For athletes in the region, Monument Health is the leading partner when it comes to sports medicine. Monument Health has the area’s largest comprehensive sports medicine program, employing 17 athletic trainers, seven performance coaches in 10 area high schools and universities, eight orthopedic surgeons, four fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians and 12 advanced practice providers specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine.
Monument Health Sports Medicine is a premier partner of Black Hills State University, Chadron State College, South Dakota Mines, Rapid City Marshals Indoor Football, Rodeo Rapid City, Black Hills Roundup, Days of ‘76 Rodeo, Spearfish Sasquatch Baseball, South Dakota High School Regional and Finals Rodeos, Lakota Nation Invitational, Black Hills Nationals Wrestling Tournament and Leading Ladies Marathon, just to name a few.
Monument Health’s comprehensive care model assists athletes before they even play the game. Before events, athletes can schedule physicals and screenings to make sure they are ready to safely compete. During the course of a game or event, Monument Health sports medicine sideline professionals are there to immediately evaluate and diagnose injuries.
When injuries do occur, sports medicine physicians and orthopedic surgeons work to determine the best course of treatment. Physical and occupational therapists work with providers to develop treatment plans and courses of action for recovery. Therapists then work with strength and conditioning coaches, as well as athletic trainers, to build strength and help athletes get ready to compete again.
Monument Health’s athletic trainers’ expertise includes everything from effectively treating minor sprains and severe head and neck injuries to diagnosing minor illnesses and heat stroke. They combine hands-on work with patient education to prevent injury and re-injury.
Monument Health’s performance coaches are responsible for establishing and maintaining the performance programs for all sports, with the three major goals of improving athletic performance, reducing athletic injuries and teaching lifelong fitness and movement skills. Faith Wilson, Performance Coach for Monument Health Sports Performance Institute and South Dakota Mines said, “I love being able to help our athletes be stronger so they can perform at a higher level in their sport.”
Monument Health therapists offer some of the most advanced therapy services available, with equipment and computer programs that aid in diagnosing and treating sports injuries. Monument Health offers rehabilitation in Belle Fourche, Custer, Deadwood, Sturgis, Spearfish and Rapid City.