THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 3, 2025 Page 13 Sen. Lewis announces October Office Hours in Malden S tate Senator Jason Lewis will be holding Office Hours in Malden on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Malden Senior Center (7 Washington St). Any Malden resident is welcome to attend Office Hours, with no appointment necessary, to meet with the Senator and discuss any constituent issues or legislative feedback. Senator Lewis will also be holding Office Hours on the same day in Melrose from 12-1 p.m. at the Milano Senior Center (201 W. Foster St.) and in Wakefield from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Wakefield Senior Center (30 Converse St.). Another option for residents who would like to meet with Senator Lewis is to attend virtual Office Hours, which will be held on Monday, October 20, 2025, from 2-3 p.m. on Zoom. For further information or any questions, visit SenatorJasonLewis.com or contact his office at 617-722-1206 or Jason.Lewis@masenate.gov. Back to the Grind: Athletic Trainers and Orthopedic Surgeons Collaborate for Fall Sports Season W ith the beginning of the school year comes one of the busiest times for high school athletic trainers. For Jen Sturtevant, Program Manager of Sports Medicine at MelroseWakefield Hospital, who has served as athletic trainer for Malden High School for the past 20 years, late August marks the start of a demanding season filled with injury prevention, care, and constant monitoring. “That’s when we start to see all of the strains, sprains, and other overuse injuries,” Sturtevant explained. “It’s a result of student athletes going from a period of relative inactivity over the summer to suddenly engaging in intense workouts.” While many athletes continue some level of training during the off-season, the lack of structure, oversight, and consistency often sets the stage for early-season injuries, especially muscle strains and overuse issues. A Collaborative Approach to Student Athlete Care In response to growing conSign-up now for the Housing Families Fun Run! J oin us for a day of fun, connection and community spirit! The Housing Families Fun Run is perfect for friends, families, kids and dogs. Whether you walk, run or cheer from the sidelines, you’ll be part of something bigger: a community working together in support of housing equity. Tickets include complimentary lite bites and drinks at the race day after-party and a 2025 Fun Run athletic shirt. There will be pre-run yoga, face paint, games, cornhole, music, raffle and more! Sign up at https://housingfamiliesfunrun2025.funraise.org/?mc_cid=50165f46c0&mc_eid=5d55242d5c In-person participants: Be at 200 River’s Edge Dr. in Medford on Saturday, November 15, from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. to complete the Fun Run along the Malden River at the beautiful River’s Edge Park. Virtual participants: Follow Housing Families Inc. on social media to share photos from your run. Virtual participation will be open all weekend long! cerns about student-athlete health, many states have implemented safety guidelines to help ensure the health of young athletes, such as eliminating double sessions during preseason, to help reduce injury risk. But athletic trainers remain the front line in this effort, managing injuries and ensuring athletes receive appropriate care physically and mentally. Tufts Medicine orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician Dr. Amy Brown noted that although some injuries tend to spike right at the beginning of the season, certain types of injuries increase as the season progresses. “We commonly see issues with knees and shoulders once the wear and tear starts to build,” she said.Injuries such as shin splints and stress fractures become more common for runners as mileage adds up, and in girls' soccer we see a spike in knee injuries. Women are up to eight times more likely to tear their ACLs, than men, and we see a higher rate of those injuries in our young female athletes.” Early sport specialization for young bodies can cause overuse injuries. Some high school athletes play on school teams, club teams and work with personal trainers all year long. While this can lead to enhanced performance, it also increases the risk of repetitive stress injuries. “We’re treating athletes who are playing in several different leagues or club levels at the same time, and the overlap makes it harder to give their bodies the rest they need. These aren’t adults in small bodies,” said Sturtevant. “They’re still growing and they need proper training, rest, and above all, balance.” Family dynamics and financial pressures also come into play, often complicating an already demanding system. “It’s important to keep the focus on the child,” added Dr. Brown. “Are they having fun? That’s the question we need to keep asking. Sports are about more than just winning. They teach responsibility, teamwork, and the value of working toward a common goal.” This is where the close collaboration between athletic trainers and orthopedic and sports medicine physicians becomes essential. Athletic trainers not only manage any initial injury on the field but also coordinate follow-up care, make referrals, and provide critical updates to families and physicians. “They serve as our eyes and ears in the community,” said Dr. Brown. “They know the athletes personally, understand their history, build relationships with their families and make trusted judgments on the spot.” Another important benefit of the relationship between athletic trainers and physicians is timely accessibility for injured student athletes. “We are committed to make either a same-day or next day appointment with an injured student referred to us from the ATs,” said Dr. Brown. “The athletic trainers have a direct line to the physicians and surgeons and we are able to make seamless connections to get the right care to the patients at the right time.” MelroseWakefield Hospital currently contracts with seven area high schools (Malden High, Austin Prep, Wakefield High, Malden Catholic, Melrose High, Stoneham High, and Northeast Metro Tech) to provide certified and licensed athletic trainers for their sports programs. All Athletes Deserve Support It’s not just traditional sports teams that rely on the care and attention of athletic trainers. Dance teams, marching bands, and cheerleading squads also face physical demands that can lead to injury. Yet many schools across the country still don’t employ full-time athletic trainers or adequately highlight the critical role they play. “It is a sad and dangerous fact that many school districts are cutting athletic trainer roles amid budget issues,” said Dr. Brown. “The ATs play such an important role in keeping student athletes safe and healthy and I worry about the impact of those decisions moving forward.” For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net
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