A case report of COVID-19 colitis and a sports medicine driven community outreach program that contributed to a successful outcome

This case illustrates a lesser seen presentation of SARS-CoV-2 (henceforth to be termed COVID-19): acute ascending colitis in the community setting. In a broader context, however, this case demonstrates the importance of community, spirituality and a social support network while fighting a life-threatening illness, especially one that demands social and physical isolation while convalescing. Many are attracted to practice in the field of sports medicine due to a sense of community and teamwork that parallels the goals of the individual athlete. This case illustrates the unconventional role sports medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons and team sports chiropractors have undertaken in the battle versus Covid-19, specifically consulting on the patient while creating an outreach program in the hopes of contributing to the patient’s sense of wellness. In this unique case, our patient is a current soccer coach and former professional soccer player known well in the American and El Salvadorian soccer communities. The community he has devoted his life’s work to played a pivotal role in his battle against COVID-19. While this disease has undoubtedly resulted in global upheaval, community support, particularly that of the Washington D.C. Soccer community and the D.C. United Major League outreach program, played a large role in the psychosocial wellness of the patient and ultimately his recovery.