Athletic Training

Our athletic training services focus on the rehabilitation, injury prevention and performance development of our clients. Our certified athletic trainers offer immediate injury care, follow-up injury treatment, injury prevention education and advanced rehabilitation services.

Athletic trainers at the Marshall Sports Medicine Institute typically work with:

• Recreational, amateur and professional athletes
• People who have suffered musculoskeletal injuries
• Those seeking rehabilitation from an athletic injury

Athletic training services are often provided at schools, colleges, universities, clinics and physicians' offices.

MSMI trainers are well versed in first aid, injury recognition, nutrition and injury prevention. They have experience with a wide range of athletic injuries, including strains, sprains, fractures, dislocations and concussions. And when an injury requires medical or surgical treatment, athletic trainers have immediate access to the sports medicine specialists of Marshall Health, Cabell Huntington Hospital and the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.

In addition to working with local schools, you may also see the Marshall sports medicine team throughout our community at regional soccer tournaments, the Marshall Marathon, West Virginia high school athletic championship events and other events across the region. 

The best way to care for sports injuries is to prevent them. While our staff excels in helping athletes become recover from injury quicker, our commitment to safety and injury prevention is our top priority. MSMI injury prevention efforts are guided by the medical and surgical expertise of the Marshall Orthopaedics sports medicine team. Applying its knowledge and experience to strength training, athletic performance improvement, rehabilitation and other services fosters safety and injury prevention.

MSMI takes a team approach to sports medicine care, including monthly meetings between among the physicians, physical therapists and athletic trainers to discuss opportunities for collaboration, education and community engagement.

Examples include:

• MSMI provides educational materials to local EMS providers on the safest way to remove equipment from an injured athlete without causing further injury.
• When well-documented evidence emerged that women are at increased risk for knee injuries like ACL tears, MSMI athletic trainers shared that knowledge at local high schools and helped female athletes strengthen and stabilize the various muscle groups involved, thereby reducing the risk of those injuries.

When a high school athlete goes down with an injury, time stands still as players, coaches, parents and fans wait anxiously for a report. Now, thanks to a partnership between area high schools and the certified athletic trainers of the Marshall Sports Medicine Institute, everyone involved in high school sports can breathe a little easier when injuries occur.

MSMI’s athletic trainers go into the schools with the responsibility to prevent, recognize, treat and rehabilitate all sorts of athletic injuries. The goal is for every high school athlete to have access to a professional who is certified and trained to handle sports-related injuries.

The athletic trainers often serve as a resource for the school’s existing athletic training staff and help educate coaches, parents and administrators about treating common injuries. Following the highest return-to-play standards, they are dedicated to helping athletes get back on the court, field or track as quickly and safely as possible.

MSMI’s certified athletic trainers currently provide coverage at a number of local high schools and middle schools. Their experience and expertise keep schools ahead of state regulations, which only require a health care professional to be on the sidelines at practices and games.

Is your school interested in partnering with MSMI’s athletic trainers? Call 304-691-1968 for more information.

Athletic Trainers:
Grace Gwinn MS, LAT, ATC
Erin Wingate, MS, ATC, LAT

St. Joseph Central Catholic High School (WV)
Athletic Trainers:
Tera Brooks MS, LAT, ATC

Chesapeake High School (OH)
Athletic Trainer:
Sarah Webb, MS, LAT, ATC,LAT, CES

Spring Valley High School (WV)
Athletic Trainer:
Robert Chafin, ATC, LAT

Huntington High School (WV)
Athletic Trainers:
Justin Ross, MD, LAT, ATC
Nic Keller, MD, LAT, ATC

Tolsia High School (WV)
Athletic Trainer:
Riley Lyvers MS, LAT, ATC

Lincoln County High School (WV)
Athletic Trainer:
Ali Adkins MS, LAT, ATC

Wayne High School (WV)
Athletic Trainer:
Chris Matthew MS, LAT, ATC

Fairland High School (OH)
Athletic Trainer:
Provided by Marshall Sports Medicine Institute Athletic Training Program