SIG REPORT
Greetings from the Sports Medicine/Orthopedics SIG!
Since our inception in May 2019, our membership has grown to 24 pediatric psychologists and psychology trainees across 12 institutions. The Sports Medicine/Orthopedics SIG focuses on children and adolescent athletes; those with congenital or injury-related bone conditions; and/or pediatric patients who need orthopedic procedures (e.g., spine surgery or amputation). Psychologists participating in the SIG have unique opportunities to share research ideas and multi-institutional experiences to learn ways to best collaborate with sports medicine and orthopedic providers to improve outcomes in this unique pediatric sub-specialty. Some areas of current treatment include: young athletes who are recovering from concussion; those equipped with a prosthesis; adolescents requiring joint-preservation or replacement surgery; or those undergoing prolonged limb deformity correction/lengthening procedures.
In particular, the goals of the Sports Medicine/Orthopedics SIG include:
- Creating strategies for medical partners to improve patient identification and the referral process
- Increasing the role of a psychologist with community partners (e.g., schools, athletic directors, sports organizations) to improve mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and injury recovery
- Facilitating means to educate patients, families and allied professionals on rehabilitation, treatment adherence, and performance enhancement
- Providing training and mentorship experiences for young professionals who may not have educational curriculum in these areas
Check out these recent publications from SIG members:
- Simpson, T. S., Peterson, R. L., Patrick, K. E., Forster, J. E., & McNally, K. A. (2020). Concussion symptom treatment and education program: A feasibility study. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, DOI: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000592.
- Perry, M. Sieberg, C. Young, E., Baumbauer, K., Singh, V., Wong, C., Starkweather, A. (2020) The Potential Role of Preoperative Pain, Catastrophizing, and Differential Gene Expression on Pain Outcomes after Pediatric Spinal Fusion. Pain Management Nursing, 20, 30137-5. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2020.05.007.
If you have questions regarding membership or wish to contact SIG leadership, please reach out to Cathy Butz, Ph.D. chair at Catherine.Butz@nationwidechildrens.org; or Hannah McKillop, Media lead at Hannah.Mckillop@nationwidechildrens.org.