Sidney Ashton, LAT, ATC

Athletic Trainer

Sidney is a nationally certified and Texas State licensed Athletic Trainer (ATC/LAT) and currently provides sports medicine coverage for Burkburnett ISD. Sidney graduated from Archer City High School and received her Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training from Midwestern State University. She was previously the assistant Athletic Trainer at La Porte ISD in La Porte, Texas for 2.5 years. Sidney is currently pursuing her passion for sports psychology in effort to better provide total care for athletes. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and her dog, Addi.

The Hotter N' Hell Hundred is a long standing tradition in Wichita Falls.  Bike riders from all over come to participate in 100 mile road race.  Staff and family members of OSTC employees have been participating in the HHH for many years now.  This years OSTC team riders were Diana DeArmond, Charlie Post, Pat Finnell, Lucas Veitenheimer and Juli Weger.  

This year OSTC would like to congratulate Pat Finnell, OSTC wellness member and step-mother of physical therapist, Seretha Elkins for winning her age division.  Way to go PAT!!  

• Stretching and strengthening.

Proper stretching exercise can help a patient who has stiff joints. In order to aid a patient in improving the function of his/her muscles, improving the range of motion, strengthening workouts, or increasing endurance and stamina are developed. Closed chain workouts are meant to assist in balancing the strength of muscles.

 • Ice and heat therapy.

This warms up and cools off muscles and contributes to the stimulation of blood circulation as well as a decrease in swelling. Deep tissues are stimulated and warmed while the blood flow is improved by utilizing an ultrasound probe or LASER. Though there are many orthopedic problems which can be solved without physical therapy, it is most advisable to learn easy or complex exercises from an expert physical therapist, which can hasten the healing process.

• Ultrasound machines.

This type of treatment modality, which utilizes high or low frequency sound waves, is used by physical therapists. These sound waves are transmitted to the surrounding tissue and vasculature. They penetrate the muscles and cause deep tissue/muscle warming. This promotes tissue relaxation and therefore is useful in treating muscle tightness and spasms.

• LASER Treatment

Laser Therapy is an FDA cleared modality that reduces inflammation and ultimately results in pain reduction. Laser Therapy is effective in treating acute pain, chronic conditions and post-op pain. It is safe, painless and fast. Deep Tissue Laser Therapy treatments are administered in as little as 5  to 12 minute dosages and typically patients see results after 3 to 5 treatment sessions. Deep Tissue Laser Therapy utilizes your body’s own healing powers by stimulating celluar activity. Despite fast treatment times, laser therapy treatments initiate a healing process that continues to actively reduce inflammation for up 24 hours after treatment.

The ankle is the most common site of sprains in the human body. An ankle sprain can happen to anybody at a time when you least expect it. Normally, it occurs after a sudden unnatural twisting of the foot which can tear the ligaments of the ankle. An ankle injury affects every aspect of your daily life, most notably your ability to walk and drive. The symptoms and sign of ankle sprains may vary depending on the severity. There might be tenderness, bruising, swelling and stiffness. Walking can be painful if the ankle sprain is serious.

A mild ankle sprain may not require a doctor’s attention but if any of the following happen after you twisted your ankle, consult your doctor.

• Uncontrollable pain even after taking medications

• You are unable to walk or cannot walk without severe pain.

• The ankle is swollen beyond normal and is not improving within 5-7 days.

Ankle sprain can be prevented by:

• Wearing shoes that give the proper support for the ankle.

• Maintain the strength and flexibility of the ankles. Consult a physical therapist for strengthening exercises

Strength and balance exercises, which can be designed for you, can be effective at reducing the risk of ankle sprains and pain associated with the injury. Strength training utilizing the muscles that turn your foot in (these muscles are called the invertor muscles) and turn your foot out (these muscles are called the evertor muscles) may lower the incidence of ankle sprains.

Balance intervention training involves an assortment of strength training exercises. A physical therapist will teach you how to safely conduct these exercises so you eventually can perform them at home or your training facility. Try one of these sets:

1. A single leg stance on the floor, with eyes opened or closed

2. Single leg stance while the opposite leg swings.

3. Single leg squats on the floor at a 30 to 45 degree angle.

4. Single leg stance while performing a sports activity such as catching or dribbling.

5. Try a double leg stance on a balance board and rotate in a clockwise and then counterclockwise direction.

6. Conclude with another single leg stance.

It is still important to warm up the muscles before attempting these exercises. Try a light jog or jogging in place, backward running, or running forward with knee lifts for 30 seconds. Power and strength exercises such as squats may also provide the additional ankle support.

Again, these are all exercises that should be practiced and learned with your physical therapist to ensure safety and proper technique.

Depending on your needs, you physical therapist may recommend balance training using a ‘balance board’, which is an excellent way to stabilize and strengthen the muscles in the foot.

Combined, all the things your physical therapist can teach you can result in a significant reduction in the risk of injury to the ankle. This is especially valuable for athletes, individuals in jobs that require standing all day and women who spend a lot of time in heels.

If you want to strengthen your ankle and minimize the possibility of an ankle injury, all you need is a simple balance training program from your physical therapist.