IN THE NEWS #5 Hyponatremia is an Epidemic in Sports Today

In Sports Nutrition Class we discussed hyponatreumia and its effect on endurance athletes performance. After watching the interesting video of the Womens Olympic Marathon in 1984, it has raised my interest in the importance of proper hydration and sodium/water balance in endurance sports. This video discusses the idea of hyponatreumia and its effect on Ultra Marathon Runners.

As an athletic trainer it is our duty to make sure that our athletes are properly hydrated. Although we cannot force them to drink certain beverages and stop them from drinking others it is very important that we educate them on proper hydration, how to tell if one is hydrated, how much is needed to properly rehydrate after activity or competition, and self testing of hydration status via urine color, etc.
Please view the video and let me know what you think.

IN THE NEWS #4 Interview with Casey Smith, Head Athletic Trainer for the Dallas Mavericks

With the NBA Lockout going on not only does this mean that the players are out of work. The coaching, equipment, and medical staff are all out of work also. Rewinding back to last season with the Miami Heat against the Dallas Mavericks, problably one of the best NBA series in NBA history, we watched a veteran team from Dallas Beat a younger energetic team of Miami. This interview is with Casey Smith, Head Athletic Trainer of the Dallas Mavericks. This interview is very insightful on his accomplishmments and experiences as an Athletic Trainer. Please read the article by clicking the link below and tell me what you think.

http://www.nasm.org/1/Community/Interview_with_Casey_Smith,_Head_Athletic_Trainer_for_the_Dallas_Mavericks/

IN THE NEWS #3 - Another Sideline Injury

        Athletic Trainers are focused on the field/court during competition making sure all of the players are playing safely. Recently there have been a trend of injuries occuring off of the field. Another football injury last week occured off the field and on the sidelines when the Baltimore Ravens punter Sam Koch collided with the coach. Although the injury may not be severe this time, there have been more severe cases such as Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints breaking his left leg and Charlie Wise tearing all of his ligaments in 2008.
       Our role as the Athletic Trainer is to ensure that not only the players are sfe but the coaching, referee, and other staff as well as spectators are all safe. In high school the MIAA has passed a rule that all players must remain in the players box during the game and failure to do so can result in a penalty for the team. Although this rule has been created many referees do not enforce it as it should be. It is also understandable that these football players and coaches are full of adrenaline that they do not obey these rules simply because they are in "the zone". If enforcing this rule will result in less unecessary injuries then it needs to be enforced more. Less injuries means a less stressful day for the AT and medical staff.

Should this rule be inforced in the NFL also? Please read the article below and tell me what you think.

 http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7154802/jaguars-jack-del-rio-latest-coach-injured-sideline

IN THE NEWS 2: Unfair play in NFL?

Im sure many of you have seen the Eagles games of the first few weeks of the NFL and if not then the highlights. The similarity between all of these Eagle highlights are QB Michael Vick getting hit after the ball is released. Are the referees not seeing the plays or is Michael Vick just complaining and being over dramatic? Heres a link of the press conference after last weeks game, lets here what Mr. Vick has to say...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XofnGmgFYKc&feature=related

Seeing this video, many say that he is complaining to much and he makes to much money to complain about getting hit, others say that he is right about what he is saying but went about it the wrong way when addressing the public, and some believe that he was wrongfully treated and he was letting out his frustrations. What do you think? Here are some professional sports analysts thoughts and a few highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLtP37NVnw0&feature=related

This weeks in the news article addresses the NFL giving out fines to football players for late hits. Sanchez, Bradford, and Brady were all recipients of late hits but nothing on Michael Vick. Does Vick have a point?

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/story/2011-10-07/fines-hits/50690780/1

As an athletic trainer, situations like these are hoped to be dealt with fearly. The athletic trainer(s) of the Philadelphia Eagles want to make sure that their players are not only healthy but are being treated fairly. Rules that are enforced for only certain players and not your own are unfair. This causes more work and stress on the player, team, and the athletic medical staff. Please tell me what you think

Work-Family Conflict?

 

 

     In research methods class im sure many of you remember the work-family conflict article about how research has shown that the profession of Athletic Training causes conflict with personal lives. This article displays an Athletic Trainer fullfilling her dreams of becoming an Athletic Trainer and the struggles and conflicts it causes with her personal life.
    As an Athletic Trainer it is important to understand the time commitment and dedication required for this profession. I feel that the work-family conflict article was an interesting read, but actual real life experiences and testimonials are also nice to see also. Tell me what you think.

http://gargoyle.flagler.edu/2011/10/head-athletic-trainer-fulfills-her-dream-job/

IN THE NEWS "Crying Wolf" during football game

I have seen this in soccer plenty of times where a player would go down intentionally to stop the play of the game. Im not sure how popular it is in football but it has obviously occured enough to make an article about it. Two NFL player are accused of faking injuries against their opponent in order to take away their momentum. The players state that this is part of the game, what do you think?

As an athletic trainer student, I feel that this is very dangerous. An athletic trainer is always concerned with the well being of all their athletes. For players to treat a serious and potentially life threatening situation as a way to get an edge over an opponent is highly inappropriate. An athletic trainer must always react to every injury as a serious one and for football players to be doing this can greatly effect the athletic trainers work. Please read the article an tell me what you think.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/More-fallout-from-8220-Flopgate-8221-8212-?urn=nfl-wp7833

Tough Love in the Gym

    

 Im sure many of you have seen the movie 300. The warriors in this movie were not all professional body builders. They trained hard to get into shape for the big screen. These difficult workout sessions have been publicized throughout the media and has also been reviewed in Mens Health Magazine.  How would you like to work out with the creator of the 300 workout? Well, recieving a membership to this gym isnt as simple as paying a monthly fee. If fact, its quite difficult to get in. Members of this ffacility must be interviewed and pass certain pyhsical screenings in order to be a member of the gym. "We choose clents, they dont choose us" Wasnt the whole purpose of going to the gym to get into shape? Not only are the members of this gym in shape but before they become official members of the gym they are considered "warned". They are not at all sympathetic for tears, sweat, or limping. "You were free to choose and you did. Now lie in it." Pretty intense huh? Please read through this article and tell me what you think?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/fashion/gym-jones-preaches-the-cult-of-physicality.html?ref=nutrition

Cafetaria foods becomes healthier, why arent the students?

  Documentaries such as "Super Size Me" has brought attention to the unhealthy eating habits young children and teens partake in during and after school. The obesity rate has increased drammatically among the young population. It has gone to the point where childen as young as 7 years old are being diagnosed with diabetes. This article addresses the changes done with school cafetaria foods and its effect. This article proves that it is not the food offered to these sugar hungry children in schools that may be the cause of this problem. Although schools are providing healthier home cooked meals to there students, they still find a way to have there ice cream, chips, and soda during lunch time.
  In my opinion, healthy eating habits start at home. I feel that it is up to the parents to teach there children how to eat properly rather than to blame schools and fast food restuarant advertisements. I also believe that obesity is not from food alone but also results from no exercise and lack of sleep. I can go on forever about this topic. Im curious to know what others think about unhealthy eating amoongst young children and teens.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/us/11bcfoodtrucks.html?ref=nutrition

How far is to far?

http://www.highschoolsports.net/sports/preps/football/2011-09-13-football-player-claims-he-was-hurt-by-coachs-punishment.htm

Athletics even at the high school level require dicipline. In order for an athlete to achieve goals and perform at the best of his or her ability, coaches tend to dicipline there athletes. I personally think that there is absolutely nothing wrong with discipline. It will not only help the athlete on the fields and courts but also in school and later on in life.
Coaches today have different point of views when it comes to dicipline. Some coaches will have a player "run laps" as a form of discipline while other coaches would argue that running is a privilege and should not be given to athletes as a form of punishment, I agree with this opinion. Some coaches may punish their athletes with more exercise, while others may suspend the athlete for a certain amount of time. The big question with discipline is "How far is to far?".
In the link above reads the story of an athlete that was disciplined to the point of near death. Read this article and please share your thoughts.