senior wrestler Nick Drake can testify to the negative effects that injuries can have on an athlete’s in-season experience.

“A teammate picked me up and slammed me down on the ground one day in practice and separated my shoulder,” Drake said. “Because of my injury, I couldn’t raise my arm for about a week. To this day, the range of motion isn’t the same as it used to be. I can’t lift it as much as I used to be able to.”

Southwest Athletic Trainer Carri Snedden treats injured athletes, like Drake, on a daily basis.

“I would recommend that athletes use therabands to strengthen muscles and ligaments,” she said. “Also, if an athlete feels something, they shouldn’t continue to push through. They should ice the injury and take ibuprofen. We also do a lot of ice and heat [in the training room]. Ice helps with swelling and also numbs pain while heat increases blood flow.”

In addition to heat and ice tubs, the Southwest training room is equipped with what Snedden calls “the injured athletes favorite;” a Stem machine that uses electrodes to send electrical currents and help numb pain.

While the athletic department offers a variety of treatments for injured sportsmen, the best way to thwart injuries is to prevent them.