Author: Encore Rehabilitation, Inc.

As the largest privately-owned rehabilitation company in the Southeast, Encore Rehabilitation, Inc. helps people get back to their lives through physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, aquatic therapy, vestibular rehab, pediatric rehab, industrial rehab, sports medicine, and other orthopedic rehabilitation programs. Rehabilitation services are provided at Encore Rehabilitation Centers in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Tennessee, as well as on-site at healthcare facilities, schools, companies, sporting events, and other locations.

We are excited to be partnering with Alabama Soccer!

ALABAMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION PARTNERS WITH ENCORE REHABILITATION

Birmingham, Alabama — The Alabama Soccer Association is proud to announce a new partnership with Encore Rehabilitation, that will increase sports medicine coverage for ASA athletes.

Under this partnership, Encore will provide on-site athletic trainers at all ASA events, as well as extensive performance and injury reduction for coaches and players.

“We are thrilled to team up with Encore Rehabilitation. Player safety is of the utmost importance and Encore Rehabilitation delivers on that mission to keep players healthy and able to continue in their sports successfully,” says Tom Condone, Executive Director of the Alabama Soccer Association.

Alabama Soccer Association is the state’s largest soccer organization and governing body for youth soccer in Alabama on behalf of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).

“Encore is extremely proud to partner with the Alabama Soccer Association, not only to provide athletic training coverage to ensure the highest quality care possible for all injured players at ASA events, but also provide educational content on how to keep the athletes healthy and reduce the risk of injury. The goal of this comprehensive program is to ultimately keep all players injury free and safe, so they can concentrate on reaching their peak potential,” says Marc Bernier, Clinical Director of Sports Medicine.

To learn more, visit http://www.alsoccer.org/.

About Alabama Soccer Association

As the Alabama affiliate of US Soccer and US Youth Soccer, the Alabama Soccer Association (ASA) is a non-profit and educational organization whose mission is to foster the physical, mental, and emotional growth of players of all ages, by creating and increasing opportunities for wholesome participation. ASA has a current membership of over 15,000 registered players statewide, youth and adult, and approximately 2,000 active coaches, referees, and administrators. For more information, please visit www.alsoccer.org.

About Encore Rehabilitation

About Encore Rehabilitation, Inc. – Encore Rehabilitation, headquartered in Decatur, AL is one of the nation premier rehabilitation, fitness and sports enhance companies. Encore rehabilitation division specializes in state-of-the-art physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Encore is also the exclusive sports medicine provider for the Alabama High School Athletic Association. For more information, please visit http://www.encorerehab.com.

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Vernon Encore Athlete of the Month, Cole Dove.

Congratulations to the Vernon Clinic Encore Athlete of the Month, Cole Dove! Cole is a senior at Sulligent High School and a member of the Football team. His plans after graduation are to attend Bevill State and pursue a degree in Auto Mechanics. Cole is the son of Eric and Amanda Dove. Good luck the rest of this season Cole, keep up the good work!

Inverness Encore Athlete of the Month, Rodney Anderson.

Congratulations to the Inverness Encore Athlete of the Month, Rodney Anderson! Rodney is a Senior at Spain Park High School and is a member of the baseball team. He plays multiple positions including first base & pitcher. After high school he would like to attend the University of Alabama. His favorite sports team is the Boston Red Sox. Rodney is the son of Rachel & Rodney Anderson. Good luck during baseball season next year, Rodney, keep up the good work!

Muscle Shoals Encore Athlete of the Month, Joey “Doc” Wells.

Congratulations to the Muscle Shoals Clinic Encore Athlete of the Month, Joey “Doc” Wells! Doc is a junior at Muscle Shoals High School and plays offense and defense on the football team. His plans after college are to become a doctor. Doc is the son of Joey Wells and Chiquita Smith. Good lunch Doc, keep up the good work!

West Point, MS athlete of the Month, Nick Melton.

Congratulations to the West Point Clinic Encore Athlete of the Month, Nick Melton! Nick is a junior, multi-sport athlete at West Point High School. He is a member of the football (#10) and track and field teams, and won the 2013 Most Versatile award in track. His future plans are to attend a four year college and become a physical therapist. Nick is the son of Rickey Melton and Sebryna Harris. Good luck this season, Nick, keep up the good work!

Winfield Athlete of the Month, Lexie Coleman.

Congratulations to the Winfield Clinic Encore Athlete of the Month, Lexie Coleman! Lexie is a senior at WCHS and a catcher for the softball team. Her future plans are to attend the University of North Alabama and major in education so she can be a teacher and coach. Good luck during your season Lexie! Keep up the great work!

Columbiana Athlete of the Month, Alexa Couch.

Congratulations to the Columbiana Encore Athlete of the Month, Alexa Couch! Alexa is a 6th grader at Columbiana Middle School and cheer leader at NXS Competitive. A few of her hobbies include tumbling and tractor driving. Alexa is the daughter of Charlon & Frank Couch. Keep up the good work, Alexa!

Russellville Encore Athlete of the Month, Cole Ravis

Congratulations to the Russellville clinic Encore Athlete of the Month, Cole Ravis! Cole is a freshman, multi-sport athlete at Hackleburg High School. He plays football and baseball for the Panthers. Cole plans to attend Mississippi State University and play for Mississippi State football program, while majoring in sports medicine. He is the son of Angela and Dewayne Mansell.

PT Tip of the Week – Symptoms and signs of Concussions.

“As you all know football is in full swing, and here in the south we love our football. In recent years, we have learned a great deal about concussions and the dangers associated with them. Concussions are a VERY serious problem and should NEVER be taken lightly. It’s important as a player, coach, parent or friend to be aware of what a concussion is, some of the signs and symptoms, and what to do if you see any of these signs.

Briefly, a concussion can occur when there is a high impact to the head or a sudden stop in motion which causes a whiplash effect. This causes the brain to collide with the inside of the skull which in turn causes bruising. It is important to note, while helmets and protective gear help, there is absolutely no way to completely prevent concussions because there is no way to pad the inside of the skull.

Concussion signs and symptoms can be glaring and obvious or very subtle, but all should be taken seriously because of the dangers associated with them. If you suspect a possible concussion here are a few things to look for:

** Worsening, Severe Headache

** Decreasing Alertness or Loss of Consciousness

** Vomiting

** Weakness of One Side of the Body

** Large, Dilated Pupil in One Eye

** Seizure or Convulsive Fit

The person should be awakened every 2-3 hours during the first 12-24 hours to check for any of these signs. If any of these signs develop, call or go to the emergency department.

If you are diagnosed with a concussion you should always follow your physician’s specific instructions but as a general rule:

** Rest

** No Alcohol

** No Physical Activity Until Cleared by Physician

Football is a fun game to play and is very entertaining to watch, but it is also a high impact sport and, unfortunately, injuries are common. It’s important to be aware of the common injuries and how to prevent them as best we can. Be safe, play with integrity, and good luck to all our high school and college athletes.”

– This article was written by Josh Davis, PT at Encore Rehab in Hayden, AL.

Clanton Athlete of the Month, Clay Cunningham.

Congratulations to the Clanton Clinic Encore athlete of the month, Clay Cunningham! Clay is a 16 year old, mulit-sport, junior at Jemison High School. He is a left tackle for the football team and a pitcher for the baseball team. His brother, Dillion, also plays on the baseball team. Clay is interested in attending Florida, Auburn, or anywhere that offers him a baseball scholarship. Good luck in both football and baseball seasons, Clay!