This whole blogging experience has been some what of a pleasant surprise to me. I did not think I would get much of anything out of doing a blog, but that seemed to not be the case. As time crawled on and I continued with my blogging I came to enjoy it. I began to learn new things about the field of athletic training while practicing writing in a blog style and researching. Not only did I learn a lot of new information about athletic training through the blogging process, but I also learned more about myself as a researcher. Blogging helped enhance my writing and communication skills while allowing me to learn more about myself as a researcher and athletic training. After looking over my blog posts I have compiled a few lists.
Top 3 Things I Learned About Athletic Training:
-Athletic trainers must be personable, caring, sensitive, toward their athletes
-Make sure practice facilities, weather, and other variables are safe for athletes to practice
-Remain calm and under control in all situations
Top 3 Things I Learned About Myself as a Researcher:
-Like to research things I have questions about
-Able to use different research engines to find information
-Know how to go about finding the appropriate information (key word searches, etc)
Questions That Remain About the Field of Athletic Training:
-How many athletic trainers are there in America?
-What are some more uncommon jobs in the field of athletic training?
-What is the highest paid job in the field of athletic training?
-What are the top colleges/universities for athletic training?
-What are the top graduate programs for athletic training?
-Who was the first female athletic trainer?
-Are there any other fields I can go into with a degree in athletic training?
Completing this blog has taught me more about myself and athletic training than I thought it ever would. I can definitely see myself using blogging in the future as a form of effective communication. This whole experience has opened my eyes to a new kind of communication that can be used to share and learn new and interesting information. I am glad that I had the opportunity to blog and better my communication skills.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Remixing Knowledge
I came across a website created by professional in the field of athletic training that focused in the different types of equipment used in sports. In order to critically read and respond to this website I used RAIDS. Here is what I got.
Revision:
-what is safety?
-how to keep athletes most safe
-why do athletes put themselves in danger by wearing or not wearing certain equipment
-power of rules and regulations
Arrangement:
-by sport
-statement
-boys and girls
-background information
Invention:
-injuries connected to improper equipment or lack of
-boys sports more physical
-more pads = more contact/injury
-quality of equipment decreases over time
Delivery:
-statement
-claims
-situations
Style:
-facts
-realistic
-informative
This website is aimed at athletic trainers and more closely athletes. The goal and purpose of this website is to keep athletes safest by providing them with up to date information on sports equipment. I feel that the website is successful in getting this necessary information across, but it ultimately comes down to what an athlete prefers when it comes to equipment. It is for this reason that I find it hard to say that this website is completely successful because it does not necessarily prevent injuries from happening.
Revision:
-what is safety?
-how to keep athletes most safe
-why do athletes put themselves in danger by wearing or not wearing certain equipment
-power of rules and regulations
Arrangement:
-by sport
-statement
-boys and girls
-background information
Invention:
-injuries connected to improper equipment or lack of
-boys sports more physical
-more pads = more contact/injury
-quality of equipment decreases over time
Delivery:
-statement
-claims
-situations
Style:
-facts
-realistic
-informative
This website is aimed at athletic trainers and more closely athletes. The goal and purpose of this website is to keep athletes safest by providing them with up to date information on sports equipment. I feel that the website is successful in getting this necessary information across, but it ultimately comes down to what an athlete prefers when it comes to equipment. It is for this reason that I find it hard to say that this website is completely successful because it does not necessarily prevent injuries from happening.
Practice Your Knowledge
I have learned about taping and wrapping ankles in a two of my classes this year, but have only had the chance to wrap an ankle. Instead of taping an ankle in class as well my professor taped her own ankle in front of the class. I enjoyed wrapping an ankle and got a lot out of the experience and thought that taping an ankle would be well worth the time. So that is just what I decided to do.
Before I could begin the process of taping an ankle I needed to find an ankle to tape. At first I contemplated taping my own ankle, but I decided that taping another person's ankle would be a more realistic situation. Although knowing how to tape your own ankles could be very beneficial if you are an athlete that has ankle problems because it would save you time in the trainer's room and it would allow you to develop a valuable skill. Anyways, I asked my roommate Alex if he would let me tape one of his ankles and he said he would not mine at all. I had Alex sit in the proper position and I went about taping his ankle in the necessary steps. At first my tape was not all that smooth and there were some openings between the tape, but as undid and redid taping his ankle the quality of my work definitely improved. After taping Alex's right ankle three times he allowed me to do the same to his left ankle. By the time I got working on the left ankle the amount of time it took me tape the ankle had decreased and the quality increased.
I wish my professors would have allowed a class period or two for taping and wrapping ankles. I would have benefited tremendously from the experience. I found that being hands on and actually taping an ankle allowed me to get a better grasp on things and see how different steps of the taping process accomplish certain jobs. My one professor did say that in order to become good at taping and wrapping you have to continually practice. It was not until I actually taped an ankle myself that I truly understood this. This whole experience helped me develop and learn better than I could have from just listening to my professor and it has reinforced that repetition increases learning.
Before I could begin the process of taping an ankle I needed to find an ankle to tape. At first I contemplated taping my own ankle, but I decided that taping another person's ankle would be a more realistic situation. Although knowing how to tape your own ankles could be very beneficial if you are an athlete that has ankle problems because it would save you time in the trainer's room and it would allow you to develop a valuable skill. Anyways, I asked my roommate Alex if he would let me tape one of his ankles and he said he would not mine at all. I had Alex sit in the proper position and I went about taping his ankle in the necessary steps. At first my tape was not all that smooth and there were some openings between the tape, but as undid and redid taping his ankle the quality of my work definitely improved. After taping Alex's right ankle three times he allowed me to do the same to his left ankle. By the time I got working on the left ankle the amount of time it took me tape the ankle had decreased and the quality increased.
I wish my professors would have allowed a class period or two for taping and wrapping ankles. I would have benefited tremendously from the experience. I found that being hands on and actually taping an ankle allowed me to get a better grasp on things and see how different steps of the taping process accomplish certain jobs. My one professor did say that in order to become good at taping and wrapping you have to continually practice. It was not until I actually taped an ankle myself that I truly understood this. This whole experience helped me develop and learn better than I could have from just listening to my professor and it has reinforced that repetition increases learning.
Works Cited
Metcalf, G. R., and C. R. Denegar. "A Critical Review of Ankle Taping." Athletic Training 18 (1983): 121-3. ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
"Arnheim's principles of athletic training: A competency - based approach (14th ed.). New York: McGraw - Hill.", by Prentice, W. E. (2010)
"Arnheim's principles of athletic training: A competency - based approach (14th ed.). New York: McGraw - Hill.", by Prentice, W. E. (2010)
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Magic Johson and AIDS
Here at Michigan State University the name Magic Johnson reigns supreme over all other names that have ever participated in sports for the school. Magic Johnson's name and number 33 hang high in the rafters of The Breslin Center to honor him. Not only is Magic known for his great basketball career, but he is also known for contracting HIV. He contracted the blood borne pathogen while playing for the L.A. Lakers in the NBA. He was defining himself as one of the best basketball players to ever play the game when in 1991 he tested positive for HIV. Not too long after his diagnosis he made a public announcement that he would retire. HIV cost Magic Johnson his playing career and decreased health. This was some information that was covered in my introduction to athletic training class while learning about HIV and AIDS. Now here is some more in depth information on the topic.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a disease of the human immune system caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). There is a loss of protection against even the simplest infections, which makes someone with AIDS extremely vulnerable to developing a variety of illnesses, infections, and cancers. There is currently no vaccination available and a person can be infected by infectious material such as blood, semen, and vaginal fluid. The greatest risk for contracting HIV is through sexual contact with an infected partner. And the risk of HIV transmission in athletics is minimal. The highest risk sports of HIV transmission are boxing, martial arts, wrestling, and rugby. Furthermore, there is a moderate risk of transmission by playing basketball, hockey, football, and soccer. Finally, the lowest risk of transmission is by playing badminton, baseball, and archery. Even with these claims there is still no definite answer to whether an asymptomatic HIV carrier (someone with no symptoms) should participate in sports. The American with Disability Act of 1991 states that athletes infected with HIV cannot be discriminated against and may be excluded from participation only on a medically sound basis. Neither the NCAA or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend mandatory HIV testing for athletes.
Crazy to think that there could be a possibility of contracting HIV through participating in sports, no matter how minimal. And the risk is there for athletic trainers as well, since they are in constant care and contact with their athletes. I wonder how many asymptomatic athletes are participating in sports today? I wonder if there is any way to actually find that out since athletes with HIV cannot be discriminated against? Overall, HIV and AIDS are things every athlete and athletic trainer should be aware of to best protect themselves and others around them.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a disease of the human immune system caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). There is a loss of protection against even the simplest infections, which makes someone with AIDS extremely vulnerable to developing a variety of illnesses, infections, and cancers. There is currently no vaccination available and a person can be infected by infectious material such as blood, semen, and vaginal fluid. The greatest risk for contracting HIV is through sexual contact with an infected partner. And the risk of HIV transmission in athletics is minimal. The highest risk sports of HIV transmission are boxing, martial arts, wrestling, and rugby. Furthermore, there is a moderate risk of transmission by playing basketball, hockey, football, and soccer. Finally, the lowest risk of transmission is by playing badminton, baseball, and archery. Even with these claims there is still no definite answer to whether an asymptomatic HIV carrier (someone with no symptoms) should participate in sports. The American with Disability Act of 1991 states that athletes infected with HIV cannot be discriminated against and may be excluded from participation only on a medically sound basis. Neither the NCAA or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend mandatory HIV testing for athletes.
Crazy to think that there could be a possibility of contracting HIV through participating in sports, no matter how minimal. And the risk is there for athletic trainers as well, since they are in constant care and contact with their athletes. I wonder how many asymptomatic athletes are participating in sports today? I wonder if there is any way to actually find that out since athletes with HIV cannot be discriminated against? Overall, HIV and AIDS are things every athlete and athletic trainer should be aware of to best protect themselves and others around them.
Work Cited
Sutliff, Michael A., and Richard Bomgardner. HIV/AIDS--how to Maintain a Safe Environment. 65 Vol. , 1994. ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
Infectious Diseases
In my introduction to athletic training class we have begun talking about infectious diseases and blood borne pathogens. Just like many other people I did not know a whole lot on the topic and found it to be very interesting and informative. Maybe that is why I am interested in the field of athletic training...? Anyways an athletic trainer must be aware of and take universal precautions against the spread of infectious disease and blood borne pathogens. Now I will present some of the information I learned in class.
Examples of infectious diseases:
-Aids (Viral infectious disease)
-Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E (Viral infectious disease)
-MRSA infection (Bacterial infectious disease)
-Pinworm infection (Parasitic infectious disease)
-Tinea pedis (Fungal infectious disease)
Infectious Diseases:
-The invasion or infection of a host (person/animal) by a microorganism called pathogens
-Pathogens - Bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi that cause disease by
1) disrupting a vital body process
2) stimulating the immune system to mount a defensive reaction
Transmission of infectious diseases:
Direct transmission
-Contact between body surfaces: touching, sexual intercourse
-Droplet spread: inhalation of contaminated air droplets from someone who sneezes in close proximity
-Fecal-oral spread: feces on the host's hands are brought into contact with the new host's mouth
Indirect Transmission
-Water, food, towels, clothing, and eating utensils
-By vectors (living things): insects, birds, or animals
-Airborne transmission: sharing air with infected people
Five Stages of Infection:
1) Incubation - from the time a pathogen enters the body until it multiplies to the point where signs and symptoms of a disease begin to appear
2) Prodromal - a variety of signs and symptoms may develop
3) Acute - the disease reaches its greatest development
- the likelihood of transmitting the disease to others is highest
4) Decline - the first signs of recovery appear
5) Recovery - apparent recovery from the invading pathogen
- the patient is susceptible to other pathogens
Hope you found this information to be rather interesting. This is a topic that pertains to more than just athletic training. This information can be used to keep you healthy throughout your daily life. And to all the athletes out there who shower after practice and games, make sure to bring your towels home every week to wash. Wouldn't want you to get invaded by an infectious disease!
Examples of infectious diseases:
-Aids (Viral infectious disease)
-Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E (Viral infectious disease)
-MRSA infection (Bacterial infectious disease)
-Pinworm infection (Parasitic infectious disease)
-Tinea pedis (Fungal infectious disease)
Infectious Diseases:
-The invasion or infection of a host (person/animal) by a microorganism called pathogens
-Pathogens - Bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi that cause disease by
1) disrupting a vital body process
2) stimulating the immune system to mount a defensive reaction
Transmission of infectious diseases:
Direct transmission
-Contact between body surfaces: touching, sexual intercourse
-Droplet spread: inhalation of contaminated air droplets from someone who sneezes in close proximity
-Fecal-oral spread: feces on the host's hands are brought into contact with the new host's mouth
Indirect Transmission
-Water, food, towels, clothing, and eating utensils
-By vectors (living things): insects, birds, or animals
-Airborne transmission: sharing air with infected people
Five Stages of Infection:
1) Incubation - from the time a pathogen enters the body until it multiplies to the point where signs and symptoms of a disease begin to appear
2) Prodromal - a variety of signs and symptoms may develop
3) Acute - the disease reaches its greatest development
- the likelihood of transmitting the disease to others is highest
4) Decline - the first signs of recovery appear
5) Recovery - apparent recovery from the invading pathogen
- the patient is susceptible to other pathogens
Hope you found this information to be rather interesting. This is a topic that pertains to more than just athletic training. This information can be used to keep you healthy throughout your daily life. And to all the athletes out there who shower after practice and games, make sure to bring your towels home every week to wash. Wouldn't want you to get invaded by an infectious disease!
Works Cited
McClaskey, D. "The Relevance of Athletic Training to Public Health." International Journal of Athletic Therapy & Training 17.3 (2012): 1-6. ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
Blood-Borne Pathogens: Guidelines for Athletic Trainers. 30 Vol. , 1995. ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
Psychological Intervention
When an athlete suffers an injury people do not always think about the emotional and psychological damage that has been done to the athlete. People tend to only think of the physical damage that has been done. While the physical damage done to a player can seem extreme, sometimes the emotional and psychological damage caused by an injury can almost be worse. This is why it is key for an athletic trainer to be able to use psychological intervention.
Athletic trainers must understand how the psyche, especially feeling and emotions, enter into the individual's reaction to injury or illness. They must keep in mind that each individual reacts in their own personal way. And in order to return to play injured athletes must be completely ready psychologically as well as physically. Following and injury an athlete may have problems adjusting socially and may feel left out or forgotten by the rest of the team. This is seen especially with long-term injuries. The athlete may feel as though they have received little support support from coaches and teammates. To the athlete it may seem the coaches have ceased to care about me and that teammates have no time to be with me. If this is the case with an athlete then athletic identification is gone and so is friendship based on athletic identification. To avoid or limit this from happening the athletic trainer should have a supporting relationship with the athlete (key to successful rehabilitation). The athletic trainer can provide social support to the athlete by being a good listener, finding out what the problem is, being aware of body language, explaining the injury, managing the stress of the injury, and helping he/she return to competition.
There have been so many great athletes that have suffered injuries and some never totally recover. I never really thought that the reason an athlete did not perform as well as they once did could have been because of psychological damage. An athlete's psyche must be as in tune as possible as well as the body. I hope this brings to light the importance of the psychological aspect in rehabilitation and that more people understand how it affects athletes and their performance.
Athletic trainers must understand how the psyche, especially feeling and emotions, enter into the individual's reaction to injury or illness. They must keep in mind that each individual reacts in their own personal way. And in order to return to play injured athletes must be completely ready psychologically as well as physically. Following and injury an athlete may have problems adjusting socially and may feel left out or forgotten by the rest of the team. This is seen especially with long-term injuries. The athlete may feel as though they have received little support support from coaches and teammates. To the athlete it may seem the coaches have ceased to care about me and that teammates have no time to be with me. If this is the case with an athlete then athletic identification is gone and so is friendship based on athletic identification. To avoid or limit this from happening the athletic trainer should have a supporting relationship with the athlete (key to successful rehabilitation). The athletic trainer can provide social support to the athlete by being a good listener, finding out what the problem is, being aware of body language, explaining the injury, managing the stress of the injury, and helping he/she return to competition.
There have been so many great athletes that have suffered injuries and some never totally recover. I never really thought that the reason an athlete did not perform as well as they once did could have been because of psychological damage. An athlete's psyche must be as in tune as possible as well as the body. I hope this brings to light the importance of the psychological aspect in rehabilitation and that more people understand how it affects athletes and their performance.
Work Cited
Stiller-Ostrowski,
Jennifer, Daniel R. Gould, and Tracey Covassin. "An Evaluation of an
Educational Intervention in Psychology of Injury for Athletic Training
Students." Journal of Athletic Training 44.5 (2009): 482-9. ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
Noting Cultural Assumptions
My goal for this blog post was to find a portrayal of an athletic trainer in popular culture. I tried to think of some movies that have athletic trainers in them an not many came to mind. In fact there were only two that I could think of. The first of the two movies was Miracle, but I remember that I wrote about that movie earlier in the semester so I did not want to write about that again. Second of the two movies was Youngblood.
In Youngblood there is an athletic trainer of a Canadian junior hockey team. He is kind of a weird, odd older man in his late 50s who is not afraid to say what he thinks. Sometimes the things that come out of his mouth make the players he takes care of uncomfortable. There is one scene where Dean Youngblood, the main character and young star hockey player, gets injured and their is a cut above one of his eyes. The athletic trainer takes him to the locker room during intermission and literally sews the cut up. He makes a few comments while sewing up the cut that make Dean uncomfortable and it almost seems as though he is not the best athletic trainer in the world.
I think for some people this how they view athletic trainers; old, odd, and not so good at their job.
And from watching a movie such as Youngblood I can see why they would think this. Although I feel that the majority of people do not view athletic trainers this way. For the most part I think that majority of people view athletic trainers as a kind of "knock off" doctor who is on site to give you immediate medical care. This not an accurate description of an athletic trainer, but it does not take away from the profession. And to go along with this I would be willing to bet that most people view athletic trainers as people who love sports. Overall, I believe that athletic training and its trainers are not understood as well as they should be and until recent years not appreciated enough.
Work Cited
Youngblood. Dir. Peter Markle. Perf. Rob Lowe, Cynthia Gibb, Patrick Swayze. Guber - Peters
Company, 1986. DVD.
In Youngblood there is an athletic trainer of a Canadian junior hockey team. He is kind of a weird, odd older man in his late 50s who is not afraid to say what he thinks. Sometimes the things that come out of his mouth make the players he takes care of uncomfortable. There is one scene where Dean Youngblood, the main character and young star hockey player, gets injured and their is a cut above one of his eyes. The athletic trainer takes him to the locker room during intermission and literally sews the cut up. He makes a few comments while sewing up the cut that make Dean uncomfortable and it almost seems as though he is not the best athletic trainer in the world.
I think for some people this how they view athletic trainers; old, odd, and not so good at their job.
And from watching a movie such as Youngblood I can see why they would think this. Although I feel that the majority of people do not view athletic trainers this way. For the most part I think that majority of people view athletic trainers as a kind of "knock off" doctor who is on site to give you immediate medical care. This not an accurate description of an athletic trainer, but it does not take away from the profession. And to go along with this I would be willing to bet that most people view athletic trainers as people who love sports. Overall, I believe that athletic training and its trainers are not understood as well as they should be and until recent years not appreciated enough.
Work Cited
Youngblood. Dir. Peter Markle. Perf. Rob Lowe, Cynthia Gibb, Patrick Swayze. Guber - Peters
Company, 1986. DVD.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Kevin Ware Injury
Like most people, last weekend I was watching the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament pulling for my teams to win to further better my bracket. My viewing experience was progressing along as it normally does when I saw something so dramatic, and gruesome take place right before my eyes. I am referring to the Kevin Ware injury.
During the Duke vs. Louisville basketball game Kevin Ware ran out to the upper left perimeter in attempt to block a 3 point shot by a Duke player. He missed on the block attempt and as he came down from he jump his right leg inverted underneath his body and it snapped near the middle of the shin. A large part bone was sticking out of the leg with blood gushing out causing a most disturbing and tragic sight to witness. It took place directly in front of the Louisville bench and players immediately took notice running and moving away from the injury. Players on the court hit the floor in disbelief.
The athletic trainer came to the aid of Kevin Ware immediately and one of the very first things he does is cover the injury. This may not seem like such a big deal, but it is. By doing this he prevents Kevin from seeing the severity of the injury and going into more shock and the fans and players from freaking out. This allows the situation to not spiral out of control. With a less hectic environment the athletic trainer is able to perform and execute his duties that much better.
Since the Louisville trainer was alert and prepared to take care of injured athletes, the Kevin Ware injury was not more dramatic than it had to be. The situation was handled well and that was for Kevin Ware's best. Kevin Ware is expected to make a complete recovery and make a return to the court in the future, but not without completing a comprehensive rehabilitation program.
During the Duke vs. Louisville basketball game Kevin Ware ran out to the upper left perimeter in attempt to block a 3 point shot by a Duke player. He missed on the block attempt and as he came down from he jump his right leg inverted underneath his body and it snapped near the middle of the shin. A large part bone was sticking out of the leg with blood gushing out causing a most disturbing and tragic sight to witness. It took place directly in front of the Louisville bench and players immediately took notice running and moving away from the injury. Players on the court hit the floor in disbelief.
The athletic trainer came to the aid of Kevin Ware immediately and one of the very first things he does is cover the injury. This may not seem like such a big deal, but it is. By doing this he prevents Kevin from seeing the severity of the injury and going into more shock and the fans and players from freaking out. This allows the situation to not spiral out of control. With a less hectic environment the athletic trainer is able to perform and execute his duties that much better.
Since the Louisville trainer was alert and prepared to take care of injured athletes, the Kevin Ware injury was not more dramatic than it had to be. The situation was handled well and that was for Kevin Ware's best. Kevin Ware is expected to make a complete recovery and make a return to the court in the future, but not without completing a comprehensive rehabilitation program.
Work Cited
Mensch, Jim. "Free Communications, Oral Presentations: Psychological Aspects of Athletic Training." Journal of Athletic Training 42.2 (2007): S73-4. ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
Using Therapeutic Exercise in Rehabilitation
The Athletic Trainer's Approach to Rehabilitation
-the process of rehabilitation begins immediately after injury
*initial first aid and management techniques can have a substantial impact on the course of the rehabilitative process
-in the rehabilitation program the athletic trainer is responsible for
*design
*implementation
*supervision
-balancing act
*between not pushing the athlete hard enough and being overly aggressive
-daily reassessment of an injury
*allows the rehabilitation plan to be current and appropriate
Goals
-short-term
*controlling pain
*minimizing initial swelling
*maintaining/improving flexibility
*restoring/increasing strength
*reestablishing neuromuscular control
*maintaining level of cardiorespiratory fitness
-long-term
*return the injured athlete to practice/competition as quickly and safely as possible
Therapeutic and Conditioning Exercise
-Therapeutic exercises are concerned with restoring normal body function after injury
-Conditioning exercises are concerned with improving the physical capability of an athlete by a program
Components of a Rehabilitation Program
-minimize swelling
-controlling pain
-restoring ROM
-restoring muscle strength, endurance, and power
-reestablishing neuromuscular control
-regaining balance
-maintaining cardiovascular fitness
-incorporating functional progressions
-the process of rehabilitation begins immediately after injury
*initial first aid and management techniques can have a substantial impact on the course of the rehabilitative process
-in the rehabilitation program the athletic trainer is responsible for
*design
*implementation
*supervision
-balancing act
*between not pushing the athlete hard enough and being overly aggressive
-daily reassessment of an injury
*allows the rehabilitation plan to be current and appropriate
Goals
-short-term
*controlling pain
*minimizing initial swelling
*maintaining/improving flexibility
*restoring/increasing strength
*reestablishing neuromuscular control
*maintaining level of cardiorespiratory fitness
-long-term
*return the injured athlete to practice/competition as quickly and safely as possible
Therapeutic and Conditioning Exercise
-Therapeutic exercises are concerned with restoring normal body function after injury
-Conditioning exercises are concerned with improving the physical capability of an athlete by a program
Components of a Rehabilitation Program
-minimize swelling
-controlling pain
-restoring ROM
-restoring muscle strength, endurance, and power
-reestablishing neuromuscular control
-regaining balance
-maintaining cardiovascular fitness
-incorporating functional progressions
Work Cited
Schneider, Erin. Athletic Trainers' Perception of interval/intermittent Training in Rehabilitation., 2010. ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
Therapeutic Modalities
For this blog post I have chosen to focus on the topic of therapeutic modalities and how they are used. When used appropriately, therapeutic modalities can be an effective adjunct to therapeutic exercise.
Athletic trainers must know how and when therapeutic modalities may best be used. Here is more in depth information into therapeutic modalities.
Three Classifications:
1) Electromagnetic- energy travels at 300 million meters/sec in vacuum.
-cryotherapy
-thermotherapy
-electrical stimulating currents
-diathermy and lasers
2) Acoustic- relies on molecular collisions for energy transfer
-ultrasound
3) Mechanical- mechanical strength, compress, and manipulation
-message
-traction
-intermittent compression
Now, I will examine cryotherapy and thermotherapy a bit closer.
Cryotherapy:
-application of cold
-an important part of the RICE treatment for first aid (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
-slowing injured cell's metabolism- less damage to the tissues which has decreased oxygen supply
-the longer the cold exposure, the deeper the cooling
-skin's response to cold
stage 1- cold sensation- 0-3 minutes after initiation
stage 2- mild burning aching- 2-7 minutes after initiation
stage 3- relative cutaneous anesthesia- 5-12 minutes after initiation
Thermotherapy:
-heat has the capacity to increase the extensibility of collagen tissue
-muscle spasm caused by ischemia (lack of blood supply) can be relieved by heat
-transformed through
*conduction
*convection
*radiation
*conversion
-from another energy form such as US, electricity, and chemical agents
Physiological response to Cryo/Thermotherapy
-metabolic rate- decrease, increase
-Edema-controversial, increase
-collagen elasticity-decrease, increase
-blood flow- decrease up to 10 minutes, increase
-capillary permeability-increase, increase
-pain perception- decrease, decrease
There is a more in depth look at therapeutic modalities and more specifically cryotherapy and thermotherpy. I hope you found this post to be helpful in allowing you to further your knowledge in the field of athletic training. These are two very effective types of therapy.
Athletic trainers must know how and when therapeutic modalities may best be used. Here is more in depth information into therapeutic modalities.
Three Classifications:
1) Electromagnetic- energy travels at 300 million meters/sec in vacuum.
-cryotherapy
-thermotherapy
-electrical stimulating currents
-diathermy and lasers
2) Acoustic- relies on molecular collisions for energy transfer
-ultrasound
3) Mechanical- mechanical strength, compress, and manipulation
-message
-traction
-intermittent compression
Now, I will examine cryotherapy and thermotherapy a bit closer.
Cryotherapy:
-application of cold
-an important part of the RICE treatment for first aid (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
-slowing injured cell's metabolism- less damage to the tissues which has decreased oxygen supply
-the longer the cold exposure, the deeper the cooling
-skin's response to cold
stage 1- cold sensation- 0-3 minutes after initiation
stage 2- mild burning aching- 2-7 minutes after initiation
stage 3- relative cutaneous anesthesia- 5-12 minutes after initiation
Thermotherapy:
-heat has the capacity to increase the extensibility of collagen tissue
-muscle spasm caused by ischemia (lack of blood supply) can be relieved by heat
-transformed through
*conduction
*convection
*radiation
*conversion
-from another energy form such as US, electricity, and chemical agents
Physiological response to Cryo/Thermotherapy
-metabolic rate- decrease, increase
-Edema-controversial, increase
-collagen elasticity-decrease, increase
-blood flow- decrease up to 10 minutes, increase
-capillary permeability-increase, increase
-pain perception- decrease, decrease
There is a more in depth look at therapeutic modalities and more specifically cryotherapy and thermotherpy. I hope you found this post to be helpful in allowing you to further your knowledge in the field of athletic training. These are two very effective types of therapy.
Work Cited
Knight, Kenneth L., and David O. Draper. "Critical Thinking and Therapeutic Modalities." Athletic Therapy Today 9.6 (2004): 28-9. ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Sports Trauma
For this blog I am going to keep things simple and focus on sports trauma. Trauma is a huge part of sports and a big topic of discussion in athletic training. It is a part of every sport an athlete plays. Here are some characteristics of sports trauma.
Trauma: A physical injury or wound sustained in a sport and produced by an external/internal force
Tissue Properties:
-Load: outside forces acting on tissue
-Stiffness: the ability of a tissue to resist a load
-Stress: the internal reaction/resistance to an external load
-Strain: extent of deformation of tissue under loading
-Deformation: change and shape of a tissue
-Elasticity: property that allows a tissue to return to normal following deformation
-Yield Point: where its elasticity is fully exceeded
-Mechanical Failure: exceeding the ability to withstand stress and strain, causing tissue to break down
Tissue Stress:
-Compression: a force with enough energy to crush tissue
-Tension: a force that pulls or stretches tissue
-Bending: a force on a horizontal beam or bone
-Torsion: a force caused by twisting in opposite direction from the opposite ends of structure
-Shearing: a force that moves the parallel organization of the tissue
Injuries:
-Muscle strains
-Muscle cramps
-Muscle soreness
-Contusions
-Ligament sprains
-Dislocations/subluxation
-Tendinitis
-Tenosynovitis
-Bone fracture
-Stress fracture
-Osteoarthritis
-Bursitis-
-Capsulitis/synovitis
-Myofascial trigger points
-Epiphyseal injury
-Apophyseal injury
-Neuropraxia
-Neuritis
I tried to bring some terminology in to use for this blog and I hope most of these terms are new to you. It is crazy to think that our tissues can with stand so much and allow athletes to perform at such a high quality of play and do what they do. Who knew there was so much to sports trauma and body tissue?
Trauma: A physical injury or wound sustained in a sport and produced by an external/internal force
Tissue Properties:
-Load: outside forces acting on tissue
-Stiffness: the ability of a tissue to resist a load
-Stress: the internal reaction/resistance to an external load
-Strain: extent of deformation of tissue under loading
-Deformation: change and shape of a tissue
-Elasticity: property that allows a tissue to return to normal following deformation
-Yield Point: where its elasticity is fully exceeded
-Mechanical Failure: exceeding the ability to withstand stress and strain, causing tissue to break down
Tissue Stress:
-Compression: a force with enough energy to crush tissue
-Tension: a force that pulls or stretches tissue
-Bending: a force on a horizontal beam or bone
-Torsion: a force caused by twisting in opposite direction from the opposite ends of structure
-Shearing: a force that moves the parallel organization of the tissue
Injuries:
-Muscle strains
-Muscle cramps
-Muscle soreness
-Contusions
-Ligament sprains
-Dislocations/subluxation
-Tendinitis
-Tenosynovitis
-Bone fracture
-Stress fracture
-Osteoarthritis
-Bursitis-
-Capsulitis/synovitis
-Myofascial trigger points
-Epiphyseal injury
-Apophyseal injury
-Neuropraxia
-Neuritis
I tried to bring some terminology in to use for this blog and I hope most of these terms are new to you. It is crazy to think that our tissues can with stand so much and allow athletes to perform at such a high quality of play and do what they do. Who knew there was so much to sports trauma and body tissue?
Work Cited
McGown, A. T. "Blunt Abdominal and Chest Trauma." Athletic Therapy Today 9.1 (2004): 40-1. ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
Contemplating Controversy
While there are quite a few controversies in the field of athletic training, one that caught my eye was the controversy over how a topical injury heals quickest. This controversy was brought to my attention in one of my athletic training classes at Michigan State University. When my professor asked the class whether we thought that a scrape healed quicker in a more dry condition or a more wet, moist condition I said the more dry condition. Was I correct?
As it turns out I was not correct; a scrape does not heal more rapidly in a dry condition. This was the more common idea among athletic trainers for some time and some still believe it to be true. The thought behind this is that the wound is being kept dry so that it does not attract bacteria and get infected. In doing this a scar begins to appear, making it seem as the scrape is repairing quickest. The scab will continue to change during this repair process until the scrape is no more and new healthy skin is in its place.
The other side to this controversy is that a scrape heals quicker in a more wet condition. More and more athletic trainers are beginning to see this as the best way to repair a topical injury such as a scrape. In keeping the scrape more wet and moist the scab appears to not be forming all that well and it looks rather disgusting, but it supposedly is suppose to heal twice as fast as a scrape in a dry condition. Experiments have been done to compare the two and it seems as though this claim is very true.
This is not a huge controversy in the field of athletic training, but a controversy I found rather interesting. It seemed like such a simple disagreement, but turned out to have some depth to it. I hope that most of you found this controversy to be interesting and further your interest in the field of athletic training.
As it turns out I was not correct; a scrape does not heal more rapidly in a dry condition. This was the more common idea among athletic trainers for some time and some still believe it to be true. The thought behind this is that the wound is being kept dry so that it does not attract bacteria and get infected. In doing this a scar begins to appear, making it seem as the scrape is repairing quickest. The scab will continue to change during this repair process until the scrape is no more and new healthy skin is in its place.
The other side to this controversy is that a scrape heals quicker in a more wet condition. More and more athletic trainers are beginning to see this as the best way to repair a topical injury such as a scrape. In keeping the scrape more wet and moist the scab appears to not be forming all that well and it looks rather disgusting, but it supposedly is suppose to heal twice as fast as a scrape in a dry condition. Experiments have been done to compare the two and it seems as though this claim is very true.
This is not a huge controversy in the field of athletic training, but a controversy I found rather interesting. It seemed like such a simple disagreement, but turned out to have some depth to it. I hope that most of you found this controversy to be interesting and further your interest in the field of athletic training.
Work Cited
Zahir,
M. "The Nature of Wound Healing, with Special Reference to Scab
Formation." University of Oxford, Exeter (United Kingdom), 1965.
England: ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Reading Artifacts
I chose a roll of tape as my artifact for athletic training. I made a critical reading response for it and through doing that I was able to see how this artifact can teach people about the field of athletic training. You may being thinking to yourself, how can a roll of tape teach me about the field of athletic training? Well it most certainly can I and I am about to explain how.
First off, athletic training is a job that can be done in many different ways. There are many aspects to the job that make it what it is. The roll of tape reflects this by demonstrating that there are many different ways to tape an ankle or another part of the body, but these ways depend on the type of injury that has taken place. This is like the job of an athletic trainer. There are different ways to treat situations and get things done. An athletic trainer must be on his/her toes so that he/she knows how to handle the situation.
Secondly, athletic training is a job that requires one to have a continued attention to what is going on. There is always a possibility of an injury taking place and whether you see it or not an injury is an injury. Being able to identify when and how an injury happened is key to being a good athletic trainer and providing the proper care. Paying close attention to the activity at hand can be what separates an average athletic trainer from a good athletic trainer.
The last thing a roll of tape can teach you about athletic training is that is a tough, demanding job. You have to be able to work in all sorts of weather and different conditions. And certain weather and conditions can mean added work or more detailed, focused work for an athletic trainer. For example, if it is a super hot humid summer day and the football team has practice, the athletic trainer has to take a bunch of factors into consideration to calculate if it is safe to practice outside that day or move practice to a safer more suitable environment. Depending on how many injuries a team has can also make work more demanding on the athletic trainer. More injuries means more tape ankles, more ice bathes, more stretching, and so on. Athletic training is a job that requires you to act on your feet and adjust accordingly to what is going on around you.
Athletic training is like a roll of tape, when you unraveling it or get more into the job you realize there is so much that makes up the job. I hope the three aspects of athletic training above helped you understand the field of athletic training in a more detailed way.
First off, athletic training is a job that can be done in many different ways. There are many aspects to the job that make it what it is. The roll of tape reflects this by demonstrating that there are many different ways to tape an ankle or another part of the body, but these ways depend on the type of injury that has taken place. This is like the job of an athletic trainer. There are different ways to treat situations and get things done. An athletic trainer must be on his/her toes so that he/she knows how to handle the situation.
Secondly, athletic training is a job that requires one to have a continued attention to what is going on. There is always a possibility of an injury taking place and whether you see it or not an injury is an injury. Being able to identify when and how an injury happened is key to being a good athletic trainer and providing the proper care. Paying close attention to the activity at hand can be what separates an average athletic trainer from a good athletic trainer.
The last thing a roll of tape can teach you about athletic training is that is a tough, demanding job. You have to be able to work in all sorts of weather and different conditions. And certain weather and conditions can mean added work or more detailed, focused work for an athletic trainer. For example, if it is a super hot humid summer day and the football team has practice, the athletic trainer has to take a bunch of factors into consideration to calculate if it is safe to practice outside that day or move practice to a safer more suitable environment. Depending on how many injuries a team has can also make work more demanding on the athletic trainer. More injuries means more tape ankles, more ice bathes, more stretching, and so on. Athletic training is a job that requires you to act on your feet and adjust accordingly to what is going on around you.
Athletic training is like a roll of tape, when you unraveling it or get more into the job you realize there is so much that makes up the job. I hope the three aspects of athletic training above helped you understand the field of athletic training in a more detailed way.
Work Cited
Hendrick,
Carrie Rayette. "The Therapeutic Effects of Kinesio(TM) Tape on A Grade
I Lateral Ankle Sprain." Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University, 2010. United States -- Virginia: ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
Answers to Interview Questions
I apologize for the delay with posting Matt Lang's responses to the questions I had for him, as far as the writing process goes for athletic trainers. Matt's responses were very helpful and informative, and for the most part were what I thought he would say. I hope you find them as interesting as I did.
- How much writing would you say you do in an average day's work as an athletic trainer?
Response: Writing is a part of the every day job of being an athletic trainer. You have to be on top of things and make sure your documenting things in the correct way. Overall, it is hard to say exactly how much writing is done on a daily basis, but it definitely takes up a good portion of time when I am not caring for my athletes.
- What does this writing consist of?
Response: Writing for me consists of keeping track of a lot of information. Which is the case for other athletic trainers as well. Whether it is documenting an injury to a player, personal player information, making safety procedures, or what not there always is some sort of information that needs to be taken down. These are all slightly different forms of writing, but maintain the idea of keeping the information in an organized way so that if information needs to be found or looked back on it can.
- How is your writing put together?
Response: My writing for the most is to get down all the necessary information that documents what happened or how things are suppose to happen. For the average person, what I write may not be that easy to understand and follow, but for athletic trainers it is very easy. It really is not all that complicated but there are some hard to understand terms that are written to describe the situation. Some of these hard to understand terms are medical terminology.
- Is writing/communication a vital part to being an athletic trainer?
Response: It is a vital part of being an athletic trainer! Probably the most important part other than the direct care that is given to the athletes. If something is written down or documented wrong things could get very bad. For example, if an athletic trainer documents an injury wrong the care or treatment given to that athlete could be wrong or not done in another way when it should be. It is the most important way of COMMUNICATION among athletic trainers and their staff.
Matt Lang's responses were helpful for myself personally in understanding how important writing is for athletic trainers. I underestimated the vital importance of writing and documentation as the main way of communicating among athletic trainers. This opened my eyes to the ways writing can affect the quality of work done by athletic trainers and in a broader view, jobs as a whole. Hope this helps you understand the writing process of an athletic trainer and how important it is for them.
- How much writing would you say you do in an average day's work as an athletic trainer?
Response: Writing is a part of the every day job of being an athletic trainer. You have to be on top of things and make sure your documenting things in the correct way. Overall, it is hard to say exactly how much writing is done on a daily basis, but it definitely takes up a good portion of time when I am not caring for my athletes.
- What does this writing consist of?
Response: Writing for me consists of keeping track of a lot of information. Which is the case for other athletic trainers as well. Whether it is documenting an injury to a player, personal player information, making safety procedures, or what not there always is some sort of information that needs to be taken down. These are all slightly different forms of writing, but maintain the idea of keeping the information in an organized way so that if information needs to be found or looked back on it can.
- How is your writing put together?
Response: My writing for the most is to get down all the necessary information that documents what happened or how things are suppose to happen. For the average person, what I write may not be that easy to understand and follow, but for athletic trainers it is very easy. It really is not all that complicated but there are some hard to understand terms that are written to describe the situation. Some of these hard to understand terms are medical terminology.
- Is writing/communication a vital part to being an athletic trainer?
Response: It is a vital part of being an athletic trainer! Probably the most important part other than the direct care that is given to the athletes. If something is written down or documented wrong things could get very bad. For example, if an athletic trainer documents an injury wrong the care or treatment given to that athlete could be wrong or not done in another way when it should be. It is the most important way of COMMUNICATION among athletic trainers and their staff.
Matt Lang's responses were helpful for myself personally in understanding how important writing is for athletic trainers. I underestimated the vital importance of writing and documentation as the main way of communicating among athletic trainers. This opened my eyes to the ways writing can affect the quality of work done by athletic trainers and in a broader view, jobs as a whole. Hope this helps you understand the writing process of an athletic trainer and how important it is for them.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Observing Community
I went in search of a campus organization here at MSU and found a few. The one I found most interesting and wanted to focus in is E-Stim, which stands for Educating Student Athletic Trainers in Medicine. I hoped to be able and participate in an event with them, but was unable due to the fact that they don't have an event coming up for some time. I would have also enjoyed attending a meeting, but there weren't any going on recently. Looking at this organization really made me think about getting more involved in my major and potentially joining this organization or others like it on campus.
I was able to find a few people who have been involved in events with E-Stim and from what they were able to tell me I assume they enjoy there time with the organization. Both of my interviewees asked me to not share their names in the blog post so I have labeled them as Steve and Sarah.
Sarah said, "It is a time where students sharing similar interests in the field of athletic training can come together, let loose, and have a good time participating in activities such as broom ball or kickball. Everyone is very accepting because they realize we are all one in the same."
Steve explained, "We get to learn more about athletic training as a whole and focus in on certain things that may not be so mainstream in the thought process about athletic training, while being in laid back, fun setting."
Both of Sarah and Steve went on to say that it has helped form relationships with people that can help them later down the road in athletic training and given them a different take on athletic training from before they joined the organization and began participating in events. The way that their events seem to incorporate athletics into play is very appealing to myself as an athletic training major and something that I could see myself doing. Also the educational aspect could most certainly be very helpful for me in growing and becoming a well-rounded athletic trainer. Communication is a huge part of being an athletic trainer and I get the feel that this organization does a good job focusing in on that and developing that among its members.
Overall, large aspects of being a good athletic trainer are being laid back with a good sense of humor and communication and I feel this organization does a good job developing these qualities in its members. I am interested in this organization and can see myself joining the organization in the near future.
I was able to find a few people who have been involved in events with E-Stim and from what they were able to tell me I assume they enjoy there time with the organization. Both of my interviewees asked me to not share their names in the blog post so I have labeled them as Steve and Sarah.
Sarah said, "It is a time where students sharing similar interests in the field of athletic training can come together, let loose, and have a good time participating in activities such as broom ball or kickball. Everyone is very accepting because they realize we are all one in the same."
Steve explained, "We get to learn more about athletic training as a whole and focus in on certain things that may not be so mainstream in the thought process about athletic training, while being in laid back, fun setting."
Both of Sarah and Steve went on to say that it has helped form relationships with people that can help them later down the road in athletic training and given them a different take on athletic training from before they joined the organization and began participating in events. The way that their events seem to incorporate athletics into play is very appealing to myself as an athletic training major and something that I could see myself doing. Also the educational aspect could most certainly be very helpful for me in growing and becoming a well-rounded athletic trainer. Communication is a huge part of being an athletic trainer and I get the feel that this organization does a good job focusing in on that and developing that among its members.
Overall, large aspects of being a good athletic trainer are being laid back with a good sense of humor and communication and I feel this organization does a good job developing these qualities in its members. I am interested in this organization and can see myself joining the organization in the near future.
Fun Facts About Athletic Training
I promised in my last blog post that I would have the responses to the questions from the interview with Matt Lang, but I was unable to interview Mr. Lang due to extensive traveling with his sports teams. He contacted me the other day and said that we can more than likely interview this week, so I will have his interview responses in my next open blog post.
So for this post I thought I would focus on some "fun facts" of athletic training. These facts may be more interesting than fun, but they demonstrate or reveal different aspects of being an athletic trainer. Some of these facts were rather surprising to me. Hope you find these facts to be beneficial in grasping a better understanding of the field of athletic training.
FUN FACTS:
1) Athletic trainers know and practice health care at the highest professional, ethical and quality standards in order to protect the public
2) Athletic trainers are regulated and licensed health care workers
3) More than 50 percent of athletic trainers work outside of school athletic settings; they provide services to people of all ages
4) ATs improve patient functional and physical outcomes.
5) ATs specialize in patient education to prevent injury and re-injury and reduce rehabilitative and other health care costs
6) ATs provide the same or better outcomes in clinical settings as other providers
7) ATs work in rural and medically underserved areas and with people of all ages
8) Nearly 70 percent of athletic trainers have a master’s or doctoral degree
9) An independent national board certifies athletic trainers
10) The National Athletic Trainers’ Association represents more than 30,000 members (National Athletic Trainers' Association).
Here are some related majors to Athletic Training:
- Chiropractic
- Dietetics
- Kinesiology
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Education
- Physical Therapy
- Pre-medicine
- Rehabilitation Services
- Respiratory Therapy
Athletic Trainers are there own specific kind of health care providers. Before doing entering college and doing this blog I didn't realize there is so much to being an athletic trainer. I never realized all the opportunities that athletic training offers outside of the field of athletic training. I could be a teacher in physical education or professional dietician. What I thought was a direct path now appears to be a fork in the road where I decide where I go with my major. Hope this blog presented you with some information you did not originally know and that it inspires you to look at all the different ways you can go with your own major.
Work Cited
"Arnheim's principles of athletic training: A competency - based approach (14th ed.). New York:
McGraw - Hill.", by Prentice, W. E. (2010)
So for this post I thought I would focus on some "fun facts" of athletic training. These facts may be more interesting than fun, but they demonstrate or reveal different aspects of being an athletic trainer. Some of these facts were rather surprising to me. Hope you find these facts to be beneficial in grasping a better understanding of the field of athletic training.
FUN FACTS:
1) Athletic trainers know and practice health care at the highest professional, ethical and quality standards in order to protect the public
2) Athletic trainers are regulated and licensed health care workers
3) More than 50 percent of athletic trainers work outside of school athletic settings; they provide services to people of all ages
4) ATs improve patient functional and physical outcomes.
5) ATs specialize in patient education to prevent injury and re-injury and reduce rehabilitative and other health care costs
6) ATs provide the same or better outcomes in clinical settings as other providers
7) ATs work in rural and medically underserved areas and with people of all ages
8) Nearly 70 percent of athletic trainers have a master’s or doctoral degree
9) An independent national board certifies athletic trainers
10) The National Athletic Trainers’ Association represents more than 30,000 members (National Athletic Trainers' Association).
Here are some related majors to Athletic Training:
- Chiropractic
- Dietetics
- Kinesiology
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Education
- Physical Therapy
- Pre-medicine
- Rehabilitation Services
- Respiratory Therapy
Athletic Trainers are there own specific kind of health care providers. Before doing entering college and doing this blog I didn't realize there is so much to being an athletic trainer. I never realized all the opportunities that athletic training offers outside of the field of athletic training. I could be a teacher in physical education or professional dietician. What I thought was a direct path now appears to be a fork in the road where I decide where I go with my major. Hope this blog presented you with some information you did not originally know and that it inspires you to look at all the different ways you can go with your own major.
Work Cited
"Arnheim's principles of athletic training: A competency - based approach (14th ed.). New York:
McGraw - Hill.", by Prentice, W. E. (2010)
Monday, February 18, 2013
Exploring the Writing Process
I have arranged to have an interview with athletic trainer, Matt Lang. He graduated from the athletic training program at Michigan State University and is now close to finishing his graduate program at Central Michigan University where he is a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for the men's baseball and football teams. Our interview is for either this Tuesday or Wednesday. For our interview I have compiled a list of questions to ask Matt that will hopefully give you a better understanding about what athletic trainers write and how they write. Overall, I am trying to find out they ways in which they use communication.
- How much writing would you say you do in an average day's work as an athletic trainer?
- What does this writing consist of?
- Personal player information?
- Injury documentation?
- Management of equipment?
- Safety rules, regulations, and procedures?
- How is your writing put together?
- Is it short and concise?
- Easy to understand?
- Are there complicated/hard to understand words/abbreviations used?
- Is writing/communication a vital part to being an athletic trainer?
- Do you have a personal anecdote or story you could share that would demonstrate the
importance of writing done as an athletic trainer?
As of now I can only speculate what Matt Lang writes and how he writes it. Within the next few days I will have the answers to these questions and can hopefully give you an accurate depiction of the process of writing as an athletic trainer.
- How much writing would you say you do in an average day's work as an athletic trainer?
- What does this writing consist of?
- Personal player information?
- Injury documentation?
- Management of equipment?
- Safety rules, regulations, and procedures?
- How is your writing put together?
- Is it short and concise?
- Easy to understand?
- Are there complicated/hard to understand words/abbreviations used?
- Is writing/communication a vital part to being an athletic trainer?
- Do you have a personal anecdote or story you could share that would demonstrate the
importance of writing done as an athletic trainer?
As of now I can only speculate what Matt Lang writes and how he writes it. Within the next few days I will have the answers to these questions and can hopefully give you an accurate depiction of the process of writing as an athletic trainer.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Training and Conditioning Technique
Many people think that athletic trainers merely take care of their athletes when they get hurt and that is it. But, what one does not take into consideration is that they are responsible for the training and conditioning technique of their athletes. It is the responsibility of the athletic trainer to be in charge of the rehabilitation of injured athletes. And the athletic trainer needs to review the training and conditioning program designed by the staff and coach. If an athlete is undergoing rehabilitation program the athletic trainer has the responsibility to communicate to the staff and coach as to how the conditioning program should be limited or modified.
Here are the principles of conditioning:
1. Safety
2. Warm-up/cool-down
3. Motivation
4. Overload and SAID principle
5. Consistency/routine
6. Progression
7. Intensity
8. Specificity
9. Individuality
10. Relaxation/minimize stress
After looking at the principles of conditioning you may be wondering what the SAID principle is. It stands for the specific adaption to imposed demands. This principle is directly related to the principle of overload. When the body is subjected to stress and overloads of varying intensities, it will gradually adapt over time to overcome whatever demands are placed on it.
When most people think of stretching they think of bending over to touch their toes and holding it for 5-10 seconds. This type of stretching is static stretching and it is good for improving flexibility and ROM (range of motion). You are suppose to stretch and hold a muscle group for 3-30 seconds, 3-4 times. This is only one type of three types of stretching techniques. The other two are ballistic stretching and PNF stretching. Ballistic stretching involves a repetitive bouncing motion and does not improve ROM all that much. While on the other hand, PNF stretching (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) involves the alternating contraction and stretching of muscles. This stretching technique is best and improves ROM the most.
There are also three types of resistance training. The first being Isometric exercise, which is when the muscle contracts statically without changing its length. Next, we have Isotonic exercise. Through Isotonic exercise there is shortening and lengthening of the muscle through a complete ROM. And last but not least, there is Isotonic exercise. For this type of resistance training resistance is given at a fixed velocity of movement with accommodating resistance.
Hope this helps you better understand what an athletic trainer does and gives you a better appreciation for them!
Work Cited
"Arnheim's principles of athletic training: A competency - based approach (14th ed.). New York:
McGraw - Hill.", by Prentice, W. E. (2010)
Here are the principles of conditioning:
1. Safety
2. Warm-up/cool-down
3. Motivation
4. Overload and SAID principle
5. Consistency/routine
6. Progression
7. Intensity
8. Specificity
9. Individuality
10. Relaxation/minimize stress
After looking at the principles of conditioning you may be wondering what the SAID principle is. It stands for the specific adaption to imposed demands. This principle is directly related to the principle of overload. When the body is subjected to stress and overloads of varying intensities, it will gradually adapt over time to overcome whatever demands are placed on it.
When most people think of stretching they think of bending over to touch their toes and holding it for 5-10 seconds. This type of stretching is static stretching and it is good for improving flexibility and ROM (range of motion). You are suppose to stretch and hold a muscle group for 3-30 seconds, 3-4 times. This is only one type of three types of stretching techniques. The other two are ballistic stretching and PNF stretching. Ballistic stretching involves a repetitive bouncing motion and does not improve ROM all that much. While on the other hand, PNF stretching (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) involves the alternating contraction and stretching of muscles. This stretching technique is best and improves ROM the most.
There are also three types of resistance training. The first being Isometric exercise, which is when the muscle contracts statically without changing its length. Next, we have Isotonic exercise. Through Isotonic exercise there is shortening and lengthening of the muscle through a complete ROM. And last but not least, there is Isotonic exercise. For this type of resistance training resistance is given at a fixed velocity of movement with accommodating resistance.
Hope this helps you better understand what an athletic trainer does and gives you a better appreciation for them!
Work Cited
"Arnheim's principles of athletic training: A competency - based approach (14th ed.). New York:
McGraw - Hill.", by Prentice, W. E. (2010)
Monday, February 11, 2013
Considering Delivery and Style
I attempted to find blogs written by professional athletic trainers and had relatively decent luck finding some. Many of them were about the overall daily life of athletic trainers and focused on aspects that tried to promote the field. These blogs were very easy to read and demonstrated a simplistic delivery and style. Although they would sometimes talk about what seemed to be confusing topics, things were explained in a easy to understand way.
The goal or purpose of many of these blogs was to promote athletic training as a field. From a reader's perspective I would have to say that this goal was achieved. Seeing that I found many of these blogs to be very informative and interesting, I can easily imagine that others interested in the field of athletic training would find them enjoyable to read. The way that they are written is straight forward and to the point. I never had to think or question details in the blog for too long because the answer to my question was soon found.
As a reader I also had a purpose and that was to find out more on what it is like to be an athletic trainer. My curiosity is something I think that drives my desire to be an athletic trainer and from reading these blogs, I sure had many of my questions answered and had new owns introduced to me. The delivery and style of these blogs attracts readers with a similar interest and deep curiosity for the field of athletic training and what it entails.
Here is one of the blogs I enjoyed most: http://promotetheprofession.wordpress.com/
Not only did I read some blogs, but I read through some newspaper articles and scholarly articles. While newspapers articles are somewhat like blogs in the sense that they are both very simple to understand, they differ as well. The blog is more for people in that certain field or occupation or people that are interested in learning more from one another and bouncing different ideas back and forth. The newspaper article is more for the common, everyday person who just wants to know what is going on in the world of athletic training by focusing in on a certain story or topic.. But both are similar in the aspect of simple, informal delivery. As for scholarly articles we have a type of delivery and style which is much different then that of the blog and newspaper article. The scholarly article is much more formal, for facts and detailed information, and research on some sort of specific subject or topic in the field of athletic training. They are written by highly regarded individuals, professionals in there respected fields and meant more for other professionals in the field of study, or those doing research.
The goal or purpose of many of these blogs was to promote athletic training as a field. From a reader's perspective I would have to say that this goal was achieved. Seeing that I found many of these blogs to be very informative and interesting, I can easily imagine that others interested in the field of athletic training would find them enjoyable to read. The way that they are written is straight forward and to the point. I never had to think or question details in the blog for too long because the answer to my question was soon found.
As a reader I also had a purpose and that was to find out more on what it is like to be an athletic trainer. My curiosity is something I think that drives my desire to be an athletic trainer and from reading these blogs, I sure had many of my questions answered and had new owns introduced to me. The delivery and style of these blogs attracts readers with a similar interest and deep curiosity for the field of athletic training and what it entails.
Here is one of the blogs I enjoyed most: http://promotetheprofession.wordpress.com/
Not only did I read some blogs, but I read through some newspaper articles and scholarly articles. While newspapers articles are somewhat like blogs in the sense that they are both very simple to understand, they differ as well. The blog is more for people in that certain field or occupation or people that are interested in learning more from one another and bouncing different ideas back and forth. The newspaper article is more for the common, everyday person who just wants to know what is going on in the world of athletic training by focusing in on a certain story or topic.. But both are similar in the aspect of simple, informal delivery. As for scholarly articles we have a type of delivery and style which is much different then that of the blog and newspaper article. The scholarly article is much more formal, for facts and detailed information, and research on some sort of specific subject or topic in the field of athletic training. They are written by highly regarded individuals, professionals in there respected fields and meant more for other professionals in the field of study, or those doing research.
Works Cited
Mensch, James, and Murray Mitchell. "Choosing a Career in Athletic Training: Exploring the Perceptions of Potential Recruits." Journal of Athletic Training 43.1 (2008): 70-9. ProQuest. Web. 1 May 2013.
Crooks, Sarah. "Athletic Training." The Town Talk: D.1. Mar 19 2002. ProQuest. Web. 1 May 2013 .
Dangerous Game (Protective Sports Equipment)
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm stoked the that NHL lockout is over and hockey is back in action. I've been watching so many games since the league started play again. I make sure to get my work and other things done so that my Saturdays and Sundays are jammed packed with hockey. With the return of excitement of play also comes the danger. Especially with the league starting up immediately after the end of the lockout, many players were not used to game speed yet and this noticeably led to a handful of injuries. But now being more educated in athletic training I'm able to view this situation from a different perspective as well. This perspective is that there would most definitely be more injuries if it were not for all that protective equipment that is worn.
In recent weeks of play I have seen more dangerous injuries take place. One that comes to mind is when the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby took a puck to the face. It looked to be a very serious injury. He was in mob of players in front of the net attempting to screen the New York Islanders' goalie and deflect the puck. But this is not what happened. Instead Penguins' player, Kris Lehtang, moved the puck to teammate, Evgini Malkin, and he sent a shot towards the net and it hit Crosby right in the face. Instantly Crosby slid to the ice grabbing at his face. The athletic training staff immediately came to his aid. They surveyed the situation and got him off the ice and to the locker room very quickly.
Click here to see the injury
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFQwS_2G79Q
After watching the replay a few times I really got a feel for the injury, but realized that it could've potentially been worse. The reason I believe it was not was because of the protective half shield Crosby wears connected to his helmet. This is not the first time if seen a half shield prevent an injury or at least lessen the severity of an injury. I can recall when Steve Yzerman took a puck to the face while not wearing a half shield and it almost cost him one of his eyes. If he would've been wearing a protective half shield his injury may have never even occurred. I know in the AHL (American Hockey League) all players must wear half shields, and I wonder if that may be the same for players in the NHL in the near future.
Work Cited
"Arnheim's principles of athletic training: A competency - based approach (14th ed.). New York:
McGraw - Hill.", by Prentice, W. E. (2010)
In recent weeks of play I have seen more dangerous injuries take place. One that comes to mind is when the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby took a puck to the face. It looked to be a very serious injury. He was in mob of players in front of the net attempting to screen the New York Islanders' goalie and deflect the puck. But this is not what happened. Instead Penguins' player, Kris Lehtang, moved the puck to teammate, Evgini Malkin, and he sent a shot towards the net and it hit Crosby right in the face. Instantly Crosby slid to the ice grabbing at his face. The athletic training staff immediately came to his aid. They surveyed the situation and got him off the ice and to the locker room very quickly.
Click here to see the injury
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFQwS_2G79Q
After watching the replay a few times I really got a feel for the injury, but realized that it could've potentially been worse. The reason I believe it was not was because of the protective half shield Crosby wears connected to his helmet. This is not the first time if seen a half shield prevent an injury or at least lessen the severity of an injury. I can recall when Steve Yzerman took a puck to the face while not wearing a half shield and it almost cost him one of his eyes. If he would've been wearing a protective half shield his injury may have never even occurred. I know in the AHL (American Hockey League) all players must wear half shields, and I wonder if that may be the same for players in the NHL in the near future.
Work Cited
"Arnheim's principles of athletic training: A competency - based approach (14th ed.). New York:
McGraw - Hill.", by Prentice, W. E. (2010)
Monday, February 4, 2013
Asking Questions/Developing a Basic Knowledge
I have questions about my field of study, just as anyone else would. Some are questions that require not such a complicated response, but others require more thought. I have developed a list of ten question, and used the textbook, "Arnheim's principles of athletic training: A competency - based approach (14th ed.). New York: McGraw - Hill.", by Prentice, W. E. (2010), to answer as many of my questions as I could.
1. What is the profession of athletic and what does NATA have to do with that?
Athletic training is the profession of preventing, recognizing, and assessing injuries. Athletic Trainers are the first line of help for athletes. And all athletic trainers are a part of the National Athletic Trainer's Association (NATA). The first meeting of NATA took place in Kansas City in 1950, and it was on this date that NATA was formed. The home headquarters of NATA are in Dallas, Texas and there are more than 32,000 members in ten districts. Michigan is a part of district 4 (GLATA).
2. What is the difference between injury recognition, assessment, and diagnosis?
Well, injury recognition is much like it sounds. It is seeing what type of injury has taken place (i.e. ankle, leg, shoulder, etc.). And then from there the athletic trainer checks over the injured area to see the severity of the injury and what he/she can do to stabilize the point of injury. Diagnosis is not so much the job of the athletic trainer, as it that of the doctor. Overall, athletic trainers do all they can to take care of the athlete and the injury until in the control of the EMS or doctor.
3. Are administrative concepts a part of being an athletic trainer?
Administrative concepts are most certainly a part of being an athletic trainer. The potential always exists that the techniques and procedures athletic trainers use may result in some legal action regarding issues of liability and negligence. An athletic trainer will act according to the standard of care of an individual with similar educational background or training. There are laws such as the Good Samaritan Law that protect athletic trainers from legal liability.
4. What is the most common way to hurt your ankle?
The most common way to hurt your ankle is through inversion. This simply means that the ankle got pushed inward and the ankle was hurt on the lateral side. Overall, the ankle bends medially and hurts the lateral side of the ankle (outside). This is the case 85% of the time.
5. Is communication a large part of athletic training?
Communication is a huge part of being an athletic trainer. Athletic trainers may not always be able to tell what is wrong with the athlete, so it is imperative there is communication between the two. It is the athletic trainers job to inform the coach and potentially the EMS as to what the injury is, so that the athlete and the injury can be dealt with in the most effective way.
6 What types of challenges do athletes and athletic trainers face on a daily basis?
They both face challenges on a daily basis. For an athlete it may be adjusting to a new brace or type of tape, while for an athletic trainer it may be having to buy more materials and equipment or figure out how to accommodate certain things for their athletes.
7. If you are a certified athletic trainer in one state, can you perform athletic training duties in any other state?
Not necessarily because the rules and regulations governing the practice of athletic training vary tremendously from state to state. And it is because of this that an athletic trainer must always be aware because rules and regulations are always changing and if you are not aware of such things you could loose your licensing or face liability.
8. What is better type of protective equipment, taping or a brace?
Using a brace is supposedly better than using tape, but that is kind of up to the athletic trainer or athlete to decide what they prefer. Braces are suppose to be better because technically the tape loosens slightly about 30 minutes into competition. But in my opinion tape still does a very good job as protective equipment. There are different types of tape that have their own special qualities, such as Kinesio Tape (therapeutic, elasticity of 130-140% original length), PowerFlex Tape (cohesive, sweat and water resistant), and PowerTape (high tensile strength, zero stretch, cohesive that sticks to itself or to PowerFlex)
9. What is OSHA?
OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and it has certain regulations for athletic trainers. These regulations keep athletic trainers on top of their job and make sure that they are doing things in the most sanitary ways.
10. Are athletic trainers responsible to purchase such things as tape, creams, and other sorts of materials that may help take care of the athletes?
Normally, a professional athletic trainer would not have to order equipment and materials because there is usually an equipment manager to do that. But, an athletic trainer at a high school or a small college may be responsible for ordering equipment because there is a smaller budget. It depends at what level the athletic trainer works at.
I further enhanced my knowledge on the field of athletic training and hope I was able to deliver some new information to you as well. Reading through this textbook has only further enhanced my interest in athletic training and has led my mind on a race track of questions.
1. What is the profession of athletic and what does NATA have to do with that?
Athletic training is the profession of preventing, recognizing, and assessing injuries. Athletic Trainers are the first line of help for athletes. And all athletic trainers are a part of the National Athletic Trainer's Association (NATA). The first meeting of NATA took place in Kansas City in 1950, and it was on this date that NATA was formed. The home headquarters of NATA are in Dallas, Texas and there are more than 32,000 members in ten districts. Michigan is a part of district 4 (GLATA).
2. What is the difference between injury recognition, assessment, and diagnosis?
Well, injury recognition is much like it sounds. It is seeing what type of injury has taken place (i.e. ankle, leg, shoulder, etc.). And then from there the athletic trainer checks over the injured area to see the severity of the injury and what he/she can do to stabilize the point of injury. Diagnosis is not so much the job of the athletic trainer, as it that of the doctor. Overall, athletic trainers do all they can to take care of the athlete and the injury until in the control of the EMS or doctor.
3. Are administrative concepts a part of being an athletic trainer?
Administrative concepts are most certainly a part of being an athletic trainer. The potential always exists that the techniques and procedures athletic trainers use may result in some legal action regarding issues of liability and negligence. An athletic trainer will act according to the standard of care of an individual with similar educational background or training. There are laws such as the Good Samaritan Law that protect athletic trainers from legal liability.
4. What is the most common way to hurt your ankle?
The most common way to hurt your ankle is through inversion. This simply means that the ankle got pushed inward and the ankle was hurt on the lateral side. Overall, the ankle bends medially and hurts the lateral side of the ankle (outside). This is the case 85% of the time.
5. Is communication a large part of athletic training?
Communication is a huge part of being an athletic trainer. Athletic trainers may not always be able to tell what is wrong with the athlete, so it is imperative there is communication between the two. It is the athletic trainers job to inform the coach and potentially the EMS as to what the injury is, so that the athlete and the injury can be dealt with in the most effective way.
6 What types of challenges do athletes and athletic trainers face on a daily basis?
They both face challenges on a daily basis. For an athlete it may be adjusting to a new brace or type of tape, while for an athletic trainer it may be having to buy more materials and equipment or figure out how to accommodate certain things for their athletes.
7. If you are a certified athletic trainer in one state, can you perform athletic training duties in any other state?
Not necessarily because the rules and regulations governing the practice of athletic training vary tremendously from state to state. And it is because of this that an athletic trainer must always be aware because rules and regulations are always changing and if you are not aware of such things you could loose your licensing or face liability.
8. What is better type of protective equipment, taping or a brace?
Using a brace is supposedly better than using tape, but that is kind of up to the athletic trainer or athlete to decide what they prefer. Braces are suppose to be better because technically the tape loosens slightly about 30 minutes into competition. But in my opinion tape still does a very good job as protective equipment. There are different types of tape that have their own special qualities, such as Kinesio Tape (therapeutic, elasticity of 130-140% original length), PowerFlex Tape (cohesive, sweat and water resistant), and PowerTape (high tensile strength, zero stretch, cohesive that sticks to itself or to PowerFlex)
9. What is OSHA?
OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and it has certain regulations for athletic trainers. These regulations keep athletic trainers on top of their job and make sure that they are doing things in the most sanitary ways.
10. Are athletic trainers responsible to purchase such things as tape, creams, and other sorts of materials that may help take care of the athletes?
Normally, a professional athletic trainer would not have to order equipment and materials because there is usually an equipment manager to do that. But, an athletic trainer at a high school or a small college may be responsible for ordering equipment because there is a smaller budget. It depends at what level the athletic trainer works at.
I further enhanced my knowledge on the field of athletic training and hope I was able to deliver some new information to you as well. Reading through this textbook has only further enhanced my interest in athletic training and has led my mind on a race track of questions.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Environmental Considerations
When people think of athletic training, what comes to mind? Do they think of broken legs? A man wearing a fanny pack? Adam Sandler from Waterboy? Those are things that one might easily imagine when asked about athletic training. What about the environment? Bet that did not come right to mind.
A major concern for athletic trainers is athletes practicing in extremely hot conditions. This is a major concern in sports such as lacrosse and especially football because of all the pads they wear. Athletes who exercise in hot, humid environments are particularly vulnerable to heat stress. And it is not uncommon to see a few stories on national or local news every year about a death of an athlete taking place due to this. It is for this reason that I sometimes wonder why more sports teams do practice inside on a regular basis.
Although you might not think athletic training has much to do with the environment, it most certainly does. The way a player is acting can have direct correlation to the environment they are in. If a player is under much environmental stress and is not careful to take the right precautions, there could be drastic and devastating consequences. That is why it is always key for athletic trainers to understand and know the conditions the athletes are playing in.
I myself never really thought of athletic training as having much to do with the environment, but after some examination it was easy for me to see. Athletes play in all sorts of conditions. Whether it be rain, snow, or just plain old heat, the body is effected. Being able to recognize potentially dangerous situations before they happen is key to being an effective athletic trainer.
A major concern for athletic trainers is athletes practicing in extremely hot conditions. This is a major concern in sports such as lacrosse and especially football because of all the pads they wear. Athletes who exercise in hot, humid environments are particularly vulnerable to heat stress. And it is not uncommon to see a few stories on national or local news every year about a death of an athlete taking place due to this. It is for this reason that I sometimes wonder why more sports teams do practice inside on a regular basis.
Work Cited
Peiser,
B., et al. "Seasonal Changes and Physiological Responses: Their Impact
on Activity, Health, Exercise and Athletic Performance." International SportMed Journal 7.1 (2006)ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
Analyzing Narrative
Athletic Training is not an easy job by an means. There are many different situations an athletic trainer can be in. These situations could range from being minor to extremely serious and life threatening. Athletic trainers are taught to be aware and on their toes at all times. All it takes is a split second for an injury to take place. Taking care of an injury once it has happened is a big part of being an athletic trainer, but preventing injuries is just as important if not more important.
I attempted to find memoirs about members of athletic training, but did not have the best of luck. Although I did come across a few that were helpful in demonstrating what it is like being an athletic trainer. Through reading these memoirs I could sense that the type of environments that these athletic trainers were in were occasionally hectic, loud, and unpredictable. Being able to image the type of environment that these athletic trainers are working under helps other people better understand what the athletic trainers are feeling in these situations and how they may react. From these memoirs you also get a sense of calmness. In high tension there is a need to stay calm and under control, so that the athletic trainers can give proper care and attention to the athletes. There is also a sense if connection that one can take away from these memoirs. I mean it only makes sense that athletic trainers usually do and should feel a personal connection to the athletes they are taking care of. With this connection they are able to take better care of their athletes.
Athletic training is so much more than just taking care of athletes. It is about connecting with people. Athletes are people after all. When athletic trainers view their athletes as people and not athletes, they are truly being true athletic trainers.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Nutrition and Supplements
Over the course of this year so far I have come to learn a lot more about aspects in the field of athletic training, such as nutrition and supplements. When I think about athletic training, nutrition and supplements are not the first things that come to mind. But, they are extremely important and athletic trainers need to have a full understanding in order to help their athletes grow, recover, and not do any harm to their body or organs. Many people would probably say that you do not need to know a whole lot information on nutrition to be a good athletic trainer. They might say that there is a dietitian for that or that athletes eat enough food anyways. While many college and professional sports teams do have dietitians, there is a need for the athletic trainers know and have a grasp on nutrition and supplements so that the athletes are in peak condition to perform to the best of our abilities.
We see workout programs such as P90X and Intensity on television all the time. If you are like most people you look at the television screen when the infomercial comes on and think that is too hard for me to do or that there is no way someone can look the way the people in the infomercial do. This is not an uncommon thing to think. What most people do not understand is that the way the people on the workouts eat is huge in contributing to their muscle gain and weight loss. There are so many different foods out there and if you do not know what your actually eating you could be doing an inconvenience to your body.
I know when I workout I drink a protein shake once I am finished. This is the same routine for many athletes after they workout. Since many athletes take protein after they workout, it is okay for you to take it then. That may be very true or very wrong. People with renal impaired functions are recommended to not consume excessive high intakes of protein because it can do damage to their kidneys and liver. Athletes who suffer from this can still get enough protein through consuming normal food, but should not consume protein shakes on top of that. It can also be hazardous to anyone to take too many supplements or too much of a supplement. Doing this can cause damage to internal organs as I mentioned and limit other nutrients in the body.
Not enough athletes, especially younger athletes in high school and in middle school, do not understand or know enough about supplements to be taking as many as they are. Schools should have programs that educate their students on how to grow muscle and loss body fat in a safe and effective way. So the next time all you athletes go to GNC, read the labels and think about what you are actually getting.
We see workout programs such as P90X and Intensity on television all the time. If you are like most people you look at the television screen when the infomercial comes on and think that is too hard for me to do or that there is no way someone can look the way the people in the infomercial do. This is not an uncommon thing to think. What most people do not understand is that the way the people on the workouts eat is huge in contributing to their muscle gain and weight loss. There are so many different foods out there and if you do not know what your actually eating you could be doing an inconvenience to your body.
I know when I workout I drink a protein shake once I am finished. This is the same routine for many athletes after they workout. Since many athletes take protein after they workout, it is okay for you to take it then. That may be very true or very wrong. People with renal impaired functions are recommended to not consume excessive high intakes of protein because it can do damage to their kidneys and liver. Athletes who suffer from this can still get enough protein through consuming normal food, but should not consume protein shakes on top of that. It can also be hazardous to anyone to take too many supplements or too much of a supplement. Doing this can cause damage to internal organs as I mentioned and limit other nutrients in the body.
Not enough athletes, especially younger athletes in high school and in middle school, do not understand or know enough about supplements to be taking as many as they are. Schools should have programs that educate their students on how to grow muscle and loss body fat in a safe and effective way. So the next time all you athletes go to GNC, read the labels and think about what you are actually getting.
Work Cited
Torres-McGehee,
Toni, et al. "Sports Nutrition Knowledge among Collegiate Athletes,
Coaches, Athletic Trainers, and Strength and Conditioning Specialists." Journal of Athletic Training 47.2 (2012): 205-. ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Learning the Language
I was watching college basketball this weekend and enjoying basketball as I always do. Players were running up and down the court on fast breaks shooting, jumping, defending making it all look so easy. This continued to be the case for the most of the game, except for a few minor injuries that only required the aid of athletic trainers. In these instances the athletic trainers were talking among one another and working together as they always do.
It was this talking that got me thinking. What where they exactly saying? A regular fan just watching sports assumes they are just saying simple easy to understand terms. While they may be using some simple terms, there are other more complicated terms used in their vernacular. Terms such as MCL (Medial collateral ligament) , ACL (Anterior cruciate ligament), LCL (Lateral collateral ligament), distal, and medial are used to describe potentially very complicated injuries. These words are taken for granted my the normal individual, but make a big difference. By using these words the care of injured athletes is done superbly. By using these words athletic trainers become defined.
I can recall a scene from Miracle where Doc is talking to Herb Brooks after Rob McClanahan's injury during intermission. He uses some athletic training vernacular much like the words used above. Brooks is baffled and demands Doc to tell him what is really wrong. Doc responds to Brooks by telling him that McClanahan has a deep muscle bruise. The vernacular Doc uses makes him appear as intelligent and in control of the situation. This representation in pop culture represents an athletic trainer in a fairly accurate way. And I do appreciate that. Athletic trainers are not always characters in movies or shows, and when they are they are not always representative of true athletic trainers (e.g. Waterboy). But, this scene from Miracle does shines an accurate light on what an athletic trainer is through the language Doc uses.
More scenes should be in sports movies or shows that represent an accurate athletic trainer. It would help people come to know and understand athletic trainers better. By using the proper words the dialogue can demonstrate the severity of the situation and what the athletic trainer feels. And in doing this people would possibly have a greater appreciation for what athletic trainers do and who they take care of.
Work Cited
Miracle. Dir. Gavin O'Connor. Perf. Kurt Russel, Patricia Clarkson, Noah Emmerich. Disney, 2004.
DVD.
It was this talking that got me thinking. What where they exactly saying? A regular fan just watching sports assumes they are just saying simple easy to understand terms. While they may be using some simple terms, there are other more complicated terms used in their vernacular. Terms such as MCL (Medial collateral ligament) , ACL (Anterior cruciate ligament), LCL (Lateral collateral ligament), distal, and medial are used to describe potentially very complicated injuries. These words are taken for granted my the normal individual, but make a big difference. By using these words the care of injured athletes is done superbly. By using these words athletic trainers become defined.
I can recall a scene from Miracle where Doc is talking to Herb Brooks after Rob McClanahan's injury during intermission. He uses some athletic training vernacular much like the words used above. Brooks is baffled and demands Doc to tell him what is really wrong. Doc responds to Brooks by telling him that McClanahan has a deep muscle bruise. The vernacular Doc uses makes him appear as intelligent and in control of the situation. This representation in pop culture represents an athletic trainer in a fairly accurate way. And I do appreciate that. Athletic trainers are not always characters in movies or shows, and when they are they are not always representative of true athletic trainers (e.g. Waterboy). But, this scene from Miracle does shines an accurate light on what an athletic trainer is through the language Doc uses.
More scenes should be in sports movies or shows that represent an accurate athletic trainer. It would help people come to know and understand athletic trainers better. By using the proper words the dialogue can demonstrate the severity of the situation and what the athletic trainer feels. And in doing this people would possibly have a greater appreciation for what athletic trainers do and who they take care of.
Work Cited
Miracle. Dir. Gavin O'Connor. Perf. Kurt Russel, Patricia Clarkson, Noah Emmerich. Disney, 2004.
DVD.
Monday, January 14, 2013
About Me
Communication is huge in our world today. My communication skills have been reinforced and practiced all throughout my educational career, especially my writing. This was a main focus in my secondary school or high school to get myself ready for SAT and ACT tests, the college application process, college, and ultimately the real world. With so much focus on my writing I was able to grow to become a solid student and do well in school. Furthermore, it has allowed me to be in the position I am today as a student at Michigan State University.
Just as everyone does, I have weaknesses to my writing and I have strengths. One of the main weaknesses to my writing is that sometimes I lack variety. Due to this my writing may seem dull and boring and that is never desired. Overall, my word choice is not terrible, but it could most certainly be better. There are times in my writing where the lack of good word choice really brings down the quality and hinders what I am trying to demonstrate, describe, or convey. As far as strengths go, the number one strength to my writing is good details and support. This aspect of my writing really enhances the quality of my writing and makes it better to read and understand. Next, proper grammar is another strength of mine and because of this most of my writings are very easy to read and follow. Although I said word choice was one of my weaknesses, it is also one of my strengths. When my thoughts are flowing and I am in deep tune with my writing my word choice truly shines.
By sticking to these strengths in this blog, I hope to accurately portray what the daily life of an athletic trainer is like and what their job entails. If individuals will be able to get excited and interested in the field of athletic training by reading my blog I will be extremely satisfied. I also hope to show that athletic trainers are more than people who give you water, ice, and tape ankles. Athletic trainers are certified professionals, who must be on their toes and ready at all times for an injury to occur. Not enough people give athletic trainers credit for what they do, so I plan on given credit where credit is do.
I have played sports all my life and have come in contact with many athletic trainers. What they do for us athletes is truly special and I thought maybe that would be something that I would like to do. I mean you are around sports all the time and get to make a difference in athletes’ lives, what could better? The human body has always been something that has interested me and I would enjoy to learn how to prevent injuries, fix injuries, and how to keep yourself healthy. A job in sport seems like the only way for me to go and it does not look like being a professional athlete is an option. So naturally I guess the most probable, worthwhile, and enjoyable profession for me would have to be a job in the field of athletic training.
Just as everyone does, I have weaknesses to my writing and I have strengths. One of the main weaknesses to my writing is that sometimes I lack variety. Due to this my writing may seem dull and boring and that is never desired. Overall, my word choice is not terrible, but it could most certainly be better. There are times in my writing where the lack of good word choice really brings down the quality and hinders what I am trying to demonstrate, describe, or convey. As far as strengths go, the number one strength to my writing is good details and support. This aspect of my writing really enhances the quality of my writing and makes it better to read and understand. Next, proper grammar is another strength of mine and because of this most of my writings are very easy to read and follow. Although I said word choice was one of my weaknesses, it is also one of my strengths. When my thoughts are flowing and I am in deep tune with my writing my word choice truly shines.
By sticking to these strengths in this blog, I hope to accurately portray what the daily life of an athletic trainer is like and what their job entails. If individuals will be able to get excited and interested in the field of athletic training by reading my blog I will be extremely satisfied. I also hope to show that athletic trainers are more than people who give you water, ice, and tape ankles. Athletic trainers are certified professionals, who must be on their toes and ready at all times for an injury to occur. Not enough people give athletic trainers credit for what they do, so I plan on given credit where credit is do.
I have played sports all my life and have come in contact with many athletic trainers. What they do for us athletes is truly special and I thought maybe that would be something that I would like to do. I mean you are around sports all the time and get to make a difference in athletes’ lives, what could better? The human body has always been something that has interested me and I would enjoy to learn how to prevent injuries, fix injuries, and how to keep yourself healthy. A job in sport seems like the only way for me to go and it does not look like being a professional athlete is an option. So naturally I guess the most probable, worthwhile, and enjoyable profession for me would have to be a job in the field of athletic training.
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