Sports Medicine
Tallulah Falls School proudly provides athletic training services to all sports on campus through Habersham Medical Center.
Meet our Director of Sports Medicine - Jeremiah Lukers
Jeremiah grew up in Athens, Georgia and graduated from Lindenwood University with his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Athletic Training in 2002. He became a certified athletic trainer (AT) in 2002 and pursued his graduate degree at the University of Arizona in Tucson from 2002-2004 where he worked as a graduate AT with the baseball team. After graduation, Jeremiah married Malinda in the fall of 2004. In 2005, he moved to western Pennsylvania to be near his wife's family. He worked at Westminster College briefly and worked in the secondary setting for an out-patient rehabilitation clinic near Clarion, PA from 2007-2014. During this time, Jeremiah earned a certification (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 2009.
In 2015, Jeremiah and his family moved to North Georgia, where he taught for 1 year at Piedmont University in the Exercise Science program. In 2016, he began teaching at Truett McConnell University (TMU) as an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science. In the fall of 2022, Jeremiah earned the Tactical Strength and Condition Facilitator (TSAC-F) certificate through the NSCA as TMU began a police academy program and offered special courses for this population. In June of 2023, Jeremiah completed his Doctor of Athletic Training (DAT) degree program through A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. Jeremiah’s interests within athletic training, teaching, and exercise science are research, injury prevention, nutrition, and enhancing physical performance. A way Jeremiah gives back to the athletic profession is by volunteering as a NATA Board of Certification (BOC) exam item writer. He has worked in many different population settings (secondary, collegiate, and professional) and wants all teams to perform their best and realize their potential on and off the field.
Jeremiah enjoys spending time with his family whether it be by the pool, grilling, reading, staying active, or traveling. Jeremiah loves to spend fall afternoons with family in Athens watching Georgia football games. His life verse is 2 Corinthians 12:9, But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
What is Athletic Training?
Athletic training encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an allied healthcare profession. Athletic trainers work under the direction of a physician as prescribed by state licensure statutes.
(National Athletic Trainers’ Association)
What treatments are offered?
There is a wide range of modalities that are used in the athletic training room as well as rehabilitation programs. Your child will be evaluated by the athletic trainer and then a treatment plan will be created specifically to your child's injury.
Therapeutic exercise refers to a wide range of physical activities that focus on restoring and maintaining strength, endurance, flexibility, stability and balance. The goal of the therapeutic exercise is to return the athlete to a fully functioning, pain-free state.
Electric stimulation therapy is a therapeutic treatment that applies electrical stimulation in treating pain. It is used by athletic trainers and other healthcare professionals for the purpose of decreasing inflammation and swelling of affected tissues. Electrical Stimulation can also be used to treat muscle spasms and can be a key component post-surgical for muscle re-education.
Therapeutic ultrasound is applied using the head of an ultrasound probe that is placed in direct contact with your skin via a transmission coupling gel. Therapeutic ultrasound has been shown to cause increases in healing rates, tissue relaxation, tissue heating, local blood flow, and scar tissue breakdown.
Moist heat is a modality used to treat chronic pain and to relax the body. In the athletic training room, this is used most often in conjunction with electrical stimulation.
Ice is used to treat acute injuries. It is very beneficial in preventing further swelling and reducing pain. Like moist heat, ice will commonly be used in conjunction with electrical stimulation.
Manual therapy is delivered with the hands as opposed to a device or machine. In manual therapy, practitioners use their hands to put pressure on muscle tissue in an attempt to decrease pain caused by muscle spasm, muscle tension, and joint dysfunction.
Foam rolling or “stick” rolling provides tissue pressure to help improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and enhance performance-related capabilities.
If you ever have any questions or concerns about a treatment your child is receiving, please feel free to contact Lauren Brown, ATC.
GHSA Concussion Information Recommendations and Policies
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.
Concussions Are Serious!
Medical providers may describe a concussion as a “mild” brain injury because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, the effects of a concussion can be serious. (taken from CDC)
Click here to access the GHSA concussion form.
GHSA Sudden Cardiac Arrest Information
In 2019 the state of Georgia passed a law designed to inform high school students participating in interscholastic athletic activities and their guardians, about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest.
Please follow the links below for information regarding sudden cardiac arrest.
GHSA Sudden Cardiac Awareness Form
Sudden Cardiac Death Information Sheet
SB60 Law/GHSA parent/athlete signature SCA form (required for participation)
GHSA Heat Illness Information
NATA position statement on Heat Illness
•The athletic trainer will be responsible for keeping track of the heat/humidity and communicating findings with coaches*
Recovery Techniques to Improve Fitness, Drill Execution, Focus, and Contest Performance Before, During & After Practices & Contests
The research and anecdotal evidence is overwhelming that simple recovery techniques help overall training and performance (and may be good for injury prevention and heat-related issues).
RECOVERY & RESTORATION TECHNIQUES
Helpful Links:
NFHS-Parent's Guide to Concussions
NFHS-Guideline for Management of Concussions
NFHS-Position on Air Quality
NFHS-Sports Specialization
NFHS-Statement on Medical Devices
NFHS-Statement on Soft Headgear
GHSA-Cardiac Guidelines
Forms:
- Concussion Awareness Form
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Form
- Pre-Participation Physical History & Evaluation Form