Indiana State University Newsroom

Students build model athletic training rooms to scale When challenged to build scale models of athletic training rooms, Indiana State University students in assistant professor Lindsey Eberman's clinical education class took the assignment seriously--right down to handicapped parking spaces and a miniature hydrotherapy room complete with water.

"The students had to include everything that would be needed in a typical treatment and rehabilitation center," Eberman said. "These models are very intricate and the students all used a lot of creativity."

Students were divided into four groups to create the models. Each group presented the finished product and explained how the creation could function as a real athletic training room during a class presentation.

"We incorporated what we have in our athletic training room here at ISU," said Brandon Johnson, senior athletic training major from Vincennes. "We even tried to get some of the exercise equipment, like the leg press machines, to actually work."

Johnson and his group members used mostly recycled materials in creating their model, including rubber for the flooring and a strand of blue Christmas lights to provide soft lighting.

Students also had to take into account safety requirements and other logistics when creating the rooms.

"We built our hydrotherapy room so athletes can step into it rather than having to step up," said Danielle Whitezel, senior athletic training major from Paris, Ill., as she pointed to a small pool filled with water.

David Hassler, a senior athletic training major from Terre Haute, worked with his group members to make their model creative while still adhering to the required elements.

"Not all athletic training rooms have mirrors, but we wanted to include them so athletes could see themselves doing the exercises and make sure they are doing them correctly," he said.

Across from a wall of mirrors were tiny shelves holding brightly colored balls and orange coolers.

"I like how we utilized shelving to save space with the coolers and exercise balls," said Brittney Long, senior athletic training major from Chicago. "The biggest challenge was trying to be detailed while keeping everything to scale. We always had to keep the flow of the room in mind."

The project marked the culmination of the students' work in the athletic training department, forcing them to draw on the lessons learned in previous classes to complete the models.

"This project is a culmination of a lot of different classes they've been taking and makes everything they've been learning seem more cohesive," Eberman said.

Whitezel plans to use the skills she learned in creating the athletic training room as she looks toward a career as an athletic trainer.

"If I'm ever in the position to design an athletic training room, this will be good experience to draw from," she said.

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Contact: Lindsey Eberman, assistant professor of athletic training, Indiana State University, 812-237-7694 or leberman@indstate.edu

Writer: Emily Taylor, assistant director of media relations, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or etaylor16@indstate.edu

Photos

Top:Students survey a model athletic training room during a class presentation. (ISU/Kara Berchem)

Bottom: The models included small details, such as this Sycamore blue color scheme. (ISU/Kara Berchem)