University Recreation Offers New UREC Sports Injury Clinic

Damon Allen Akin

Avery Rotenberry

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – This fall, University Recreation is once again expanding its services with the introduction of the UREC Sports Injury Clinic. Featuring a certified athletic trainer, the new service will offer open clinic hours to University Recreation members, as well as provide services to Club Sports teams and other student affiliated sports programs.

The UREC Sports Injury Clinic will offer free injury examinations, as well as opportunities for injury prevention, emergency care, and rehabilitation. No appointment will be necessary for the UREC Sports Injury Clinic. Individuals may simply drop in during the clinic's operating hours, which will be held in HPER 320 from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Avery Rotenberry, a licensed athletic trainer with athletic training certification, is University Recreation's new graduate assistant for athletic training. Roteberry will oversee the day-to-day operations of the UREC Sports Injury Clinic. Rotenberry joins UREC following a one-year internship at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, where she was an athletic trainer for the men's and women's tennis teams.

"It is my belief that the clinic will serve as a valuable resource to the patrons of both UREC and the Club and Intramural Sports teams," said Rotenberry. "The clinic will serve to educate people on the common injuries that they might sustain while recreating, and the proper steps and preemptive measures needed to prevent injury in the future."

Prior to her time in Louisiana, Rotenberry attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training in 2016. While at Southern Miss, Rotenberry participated in clinic rotations with varsity teams, physical therapists, an orthopedic office, and an emergency medical care service.

Rotenberry feels that the UREC Sports Injury Clinic highlights UREC's desire to emphasize proper treatment of physical ailments while ensuring the health and safety of its patrons. Raised in Madison, Mississippi, Rotenberry became exposed to athletic training and its importance as a high school student. While playing high school volleyball, she sustained many different injuries, which required visiting the athletic trainer's clinic to be taped before games and practices.

During these visits, athletic training piqued her interest and she soon began to spend her afternoons and weekends during the summer learning directly from the trainer. As an athletic trainer, it is Rotenberry's passion to see people rehabilitated, and she enjoys helping people return to the activities that they love.

About the UREC Sports Injury Clinic: The UREC Sports Injury Clinic will offer open hours on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 5-8 p.m., in HPER 320, and is available at no cost to all students and UREC Members. Questions regarding the Sports Injury Clinic may be directed toward karotenb@uark.edu.