10

Healing hands in university sports: A look at UPEI physiotherapist Janet Rogers

By Scott MacDonald The fact that UPEI consistently has competi- tive teams in the AUAA is a testament to the hard work of the players and coaching staff of this university. The fact that UPEI consistently has healthy teams is a testament to the hard work of Janet Rogers.

Currently in her eighth year of working as aphysiotherapist at UPEI, Dr. Rogers moved her full-time practice into the UPEI Sports Centre in May of 1990. In that time she has become a maternal figure to the men and women who compose the Panther sports teams; someone who looks after them in times of pain and injury.

A PWC alumna, Rogers did her first year of science at Prince of Wales college

before heading to McGill where she graduated with her BSc, as well as doing all of her training

and studies.

After graduation Dr. Rogers wasn’t sure of what career choices lay ahead for her: **...there weren’t a lot of fields open for females at the time. One of the career options was medicine. Physiotherapy was just starting up, and I had received physiotherapy myself and was interested. I wanted to work in a ‘people’ field.’ This combined with her interest in sports, (which she played in high school and university) let her see the need for someone in that field while she was working at a hospital.

Since physiotherapy is an occupation which is always changing, Dr. Rogers has seen the entire field revolutionized in the past twenty years. *‘Hot packs and ultrasound machines are the only things which have remained constant since I started work. Equipment is constantly being upgraded: machinery like lasers, electro stimulation, and the dynatron strength tester are some of the newer additions.”’

Last year at the UPEI Athletic banquet, the loudest cheer of the evening was raised when attention was directed towards Janet Rogers, paying tribute to all of the hard work that she has put in at UPEI. One ofher preferred reasons for working here is the bond that has developed between her and the various athletes that she tends to. ‘‘Ilove the variety; each team has their own different ideas of what they need and expect.

One of my favorite things about working here is the comradarie that has evolved.’’ The only sour note that physiotherapy brings her is when she can’t seem to get results, so it seems

that the good points far outweigh the bad.

In movies about sports (especially col- lege sports), an injured athlete is often seen asking his/her doctor to ‘tape me up so I can play’. When asked, Dr. Rogers said that this scenario is far from the truth. ‘“I’ve never told or encouraged anyone to play when they couldn’t. At this level you can only give them advice, whether or not they do play is their choice, you can’t baby them at this level.’’

Joint sprains and muscle pulls are the most often seen injuries that she has to treat. Usually as the result of someone who hasn’t warmed up properly, or if they’ re *‘...just plain out of shape. Some people are just more injury prone then others, often just because of bad luck.”’ She offers these tips to those who may be attempting to get in shape:

1) Get yourself in shape first before going out to play a sport. Don’t go all out the first time you go running or lift weights, a gradual workout will be far better for your body.

2) Stretching is key to prevention. Before any sporting activity it is important to have a good stretch and warmup, and after to cool down properly and stretch out again.

3) Look after the minor aches and pains first before they blossom into something major.

Toanyone who needs physiotherapy in the next few months, be assured that Janet Rogers is an individual who will not only care for your injuries, but also about you as a person. Asa patient of hers, I know this from first hand experience, and hold her in the highest regard.

HASAN, 27 D) ANDER EMND

=

El/Tradewind intramural watch a By Scott MacDonald Once again it is show time in basketball as men and women are gettir ready to hit the parquet of the UPEI Spor Centre. Last years league saw lots of hoop! with a highly successful two division form for the men with both an A League (high! competitive, lots of dunks and trash talkin; and B_ League (semi-competitive, lots | layups and trash talking) fielding a total of | teams.

The mens league will see action goin on Monday and Tuesday nights from 8:0( 11:00. The first court time will be on Septen ber 19, withthe entry deadline forteams bein September 26. There is a (small) $10.0 individual fee, and a $50.00 team bond, whic will defer the cost of referees and.an end of th year awards banquet.

’ For information contact Ron Annea at the fieldhouse at 566-0715, or you can tr to find Curtis Robinson lurking around cam pus somewhere.

Registration can be left at the Sport Centre front desk.

All female cagers will play in th greater Charlottetown Women’s B’Bal League which operates on Sunday night from 7:00-11:00. Registration for this leagu takes place on Sunday Sept 18 at 6:00 PM With an A and B league, it is the perfec chance for both the cutthroat and recreationa players to show off their skills, and to get int shape. There isa $10.00 fee for UPEI student to play. Contact cither Janice Robertson a 566-0305,or Ron Annear at 566-0715.

There will alsobe registration for Men’ competitive/co-ed volleyball starting up o1 Sept 21, with a Sept 28 deadline for al

| players. Play goes on Wednesday nights fron

8:00-10:00 PM. There will be a $10.00 fee fo

_ all participants. All players should register a the front desk of the Field House and/or cal! Janice or Ron for information.

UPCOMING GAMES

The mens soccer team plays at ST. F on Wednesday September 21, and at hom against Memorial on Saturday Sept 24 at 4:0 p.m.

The women's soccer team plays at De Moncton on September 24.

The women's field hockey team unde newly named coaches Jennifer Gillan an Patricia Sheilds play on the 24th and 25th i Halifax against SMU.

ATTENTION RUGBY PLAYERS I didn’t mean to slight you last week, th sports preview was focused on AUAA sport Any rugby news should be sent to me (Sco MacDonald) care of the X-Press. Didn’ mean to make you feel like second cla

athletes or anything...