Sports Medicine

Welcome to the Sports Medicine Homepage

WPI Athletic Training Services:

Staff:

Location:   The first floor of the new Sports and Recreation center.

Hours of Operation

Pre-Participation Medical Clearance:  The following forms need to be completed annually. 

1. "Confidential Medical History Form" (REQUIRED)

• This questionnaire provides us with relevant information about the student-athlete's medical history in regards to sports.
• Please use this link to navigate to the Health Services page and log in to Portal.

2. "Acceptance of Risk, Consent for Treatment, & Preparticipation Physical" (REQUIRED)

• The “Acceptance of Risk and Consent for Treatment form” allows the athletic training staff to coordinate with the team physicians and health services to provide the highest level of care for our student-athletes.
• The “Pre-Participation Physical” needs to be performed by a Board Certified Physician. Student-athletes who are beginning their initial season of eligibility (first years or transfers) are required to undergo this medical examination within a six month period prior to their sport's start date. (Sport start dates are listed below)

PLEASE BE AWARE: Physical forms from doctor's offices may or may not have all the appropriate testing performed. It is advised that the WPI "pre-participation physical" form be used to avoid conflict. The physician signature and office stamp ensure that your son/daughter was seen and cleared by the appropriate medical personnel. Please be sure that the doctor completes the forms in full.

3."Sickle Cell Trait Requirement form & waiver" (REQUIRED)

The NCAA requires that all student-athletes have knowledge of their sickle cell trait status before participation in any intercollegiate athletics event, including but not limited to, strength and conditioning sessions, practices, and competitions.

Sickle Cell Screening:

• Option 1: Have your primary care physician look up your sickle cell trait status and then have them document your status on the Sickle Cell Trait Requirement form. Sickle cell trait status is tested at birth and should have been noted in the student-athlete’s medical records.
• Option 2: If sickle cell trait status was not tested at birth, or is not documented in the student-athlete’s medical records, sickle cell trait testing in the form of a sickle cell screen blood test should be done by the student-athlete’s primary care physician before coming to campus. If testing is not performed at home, the student-athlete can request testing at WPI Health Services.
• Option 3: If the student-athlete and his/her parent/guardian do not desire sickle cell testing, a waiver must be signed by both the student-athlete and the parent/guardian and the student-athlete must engage in mandatory education (30 minute video) regarding sickle cell.

4. "Insurance Acknowledgement Requirement form" (REQUIRED)

• This form verifies that WPI students participating in intercollegiate athletics have the appropriate amount of medical coverage mandated by the NCAA ($90,000).
• This document must be signed by the parent or guardian who is the insurance card holder.
• Please maintain the first page for your records and return the signed second page with the other forms.

5. Front and back photocopy of the Athlete's health insurance card (REQUIRED)

6. "ADD/ADHD Medication exception form" (Submitted As Needed)

• This form is only needed if the student-athlete is prescribed medication to treat ADD/ADHD.
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood and can persist through adolescence and into adulthood. ADHD is generally diagnosed in childhood, but sometimes not until college or later.
• The most common medications used to treat ADHD are methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine (Adderall), which are banned under the NCAA class of stimulants.
• In order for a medical exception to be granted for the use of these stimulant medications, the student-athlete must show that he or she has undergone standard assessment to identify ADHD.
• If they do not undergo a standard assessment to diagnose ADHD, they have not met the requirements for an NCAA medical exception.
• Most colleges provide these types of assessment through their student support services or counseling and testing centers.
• The student-athlete should either provide documentation of an earlier assessment, or undergo an assessment prior to using stimulant medication for ADHD. If the diagnosis is ADHD, the student-athlete may then pursue treatment with the team physician or family physician for a prescription for stimulant medication, and provide all documentation to the appropriate athletics administrator to keep in the file in the event the student-athlete is selected for drug testing and tests positive. At that point, the athletics administrator will be instructed to provide the documentation for review by the medical panel, and if all is in order, the student-athlete’s medical exception is granted.
• Further explaination can be found here.

Mail or Fax to:

WPI
ATTN: Mike DeSavage                                    Fax #:  508-831-6185
Athletic Training Department     AND/OR
100 Institute Road                                         ATTN: Mike DeSavage  
Worcester, MA 01609

Due Dates 2013:

THE EARLIER THE BETTER

The forms above and in the preceding links are in PDF format, for use with Adobe Acrobat Reader®. This free software is available for download from Adobe's Web site.

Injury and Treatment Reporting

• All injuries need to be evaluated by a staff athletic trainer.
• When coming to the Athletic training room for injury evaluation or treatment, including routine taping the athlete must sign in on the daily log sheet.

Emergency Room Referral

• In the event that you are sent to or transported to the emergency room:

1. Identify yourself as a WPI student
2. Obtain a copy of your exam notes
3. Contact the following persons:

• i. Parent/guardian
• ii. The training room
• iii. Coach

  4. Be sure to follow the directions from the ER regarding care until your follow up appointment.  

WPI Athletic Injury Emergency Policy  

Visiting Teams

A Certified Athletic Trainer is available at home contests. Please call in advance if your team will be traveling without an ATC. Teams that are visiting WPI will not have access to modalities other than heat before games and ice provided after each contest.

Teams traveling without a certified athletic trainer are requested to bring a stocked medical kit for pre game taping, as well as a note outlining any specific requests.

On each home bench, there will be a splint bag and AED, as well as injury ice. Teams will be provided with water and cups on the bench. Water bottles will be available by request. Crutches will be provided in the event of lower extremity injury.

Useful Information

TIPS FOR HEALTHY EATING

NCAA BANNED SUBSTANCE LIST

NCAA SICKLE CELL HOMEPAGE

Additional Sickle Cell Trait Information

NCAA CONCUSSION HOMEPAGE

NCAA HEART DISORDER HOMEPAGE

LEARN ABOUT MARFAN SYNDROME

 See WPI's Concussion Protocol HERE