Turf Issues

A recent NFL study found that some knee and ankle injuries occur more often on turf than grass.

Posted: March 12, 2010

Bonus Effect

A preliminary study showed evidence that an osteoporosis drug also helps patients recovering from rotator cuff injuries.

Posted: March 11, 2010

Worse Than MRSA?

A category of bacteria similar to MRSA is evolving and becoming resistant to existing antibiotics.

Posted: March 10, 2010

Vitamin D For Strength

A recent study found that low levels of vitamin D might lead to less muscle strength.

Posted: March 9, 2010

Hoops Head Injuries Rise

A look at head injuries in men's and women's NCAA basketball.

Posted: March 8, 2010

Safety Concerns

USA Football has created a 17-member wellness committee to address safety at the youth level.

Posted: March 5, 2010

ATC Reacts

This Texas athletic trainer reacted quickly Wednesday to save a soccer athlete who collapsed during practice.

Posted: March 4, 2010

Shoulder Injury Rates

According to a recent study, those most likely to suffer shoulder injuries are older women and men aged 15 to 29.

Posted: March 3, 2010

Too Light on the Feet?

An NBA strength coach says a rash of ankle, knee, and groin injuries on his team is due to lightweight shoes.

Posted: March 2, 2010

Baseline Testing Required

The NFL is requiring all of its combine invitees to undergo baseline brain activity exams this year.

Posted: March 1, 2010

First Female Honored

The University of Kentucky recently honored alumna Mimi Porter, the first female certified athletic trainer in the state.

Posted: February 26, 2010

At First Sign

The NFHS has tweaked its return-to-play rule in football this week with a focus on concussions.

Posted: February 25, 2010

Football Player Death

A University of Mississippi football player died Friday after the team's first conditioning session of the season.

Posted: February 24, 2010

Angles & ACLs

A look at whether ethnic groups with more slanted tibias have higher rates of ACL injuries.

Posted: February 23, 2010

Referee's Discretion

Both NCAA football and soccer added "signs of a concussion" to reasons a referee may stop the game clock.

Posted: February 22, 2010

Quick Catch

A closer look at the development of the new concussion reaction test developed by a high school student.

Posted: February 19, 2010

With Cheese?

To reduce inflammation Olympian Lindsey Vonn has been wrapping her injured shin in ... an Austrian cheese.

Posted: February 18, 2010

Predicting Injuries

A group of Spanish researchers offer a mathematical equation to predict injury.

Posted: February 17, 2010

Reaction Time Test

A recent study showed that a simple drop-and-catch reaction test may be just as valuable as computerized reaction programs designed to detect concussions in athletes.

Posted: February 16, 2010

Endurance Athletes At Risk

A study of elite cross country skiers shows that the endurance athletes are at higher risk for atrial fibrillation.

Posted: February 15, 2010

Heart Defect To Blame

A 14 year-old track and field athlete who died after collapsing during practice warmups on Wednesday had an undetected heart defect at birth.

Posted: February 12, 2010

Texas Lacking ATCs

According to the Co-Director of athletic training and sports medicine at the University of Texas, more than half of Texas high schools don't have athletic training coverage.

Posted: February 11, 2010

Back Pain Risk

A recent study says teenagers who started playing competitive sports when they were in elementary school have an increased risk for back pain in their teens.

Posted: February 10, 2010

Masking Agent Watch

Olympic drug testers are keeping an eye out for a new drug that can mask the use of illegal performance enhancers. If found, it would spell a major doping problem among Olympic athletes.

Posted: February 9, 2010

Baseball vs. Softball

A study comparing high school baseball and softball shoulder injuries found they occur at the same rate in both sports, but are more concentrated in baseball pitchers.

Posted: February 8, 2010

Supplement Safety

A piece of legislation called "Supplement Safety Now" is gaining support, with the American College of Sports Medicine now backing it.

Posted: February 5, 2010

Regulating Energy Shots

As the market for "energy shot" drinks continues to boom, German health officials are calling for better consumption regulations.

Posted: February 4, 2010

Colleges Under Scrutiny

At the House Judiciary Committee hearing on the handling of head injuries, NCAA conferences and schools were criticized for not adopting stricter treatment protocols.

Posted: February 3, 2010

Promoting Cartilage Growth

Researchers have now developed a bioactive nanomaterial that promotes the growth of new, healthy cartilage by activating bone marrow stem cells.

Posted: February 2, 2010

N.C. Lagging

In North Carolina, more than half of the state's high schools still don't employ certified athletic trainers despite the state association's recommendation to do so.

Posted: February 1, 2010

Higher Risk For Females?

A recent research review has found that females see much higher rates of specific musculoskeletal injuries and medical conditions than their male counterparts.

Posted: January 29, 2010

More Than Words

A recent study reports that athletes who are told they have a "concussion" are more likely to return to activity sooner than those who are told they have a "brain injury."

Posted: January 28, 2010

ATCs Save Life

Prior to the start of a basketball game, these two athletic trainers from opposing colleges used an AED and performed CPR on a professor who had collapsed on a nearby sidewalk.

Posted: January 27, 2010

Soccer Injuries Increase

A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics says there are now more injuries among youth soccer players than ever.

Posted: January 26, 2010

New Speed Limit

A new study says the human body is capable of running even faster than 28 miles per hour--the top speed Olympian Usain Bolt has achieved.

Posted: January 25, 2010

Watching What They Eat

The Notre Dame University football team is experimenting with implementing a training table program so that a closer eye can be kept on players' nutritional intake.

Posted: January 22, 2010

Post-Concussion Exercise

A study on post-concussion syndrome showed that a custom aerobic exercise program can help these athletes return to a symptom-free state sooner.

Posted: January 21, 2010

Licensure Coming to Calif.?

The California Athletic Trainers' Association plans to introduce legislation that would regulate and license the state's athletic trainers.

Posted: January 20, 2010

Heart Of The Matter

The sudden death of 26 year-old NFL player Gaines Adams on Sunday, apparently after a heart attack, is turning the spotlight on heart abnormalities like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy once again.

Posted: January 19, 2010

New ATC At Louisville

Meet the University of Louisville's new Director of Sports Medicine for Football, Kyle Johnston, who has spent the past five years at the University of Florida.

Posted: January 18, 2010

College Hoopster Dies

A Southern Indiana University men's basketball player died Thursday night following a game in which he suffered an apparent head injury after falling.

Posted: January 15, 2010

New Safety Bills

Two bills aimed at protecting student-athlete safety are being submitted to the California Legislation this week. They focus on head injuries and heat stroke.

Posted: January 14, 2010

Achilles Injury Study

A recent study found that over a third of NFL players who sustained an Achilles tendon injury were never able to return to professional play.

Posted: January 13, 2010

HS Wrestler Dies

A Michigan high school wrestler died last week following his appearance in a meet. Cause of death is still unknown.

Posted: January 12, 2010

Continuing Heat Study

The University of South Florida will use the grant money it was awarded by the NFL to further study the effects of heat on athletes, including prevention methods.

Posted: January 11, 2010

Player Suffers Stroke

A Florida high school soccer player is in the Intensive Care Unit at a local hospital after he suffered a stroke during practice this week.

Posted: January 8, 2010

Continuing Concussion Hearings

The House Judiciary Committee plans to hold hearings on head injuries in high school and college, similar to its recent hearings on the issue in the NFL.

Posted: January 7, 2010

Cheerleading And Concussions

Most people think of football when they hear the word "concussion," but the majority of injuries suffered by high school cheerleaders are in fact concussions, making it one of the most dangerous high school sports offered.

Posted: January 6, 2010

Barefoot For Less Joint Pain?

In a recent study, researchers found higher torque levels in participants' hip, knee, and ankle joints when the subjects ran in running shoes versus when they ran barefoot.

Posted: January 5, 2010

HS Athlete Dies

A Massachusetts high school boys' ice hockey player collapsed on the ice during a practice last week and died. The cause of death is still unknown.

Posted: January 4, 2010

Insurance Suit Dismissed

The lawsuit filed by a former University of Georgia football player that claimed the school was negligent in not insuring him against a career-ending injury has been dismissed.

Posted: December 30, 2009

Coach Suspended

After allegedly putting pressure on a player who sustained a concussion to get back to the field, Texas Tech Head Football Coach Mike Leach is on suspension.

Posted: December 29, 2009

Eight ACLs

At USC, two female basketball players have a combined eight ACL surgeries and have yet to play a college game.

Posted: December 28, 2009

ATC Awarded Fulbright

Michael Ferrara, director of Georgia's athletic training education program, was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Ireland.

Posted: December 23, 2009

Heart Disorder Ends Career

University of California women's basketball player Tierra Rogers was diagnosed with a rare heart disorder that ended her playing career, but she is still an integral part of the squad.

Posted: December 22, 2009

Reviewing HGH

Not everyone is jumping on the HGH bandwagon. Some experts think more research should have been done before the treatment went mainstream, while others claim it doesn't help the healing process at all.

Posted: December 21, 2009

Longtime ATC Retires

After almost 50 years in the industry, University of Texas-Dallas Athletic Trainer Larry Gardiner will retire at the end of the year.

Posted: December 18, 2009

NSAID Warning

Experts warn athletes against the use of NSAIDs before competition because they could mask an injury, allowing the athlete to continue playing on it--which could make the injury even worse.

Posted: December 17, 2009

New Concussion Rule Proposed

The NCAA's Competitive Safeguards Committee has proposed a new rule that would not allow an athlete deemed to have lost consciousness to return to play for the rest of that day.

Posted: December 16, 2009

Warmup for Prevention

A recent study of this warmup program showed decreases in severe injuries by half and total injuries by a third.

Posted: December 15, 2009

USF Remembers Hayes

Walter "Wally" Hayes, a longtime University of San Francisco athletic trainer who died last month, was remembered at a campus memorial service this weekend.

Posted: December 14, 2009

NCAA Changes Coming?

The NCAA's Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports will review the recent research and congressional happenings related to concussion safety.

Posted: December 11, 2009

NFL Supporting Research

The NFL is donating $1.5 million to 11 different sports medicine research organizations.

Posted: December 9, 2009

Exercise And Bone Health

Several recent studies are disputing the longheld belief that exercise helps to strengthen bones, especially in young athletes.

Posted: December 8, 2009

Low-Gravity Workout

This $75,000 NASA treadmill is making its way into the mainstream athletics world. It allows athletes to work out or rehab with reduced gravity pressure.

Posted: December 7, 2009

Teen Supplement Use

Athletes have heard countless warnings about the dangers and possible ill side effects of some supplements, but the message is perhaps most important for teenage athletes.

Posted: December 4, 2009

New Concussion Rules

Following a congressional hearing last month, NFL officials have instituted tougher concussion guidelines, which take effect with this week's games.

Posted: December 3, 2009

Extra Weight, Extra Risk

A recent study from the American College of Sports Medicine says two-thirds of Division I linemen are obese, which increases their risk for off-field health issues like diabetes.

Posted: December 2, 2009

Safety Group Speaks

The sports safety work group in Kentucky has released its final report, which calls for more athletic trainers to be employed and a better injury tracking system.

Posted: December 1, 2009

Serious Skull Fracture

A California high school football player, who was wearing his helmet at the time, suffered a skull fracture during a game Thursday and remains in critical condition.

Posted: November 30, 2009

Teen Footballer Dies

A 16 year-old Connecticut football player was taken off life support Tuesday, three days after collapsing during a game.

Posted: November 25, 2009

Runner's Knee

A new study, which tracked athletes before they were injured instead of after, says patellofemoral pain syndrome may be to blame for the curious condition known as "runner's knee."

Posted: November 24, 2009

SARMs Sales Increase

Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, which are non-steroid agents used to treat diseases like osteoporosis, are being sold to athletes on the black market at an increasing rate.

Posted: November 23, 2009

Two Is Better

A recent study shows evidence that conducting both an echocardiogram and an electrocardiogram is most effective when screening athletes for heart defects.

Posted: November 20, 2009

Advantage After All?

Disputing previous studies that say artificial lower limbs do not give amputees an advantage over their counterparts, a new study says just the opposite.

Posted: November 19, 2009

AED Saves Life

A 16 year-old Florida high school boys' basketball player is recovering at a local hospital after being revived with an AED in the school gym at practice Saturday morning.

Posted: November 18, 2009

Helmet Safety

A year after a New Jersey football helmet manufacturer admitted the company lied about the safety of its helmets, questions are still swirling.

Posted: November 17, 2009

Remarkable Recovery

On Saturday, USC running back Stafon Johnson made his first public statement since his neck was crushed during a weightlifting accident in September.

Posted: November 16, 2009

More Iron, Please

A recent study says that adding milk to fruit juice drinks may help consumers up their iron intake from the juice.

Posted: November 13, 2009

Extra Help

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, the number of youth athletes working with personal trainers has doubled in the last few years.

Posted: November 12, 2009

Anderson To Head CATS

Oklahoma University Head Athletic Trainer Scott Anderson will become the new President of the College Athletic Trainers Society.

Posted: November 11, 2009

Air Quality Concerns

The sports safety work group that was formed earlier this year in Kentucky is calling for guidelines on air quality safety to be established for coaches' use.

Posted: November 10, 2009

One Sport Injury Risk

A recent study from Loyola University helps confirm suspicions that specializing in one sport--in this instance, tennis--increases an athlete's injury risk.

Posted: November 9, 2009

ACSM Pres. To Run Torch

American College of Sports Medicine President and Michigan State University Professor of Kinesiology Jim Pivarnik will be one of the torch bearers at the Olympic Games in February.

Posted: November 6, 2009

Dentistry Partners

This area dentist office has formed a partnership with the athletic training staff at Virginia Tech and the local high school, offering to make their teams custom mouthguards each season.

Posted: November 5, 2009

Budget Cuts

At Hawai'i Pacific University, budget cuts eliminated the school's assistant athletic trainer, which is proving to be too big of a hole for the department.

Posted: November 4, 2009

Skin Infections On The Rise

A recent survey from the NATA has found a surge in the number of skin infections seen by athletic trainers in the past year.

Posted: November 3, 2009

Pushing It

Taking a look at the mental prowess of athletes who are able to push through exertional pain.

Posted: November 2, 2009

Supplement Risk

A strength-gaining supplement is being blamed for causing a stroke in this 17 year-old football player.

Posted: October 30, 2009

Lawmakers Discuss Head Injuries

The House Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on head injuries this week, looking at links between between playing professional football and cognitive impairment later in life.

Posted: October 29, 2009

For Cancer Research

Not to be left out of sports teams' campaigning for breast cancer research during breast cancer awareness month, the athletic training students at this California high school participated in a fundraiser of their own.

Posted: October 28, 2009

Later in Life

A recent study involving professional football and baseball players shows that larger athletes--even those in good physical shape--have more health issues later in life.

Posted: October 27, 2009

Fighting The Flu

Among the recommendations the Rhode Island Interscholastic League sports medicine advisory committee handed down this school year are replacing high-fives and handshakes with fist or elbow bumps.

Posted: October 26, 2009

Better Testing

The state-of-the-art drug testing facilities that will be in use at the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010 were unveiled this week.

Posted: October 23, 2009

CTE Update

While we know of six former NFL players who died with a specific form of brain damage called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), it has now also been found in a deceased college football player.

Posted: October 22, 2009

Flu Hits Roster Hard

An H1N1 virus outbreak at this Michigan high school forced the boys' soccer team to forfeit its first-round district tournament game.

Posted: October 21, 2009

Multiple Concussions

After sustaining 11 concussions, this high school girls' basketball player has reached her limit.

Posted: October 20, 2009

Three Die in Marathon

Three runners in last weekend's Detroit Marathon collapsed and died. Initial autopsy results show all were in good physical condition.

Posted: October 19, 2009

Quick Reaction

This Washington high school athletic trainer and three students are being credited with saving the life of a jogger who collapsed on the school's campus.

Posted: October 16, 2009

Another Weightlifting Injury

One of the top players on the Sacramento Kings was seriously injured when the physio-ball he was doing dumbbell presses on popped.

Posted: October 15, 2009

One Stop Shop

The University of Iowa joined a growing trend this week when it opened a new sports medicine facility on campus.

Posted: October 14, 2009

No ATC, No Play?

After one of his players was injured and there was no athletic trainer on site to attend to her, this Pennsylvania high school girls' soccer coach refused to continue playing.

Posted: October 13, 2009

Player Death Prompts Suit

The family of a New Jersey high school football player who died last year after a brain hemorrhage is suing the school and the doctor who cleared him to return to play after suffering multiple concussions.

Posted: October 12, 2009

DNA Answers

Researchers in Spain are beginning a new genetic testing study, hoping to find a DNA link to sudden cardiac death in athletes.

Posted: October 9, 2009

Easing the Pain

Though there are no published studies to prove it, college football players' use of prescription painkiller shots is common.

Posted: October 8, 2009

On the Sidelines

The University of Tennessee men's basketball player who collapsed last month had an internal cardiac defibrillator implanted this week and can no longer participate in athletics.

Posted: October 7, 2009

Keeping Up

A current Senate Judiciary Committee hearing is revealing how difficult it is for watch groups to keep up with new products on the market that may contain steroids.

Posted: October 6, 2009

Timing Factor

A recent study found that student-athletes who underwent reconstructive surgery for a torn ACL during the school year suffered more academically than their peer counterparts who waited to schedule surgery during a winter or summer break.

Posted: October 5, 2009

Early Dehydration

A study at Indiana State University recently found that many college athletes, especially football players, show up at preseason already dehydrated.

Posted: October 2, 2009

Staph Infection Spreads

Extra precaution is being taken at Simpson College, where five football players have staph infections.

Posted: October 1, 2009

Safe Weights

A serious weightroom injury sustained by a University of Southern California football player earlier this week has prompted worry about weightroom safety.

Posted: September 30, 2009

Concussion Death

A 17-year-old Washington high school football player died Sunday after being hit in the head and suffering a concussion during a game Friday night.

Posted: September 29, 2009

Fair Practice Settlement

A tentative out-of-court agreement has been reached in the NATA's fair practice case against the American Physical Therapy Association, which the NATA claims has unfairly restricted athletic trainers from educational materials.

Posted: September 28, 2009

Supplement Warning

Newly unsealed court papers allege that nutrition company BodyBuilding.com is selling dietary supplements that contain steroids and designer steroids.

Posted: September 25, 2009

Raising Awareness

The Illinois Athletic Trainers Association and the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch have teamed up for a concussion safety awareness campaign.

Posted: September 24, 2009

MRSA Still a Threat

While the H1N1 flu is grabbing all the headlines, MRSA is still around as Simpson College has learned with five football players sidelined by the bacteria.

Posted: September 23, 2009

Promoting Cartilage Growth

A recent study found that taking daily supplements of a modified collagen may help promote cartilage re-growth after an injury.

Posted: September 22, 2009

Congrats to Aaron Nelson

The National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA) recently named Phoenix Suns Aaron Nelson as the 2008-2009 Joe O'Toole NBA Athletic Trainer of the Year.

Posted: September 21, 2009

Stinson is Acquitted

A jury has decided that former football coach Jason Stinson is not guilty in the death of his player, Max Gilpen.

Posted: September 18, 2009

Shockwave Therapy A Dud?

Though it is currently widely used, shockwave therapy may not be the best way to address shoulder pain, says a recent study.

Posted: September 17, 2009

Ineffective Measure?

Due to the H1N1 virus, the NCAA has made it optional for volleyball teams to participate in post-game handshakes, but not everyone agrees with the decision.

Posted: September 16, 2009

Another ACL Factor?

A study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine says that smaller ligament volume may be a factor in ACL injuries.

Posted: September 15, 2009

Not Following Guidelines?

Three athlete deaths this year that were likely related to heat illness means coaches and school administrators are being accused of improperly following preseason heat guidelines.

Posted: September 14, 2009

Concussion Trend

Researchers spent hours watching YouTube clips of football hits that resulted in concussions and may have revealed an important physical trend exhibited by concussed players.

Posted: September 11, 2009

Antioxidant A Dud?

Quercetin, an antioxidant found in leafy vegetables, berries, the skin of fruits, and now various supplements, may not have the same athletic performance boosting effect in humans as it does in mice.

Posted: September 10, 2009

Swine Flu Hits Teams

The H1N1 virus has hit more than a few college football teams already this season, with many players sitting out of practices and games with flu-like symptoms.

Posted: September 9, 2009

Asthma Death

An Illinois high school football player who collapsed during a Friday night game died in the emergency room, apparently of an asthma attack.

Posted: September 8, 2009

Pain Killer Problem

Recent studies suggest that for endurance athletes, popping anti-inflammatory pain killers may actually hinder performance.

Posted: September 4, 2009

Severe Injury Rates

A recent survey of high school sports injury rates found that football and wrestling athletes suffered the highest number of severe injuries--those that caused them to miss more than three weeks of activity.

Posted: September 3, 2009

Safety First, Looks Second

Though it may not look the sleekest, a new batting helmet with special padding and a polypropylene liner is getting a warm reception from those worried about head injuries in baseball.

Posted: September 2, 2009

Running In Socks

As the debate continues over whether wearing sneakers is what's best for athletes' feet, several companies have come up with "sneaker" models that are very thin--more like a thick sock.

Posted: September 1, 2009

Common Beliefs Questioned

A team of researchers from the University of South Florida is in the middle of a long-term project tracking injuries at 10 area high schools. The researchers reveal what they have found after two years.

Posted: August 31, 2009

College Hoops Death

A Grambling State University basketball player who was hospitalized a week ago following a conditioning session on campus died Wednesday.

Posted: August 28, 2009

Teaming Up

The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) is partnering with a sports medicine clinic to create a medical advisory council that will be part of the TSSAA.

Posted: August 27, 2009

Injections Study

A new clinical review studied the administering of gameday pain relief injections and found the pros still outweighed the cons.

Posted: August 26, 2009

H1N1 Worries

Inside Higher Ed asks the NCAA and individual colleges about the H1N1 flu virus and what level outbreak it would take for them to cancel a home contest.

Posted: August 25, 2009

HS Football Player Death

A Tennessee football player collapsed during a game Friday night and went into cardiac arrest. He died in the emergency room an hour later.

Posted: August 24, 2009

Testing Debate

As Texas enters its second year of random testing of high school athletes for performance enhancing drugs, the debate over the program's effectiveness continues.

Posted: August 21, 2009

Soccer Athlete Dies

A University of Mary Washington men's soccer player collapsed and died during the team's first preseason practice Tuesday.

Posted: August 20, 2009

Smaller Weights

This training gym features custom-made "child size" weights for youth athletes looking for an edge.

Posted: August 19, 2009

Knee Surgery Advancement

Instead of taking cartilage and bone from a healthy part of the knee and transplanting it to the injured part of the knee, an inserted "plug" in the injured part can have the same growth-stimulating effect.

Posted: August 18, 2009

Helmet Safety

A new batting helmet that has been proven to withstand 100-mile per hour pitches debuted on Sunday at an All-American high school baseball game.

Posted: August 17, 2009

Kicking Plays Risky?

New survey results show that the more severe high school football injuries occur during kickoffs and punts.

Posted: August 14, 2009

H1N1 Still Spreading

Two Mars Hill College athletes have confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu virus, as well as two area high school student-athletes.

Posted: August 13, 2009

Illinois Expands Testing

High school athletes in Illinois are now subject to random drug testing anytime during their sport's season. Testing was previously limited to the postseason.

Posted: August 12, 2009

No Help For Feet?

Several recent research studies are questioning the effectiveness of newer technology used in sneakers, like strategically placed gel, air, rubber, and foam cushioning.

Posted: August 11, 2009

Two-A-Days Debate

As fall sports begin two-a-day practices, there is renewed discussion--and criticism--about the NATA's proposal to do away with them.

Posted: August 10, 2009

Beetroot For Stamina?

A new study showed athletes could exercise 16 percent longer after consuming beetroot juice, which has a nitrate that reduces oxygen intake, slowing down the drinker's exhaustion rate.

Posted: August 7, 2009

SDSU Hires NFL ATC

South Dakota State University has hired Owen Stanley, who was most recently an assistant athletic trainer with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, as its Head Athletic Trainer.

Posted: August 6, 2009

Asthma Responsible

A 12-year-old football player died after practice Monday, apparently due to an asthma attack he suffered while leaving school grounds.

Posted: August 5, 2009

Cheerleaders At Risk

The number of cheerleading injuries has steadily risen over the years to make the sport the leading cause of catastrophic injuries in girls.

Posted: August 4, 2009

Under Heat

A Dallas Morning News survey of area high school football teams found that many are not using NATA and state association guidelines when practicing in extreme heat.

Posted: August 3, 2009

Extra Precaution

Several Boston area high schools have implemented concussion safety measures, including requiring more training for department staff members and the use of sideline software testing programs.

Posted: July 31, 2009

Football Player Death

Despite his coach calling for an ambulance as soon as he noticed one of his players was acting disoriented, a Tennessee high school football player died Wednesday following a routine practice session.

Posted: July 30, 2009

ATCs Off The Field

A Michigan school district has laid off its three athletic trainers, along with several assistant coaches, due to budget cuts.

Posted: July 29, 2009

Supplements Abound

A survey by the Iowa High School Athletic Association found almost 70 percent of high school student-athlete respondents used some type of performance enhancing supplement in the past year.

Posted: July 28, 2009

Researchers Thrown A Curve

Two recent studies contradict the long-held belief that youth baseball pitchers shouldn't throw curve balls because of the added stress the motion puts on the arm.

Posted: July 27, 2009

Supplement Warning

The FDA alleges that two over-the-counter dietary supplements, Tren Xtreme and Mass Xtreme, which are popular among high school football players, contain steroids.

Posted: July 24, 2009

Quick Diagnosis

A physician from the Andrews Institute talks about using sports musculoskeletal ultrasound to quickly diagnosis athletic injuries.

Posted: July 23, 2009

Mind & Body

A new study has found a link between sudden cardiac death in healthy athletes and how those people respond to mild mental stress during exercise.

Posted: July 22, 2009

Less Tests

The money allocated for steroid testing in Texas high schools dropped from $6 million to $2 million, which means far less student-athletes will be tested this year.

Posted: July 21, 2009

Taller Faster

A Duke University study found that elite athletes grow taller faster than the rest of the general population.

Posted: July 20, 2009

Higher Impacts in HS

A new study that followed football players during the 2007 season says high school football players experience higher impact tackles than college players.

Posted: July 17, 2009

Double Charges

The Iowa Board of Athletic Training is filing charges against a former Iowa high school athletic trainer convicted of having a sexual relationship with an underage student.

Posted: July 16, 2009

Twist To Recovery

A simple exercise that involves twisting and untwisting a rubber bar has shown great promise for sufferers of tennis elbow.

Posted: July 15, 2009

New ATC At Arizona State

Arizona State University has a new head athletic trainer: Bill Martin, who previously was the head athletic trainer for football at the University of South Carolina.

Posted: July 14, 2009

Balancing Act

Some new studies have shown that balance training may be the key to helping athletes with weak ankles avoid injury.

Posted: July 13, 2009

Setting an Example

Student-athletes at one Massachusetts high school are encouraging teammates to show they're drug free through voluntary drug tests.

Posted: July 10, 2009

Football Death

A football player at Western Carolina University collapsed and died during a voluntary workout Wednesday. Athletic trainers were on hand.

Posted: July 9, 2009

ER Visits

The latest numbers say over 20 percent of youth emergency room visits are related to sports injuries.

Posted: July 8, 2009

Good Fatty Acids

A new study, in which mice ran faster after consuming sunflower oil, holds evidence that polyunsaturated fatty acids may be a performance booster.

Posted: July 7, 2009

New Study on Dysmorphia

New research shows that there is not a link between steroid use and muscle dysmorphia.

Posted: July 6, 2009

Off-Site Training

The teams from this Ohio high school have the option to train with a personal trainer at an off-site gym.

Posted: July 2, 2009

Endurance Enhancer?

A small study shows that the supplement Quercetin may improve athletic endurance.

Posted: July 1, 2009

Kentucky ATC On The Move

The University of Kentucky's senior Athletic Trainer Matt Summers has been named Head Football Athletic Trainer at the University of Arkansas.

Posted: June 30, 2009

Mandatory Test?

Rice University will propose NCAA-supported legislation that would require member schools to test their athletes for the sickle cell trait.

Posted: June 29, 2009

Catastrophic Survey Update

University of North Carolina sports injury researcher Fred Mueller has published his latest study of catastrophic injuries suffered in scholastic athletics. He says the number of heat-related football deaths is alarming.

Posted: June 26, 2009

Cancer Warning

Athletes are more likely to develop skin cancer because of the amount of time many of them spend outside. A new study reinforces how important preventative efforts like using sunscreen are.

Posted: June 25, 2009

Preempting Heat Illness

A new study showed evidence that pretreatment with a honey extract protected athletes from the detrimental effects of working out in a hot environment.

Posted: June 24, 2009

Forces Combined

The sports medicine and training outlets that have been providing services to several Montana high school districts have combined into a one-service unit.

Posted: June 23, 2009

PEP Launches in Minn.

The Prevent Injury and Enhance Performance (PEP) program, shown to decrease the rate of ACL injuries in female athletes, has made its official regional debut in Minnesota.

Posted: June 22, 2009

Revisiting Core Strength

Does a stronger core really help strengthen the back, thus relieving back pain? Some exercise scientists are saying no to this long-held belief.

Posted: June 19, 2009

Youth Recovery Slower

A recent study showed evidence of adolescent brains needing longer to recover than adult brains after suffering a concussion.

Posted: June 18, 2009

Giving Back

The clinic that provides sports medicine coverage for this New Jersey high school returned its $6,000 annual fee to the school to help with funding.

Posted: June 17, 2009

After School

A first-hand look a what happens to college linemen once they leave school, keep their playing diets, yet don't maintain their activity levels.

Posted: June 16, 2009

Camper Death

A 14-year-old athlete collapsed and died while at a basketball camp at Michigan State University. The cause of death is still unknown.

Posted: June 15, 2009

Testing For Sickle Cell

Worries over athletes carrying the sickle cell trait are increasing, and more schools are taking action to screen their players.

Posted: June 12, 2009

Improving Athletes

Notre Dame is adding an athletic performance division to its athletic department, designed to improve athlete welfare in new ways.

Posted: June 11, 2009

Lassoing Rodeo

University of Nevada School of Medicine students will get some hands-on experience helping to provide athletic training coverage at the Reno Rodeo later this month.

Posted: June 10, 2009

Back to the NFL

University of Arkansas Head Athletic Trainer Joe Sheehan is leaving campus after less than a year to return to the NFL, where he will serve as Head Athletic Trainer for the Cleveland Browns.

Posted: June 9, 2009

Too Tight Rules?

Some medical experts wonder if the stricter return-to-play concussion guidelines that have been popping up across the country are too stringent.

Posted: June 8, 2009

Nitrite Use Warning

Since the beneficial effects of nitrite were made public, some athletes have been taking the prescription drugs to improve performance. But the side effects can be devastating.

Posted: June 5, 2009

Coaches Education

In less than two weeks, the fast-track approved Kentucky legislation that calls for sports safety education for high school coaches will go into effect.

Posted: June 4, 2009

More On Chocolate Milk

A new study showed no difference in athletes who consumed chocolate milk versus those who drank a recovery shake post-workout.

Posted: June 3, 2009

Caffeine For Asthma Help

A new study has shown that a large dose of caffeine taken within one hour of exercise can help reduce exercise-induced asthma symptoms.

Posted: June 2, 2009

Hip-ACL Connection?

The number of hip injuries seen in professional athletes has increased over the past 10 years. Could it be due to a common rehab method used for ACL tears?

Posted: June 1, 2009

Athletes Not In The Know

A new study that surveyed minor league hockey players about concussion symptoms and return to play protocol found many are clueless when it comes to concussion safety.

Posted: May 29, 2009

Running Right?

Should you fix a runner's bad form? The debate rages on, and the results of studies currently underway are much anticipated.

Posted: May 28, 2009

Safer Baseball?

A new study shows that youth baseball injuries requiring an emergency room visit decreased 25 percent from 1994 to 2006.

Posted: May 27, 2009

Heart Smart

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill that would require heart screenings for high school student-athletes.

Posted: May 26, 2009

Vols Strength Coach Moving On

Six months after being hired by University of Tennessee Head Football Coach Lane Kiffin, Mark Smith is leaving as the Volunteers strength and conditioning coach.

Posted: May 22, 2009

Post-Workout Pain Relief

Posted: May 21, 2009

Sports Med Doc Faces Charges

Posted: May 20, 2009

Cast Only?

New research has found that surgery after a ruptured Achilles tendon may not be necessary.

Posted: May 19, 2009

ATC Sues State Board

A former Boise State University Athletic Trainer is suing the Idaho Board of Medicine, alleging she was blamed for the mistake her supervisors made in hiring an unlicensed athletic trainer.

Posted: May 18, 2009

Ankle Injury Repeats

Brigham Young University researchers found that those who have suffered an ankle injury see a significant muscle response delay in possible injury scenarios afterward.

Posted: May 15, 2009

Regular Food Best?

Researchers found that eating cereal and non-fat milk post-workout did just as good a job with replenishment as sports drinks.

Posted: May 14, 2009

H.S. Football Player Death

A Georgia high school football player suddenly collapsed and died after catching a ball and being tackled during a spring practice Monday. The cause of death is still unknown.

Posted: May 13, 2009

Free Screenings

An agreement that gave a University its next batch of research data allowed area high schoolers to get their required physicals, complete with EKG, done free of charge.

Posted: May 12, 2009

Vitamin D Explained

The Post Chronicle looks at the controversy surrounding the recent ACSM paper that showed vitamin D to be a distinct athletic performance enhancer.

Posted: May 11, 2009

Massage Myth Debunked?

A study to be presented later this month at the ACSM conference says getting a massage post-workout doesn't improve blood flow as most people have assumed for years, but actually impairs circulation.

Posted: May 8, 2009

Strength Training For Kids

A recently published study says pre-adolescent athletes can reap benefits from strength training, including improving their overall strength, bone mineral density, and lipid profile.

Posted: May 7, 2009

Task Force The Answer?

State lawmakers in North Carolina have introduced a bill that would create a sports injury task force to study high school sports safety.

Posted: May 6, 2009

More Time Needed

USA Today reports on the latest concussion study, which says over 40 percent of high school athletes return to play too soon after suffering a concussion.

Posted: May 5, 2009

Eating For Defense

One way to help reduce the likelihood of developing asthma and even ease its symptoms may be through more folate, which is found in green leafy veggies, lentils, and chick peas.

Posted: May 4, 2009

Males Affected Too

We traditionally picture a girl or woman when someone says the words "eating disorder," but the number of males with eating issues seems to be increasing.

Posted: May 1, 2009

Texas Puts Sports on Hold

The University Interscholastic league, which governs most high school sports in the state of Texas, has suspended competition for two weeks because of the swine flu outbreak.

Posted: April 30, 2009

ATCs Lack Asthma Education

A study from Ohio State University revealed few athletic trainers at NCAA institutions follow best practices when dealing with asthmatic athletes.

Posted: April 29, 2009

New Preseason Requirements

This Kentucky school district is taking the state's new athlete-safety rules a step further by requiring all athletes to attend a safety seminar with their parents.

Posted: April 28, 2009

Player Hit By Pitch Dies

The Missouri high school baseball player who was hit in the head by a pitch just below his helmet last week died after being in critical condition at a local hospital for two days.

Posted: April 27, 2009

Athletic Trainer Arrested

A Texas high school athletic trainer has been arrested on child pornography charges.

Posted: April 24, 2009

Brain Stem Injury

A Missouri high school baseball player is in critical condition after being hit in the head just below his helmet with a pitch during a game on Tuesday.

Posted: April 23, 2009

With a Grant

A grant that has allowed this Indiana high school to purchase AEDs and materials like mannequins for practicing CPR has given the athletic training class a big boost.

Posted: April 22, 2009

Plyos, Anyone?

Plyometrics have definitely made a comeback in the sports world. Strength and conditioning coaches talk about the benefits here.

Posted: April 21, 2009

Hormones & Knees

While previous research has discounted a connection between a women's hormone cycle and knee laxity, new research says there is in fact a correlation.

Posted: April 20, 2009

Hazing Still Happening

Elizabeth Allan and Mary Madden of the University of Maine have officially completed their high school hazing report, and found that not much has changed in the past eight years.

Posted: April 17, 2009

Missouri-O'Neal Case

The University of Missouri and the parents of football player Aaron O'Neal, who died during a summer workout on campus in 2005, settled a lawsuit last month, but newly-obtained court records reveal more details.

Posted: April 16, 2009

All in the Head?

A new study that asked endurance athletes to complete a time trial after only rinsing (not swallowing) a sports drink in their mouths found they experienced a higher power output than those in the control group.

Posted: April 15, 2009

Career-Affecting Injuries

A recent study compares the data of elite college football players' injuries and the length of their subsequent NFL careers.

Posted: April 14, 2009

Back on the Field

After battling cancer the past year, University of Central Florida football player Darius Nall returned to the field this weekend in UCF's annual spring game.

Posted: April 13, 2009

Stress Injuries Examined

The new NCAA men's basketball champion University of North Carolina Tar Heels set the stage to explain the difference between a stress reaction and stress fracture.

Posted: April 10, 2009

Early Identification

A new program in Texas will offer cardiovascular screenings free of charge to middle school students on five campuses in the Houston area.

Posted: April 9, 2009

Kentucky Safety Course

Kentucky officials are working hard to create the online sport safety course the state's high school coaches are now required to complete.

Posted: April 8, 2009

More Sports Med Space

To expand its on-campus sports medicine offerings, the University of Nevada will purchase an orthopaedic clinic stationed next to its football stadium.

Posted: April 7, 2009

Baseline Bill

A Bill recently introduced in Texas would require all of the state's high school athletes to undergo baseline testing, to be used in the event an athlete suffers a concussion during play.

Posted: April 6, 2009

Custom Made

Now that his team is in the Final Four, Michigan State University's Raymar Morgan got a custom made facemask for his broken nose.

Posted: April 3, 2009

NC Football Deaths

In light of five student-athlete deaths at North Carolina high schools this school year, the state's athletic directors recently attended a workshop on handling catastrophic events.

Posted: April 2, 2009

Performance Enhancing Coffee?

Researchers say that caffeine can reduce pain caused by athletic exertion.

Posted: April 1, 2009

NATA's Take

The NATA responds to the passing of legislature in Kentucky that requires high school coaches to be trained in sports safety.

Posted: March 31, 2009

On the Scene

Actor Quinton Aaron recently joined Georgia Tech's strength and conditioning program in order to get in shape for the role of a college football player in an upcoming film.

Posted: March 30, 2009

More Testing

The Illinois House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill that would extend the state's high school steroid testing program by randomly testing students throughout the year instead of just in the postseason.

Posted: March 27, 2009

Kentucky Law Passed

A much-debated bill designed to increase student-athlete safety in Kentucky has been signed. The new law will require coaches to pass a test after taking a 10-hour course on sports medicine.

Posted: March 26, 2009

Windmill Pitching Forces

A recently published study that used motion analysis and electromyography shows that softball's windmill pitching style places much force on pitchers' biceps.

Posted: March 25, 2009

Better Heart Screens

In a major step toward more effective heart screenings for athletes, a study has found 14 common genetic variants connected to a higher risk of sudden cardiac death.

Posted: March 24, 2009

Speed Factor

It has long been thought that the metabolic "cost" of running was the same, no matter the speed of the runner. But a new study says running efficiency actually varies with the runner's chosen pace.

Posted: March 23, 2009

Questions Remain

The North Carolina high school football player who died in August after returning home from a scrimmage apparently died of natural causes. Though he was dehydrated, he did not die from heat-related illness.

Posted: March 20, 2009

Preempting Problems

A nutritionist, personal trainer, and sports enhancement specialist have teamed up to create a program for youth athletes aimed at fixing movement deficiencies early on in their athletic careers.

Posted: March 19, 2009

Hockey Teams Hit Hard

Liberty University was one of the teams attending the American Collegiate Hockey Association Championship over the weekend hit hardest by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Posted: March 18, 2009

Two Docs

A look at how the University of Iowa's two team physicians work in tandem to contribute to the success of the school's athletic teams.

Posted: March 17, 2009

Fewer MRSA Cases

The NFL is seeing a steady decline in MRSA infections. The League released a report last week that says teams are taking the right steps to prevent and treat infections.

Posted: March 16, 2009

False-Positives?

A study to appear in the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows genetic variation and ethnic differences in hormone activity is common enough in different races that the current internationally-used urine drug test should not be used to detect steroids.

Posted: March 13, 2009

Missouri Lawsuit Settled

Almost four years after football player Aaron O'Neal's death, University of Missouri employees (including the head athletic trainer) and the parents of O'Neal have reached a settlement in their wrongful death lawsuit.

Posted: March 12, 2009

Bill Addresses Concussions

A bill introduced in Washington targeting the state's youth and high school sports programs aims to increase concussion awareness.

Posted: March 11, 2009

Enough Coverage?

What is the appropriate level of medical coverage for club and intramural sports that don't fall under the athletic department umbrella?

Posted: March 10, 2009

Still Playing

This 14-year-old California boys' basketball player was born with a heart defect and wears a pacemaker as a precaution. He's had to have surgery three times after wires disconnected from the pacemaker while he was playing.

Posted: March 9, 2009

Testing Catches On

After the success of this Nevada high school's random drug testing program (seven positive test in its first year and zero in its second year)‚ more area high schools will implement similar testing programs.

Posted: March 6, 2009

Training Your Breathing

A small study involving 27 college soccer players showed that the athletes who used a training device which resists the user's inhales saw their athletic performance improve.

Posted: March 5, 2009

Longtime Iona ATC Passes

Joseph Buono, an athletic trainer at Iona College for the past 50 years, died over the weekend at the age of 97. Buono, also an assistant baseball coach at the school, even worked a few basketball games this season.

Posted: March 4, 2009

New Asthma Study

A UCLA study says eating more broccoli and other mustard-family plants may help asthma sufferers.

Posted: March 3, 2009

Win-Win Deal?

This Ohio high school and a local hospital group have entered into a 10-year deal that gives the school athletic training services and $75,000 each year for facilities upgrades in exchange for the new athletic complex naming rights.

Posted: March 2, 2009

Tommy John Results

Even after an injury recurrence, athletes who underwent rotator cuff repair (Tommy John) surgery had improved shoulder function, a new study says.

Posted: February 27, 2009

Heart Defect Death

A New York high school rugby player who collapsed on the practice field and died Tuesday had a known heart defect—hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—and was on medication for the condition.

Posted: February 26, 2009

Safety Bill Moves On

The measure introduced last week in Kentucky that would require all coaches be CPR and AED trained was unanimously passed by the House Education Committee. The bill now moves on to the full House.

Posted: February 25, 2009

Concussion Repercussion

A recent study involving a pool of over 1.5 million subjects found that young adults who had suffered a mild brain injury—such as a concussion—were at two times the risk for developing epilepsy.

Posted: February 24, 2009

Steroids & Injuries

A survey of over 2,500 retired NFL players found evidence that those who used steroids were at a much higher risk for suffering musculoskeletal injuries.

Posted: February 23, 2009

Harvard Hires Frazier

Harvard University has hired alum James Frazier to take over it strength and conditioning program. Frazier is currently an assistant strength coach at the University of Iowa.

Posted: February 20, 2009

Datalys Center Opens

College athletic trainers can now start reporting injury data to the Datalys Center, which is taking over administrative duties of the NCAA's injury surveillance program next school year.

Posted: February 19, 2009

Testing Cheerleaders

A new policy was just adopted at this California high school: Cheerleading team members will be subject to random drug testing just like the rest of the school's student-athletes.

Posted: February 18, 2009

Power Of Eggs

Researchers recently found that eggs contain a high amount of leucine, an essential amino acid that aids athletes' muscles in using glucose—which is especially important for athletes undergoing endurance training.

Posted: February 17, 2009

Bone Density Low Among Cyclists

Because the sport is low impact, many don't think cycling can have much detrimental effect on the body, but avid cyclists who don't mix in much high-impact work are at risk for problems with bone density.

Posted: February 16, 2009

Fighting Concussions

A panel of concussion experts is recommending that all levels of hockey ban high hits to the head area and fighting in general.

Posted: February 13, 2009

Vitaminwater Tests Positive

Six varieties of Coca-Cola's Vitaminwater tested positive for substances banned by the NCAA. The Rescue and Energy flavors are both banned because they contain caffeine or guarana seed extract, according to the NCAA Web site.

Posted: February 12, 2009

Another N.C. Athlete Dies

North Carolina continues to have an unsettling sports year, as its fifth high school athlete died Monday during a basketball practice. The state saw four high school football deaths this past fall.

Posted: February 11, 2009

Less Stress

A new twist on a surgical method for fixing a specific stress fracture common in soccer players is showing signs of great success.

Posted: February 10, 2009

Super Bowl Rehab

Hines Ward of the NFL's Super Bowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers is the latest high-profile athlete to take advantage of a new treatment: Platelet Rich Plasma injections.

Posted: February 9, 2009

Vitamin D For Strength

We all know vitamin D is good for our bones, but a new study shows that girls with higher vitamin D levels than their peers may jump higher and faster.

Posted: February 6, 2009

Short Strength Staff

Harvard University's strength and conditioning staff has been cut in half. Within one month's time, the head coach and one assistant announced their resignations, leaving two coaches to oversee all 41 intercollegiate teams.

Posted: February 5, 2009

Herpes Cancels Matches

All intra-league wrestling competition has been suspended in this Pennsylvania high school league because of a herpes gladiatorum outbreak.

Posted: February 4, 2009

Off Too Easy?

To the dismay of those fighting drug use, many of Michael Phelps's fans and all of his sponsors (so far) are standing behind him after a photo of the Olympian smoking marijuana surfaced on Sunday.

Posted: February 3, 2009

Compression Breakdown

There are mixed messages out there about compression clothing, including compression socks, which some athletes wear during workouts and others wear post-exercise to promote recovery.

Posted: February 2, 2009

Strength Coach Switch

Though he says it was a tough decision, Rice University strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight has decided to leave the school for the opportunity to help turn around Iowa State University's football team.

Posted: January 30, 2009

In Shape, Good Grades?

A study of state test results for 1,000 Massachusetts elementary and middle school students over a period of four years revealed those who did well in a physical fitness test had better math and English test scores.

Posted: January 29, 2009

Clearing The Air

A study reviewing existing research on the relationship between exercise and osteoarthritis shows exercise does not predispose athletes to osteoarthritis. It is when an athlete is injured that their risk increases.

Posted: January 28, 2009

Baylor Opens New Complex

Baylor University recently put the finishing touches on a brand new athletic complex that houses training and conditioning equipment and rehabilitation services.

Posted: January 27, 2009

Shoulder Injuries

Male high school student-athletes are more likely to suffer shoulder injuries than their female counterparts, according to a new study from the Center for Injury Research and Policy.

Posted: January 26, 2009

Lobbying for an AED

Students in a sports medicine class at this North Carolina high school successfully lobbied a local healthcare group for an AED donation.

Posted: January 23, 2009

More MRSA News

MRSA isn't just a skin infection anymore. A recent study has found the virus can also cause ear and sinus infections, as well as neck abscesses. Because of their proximity to the brain, these new symptoms must be taken very seriously.

Posted: January 22, 2009

Probiotics Research

A new study followed long distance runners and found that those who took a probiotic pill for one month had a lesser incidence of contracting a cold.

Posted: January 21, 2009

NCAA D-III News

At the NCAA Convention, Division III delegates voted to require all head coaches to be first aid certified and trained to use an AED.

Posted: January 20, 2009

Battling MRSA

A recent survey found that the rate of National Football League players contracting MRSA over the last three years declined by nearly 50 percent.

Posted: January 19, 2009

H.S. Soil Unsafe?

Carcinogen has been found in the soil at five California high schools. For now, the schools will remain open while district officials look into the chemical levels.

Posted: January 16, 2009

Extra Oxygen

Hyperbaric oxygen chambers, which some athletes have been sleeping in for years, are also being used in rehab clinics to help heal wounds faster.

Posted: January 15, 2009

Linemen At Risk

A recent Ohio State University study says almost half of the college linemen tested have metabolic syndrome, putting them at higher risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Posted: January 14, 2009

Texas Testing Out?

Has testing Texas high school athletes for steroids been a waste of time and money or a worthwhile endeavor? State lawmakers are now considering disbanding the program.

Posted: January 13, 2009

Rebounding Risks

A recently published basketball injury survey revealed some interesting statistics, including that rebounding is responsible for 25 percent of injuries.

Posted: January 12, 2009

Ahead Of The Pack

Until now, all existing tests for detecting performance enhancement drugs were created once a drug was known to be in use. Now, a new test has been developed for drugs researchers believe will be in use soon.

Posted: January 9, 2009

Recognizing Strength Coaches

These two strength and conditioning coaches, whose teams are meeting in tonight's BCS Championship game, are no behind-the-scenes characters. They play in integral role in their teams' success.

Posted: January 8, 2009

Stretching For Strength

Resistance Flexibility and Strength Training is a new stretching technique that has subjects resist as they stretch through their natural range of motion.

Posted: January 7, 2009

Females Less Active

A new study that followed two groups—adolescents and senior citizens—found that in both, females were less active than their male counterparts.

Posted: January 6, 2009

Calif. H.S. Football Player Dies

A California high school football player who died last week is thought to have had a seizure before being taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Posted: January 5, 2009

Injury Wipes Out Memory

This college basketball player lost most of her long-term memory after suffering a concussion during practice in October.

Posted: January 2, 2009

Calif. ATC Arrested

A California high school athletic trainer has been arrested after accusations that she was having an inappropriate sexual relationship with at least one male athlete at the school.

Posted: December 30, 2008

Protein The Key

A recent study from American and Canadian researchers shows that sports drinks with a combination of carbohydrate and protein are more effective in improving athletes' performance than a drink containing only carbohydrate.

Posted: December 29, 2008

The Skinny on Supplements

CNN takes a look at whether popping nutritional supplements is really worth the price.

Posted: December 26, 2008

Healthy Bones Later

A study of middle-aged women who participated in "ball sports" like tennis, volleyball, and basketball during their teenage years were found less likely to develop osteoporosis.

Posted: December 23, 2008

Motor Skills A Must

A study being published this month followed almost 250 children over a period of six years and found that motor skills during the early childhood years are of major importance for athletic ability during adolescent years.

Posted: December 22, 2008

Is Gene Doping OK?

A conference held yesterday, "The Coming Age of the Uber-Athlete: What's So Bad about Gene Enhancement and Doping?" yielded mixed thoughts from a panel of experts.

Posted: December 19, 2008

Winter Workouts

For those of your athletes who like to work out outdoors--even at freezing temperatures--here are tips on how to dress for cold-weather exercise appropriately.

Posted: December 18, 2008

Early Arthritis

University of Evansville researchers have found that athletes with prior knee injuries carry more weight on the inside of their knees—a major reason for developing osteoarthritis.

Posted: December 17, 2008

Fresno State Upgrades

A $2 million donation to Fresno State has given the athletic department a jumpstart on constructing a state-of-the-art sports medicine facility.

Posted: December 16, 2008

The Right Warmup

A study involving almost 2,000 female rugby players from Norway confirmed that completing a specific 20-minute warmup program before play prevented a substantial amount of severe injuries.

Posted: December 15, 2008

HGH Testing Evolving

Two George Mason University scientists have come up with a way to find a "reliable detectable concentration" of human growth hormone in urine, and new tests for athletes will be on their way to locker rooms shortly.

Posted: December 12, 2008

Starting Drug Testing

In the wake of several issues with its students and illegal drug possession, this North Carolina high school will implement a random drug testing program for its student-athletes next school year.

Posted: December 11, 2008

ATC Helps Save Life

A quick thinking athletic trainer, EMT, and coach are being credited with saving the life of a referee who collapsed while working a j.v. basketball game over the weekend. The crew used an AED and performed CPR until an ambulance arrived.

Posted: December 10, 2008

Specialization & Injuries

Concern over injuries has caused two-sport student-athletes in football and ice hockey to specialize in one sport or the other.

Posted: December 9, 2008

Post-Workout Massage

The benefits of massage for athletes can be great, including less pain in overworked muscles and reduced recovery time.

Posted: December 8, 2008

ACL Rehab Better Than Surgery?

A recent study suggest that rehab is better than surgery for restoring long-term function to the knee after an ACL tear.

Posted: December 5, 2008

Staff ATCs Tabled In N.C.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association is not quite ready to require all of the state's high schools to have a certified athletic trainer on staff. A newly formed task force will further investigate the proposal.

Posted: December 4, 2008

Player In Critical Condition

A 15-year-old high school football and basketball player is in critical condition after collapsing on the basketball court during a game Tuesday evening.

Posted: December 3, 2008

One Year In

With one year completed, the NCAA is currently evaluating its two-year drug education and testing pilot program for Division III student-athletes.

Posted: December 2, 2008

Bone Injuries In Gymnasts

A new study says that MRIs are finding new and different injuries in adolescent gymnasts, including injuries to the bones in wrists and knuckles.

Posted: December 1, 2008

Infection Issues

Wrestling experts discuss current guidelines used to stem sports-related skin infections.

Posted: November 25, 2008

WADA Studying Viagra

In a study financed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, scientists are examining Viagra, or sildenafil citrate, to see if the drug facilitates increased cardiac output and more efficient transport of oxygenated fuel to the muscle, thereby enhancing endurance.

Posted: November 25, 2008

Testing Debate

Randomly testing student-athletes for drug use—steroids and/or recreational—has pitted many parents who feel it is an invasion of privacy against school officials who feel it is their duty.

Posted: November 24, 2008

To Knee or Not?

High school football coaches in California talk about the trend of players being expected to take a knee while an opponent is being treated on the field for injury.

Posted: November 21, 2008

Career Over

After pleading guilty to endangering the welfare of six female New Jersey high school student-athletes, this athletic trainer will turn over both his athletic training and teaching certificates.

Posted: November 20, 2008

Faceshields Prove Effective

A new study says the two most popular football helmet faceshields on the market protect athletes from eye injury without curtailing vision.

Posted: November 19, 2008

Pregnant Athlete Guidelines

After years of discussion, the NCAA has released a new set of guidelines to ensure that pregnant athletes are able to keep their scholarships. But do they go far enough?

Posted: November 18, 2008

No Ice Necessary?

A new study says immersing an athlete suffering from heat stroke in temperate water instead of ice-cold water may in fact work to cool them down just as fast.

Posted: November 17, 2008

Recording Injury Rates

Taking a closer look at injury data gathering in high school athletics, this article has interviews with research experts Dawn Comstock and Fred Mueller, among others.

Posted: November 14, 2008

Tennis Survivor

This high school tennis player has battled Fibromyalgia, a condition causing muscle fatigue and pain, as well as a scare with breast cancer.

Posted: November 13, 2008

NFL Player Study

A study of over 200 retired NFL players shows that these former players have lower rates of diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and sedentary lifestyles, but higher rates of elevated cholesterol than their non-NFL counterparts.

Posted: November 12, 2008

Virus Cancels Game

A virus outbreak has shut down the entire Hope College campus, also putting a stop to a Saturday football game.

Posted: November 11, 2008

Coverage Spectrum

In Oregon, some high schools can't afford to have an athletic trainer on the football sideline, while others employ an entire athletic training staff to tend to athletes' needs.

Posted: November 10, 2008

In Recovery

Two months after a paralyzing spinal cord injury, this Maryland high school football player is on the mend.

Posted: November 7, 2008

Combine Questions

Combines for high school athletes are growing in popularity as student-athletes strive to stand out. Questions about the combines are rising at an equally swift rate.

Posted: November 6, 2008

Eye Protection Necessary?

The NFHS says eye protection is optional for high school field hockey players, but five states require it. Here's a closer look at the debate.

Posted: November 5, 2008

College Frosh Dies

A freshman community college basketball player from Pennsylvania died late last week after collapsing during practice. It's been assumed he had a heart defect.

Posted: November 4, 2008

B-Ballers Bulking Up

UNLV's basketball team credits its strength coach for adding bulk and physicality to the players.

Posted: November 3, 2008

XC Comeback

After dealing with a chronic pelvis injury, this Michigan high school cross country and track athlete is back to running—hopefully all the way to a state title.

Posted: October 31, 2008

Injury Prone Body?

Although there are no clear cut answers to the question of why some athletes are more prone to injuries than others, exercise scientists are finding clues, such as skeletal and structural alignment.

Posted: October 30, 2008

Coach Orders Drug Testing

At the University of North Texas, Head Football Coach Todd Dodge decided to have all his players drug tested. Fifteen tested positive for recreational drugs.

Posted: October 29, 2008

More MRSA

The fourth high school football player in Florida to be diagnosed with MRSA this year—he is currently recovering—is also the brother of a player that died from the infection in September.

Posted: October 28, 2008

Busy at Georgia

The University of Georgia football team has seen more injuries—at least 13 starters are currently out—this season than ever, according to Director of Sports Medicine Ron Courson.

Posted: October 27, 2008

Keep Helmets On

A recent study shows that removing gear like a football player's helmet right away after injury may increase risk of paralysis or neurological damage, and researchers are calling for a nationwide consensus of medical personnel to not remove an injured player's equipment.

Posted: October 24, 2008

MRSA Revisited

With Kellen Winslow of the Cleveland Browns being hospitalized for MRSA last week, The Wall Street Journal reports on the spread of the bug among football teams.

Posted: October 23, 2008

Weight Loss for Athletes

The Virginia High School League has created a program for healthy weight loss.

Posted: October 22, 2008

Some Still Testing In Fla.

Florida discontinued its pilot drug testing program for high school athletes due to a lack of funds, but this school district received a federal grant that will allow it to continue testing.

Posted: October 21, 2008

Field Hockey Injuries

In a new study of six collegiate field hockey teams, researchers found that 22.5 percent of players suffered some type of injury to the head, of which 89 percent were the result of being hit by a stick or ball.

Posted: October 20, 2008

Another H.S Death

A New Jersey football player suffered a brain hemorrhage Monday during a J.V. game and died Wednesday. He had been cleared to return to play after suffering a concussion on Sept. 18.

Posted: October 17, 2008

Lactate to the Brain

Researchers are debunking the common thought that the human brain feeds on glucose during exercise. They say the brain actually uses lactate.

Posted: October 16, 2008

Amputation vs. Surgery

A Mesa State College lineman decided to amputate his broken pinkie finger rather than have surgery so he could finish his senior season at the Division II school.

Posted: October 15, 2008

Rehab Risk

A 45-pound weight plate that was dropped during an injury rehab session rolled down a hill and struck a pedestrian, causing serious injuries.

Posted: October 14, 2008

Sport Psychology on the Sidelines

Nearly 25 years after stepping down as the Head Coach of the James Madison University football program, Challace McMillin is helping the team as a sports psychologist.

Posted: October 13, 2008

ATCs To Be Required?

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association Sports Medicine Committee held an emergency meeting this week to discuss student-athlete safety. One recommendation is for the Association to require athletic trainers at all schools in the state.

Posted: October 10, 2008

Heart Checkup

The NBA is the first professional sports league to require all its players to undergo a heart stress test and echocardiogram as part of their preseason physical exam.

Posted: October 9, 2008

Losing Height

A presentation at the ACSM Annual Meeting covered a study that found high school football players shrink up to a half-inch during games due to repeated blocking and tackling.

Posted: October 8, 2008

Georgetown Cancels Games

All but two athletic contests on the Georgetown University campus were cancelled over the weekend as every team has at least one student-athlete infected with the norovirus, a highly contagious stomach virus with severe symptoms.

Posted: October 7, 2008

H.S. Deaths On Rise

The NFHS has called an emergency meeting of its sports medicine committee, as the Federation has seen a significant rise in high school student-athlete deaths and catastrophic injuries this school year.

Posted: October 6, 2008

HGH Summit

Major League Baseball has partnered with UCLA's School of Medicine to present the Human Growth Hormone Summit on campus in November.

Posted: October 3, 2008

MRSA Death in Florida

MRSA has been confirmed as the cause of death for an 18-year-old Florida high school football player that died Monday.

Posted: October 2, 2008

Up To Date

The University of New Haven has started a Web page dedicated to keeping the public updated on James Hilaire, its men's soccer goalkeeper who remains in critical condition after colliding with another player during a game.

Posted: October 1, 2008

Overuse In Other Sports, Too

Baseball pitchers are often the subject of overuse concerns, but what about football quarterbacks, who are also undergoing Tommy John surgeries and experiencing sore shoulders?

Posted: September 30, 2008

Easing Back Pain

Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University are in the midst of testing the use of a growth factor called osteogenic protein via injection for chronic low-back pain sufferers.

Posted: September 29, 2008

Canine Research To Help Athletes

A professor at Oklahoma State University's Center for Veterinary Health Sciences recently completed a study that followed racing sled dogs to better understand endurance in athletes.

Posted: September 26, 2008

Stretching Debate, Continued

Although some of the latest research on stretching touts its benefits, this UNLV study says stretching before exercise may actually reduce leg power, hindering an athlete's performance.

Posted: September 24, 2008

Coaches To Don Helmets

NCAA baseball coaches will join their Major League Baseball counterparts in wearing helmets when coaching bases next season.

Posted: September 23, 2008

A Matter of Faith

Muslim athletes observing Ramadan face a challenge as they try to succeed in sports while fasting during the day.

Posted: September 22, 2008

FDA Says BPA is Okay

Amidst the release of a study printed in The Journal of the American Medical Association that shows certain levels of BPA—a common chemical found in plastic water bottles and sports equipment—can cause diabetes and heart disease, the FDA maintains the chemical is safe.

Posted: September 19, 2008

New Sports Med Facility

The University of Iowa broke ground this week on a $6 million sports medicine facility that will cater to more than 700 student-athletes.

Posted: September 18, 2008

Reacting to Hyperthermia

After suffering a severe hyperthermic episode during swim practice last week, this University of North Carolina swimmer was pulled from the pool by coaches and sent to a local hospital. She is now in stable condition and out of the Intensive Care Unit.

Posted: September 17, 2008

No Supplement Contamination

According to the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance, 90 percent of athletes were taking supplements at the 2008 Olympic Games, but not a single supplement contamination case was reported.

Posted: September 16, 2008

Educational Approach

Pennsylvania lawmakers are not considering testing their high school athletes for steroids, but rather implementing legislation that would have high school coaches and athletic trainers educate their athletes about nutrition and avoiding steroid use.

Posted: September 15, 2008

Staph Sidelines Players

Six cases of staph infection, including one MRSA, have been reported on this Indiana high school football team. The players will not be allowed to participate without a doctor's permission.

Posted: September 12, 2008

Good Return Rate

A recent study that followed 16 NCAA Division I and professional athletes who underwent wrist surgery for triangular fibrocartilage tears found that most were back to full capacity after just three months.

Posted: September 11, 2008

Open Transactions

A bill trying to make its way through Congress would require companies that design and manufacture medical devices to disclose payments they make to doctor-consultants.

Posted: September 10, 2008

New Asthma Research

Researchers have found an interesting connection in athletes that suffer from exercise-induced asthma: Their ability to sweat and produce tears is less than athletes who don't have breathing issues.

Posted: September 9, 2008

Mass. Football Player Dies

A 16-year-old Massachusetts football player died during a scrimmage Friday night. Athletic trainers originally thought he had suffered a concussion, but he was hit in the chest and an EKG at the hospital found a heart defect.

Posted: September 8, 2008

Giving Back Through Check-ups

Physicians teamed up with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association to provide annual physicals to area high school student-athletes at a reduced rate. Of the $25 each student paid, $20 of it was forwarded to the athlete's athletic department.

Posted: September 5, 2008

Steroid Testing Program Violated

A Texas high school has been put on probation for one year by the University Interscholastic League after it was found that school officials violated the confidentiality aspect of the steroids testing plan.

Posted: September 4, 2008

One-Sport Injuries

The latest research trickling out to the public is confirming worries about the toll sport specialization can take on a young athlete's body.

Posted: September 3, 2008

Sensors Granted

A $70,000 grant is allowing this North Carolina district’s high schools to install sensors in its football players’ helmets. Officials hope to be able to use the data recorded to help prevent future concussions.

Posted: September 2, 2008

Jump To It

We may think of high-impact activities like repeated jumping to put stress on joints and bones, but for adolescents, a warmup program including up to 300 jumps per 10-minute session showed an improvement in bone and muscle strength.

Posted: August 29, 2008

Coaches At Fault?

A police investigation to determine if there was criminal conduct in relation to a Kentucky high school football player’s death is on its way. Four witnesses have said players were denied access to water during the preseason practice at which the player collapsed.

Posted: August 28, 2008

Food For Hydration

Water and sports drinks aren’t the only ways to get important fluids. What an athlete eats throughout the day has a big impact on hydration as well.

Posted: August 27, 2008

Up Next: Paralympics

Beijing will next play host to the Paralympics, which begin Sept. 6, and this Kansas physician will make the trip as one of six doctors on the United States staff charged with treating over 200 athletes on 18 teams.

Posted: August 26, 2008

No DNA Damage

An Austrian study that followed 42 male athletes from two days before they completed a triathlon to 19 days afterward shows that although the extreme exercise caused oxidative stress, the athletes experienced no DNA damage.

Posted: August 25, 2008

Breaking Down Baking Soda

You've heard by now that some athletes are resorting to ingesting bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) before races to help keep up their endurance. Here's a closer look at how exactly the process works and if it truly is beneficial.

Posted: August 22, 2008

Healthy Hearts

An enlarged heart is automatically assumed to put an athlete at higher risk for sudden cardiac death, but new research on Olympic athletes shows it's the heart's blood-pumping action that makes the difference, not the size.

Posted: August 21, 2008

Tape Is Turning Heads

With a number of high profile athletes using it at the Beijing Olympics, Kinesio tape, a common tool for athletic trainers and physical therapists, is in the mainstream spotlight.

Posted: August 20, 2008

Sweat Analysis

The key to finding the perfect balance of enough hydration, but not too much, during exercise may be in a sweat analysis, which is becoming more commonplace among elite athletes in training.

Posted: August 19, 2008

Cheerleading Injuries

A National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research study found cheerleading to be the most dangerous high school sport, accounting for 65.1 percent of all catastrophic sports injuries among high school girls in the past 25 years.

Posted: August 18, 2008

Four Years, One Positive Test

After four years of drug testing high school athletes in Macon County (North Carolina) high schools, for the first time a test came back positive.

Posted: August 15, 2008

Football Death in NC

A football player for Chapel Hill High School in North Carolina died after a scrimmage and dehydration is thought to be a possible cause.

Posted: August 14, 2008

NFL Injury Data

The July issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine features a 10-year review of finger, hand, wrist, elbow, and arm injuries among athletes in the NFL.

Posted: August 13, 2008

Olympic Vision

A new training technology that improves athletes' vision and eye-hand coordination was used by a number of Olympic athletes competing in Beijing.

Posted: August 12, 2008

Evolved Testing

Believe it or not, Olympic athletes have been drug-tested for almost 40 years. Here's a look at advances in testing, including the use of mass spectrometry.

Posted: August 11, 2008

A Little Stretch

A study in this month's Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise journal found that light stretching before exercise improves range of motion and does not weaken muscles, as other researchers have claimed stretching does.

Posted: August 8, 2008

Expensive Investigation

Ever wonder what an investigation into drug use among your student-athletes might cost? This Virginia school district is footing the $27,000 bill for an investigation that doesn't look to have turned up much of anything.

Posted: August 7, 2008

No Coverage

Due to financial cutbacks at the hospital that previously provided free athletic training services, this Georgia school district will be without athletic trainers this year.

Posted: August 6, 2008

Heat Deaths Declining

The latest numbers from the Annual Survey of Football Injuries shows a drop in heat stroke deaths—two in 2007. But researchers say two is still too many.

Posted: August 5, 2008

Measuring ImPACT

This New Jersey high school's athletic trainer helped to pass a requirement that all student-athletes complete the ImPACT test so the medical staff has a baseline to measure a possible concussion against.

Posted: August 4, 2008

Turning Heads

New University of Michigan football strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis, who arrived with new Head Football Coach Rich Rodriguez, has been on campus less than nine months and he's already made quite an impression.

Posted: August 1, 2008

On The Rise

A recently released study shows the number of skin infections reported nationwide rose from 8.6 million in 1997 to 14.2 million in 2005. Researchers say MRSA is the main reason for the sharp increase.

Posted: July 31, 2008

Shaping Your Heart

Just like any other muscle in the body, the heart can also change shape through exercise.

Posted: July 30, 2008

Wide Awake

Caffeine was removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances in 2004, and a recent questionnaire study found that many athletes continue to seek a boost from caffeine through coffee, sports drinks, supplements, and even pills.

Posted: July 29, 2008

Prevention Program Works

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study that followed 61 NCAA Division I women’s soccer teams for one season found that the teams which used a warmup program specifically designed for ACL injury prevention suffered no ACL tears while the other teams recorded six.

Posted: July 28, 2008

MRSA Death

MRSA hasn't been in the headlines as much lately, but it's still out there. A California high school wrestler died this week after 20 days of hospitalization for a MRSA infection.

Posted: July 25, 2008

Keep Stretching

There has been debate over stretching and if it is detrimental to an athlete's performance, but a new study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise says there is no harm in working on flexibility before a workout.

Posted: July 24, 2008

Testing Football Athletes

This Idaho high school already has a random drug testing program in place, but at the request of its football coach, will now test all j.v. and varsity football student-athletes as well.

Posted: July 23, 2008

ACC Alters Reporting Rules

This year, the Atlantic Coast Conference is adopting the NFL's model of reporting injuries: season-ending injuries and surgeries on Mondays and the rest on Thursdays.

Posted: July 22, 2008

Stress Measure

A special vest that shows an athlete's physical stress via sensors could help athletes identify the best time to take a shot or hit a ball.

Posted: July 21, 2008

Headed To Beijing

This Michigan State University sports medicine physician, previously an athletic trainer, has signed on to provide sports medicine care for the U.S. gymnastics team next month in Beijing.

Posted: July 18, 2008

NCAA D-III Safety Proposals

NCAA Division III members have submitted eight legislative proposals for consideration, including requiring head coaches to be CPR and AED certified and the allowance of "walk-throughs" during preseason acclimatization periods.

Posted: July 17, 2008

No Surgery Required?

A study that followed 20 youth athletes with medial epicondyle fractures found that a non-operative approach was more effective in the long run than undergoing an operation.

Posted: July 16, 2008

Incidence Up, Age Down

At the weekend's AOSS annual meeting, a presenter showed that the number of elbow injuries requiring surgery in baseball student-athletes continues to increase, while the age of those patients is decreasing.

Posted: July 15, 2008

Education First

The Delaware task force that studied the issue of random steroid use and possible testing in its districts has decided not to test its student-athletes, but rather use the money to educate them about the dangers.

Posted: July 14, 2008

Heat Illness Measure

A recent study found that forcing cool air between a player's football pads and his body was much more effective in dropping the athlete's core temperate than blowing air onto the outside of the pads.

Posted: July 11, 2008

Results Differ By Gender

Because test results post-concussion are significantly different for males and females, researchers are calling for individualized approaches to treating concussions instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.

Posted: July 10, 2008

Treating Younger Athletes

Should you treat an ACL tear or stress fracture differently in a 12-year old than an 18-year old? Orthopedic surgeons discuss the issue.

Posted: July 9, 2008

Heart Healthy

A new research study suggests that enlarged hearts are not a health concern for athletes as long as the heart is healthy.

Posted: July 8, 2008

Going High-Tech

Some of the new training facilities aimed at scholastic-age athletes not only employ elite coaches, but also enlist the help of very high-tech equipment that professional teams use to evaluate players.

Posted: July 7, 2008

Training The Right Way

The University of Rochester's sports medicine department is holding a summer program that teaches young athletes how to correct their technique and prevent injury.

Posted: July 3, 2008

Results In

Texas began testing its high school student-athletes for steroids this spring, and of the 10,000 tested, two results came back positive. The athletes will automatically sit out for 30 days.

Posted: July 2, 2008

Postworkout Caffeine

A new study from the online edition of the Journal of Applied Physiology says that ingesting caffeine after a workout reduces recovery time.

Posted: July 1, 2008

One in Ten

A new study says only one in 10 student-athletes in the U.S. survive after sudden cardiac arrest, highlighting the importance of having external automatic defribrillators on campus and accessible to student-athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers.

Posted: June 30, 2008

Olympics Ahead

These University of Texas athletic trainers are headed to Beijing in August, where they will be offering their services to the U.S. track and field program and archery team.

Posted: June 27, 2008

Decreasing Eye Injuries

The Mississippi Optometric Association has started the Save A Sport's Sight program, which aims to decrease the number of eye injuries suffered in athletics by using protective eyewear.

Posted: June 26, 2008

Sudden Death

An enlarged heart is to blame for the death of this 16-year-old Illinois basketball player, who collapsed on the court during pregame warmups Sunday.

Posted: June 25, 2008

Too Much Caffeine?

New Jersey education officials are contemplating district-wide bans on energy drinks. One of the remaining questions is over who should be instituting such a policy.

Posted: June 24, 2008

New Doping Test

University of Utah researchers have unveiled a new doping test that compares an athlete's ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone, which without supplements, should be at equal levels.

Posted: June 23, 2008

Placebo Effect

A study of recreational athletes, half of whom were given human growth hormone and the other half a placebo, found that those athletes who thought they were taking the supplement performed better.

Posted: June 20, 2008

NATA Addresses H.S. Coverage

At the NATA Convention, one topic of discussion Wednesday was high school student-athletes' continuing lack of access to "appropriate" medical care.

Posted: June 19, 2008

New Amenorrhea Research

Harvard University researchers say a hormone disorder connected to levels of ghrelin (a hormone that helps regulate ovulation) may be a contributing factor to amenorrhea in high school-age female athletes.

Posted: June 18, 2008

Walz to Lead Big East

Steve Walz, Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine at the University of South Florida, has been named President-Elect of the Big East Conference Sports Medicine Society.

Posted: June 17, 2008

Health & Money

Legislators in Arkansas pushing for AEDs and athletic trainers at more of the state's high schools are having a hard time finding the money needed.

Posted: June 16, 2008

Legal Doping?

Enhancers that won't show up on a drug or steroids test, like Viagra and baking soda, may be more widely used among athletes than previously thought.

Posted: June 13, 2008

If the Shoe Fits

How should athletes choose a running shoe? Sneaker stores are resorting to high tech gait analysis to help its customers find the right fit.

Posted: June 12, 2008

Jet Lag Impacts Teams

It's officially been proven: a new study that followed Major League Baseball teams showed that jet lag has a direct impact on players, diminishing their chances of winning.

Posted: June 11, 2008

Sleep Study

Members of the Stanford University men's and women's swimming teams recently participated in a sleep study that showed just how much some extra Z's can improve athletic performance.

Posted: June 10, 2008

Film Probes Steroid Use

A former steroids user debuted his documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster this weekend. The film offers an inside look at the prevalence of steroid use in sports.

Posted: June 9, 2008

Olympic Experience

This Illinois doctor, who volunteers his services to area high school teams during the school year, is one of only about 20 U.S. physicians who will work with the nation's Olympic teams.

Posted: June 6, 2008

Higher Injury Rates

Michael Sokolove, author of Warrior Girls, spoke with the Washington Post about his new book, which takes a look at why girls suffer higher injury rates than boys when it comes to overtraining and elite competition.

Posted: June 5, 2008

After the Concussion

A study in the June edition of the Journal of Athletic Training examined brain function of post-concussion athletes related to their activity levels. The highest levels of activity after suffering a concussion showed the most impaired brain function.

Posted: June 4, 2008

Doping With Baking Soda?

A study tracking middle-distance runners who ingested baking soda (through a tasteless bicarbonate capsule) before running found that it boosts performance. But the side effects of ingesting baking soda can be severe.

Posted: June 3, 2008

Baseball Injuries

A researcher at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus says that while high school baseball injuries have declined overall, the severity of the sport's injuries are increasing and more protective gear is needed.

Posted: June 2, 2008

Loss of Height?

A study presented at this week's American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting says that because of repeated blocking with heavy equipment, which can compress the spine, football players may experience a temporary loss of height.

Posted: May 30, 2008

Heat Illness Death

A North Carolina A&T State University football player died earlier this week from heat illness-related complications after a morning practice session, though at the time, the temperature was only 77 degrees with a relative humidity of 58 percent.

Posted: May 29, 2008

Fuel For Trouble?

A recent study has found a possible connection between aggressive, high-risk behavior and the consumption of energy drinks in teenagers and young adults.

Posted: May 28, 2008

Pole Vault Injuries

In a study that followed 140 Wisconsin high school pole vaulters over two years, it was found that the group's injury rates were similar to contact sport athletes.

Posted: May 27, 2008

Daily Dose

The NATA has announced it is on board with the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association's "Exercise is Medicine" program, which encourages physicians to "prescribe" exercise to their patients.

Posted: May 23, 2008

Beating The Odds

This high school football, basketball, and track and field athlete broke the scaffold bone in his wrist last year. He was told there was a one-in-10 chance the wrist would heal, and after seven months in a cast and bone stimulation therapy every day, he's back on the field.

Posted: May 22, 2008

To Peak or Not?

Triathletes have found it is next to impossible to peak at all three sports—swimming, biking, and running—at once, and that peaking at one event can actually hurt performance in another.

Posted: May 21, 2008

Steroid Testing Out In Fla.

After one year of testing its high school athletes for steroids, the Florida High School Athletic Association has been forced to discontinue the testing program after the Florida Legislature cut its funding.

Posted: May 20, 2008

Future Athletes Here Now?

Is it possible that an Olympic athlete who will compete in Beijing is participating in genetic engineering modifications? A scientist who genetically modified a mouse to run twice as long as an average mouse says yes.

Posted: May 19, 2008

Ankle Sprains a Year Later

A new study in the American Journal of Medicine reviewed 31 previous studies of patients who suffered ankle sprains, and found that while most patients had substantially less pain in two weeks, almost a third still had some pain a year later.

Posted: May 16, 2008

"Plumbing" For The Knee

A new product to aid in torn knee cartilage repair just received FDA approval for use in humans. The BioDuct is implanted in the knee and acts as a transporter of cells and blood from the outer ligament to the site of the tear.

Posted: May 15, 2008

Right To Know?

If female athletes are more susceptible to suffer injuries than their male counterparts, is it the coach and athletic trainer's responsibility to inform them of this fact?

Posted: May 14, 2008

As Athletes Age

Does an injury to joint cartilage eventually lead to osteoarthritis? Researchers are trying to figure out exactly how the cells surrounding the injured joint react to the trauma.

Posted: May 13, 2008

Master Lifters

The number of bodybuilders over 60 years old is substantially increasing. The World Natural Sports Organization—an organizer of drug-free competitions—had only two athletes over 60 compete in 2000, but over 40 senior citizens last year.

Posted: May 12, 2008

Starting Sports Medicine

This New Jersey two-year community college is in the process of adding a sports medicine program to its offerings, giving its students interested in athletic training a jump start before transferring to an athletic training-accredited four-year college.

Posted: May 9, 2008

Asthma Answers?

More than 2,000 Olympic athletes are involved in a large study that is collecting data on the prevalence of asthma and its triggers.

Posted: May 8, 2008

Policy Specifics

In the aftermath of a Georgia Tech University baseball player's death from an overdose, the Atlanta Journal Constitution takes a look at the huge discrepancies in NCAA schools' drug testing programs.

Posted: May 7, 2008

UNI Opens Performance Center

The University of Northern Iowa opened its Human Performance Center over the weekend, which came to fruition with the help of many medical groups cooperating together.

Posted: May 6, 2008

Orthodics Bad for Knees?

Athletes may want to think twice about putting orthodics into their sneakers and cleats as it turns out that the arch support provided by over-the-counter orthodics may actually increase the force placed on knee joints, not help decrease it.

Posted: May 2, 2008

A Positive Catch

Failing a random NCAA drug test was probably the best thing that ever happened to Chris Lofton. The University of Tennessee men's basketball player tested positive due to cancer and the early diagnosis helped him recover in time for the Volunteers' record-breaking season.

Posted: May 2, 2008

Going High Tech

The Ohio State University's sports medicine department is using computer animation to analyze its athletes' performance. The athletes wear sensors recorded by a camera, which are then fed into a computer that displays the movements.

Posted: May 1, 2008

Protecting Soccer Heads

Although there is no solid evidence that says they work and they are not required, more soccer players are sporting headgear than ever before.

Posted: April 30, 2008

Testing Chest Protectors

The MIT Sports Innovation program and Rawlings are teaming up to develop a testing system for baseball catchers' chest protectors, and the baseball team is helping to test out different equipment designs.

Posted: April 29, 2008

On-Campus Rehab Open

Indiana State University has opened the doors to its own on-campus rehabilitation clinic, making rehab for its student-athletes, students, and employees more convenient than ever.

Posted: April 28, 2008

More Pregnancy Legislation

NCAA Division II is following Division I's lead in adopting emergency legislation that will prohibit member schools from reducing or canceling athletics-related financial aid to a student-athlete who becomes ill or pregnant and cannot participate in their sport.

Posted: April 25, 2008

ACL Tear Prevention

We now know female athletes are more susceptible to ACL tears than male athletes, but there are preventative methods that have been documented to work, including preventative taping techniques and plyometrics training that teaches athletes not to be "ligament dominant."

Posted: April 24, 2008

Benefits of PRP

PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is being heralded as a great alternative to surgery. Stanford football player James McGillicuddy recently had the growth-stimulating plasma injected into his torn tendon.

Posted: April 23, 2008

Guarding Against Bacteria

The NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee is recommending several rules changes be approved before next season to stop the tracking of bacteria among athletes.

Posted: April 22, 2008

Finding Their Power

Wisconsin high schoolers of all sizes are flocking to their school's competitive powerlifting programs. They are finding the sport to be fun and a great way to stay in shape during their primary sport's off-season.

Posted: April 21, 2008

Cheerlader Collapses, Dies

A cheerleader at a 63-team contest in Massachusetts collapsed during her team's routine, and later died. Medical officials first thought she was having an allergic reaction, but her lungs had collapsed and she had apparently been kicked in the chest.

Posted: April 18, 2008

Smooth Transition

Everyone has heard of after-workout shakes, but how about a smoothie? Incorporating ingredients like cherries for their anti-inflammatory quality or cranberries for antioxidants are a few of the best choices.

Posted: April 17, 2008

New Partnership

The newly-formed Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention in Indianapolis will soon be taking over operations of the NCAA's Injury Surveillance System, which currently contains 25 years of data.

Posted: April 16, 2008

Concussion Education

An Oregon pediatrician has formed the Oregon Concussion Awareness and Management Program to help make the state's coaches, educators, parents, athletic directors, and athletic trainers more aware of the signs of a concussion.

Posted: April 15, 2008

Female Injuries Increase

While more girls and women are participating in organized sports than ever before, more are being injured as well. Female-dominated sports like gymnastics and cheerleading have incredibly high rates of injury.

Posted: April 14, 2008

Congrats Jenny Moshak!

When Tennessee celebrated its NCAA Division I women's basketball title, a local car dealership had a present for athletic trainer Jenny Moshak: a Mercedes roadster. A T&C editorial board member, Moshak helped Candace Parker return from a dislocated shoulder.

Posted: April 11, 2008

Long Road

This University of Utah football player has spent more of his college career with athletic trainers and doctors than his coaches. He tore his patella tendon his freshman year, sprained his neck the next season, and had back surgery last year.

Posted: April 10, 2008

New Guidelines

The American Academy of Pediatrics' new guidelines on youth strength training caution for more in-depth medical evaluation before children are cleared to work with weights.

Posted: April 9, 2008

Daily Dose

Weightlifting study participants that took daily doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen showed a substantial increase in muscle mass and strength gains over a three-month period.

Posted: April 8, 2008

Spring Football Injuries

An NCAA study involving data from that past 16 years says men's spring football has the highest injury rate of all NCAA sports—9.6 injuries per 1,000 players. And a Big 10 Conference study showed that the NCAA's rules changes in 1998 that limited practices and scrimmages did nothing to slow injuries.

Posted: April 7, 2008

Heart Screens in NC

More than 2,000 student-athletes in this North Carolina school district have been given access to a free heart screening, thanks to volunteers and donations.

Posted: April 4, 2008

H.S. Pole Vaulter Dies

A Washington high school senior pole vaulter has died from injuries sustained from a pole vault accident during practice earlier this week.

Posted: April 3, 2008

On The Fast Track

When this athletic trainer became frustrated with the conservative approaches used in many rehabilitation clinics, he opened his own gym.

Posted: April 2, 2008

Increased Risk

Research from the Mayo Clinic says that 82 percent of retired NFL players under age 50 have more abnormal narrowing and blockages to arteries than the general public of the same age.

Posted: April 1, 2008

Jump To It

Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Council says jumping rope places much less stress on muscles than jogging, giving athletes a lower impact aerobic option to add to their repertoires.

Posted: March 31, 2008

Lawsuit Names ATC

A former Eastern Kentucky University volleyball player is claiming negligence in a lawsuit she filed against the team's former athletic trainer. She says severe burns on her legs—and a MRSA infection that was consequently contracted—were the result of a hot pack being applied improperly.

Posted: March 28, 2008

Innocent After All?

A common genetic variation could be responsible for false-positive testosterone doping test results, says a study from Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm.

Posted: March 27, 2008

Mouthguards a Must

A recent statement from the Michigan Association of Endodontists confirmed that sport-related injuries are the leading cause of missing teeth in youth athletes, but most spring sport student-athletes in the state are still playing without mouthguards.

Posted: March 26, 2008

Mound Height At Fault?

A study from the Medical College of Wisconsin says that compared to flat ground, the standard 10-inch height of a baseball mound causes pitchers greater stress to their shoulders, including more rotator cuff and labrum tears.

Posted: March 25, 2008

H.S. Injury Study

T&C blogger Dawn Comstock is featured on the NCAA Web site this week, thanks to her work tracking high school injuries.

Posted: March 24, 2008

Late Light, Early Workouts

By exposing athletes to bright light at night, these scientists pushed the athletes' lowest core body temperatures—typically experienced between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.—to later in the morning so the athletes could exercise at a cooler temperature, eliminating overheating.

Posted: March 21, 2008

Parent Classes

Two sport psychologists at the University of Washington suggest that parents need a lot more education in how to support their athletic children.

Posted: March 20, 2008

Apparel Boost

Can certain athletic clothing really improve muscle strength and help blood flow? Several clothing manufacturers say their lines do indeed boost performance.

Posted: March 19, 2008

Questioning HGH

Is human growth hormone beneficial to athletes? A group of 27 Stanford studies involving 440 participants says HGH does not help an athlete's performance at all, and may even hinder it.

Posted: March 18, 2008

No More Testing?

The Washington Supreme Court ruled that random drug testing of students involved in extracurricular activities violates the state constitution. In response, school districts are suspending their testing programs.

Posted: March 17, 2008

Olympians Question Air Quality

Prospective competitors in the 2008 Beijing Olympics are raising concerns about air pollution in the city. Some have said they will wear masks while competing, and others are withdrawing from certain events entirely out of fears for their respiratory health.

Posted: March 14, 2008

Youth Injury Guidelines Announced

New guidelines from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine say youth athletes with suspected neck injuries should be treated the same as their older counterparts: keep the helmet and shoulder pads on during transport, and remove once in a controlled setting.

Posted: March 13, 2008

The Next HGH?

Researchers are currently experimenting with a drug that would suppress a chemical in the body in order to spur muscle growth in muscular dystrophy patients. Some athletes, however, see the hard-to-detect drug as a non-steroid way to grow healthy muscle tissue.

Posted: March 12, 2008

Closing The Gap

About 90 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims are male, the average age of athletes dying from it is 18, and more than half of the victims are African American. That's why the Black Coaches and Administrators and various physicians in the U.S. are joining to educate the public through its "Close the Gap" program.

Posted: March 11, 2008

Surgery Best For Dislocation

For young athletes who suffer a first-time shoulder dislocation, a study has shown that arthroscopic surgery is the best approach, resulting in less future dislocations than patients who take the conservative approach of rest and immobilization in a sling.

Posted: March 10, 2008

Better Beverages

As soda sales continue to decline in the U.S., companies are turning to healthier drink options. The Coca-Cola Company has set up headquarters in Beijing to study traditional Chinese medicine for health benefits that could be incorporated into its beverages.

Posted: March 7, 2008

A Better Steroids Test?

A new steroids test based on a technique using high pressure environments to see the chemical structure of a sample (previously used in oil exploration expeditions) may be the most sensitive test to date.

Posted: March 6, 2008

NATA Issues Position Statement

A new position statement from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association provides recommendations for understanding and working with athletes who have exhibited patterns of disordered eating.

Posted: March 5, 2008

Foul On The Play

A study debuting in February's issue of Injury Prevention says a large percentage of high school student-athlete injuries are directly related to illegal play.

Posted: March 3, 2008

GAIN with Gambetta

Vern Gambetta, a frequent contributor to T&C, has recently announced a special educational opportunity called the Gambetta Athletic Improvement Network (GAIN) Apprentorship.

Posted: March 3, 2008

Legal ... But Safe?

Forget steroids, this health expert warns that youth athletes are subject to long term health issues stemming from sometimes-dangerous uppers found in candy and energy drinks.

Posted: February 29, 2008

Hard Knock Life

Dr. Bennet Omalu's newly published book, Play Hard Die Young: Football Dementia, Depression, and Death, is due out this weekend. The book studies the long-term effects of repeated concussions on football players.

Posted: February 28, 2008

After The (Flu) Bug Bites

It's the height of flu season, and athletes are not immune to getting sick, but when is it safe to return to play?

Posted: February 27, 2008

Understanding the Triad

Diane Israel, the producer of "Beauty Mark," a documentary that takes a close look at exercise addiction, suffered from the female athlete triad until she was almost 30 years old. Israel says the triad is an epidemic.

Posted: February 26, 2008

Enrolled in Aerobics

This Oklahoma high school is offering aerobics as an elective for girls who aren't currently involved in athletics. Students do Tae Bo and other aerobic activities, listen to guest speakers, and viewed the documentary, Super Size Me.

Posted: February 25, 2008

New Knee Option?

Youth athletes with torn knee ligaments have a new option for surgery since standard ACL repair surgery can affect a youth's growth plates. The new procedure involves drilling several small holes in the bones to anchor repaired tendons.

Posted: February 22, 2008

Lacrosse Concussions

When hearing the word "concussion," football usually comes to mind. But US Lacrosse is stepping up to the plate to research lacrosse-specific concussions related to the sport's helmets.

Posted: February 21, 2008

HS Hoops Tragedy

Standout New Orleans high school basketball player Shannon Veal collapsed and died on the court Monday night after it has been assumed she suffered cardiac arrest, possibly from hypertropic cardiomyopathy.

Posted: February 20, 2008

On Your Own

Could at-home physical therapy soon be coming to rehab patients near you? Two orthopedic surgeons have developed a DVD so patients can do just that, but experts warn that it's not a complete replacement for therapy.

Posted: February 19, 2008

ACL Debates

A recent spike in ACL tears in youth athletes is shedding a light on the debate over a surgical vs. non-surgical approach to treatment. Surgery poses a greater risk for children than adults because their growth plates are not fully formed.

Posted: February 18, 2008

Adult Injuries In Youths

Injuries that used to be seen only in fully matured adult athletes are moving down the line to younger and younger athletes—cutting both playing time and careers way too short.

Posted: February 15, 2008

Hazing Handbook

The NCAA's new handbook, "Hazing Prevention in College Athletics," with information for administrators, coaches, and student-athletes on how to prevent hazing situations on campus, is now mailing to member institutions.

Posted: February 14, 2008

Recall Alert

Chattem Inc., the makers of Icy Hot, is recalling its heat therapy products "Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat" (one for the back, and another for the arm, neck, and leg) due to reported burns and skin irritation.

Posted: February 13, 2008

Quick Thinking

Dr. Les Bisson was on the NHL Buffalo Sabres' bench Sunday night when Richard Zednik's carotid artery was slashed by a teammate's skate. His decision to squeeze off the artery may have saved Zednik's life.

Posted: February 12, 2008

Extreme Measures

Dr. Brian Krabak, a professor of orthopedics and sports medicine at the University of Washington and Children's Hospital in Seattle and medical director for several desert races, talks about his research on training extreme athletes.

Posted: February 11, 2008

Test of Time

It was revolutionary surgery that has since saved many athletes' careers. The Boston Globe takes a look back at Tommy John surgery and the patient and doctor that first performed it.

Posted: February 8, 2008

ATC Honored

Longtime Utah State University Athletic Trainer Dale Mildenberger was honored Saturday as the Dale Mildenberger Sports Medicine Complex was officially unveiled.

Posted: February 7, 2008

Runner's Yoga

Runners needn't run from practicing yoga—a new form of yoga specific to running athletes can help improve stamina and perfect a stride.

Posted: February 6, 2008

Lifting Four State Titles

Girls in Florida have caught on to weightlifting as a high school sport, and one school in particular has dominated the scene, winning four state titles.

Posted: February 5, 2008

Next Up: Delaware

Delaware is the latest to consider steroid testing its high school student-athletes. The House passed a resolution last week that will create a task force to study the cost and issues related to testing.

Posted: February 4, 2008

Mouthguards in Soccer

Many of Virginia Beach's soccer players and their parents are opposed to the possibility of a new rule requiring soccer athletes to wear mouthguards this spring—one player started an online petition against the rule that has over 500 signatures.

Posted: February 1, 2008

The Extra Edge

To achieve the dream of landing an athletic scholarship, more high school student-athletes are seeking out the help of personal trainers.

Posted: January 31, 2008

Only 24 Hours In a Day

Researchers say sleep deprivation is rampant in high school and college students, and it affects them more than they know.

Posted: January 30, 2008

AEDs Granted to High Schools

A group of Missouri high schools will be receiving 10 automatic external defibrillators for their athletic trainers to use at contests if necessary. The AEDs were supplied through a grant from a local health group.

Posted: January 29, 2008

Bad Sports?

A Penn State University study says the aggressive culture linked to sports like football and wrestling make both their participants and participants' male friends violent in nature.

Posted: January 28, 2008

Educating the Community

Athletic trainers in New Hampshire talk about their work to educate local communities on their profession.

Posted: January 25, 2008

Rotator Cuff Surgery

Two newer techniques to rotator cuff repair are using double instead of single rows of sutures and using a patient's own blood in patches to support the repaired rotator cuff as it heals.

Posted: January 24, 2008

Texas Picks Tester

The National Center for Drug Free Sport will run Texas's high school steroid testing program for at least two years. Testing is scheduled to begin in less than a month.

Posted: January 23, 2008

Shaky Workout?

While gaining a lot of attention as a new training method, vibration training with machines like the Power Plate still has many skeptics.

Posted: January 21, 2008

New Strain of MRSA

A new strain of MRSA called USA300 spreads more easily through skin-on-skin contact and because it can lead to a flesh-eating form of pneumonia, it has been labeled deadly.

Posted: January 18, 2008

Spine Treatment Questioned

Doctors discuss the role of hypothermia in treating a spinal chord injury, which was used on Buffalo Bills football player Kevin Everett.

Posted: January 17, 2008

Undue Stress

UCLA researchers are trying to figure out how athletes can conduct hard training without risking stress fractures. In a five-year study of UCLA track and field team members, 37 of the athletes suffered more than 60 stress fractures.

Posted: January 16, 2008

Illinois To Test

The Illinois High School Association Board of Directors voted Monday to begin testing athletes for performance enhancing substances in the 2008-09 school year.

Posted: January 15, 2008

Form of Flexibility

The importance of stretching has come under scrutiny in recent years, but experts say the key to getting any benefit is stretching the right way at the right time.

Posted: January 14, 2008

Texas Testing

Texas officials are still waiting for approval from the Texas Education Agency, but the University Interscholastic League has given the nod to the new steroid testing program and a vendor to administer the tests has been chosen.

Posted: January 11, 2008

Heart Of The Issue

Since 1985, a registry set up by Dr. Barry Maron of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation has tallied almost 2,000 reports of sudden death in competitive athletes—most were due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Posted: January 10, 2008

Reduced Neck Pain

A new study on neck pain has found that general exercise only reduces pain slightly, while targeted strength training exercises made a significant difference.

Posted: January 9, 2008

Ultrasound Gaining Support

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is gaining support from patients and doctors looking to diagnose and treat soft tissue injuries. One doctor says it can cut down on cortisone injections and reduce testing and surgeries.

Posted: January 8, 2008

Overly Specialized

The trend shows no signs of slowing down: more younger athletes are looking for sport specialized training. Will the trend of overuse injuries continue, too?

Posted: January 7, 2008

MRSA Quick Test Approved

The FDA has approved a new blood test for detecting MRSA—results take only two hours instead of several days.

Posted: January 4, 2008

Bad Claims

Leading orthopedic surgeon James Andrews has agreed to pay almost a half million dollars to the United States government after being accused of submitting false claims to the government and issuing illegal kickbacks to referring physicians.

Posted: January 3, 2008

Titanium Necklace Sales Rise

Can a titanium necklace really keep an athlete from getting tired and help them recover from a tough practice or game faster? A growing number of athletes think so.

Posted: January 2, 2008

A Matter Of Genes?

Researchers say there are more than 92 genes greatly responsible for a person's athletic abilities, and there is also a specific DNA region that may tell scientists if a person is predetermined to be an elite level athlete.

Posted: December 28, 2007

ATCs for Advertising

More high schools are contracting with hospitals for their athletic trainers, offering on-campus sign advertising in exchange for the service.

Posted: December 27, 2007

High Altitude a Plus

A study recently documented that high-altitude soccer teams have a great advantage over low-altitude teams when hosting a game.

Posted: December 26, 2007

Older, Younger

Sports medicine practices have recently branched out even more to encompass caring for older athletes, but the services and training strategies aimed at the older age group can actually help younger athletes, too.

Posted: December 21, 2007

Calif. to Test?

Is California the next state that will test its high school athletes for steroids? There are several state legislators in California considering submitting legislation that would deter anabolic steroid use in high schools.

Posted: December 20, 2007

Athletes with Diabetes

The National Athletic Trainers' Association has released a new position statement on working with athletes with diabetes. There are currently 21 million diabetics in the United States.

Posted: December 19, 2007

Screening Catches Heart Condition

Because of a regular echocardiogram screening all University of Tennessee athletes are given, this sophomore men's basketball player is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a heart condition.

Posted: December 18, 2007

Trickle Down Effect

Penn State Professor Charles Yesalis says the Mitchell report will not deter high school athletes from using steroids, but rather confirm that the drugs are necessary for elite level performance.

Posted: December 17, 2007

Youth vs. Pro

The California Athletic Trainers Association says youth athletes today are suffering from the same injuries as professional athletes. An athletic trainer for a California high school, club soccer team, and the WNBA, answers related questions in this article.

Posted: December 14, 2007

Injury Reporting

A Massachusetts resident has refiled a bill that would have medical professionals report sports injuries in elementary, middle, and high school athletes statewide.

Posted: December 13, 2007

Cornhusker Strength Coach Resigns

Dave Kennedy, Head Strength Coach at the University of Nebraska, resigned from his post after three years on the job. His leaving comes just two weeks after football coach Bill Callahan was let go.

Posted: December 12, 2007

More Comfort, Better Fit

A former major league baseball player has designed a new protective cup that he says fits better and is more comfortable than conventional cups.

Posted: December 11, 2007

A Small Impact

Three articles in the journal Neurosurgery report data showing almost any impact can cause a concussion--and often the ones that seem like they should actually don't.

Posted: December 10, 2007

Pushing Through Limits

Recent studies have shown that by using a tactic called dissociation, athletes can mentally ignore the grind of a grueling physical event, allowing their bodies to push through self-imposed limits.

Posted: December 7, 2007

New ACL Research

A Swedish researcher says operating on an ACL injury can actually lead to more damage and arthritis later on. He says many ACL-injury patients are treated only for a meniscus tear when there are often other issues.

Posted: December 6, 2007

Study Supports Soy

At a recent conference of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, one researcher presented results of his study that shows soy protein works just as well as whey protein as a recovery food.

Posted: December 5, 2007

ACSM Predictions

The American College of Sports Medicine has released its fitness predictions and trends expected in the coming year.

Posted: December 4, 2007

ATC Steps In

When the athletic director at Bluefield College in Virginia quit unexpectedly last week, Head Athletic Trainer Ewell Vernon was asked to take on the job. He will continue to oversee athletic training as well.

Posted: December 3, 2007

Preventing ACL Injuries

A look at the growing incidence of ACL injuries among young female athletes and some of the strategies sports medicine professionals are turning to for injury prevention.

Posted: November 30, 2007

Reducing Insurance Costs

In hiring a certified athletic trainer, Benzie Central High School in Beulah, Mich., is hoping to see a decrease in the number of claims against its athletic insurance policy by parents who already have insurance.

Posted: November 29, 2007

Gatorade Inventor Dies

Dr. Robert Cade, the inventor of Gatorade, has passed away at the age of 80. Cade originally formulated the drink over 40 years ago to help the University of Florida football team stay hydrated.

Posted: November 28, 2007

Advice from the Pros

A group of athletic training students from Burlington County Institute of Technology recently received a unique behind-the-scenes look at some Philadelphia area pro sports teams.

Posted: November 27, 2007

Drug Testing Success

The Washington Township (N.J.) School District implemented random steroid testing for its athletes four sports seasons ago, and Athletic Director Kevin Murphy now hails the program as an effective deterrent.

Posted: November 26, 2007

MRSA Database?

A Baltimore congressman has introduced a bill titled the Community and Healthcare Associated Infections Reduction Act of 2007 that calls for the formation of a national database of reported MRSA cases.

Posted: November 21, 2007

Bailey Will Be Missed

Friends and colleagues remember former Long Beach State University Head Athletic Trainer Dan Bailey, who died of a heart attack Friday, Nov. 16. Bailey, 60, had just retired this summer after 36 years at Long Beach State.

Posted: November 20, 2007

Drug Testing Policies

The Salt Lake Tribune is running a special section in its paper about drug use by college athletes, taking a look at the large discrepancies in institutions' policies.

Posted: November 19, 2007

A Fractured Finish

At the Ohio high school cross country championships, Claire Markwardt suffered multiple stress fractures to her tibia before her fibula broke 45 feet from the finish line. Markwardt crawled across the line, finishing in 67th place and only 18 seconds behind her personal best.

Posted: November 16, 2007

From ATC to AD

Mentor (Ohio) High School didn't have to look far for a replacement when its athletic director resigned last week. After 17 years as the school's Head Athletic Trainer, Jeff Cassella will become the athletic director.

Posted: November 15, 2007

Football Chin Straps Recalled

Nike has recalled its Cool-Vent Football Chin Straps saying it has received 18 reports of straps breaking resulting in five injuries. The recall covers about 235,000 straps bought from April 2006 through October 2007.

Posted: November 14, 2007

Yoga Not Always Best

Practicing yoga has been touted as a great way to relieve back pain, but for sufferers with instability, hypermobility, or mechanical spine issues, yoga could be detrimental instead of helpful.

Posted: November 13, 2007

Catcher Injuries

Little League has taken the advice of Dr. James Andrews and Glenn Felsig of the American Sports Medicine Institute, who found that catchers have the second-most overuse arm injuries, and will not allow a player who leaves the gave as a pitcher to go back in as a catcher.

Posted: November 12, 2007

Giving Back

In announcing his retirement from professional hockey, Eric Lindros also announced his $5 million donation to sports medicine professionals at the Fowler Kennedy Sports Medicine Clinic.

Posted: November 9, 2007

Numb To The Pain

A study in Italy found that athletes who thought they were receiving morphine injections, but in fact a placebo, still exercised longer under painful conditions.

Posted: November 8, 2007

Rx for Fitness

Earlier this week, the American College of Sports Medicine and American Medical Association launched their program called Exercise is Medicine, which encourages physicians to write prescriptions for physical exercise as treatment.

Posted: November 7, 2007

Treating Club Team Athletes

Yale University's club team athletes are claiming the sports medicine staff has been giving them the cold shoulder when it comes to treating injuries, and that there are no clear guidelines on where they're supposed to go for treatment.

Posted: November 6, 2007

Hundreds of Heart Screens

About 800 Stanford student-athletes were voluntarily screened for heart defects in September, as researchers try to find out if the cost of screenings is justified.

Posted: November 5, 2007

New Stem Cell Found

Researchers say they have discovered a unique stem cell in menstruation flow that could one day be used to treat serious illnesses and even be customized for sports medicine treatments.

Posted: November 2, 2007

Safer Football Helmet?

A former Harvard quarterback has invented a safer football helmet with special shock absorbers. It has received certification from NOCSAE, and will be making its debut on several college teams, including the Crimson, next season.

Posted: November 1, 2007

Stretching for Endurance

While some strength and conditioning coaches have curtailed the use of static stretching, a new study has found that a regular stretching program may in fact enhance performance by increasing endurance.

Posted: October 31, 2007

An Obsession to Lose

There are more athletes with eating disorders than many would guess. This article tells the story of a high school field hockey and basketball player struggling with the disorder.

Posted: October 30, 2007

No Physical Form

Bigfork High School was fined $50 by the Montana High School Association for allowing a player to participate in football practice without having turned a in physical examination form. The player in question collapsed on the first day of practice on Aug. 13 and died a week later.

Posted: October 29, 2007

Newbie Guidelines

For young athletes, finding a coach that emphasizes good form and getting the basics down pat first will reduce the new athlete's risk of sustaining an injury during their playing career.

Posted: October 26, 2007

USF Helps Out

Polk County, Fla. is in the midst of an orthopedic surgeon shortage. So the University of South Florida has expanded its college of medicine orthopedic residency program to include two of the county's hospitals.

Posted: October 25, 2007

Older & Wiser

Sports medicine is aging with its clientele. The new physical activity guidelines included those specific to an older generation for the first time ever, the University of Pittsburgh recently opened a wellness center for athletes over 40, and researchers are branching out to the older generation in their studies.

Posted: October 24, 2007

Breathing Easier

Less than a quarter of collegiate sports medicine programs have a pulmonolgist on staff, but those that do are much more likely to correctly meet and follow NATA guidelines on working with athletes that have asthma.

Posted: October 23, 2007

Heart Screenings

Beginning in June, Pennsylvania middle and high school student-athletes will fill out a 50-question personal and family health history form as part of a more comprehensive screening to identify those at risk for sudden cardiac death.

Posted: October 22, 2007

MRSA Prevention

In reaction to two new cases of the MRSA infection among high school football players, school districts in Michigan are using education and prevention to help ward of any new cases.

Posted: October 19, 2007

Bat Study Results

In tracking 32 high school baseball teams in over 400 games and 9,000 at-bats, the Illinois High School Association found that injuries sustained from baseballs hit by metal bats are not statistically greater than those hit with wood bats.

Posted: October 18, 2007

Nonactive Injuries

A Sport Medicine Australia study says that non-active youth are more likely to suffer a pediatric sports injury than those who don't participate in sports.

Posted: October 17, 2007

High Ankle Injuries

Although there is little swelling and minimal physical evidence, a high ankle sprain takes much longer to recover from than a "normal" ankle sprain.

Posted: October 16, 2007

More MRSA Reported

Virginia, New York, and Ohio and among the latest states reporting staph infection breakouts, including MRSA, in their high schools.

Posted: October 15, 2007

SMART Program

The University of South Florida College of Medicine created SMART (Sports Medicine and Athletic Related Trauma Institute) last year through a $3.5 million grant. And 10 area high schools are reaping the benefits.

Posted: October 12, 2007

Steroid Study

Despite high profile instances of elite athletes using steriods, a study published today in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition finds that the most typical steriod user is not an athlete at all.

Posted: October 11, 2007

Hit of the Week

The Jack Tatum Hit of the Week Award, usually given to an Ohio State player with a memorable tackle, went this week to Athletic Trainer Doug Calland. Calland slipped on the field, went down hard, and hasn't heard the end of it since.

Posted: October 10, 2007

Tennis Back?

A recent study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found
abnormalities in the spines of 85 percent of the teenage tennis players examined.

Posted: October 9, 2007

Eyewear Debate

New York has joined four other states in adding eyewear requirements for high school field hockey players. But many coaches are not convinced the protection is needed.

Posted: October 8, 2007

At Your Service

A survey found that most Americans don't know what physiatrists (rehabilitation physicians) do, yet said they would benefit from their services after finding out that they specialize in non-surgical approaches to treating injuries and chronic pain.

Posted: October 5, 2007

Gift of Life

In lieu of gifts for their 50th wedding anniversary, this New Hampshire couple instead asked friends and family to donate money toward the purchase of an automated external defibrillator for the local high school.

Posted: October 4, 2007

Fork in the Road

Two of the country's most well-known orthopedic surgeons—Larry Lemak and Jim Andrews—are in the final stages of going their separate ways after more than 21 years in practice together.

Posted: October 3, 2007

Girls Too

It seems like the sport of football and concussions go hand-in-hand, but girls playing team sports are just as likely, and at times the numbers say more likely, than boys to suffer concussions.

Posted: October 2, 2007

Good-Bye MRSA

After 11 confirmed cases of MRSA surfaced at USC four years ago, there have been only two since then, thanks to the sports medicine department's upgraded procedures.

Posted: October 1, 2007

Sudden Death

A 14-year-old California high school cross country runner was two miles into a race when she collapsed. Despite ingesting liquids for dehydration and her coach eventually administering CPR, she died from still-unknown causes.

Posted: September 28, 2007

Small Pain, Big Problem

Overuse injuries such as stress fractures account for half of youth sports injuries. Because these types of injuries are gradually introduced, they are often diagnosed only after serious damage has already been done.

Posted: September 27, 2007

Nutritional Value

An Iowa senator has introduced a bill asking that new nutritional standards be applied to all foods and drinks sold on school grounds. Some want the standards to ban sports drinks and flavored waters because of their high sugar and sodium content.

Posted: September 26, 2007

Second Impact

One year ago, this Indiana high school football player experienced second-impact concussion syndrome and went into a coma. Today, he remains in a wheelchair.

Posted: September 25, 2007

Healthy Jets

While it's common to hear of an ex-pro football player's aching joints years after retirement, a study in next month's issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine found that the players on the 1968 New York Jets roster are just as healthy as their peers.

Posted: September 24, 2007

ATC Shortage

A certified athletic trainer shortage, coupled with only a $3,900 per year stipend to pay each ATC for their services, has some Maryland high schools in a bind.

Posted: September 21, 2007

Still Going Strong

ESPN.com profiles orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, a pioneer of Tommy John surgeries with more than 40,000 shoulder, elbow, and knee surgeries under his belt.

Posted: September 20, 2007

Sports Drinks Sidelined

Athletes at a Massachusetts high school have to walk a little further for their rehydration after the school banned sports drinks from its new synthetic field. The school is concerned that spilled sports drinks will hurt the surface.

Posted: September 19, 2007

Handling Food Allergies

When the Washington Capitals signed defenseman Tom Poti this season, it gave Head Athletic Trainer Greg Smith a new challenge: working with an athlete with severe food allergies.

Posted: September 18, 2007

Keeping Scholarships

Emergency legislation in NCAA Division I would prohibit institutions from reducing or canceling athletic financial aid to student-athletes because of a medical condition, including pregnancy.

Posted: September 17, 2007

Antioxidant Advantage

Researchers from the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise journal say that a flavonoid found in certain fruits reduced upper respiratory tract infections in athletes.

Posted: September 14, 2007

Shoulders Too

When the words "arthroscopic surgery" are uttered, it's assumed one is talking about a knee injury. But the less invasive procedure is also being used to treat shoulder injuries.

Posted: September 13, 2007

A Miracle?

When Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett was taken off the field with a spinal cord injury Sunday, doctors said he would never walk again. But by administering a cold saline solution through an IV to lower Everett's body temperature, his prognosis has greatly improved.

Posted: September 12, 2007

Required Staffing

Some ares of the country are taking the initiative in requiring high schools to have certified athletic trainers on staff. Washington, D.C. and Texas are two of them.

Posted: September 11, 2007

Permanently Sidelined

The more concussions an athlete suffers, the greater the risk of permanent brain damage. In response, some athletes are now making the decision to cut their careers short instead of risking it.

Posted: September 10, 2007

Feet First

While most cases of plantar fasciitis can be treated with a conservative approach, some are testing out coblation therapy as treatment.

Posted: September 7, 2007

Accelerated Approach

Having a gash closed with staples during a timeout or undergoing keyhole surgery weeks before a can't-miss race are a few examples of athletes willing to push their bodies to the extreme. But when is it time to slow down?

Posted: September 6, 2007

Athletes with Asthma

The high rate of asthma in college athletes has become alarming. At Ohio State University, a sample of 107 varsity athletes had 42 test positive for asthma, and 36 of them had no previous history.

Posted: September 5, 2007

The Under/Over on Hydration

On extremely hot days, overhydration can be as much of a concern as dehydration for active athletes. Warning signs are similar for both conditions, so taking careful stock of the situation is important.

Posted: September 4, 2007

When Lightning Strikes

What is your school's policy when lightning strikes? Here's a look at how some North Carolina high schools handle the situation.

Posted: August 31, 2007

New NATA Guidelines

With the start of fall sports now in full swing and children returning to school, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association has issued timely guidelines to ensure sports safety.

Posted: August 31, 2007

Screenings Next?

The death of Spanish soccer star Antonio Puerta, who suffered a heart attack on the field during a game over the weekend, has prompted FIFA's chief medical officer to ask for mandatory heart screenings of soccer players all over the world.

Posted: August 30, 2007

Free for Athletes

Through a program called Partners for Youth, New York City's Health and Hospitals Corporation will provide Public School Athletic League athletes free orthopedic care at Bellevue Hospital this year.

Posted: August 29, 2007

"Heads Up" DVD Available

A 14-minute video titled “Heads Up – Reducing the Risk of Head and Neck Injuries in Football” and produced by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), is available for free from the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.

Posted: August 28, 2007

How Much H2O?

The American College of Sports Medicine and USA Track & Field rely on very straightforward guidelines when it comes to hydration: drink when you're thirsty. But weight, sweat rate, diet, and outside environment are all contributing factors that complicate proper hydration for athletes.

Posted: August 27, 2007

Prevention the First Step

Some 1,200 New York high school girls playing j.v. and varsity soccer, volleyball, and basketball this year will participate in a training program designed to reduce the risk of ACL injury.

Posted: August 24, 2007

Not-So-Simple Sprain?

Sprains, strains, and contusions are the most common youth sports injuries, but because they can vary so much, they are also the most difficult to diagnose and treat.

Posted: August 23, 2007

A New Scan

San Antonio residents now have access to an extremity Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, a smaller MRI machine specifically for arm, wrist, leg, and ankle injury scans.

Posted: August 22, 2007

Tracking the Risk

It’s not uncommon for athletes with implantable cardioverter defibrillators to go against doctor’s orders and sign a waiver in order to continue playing a sport. Now, a Yale University group has begun to track these athletes and study how big the risk really is.

Posted: August 21, 2007

Food Shopping

While they are convenient, athletes don’t necessarily need to have the newest sports drink or sports bar. The right nutrition can be found on a regular old grocery store shelf, too.

Posted: August 20, 2007

MRSA Ready

Recent MRSA outbreaks in the state have these Pennsylvania athletic trainers taking extra precautions as student-athletes return to the practice fields and athletic training rooms.

Posted: August 17, 2007

Talk About It

This sports medicine physician involved in Arizona's local high school sports scene doles out advice on talking to youth athletes about steroid use.

Posted: August 16, 2007

Soft Feet

Are lighter and less rigid cleats the reason for the recent bout of foot injuries to England's top soccer players? Some sports medicine experts think so.

Posted: August 15, 2007

Florida Failing Steroid Test?

Many applauded when Florida became one of the first states to implement a statewide steroid testing program for high school athletes. But now, critics complain that the program is so underfunded, it is ineffective.

Posted: August 14, 2007

Too Hot to Practice

In response to the recent heat wave, a Mississippi judge banned outdoor school activities in six counties between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. The decision, which some are calling unprecedented, has especially affected football coaches.

Posted: August 13, 2007

Stretching Review

A review article in the British Medical Journal looks at whether or not stretching helps prevent muscle soreness or reduce the risk of injury.

Posted: August 10, 2007

Relief Now, Pain Later

Intra-particular pain pump catheters inserted into the shoulder during arthroscopic surgery have been linked to Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis, a painful injury that often requires ingesting pain killers for years.

Posted: August 9, 2007

Temperature Check

Are you using infrared thermometers in your athletic training room? Officials warn that the thermometers, while quick and easy to use, haven't proven to be as accurate as a regular thermometer.

Posted: August 8, 2007

After a Concussion

Can an MRI conclusively show when it's safe for a concussed athlete to return to play? University of Pittsburgh researchers say yes.

Posted: August 7, 2007

Reducing Heat Stress

One year after a Kentucky high school football player died after a preseason practice, safety measures put in place include misting fans and tents for shade, 10-minute breaks every half hour, and weigh-ins at morning and afternoon practices.

Posted: August 6, 2007

Shoulder Pain

Kevin Plancher, MD, explains how a damaged spinoglenoid ligament can cause shoulder pain that is often attributed to the rotator cuff.

Posted: August 3, 2007

Exercising Advice

The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association have released updated physical activity guidelines.

Posted: August 2, 2007

Virtual Reality Training

An Ohio rehab center is testing out a virtual training program in which an athlete wears a sensor connected to a computer displaying their movements as the athlete goes through a training program.

Posted: August 1, 2007

New Rules in NJ

New rules by the New Jersey State High School Association designed to avoid heat illness as football practices get underway are drawing mixed reviews.

Posted: July 31, 2007

Covering Club Teams

In Texas, club teams see some of the best athletic training coverage there is. Most league organizers are expected to foot the bill for coverage at games and tournaments.

Posted: July 30, 2007

Brace Yourself

This two year-long study analyzed the use of a neoprene sleeve versus a functional knee brace after ACL surgery, and found no substantial evidence that one was better than the other.

Posted: July 27, 2007

ATC Coverage Lacking

Certified Athletic Trainers are still spread thin in many areas of the country, and Florida’s high schools are no different. It often ends up that a coaching staff with no medical background is left to care for their athletes.

Posted: July 26, 2007

Shoe Shopping

Finding the right athletic shoe is no easy task. When your athletes are in the market for a new pair, they should heed this advice, including pumping the salesperson for information.

Posted: July 25, 2007

Tougher Comeback for Women?

Not only are women more susceptible to ACL tears than men, but according to a recent study, women also have a harder time recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.

Posted: July 24, 2007

Preseason Approaching

The time for sticky-weather preseason practices is near. Advice for athletes headed to two-a-days next week include early hydration and spending time outside to become acclimated to the heat.

Posted: July 23, 2007

Overuse in Pitchers

Youth baseball pitchers may not be in as much danger of overuse injuries as originally thought. A recent study says young players who throw often actually "maintain external shoulder rotation as they mature," reducing injury risk.

Posted: July 20, 2007

Tennis and Spinal Damage

Youth tennis players who engage in intense training early on have been found to have serious spinal damage, in part due to the demands of the heavy training during their growth spurt years.

Posted: July 19, 2007

Hernia Surgery

For those with sports hernia, surgical repair with tension-free mesh along with a great rehab program will get athletes back on track sooner than thought.

Posted: July 18, 2007

Safer Soccer

Doing a specific 20-minute warm-up during the preseason can reduce soccer players' incidence of groin injuries by 28 percent, according to a new study led by the team physician for US Soccer.

Posted: July 17, 2007

Testing for Street Drugs

The largest school district in Georgia is considering testing students for illicit drugs after its quarterback was found to have cocaine in his system the night he was killed in a car accident.

Posted: July 16, 2007

Ride 'em Cowboy

Using the World Wide Web, a Canadian researcher is asking professional rodeo cowboys from around the world to report injuries (both old and new) in an online registry similar to the NCAA's model so that he can help make the sport safer.

Posted: July 13, 2007

Soccer Headgear Results

A study in which part of a youth soccer club sported headgear during their season was recently completed, and results have been released: Risk of concussion was 2.65 times higher for the athletes not wearing the headgear.

Posted: July 12, 2007

Too Cold?

It has never been proven that ice baths speed recovery after an intense workout, and a recent study says ice bathers actually experience more pain one day after the plunge.

Posted: July 11, 2007

Keeping Youth Sports Safe

The American Academy of Pediatrics says over 3.5 million sports injuries that require medical attention occur each year. These young athletes don't have athletic trainers on the sidelines, so it's up to parents and coaches to make playing youth sports safe.

Posted: July 10, 2007

Safer Sports

Cautious rehab, educated coaches, and better safety rules and equipment are a few of the reasons why youth athletes as a whole are safer today than they have been in years.

Posted: July 9, 2007

High School Head Injuries

High school football players have three times more risk of suffering a catastrophic head injury than college players, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine.

Posted: July 6, 2007

Analyzing Glucosamine

Many athletes with joint pain take a glucosamine supplement to ease their symptoms, but does it work? A review in the July issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism finds varying answers.

Posted: July 5, 2007

Preventing ACL Tears

Female student-athletes at a Colorado high school are participating in an ACL-tear prevention program this week, designed by a local orthopedic and sports medicine group.

Posted: July 3, 2007

A Mile a Day

The new leaders of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association have begun an initiative encouraging physicians to prescribe exercise to all of their patients.

Posted: July 2, 2007

In Shock

Shockwave therapy may be a better treatment option—with lower recurrence rates—than a conservative treatment like physical therapy for patients with chronic knee pain.

Posted: June 29, 2007

Just Say No

The NCAA decided yesterday to reject a proposal to test student-athletes for street drugs. It will continue to test for performance-enhancing substances.

Posted: June 28, 2007

Marshall's First Athletic Trainer

Edward James Prelaz, Marshall's first athletic trainer and a former standout football player at the school, passed away last week at age 81. Prelaz taught at Marshall for 47 years.

Posted: June 27, 2007

Testing too Tedious?

As high school athlete drug testing becomes more prevalent, some wonder whether the tests actually deter drug use and are worth the cost and hassle.

Posted: June 26, 2007

Risk of Injury

Some researchers say personality and attitude have a lot to do with an athlete's chances at being hurt during play—athletes with a more aggressive mindset are at higher risk than "finesse" players who showcase their skills.

Posted: June 25, 2007

Hit the Snooze

While there is plenty of research that says sleep deprivation will hinder an athlete's game, a Stanford University study has found that extra sleep can significantly improve athletic performance.

Posted: June 22, 2007

Perfecting the Posture

Postural restoration is one form of rehab that's gaining popularity in some pockets of the country. The technique focuses on a whole-body approach to eliminating pain.

Posted: June 21, 2007

Casing Creatinine

At a Society of Sports Nutrition meeting in Las Vegas this week, discussions are focusing on creatinine, a product related to creatine but considered not nearly as safe.

Posted: June 20, 2007

Concussion Seminar

While NFL officials will hear from the nation's best concussion experts at a seminar today, skeptics wonder if the summit is a quick cover-up for negative headlines this off-season.

Posted: June 19, 2007

Equity in Testing

Some people in Florida are concerned the state's drug testing law may be gender biased. Expected to be signed Tuesday, the measure calls for testing of high school athletes only in sports that are predominantly male.

Posted: June 18, 2007

Suing Over Supplements

Pro tennis player Guillermo Coria, once ranked No. 3 in the world, is suing a New Jersey supplement manufacturer whose contaminated vitamins allegedly caused him to test positive for steroids.

Posted: June 15, 2007

Knee Injuries: All in the Head?

A new study of college athletes shows that those who sustain non-contact ACL injuries have slower brain functioning than those who do not--a result of the athletes' "chosen movement strategy," which occurs in the brain.

Posted: June 14, 2007

Don't Overlook Overweight

The American College of Sports Medicine has released guidelines for working with overweight athletes—who are more susceptible to heat illness, asthma, and sudden cardiac death.

Posted: June 13, 2007

Athlete Overdoses on Sports Cream

A high school runner in Staten Island, N.Y., who died in April, suffered a sports cream overdose according to the recently released medical examiner's report. An ingredient called methyl salicylate, or oil of wintergreen, apparently caused a fatal nighttime seizure.

Posted: June 12, 2007

Not So Safe?

A 2005 study that concluded high school football players who suffered concussions during games may be safe to return to the field later in the game is being disputed by two of the study's original five authors.

Posted: June 11, 2007

Nutrition Affects Overtraining

A new study suggests that athletes who suffer from Overtaining Syndrome (OTS) do not consume nearly enough calories or give themselves enough recovery time from workouts.

Posted: June 8, 2007

Comeback at Cal Poly

Phillip Reid battled multiple leg injuries, including stress fractures in his tibia and high right femur, during his first two years at Cal Poly before staging a comeback to make it to this week's NCAA Track & Field Championships.

Posted: June 7, 2007

Q&A With Jeff Hogan

The Head Athletic Trainer at University of California-Davis talks about keeping the Aggies healthy since 1984.

Posted: June 6, 2007

Breakfast Cereal Best?

Research presented by the American College of Sports Medicine says cereal and milk may be better for post-workout recovery than a sports drink because of the additional protein in the milk.

Posted: June 5, 2007

Concussion Connection

The University of North Carolina's Center for the Study of Retired Athletes released a study last week that definitively links clinical depression with concussions in retired NFL players.

Posted: June 4, 2007

Adolescent Medicine Expands

Athletic trainers who work with high school student athletes may have a new partner on their team. There is a growing focus on adolescent medicine, and more physicians are specializing in it.

Posted: June 1, 2007

Domino Effect

Now that the Texas state legislature has passed a bill to authorize and fund statewide steroid testing for high school athletes, officials next door in Louisiana may be prompted to follow suit.

Posted: May 31, 2007

Sweetened Up

The Coca-Cola Company's purchase of Glaceau, producers of Smartwater and Vitaminwater, has prompted a look at whether these drinks really are better for you than soda.

Posted: May 30, 2007

New Partners

The American College of Sports Medicine and National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association have formed a partnership that will provide continuing education programs and allow NIRSA access to national health and fitness certifications.

Posted: May 29, 2007

Coming Back

Jackie Teman, a softball player for the University of Massachusetts, returned to the field after three years of battling post-concussion neurological problems.

Posted: May 25, 2007

Skin Healing

When a Florida high school football player ripped almost all of the skin off one of his fingers in a tackle, the solution involved sewing his finger to his abdomen to allow it to heal.

Posted: May 24, 2007

Sixteen Years Worth

The NATA and NCAA have released 16 years of Injury Surveillance System data from 15 collegiate sports. Two major findings are that rates of concussions and ACL injuries increased significantly.

Posted: May 23, 2007

Keeping Hip

For those facing a total hip replacement, hip resurfacing may be a less extensive procedure that allows patients to return to athletics sooner and safer.

Posted: May 22, 2007

Ganglion Cysts

Ganglion cysts can be a fairly common injury occurrence, especially for athletes involved in "gripping" sports. In this article, an orthopedic surgeon explains what the cysts are, why they form, and how they should be treated.

Posted: May 21, 2007

Adjusting the Sox

For the Boston Red Sox, chiropractic care is an integral part of the sports medicine puzzle. Adjustments are done for three to fours before about two-thirds of the team's home games.

Posted: May 17, 2007

UPMC Expanding

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center opened its Injury Prevention and Performance Enhancement Laboratory this week, bringing the Center's sports medicine specialty to U.S. soldiers.

Posted: May 16, 2007

Preventing Eating Disorders

Because female athletes often face severe pressure to avoid gaining weight, athletic departments should have programs in place to prevent eating disorders, says this author. Tennesse is one school that does.

Posted: May 15, 2007

NATA Honors Zappala

Rick Zappala, Head Athletic Trainer at Paul D. Schreiber High School, was tapped for this year's National Athletic Trainers Association's Joseph Abraham Award.

Posted: May 14, 2007

Rules of the Ice

Among NFHS ice hockey rules changes for next year, mouthguards are no longer required to be attached to helmets. Officials say players just let the guards hang and didn't wear them and that this rule will encourage the use of better-fitting custom-molded guards.

Posted: May 11, 2007

Correcting the Cuff

A new study by U.S. and Canadian researchers suggests delaying rotator cuff surgery could be a big mistake. Once the surrounding muscles have deteriorated beyond a certain point, the surgery is far less successful.

Posted: May 10, 2007

ACL Research

A study conducted at Ohio State's Sports Medicine Center shows that hormone cycling in women does not affect the gender's higher rate of ACL injuries.

Posted: May 9, 2007

ATCs in Florida

A $3.5 million grant funded by the Florida Legislature last year is helping the University of South Florida put more athletic trainers in the state's high schools.

Posted: May 8, 2007

Health Gamble?

Is athletes' long-term health being put in jeopardy to get players back on the field and make the teams happy in the short run?

Posted: May 7, 2007

Good as New

A new study has shown that most pitchers who undergo Tommy John surgery recover completely and pitch as well as they had before the injury.

Posted: May 4, 2007

Class Time

The new commissioner of the NFL is demanding that every NFL team send two physicians and athletic trainers to a Committee on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury meeting on concussions.

Posted: May 3, 2007

Regulating Supplement Ads

The leading trade association for the supplement industry has announced a new advertising campaign to encourage supplement manufacturers to police themselves.

Posted: May 2, 2007

Female Preference

A survey study at the University of Alberta says both male and female athletes are more comfortable seeing female instead of male team physicians.

Posted: May 1, 2007

Acupuncture & Athletes

Traditional Chinese Medicine—including the use of herbal supplements and acupuncture—is becoming more widely used in the sports medicine world.

Posted: April 30, 2007

Looking Deeper Into Concussions

A pathologist in Pittsburgh is hoping to learn more about the long-term effects of concussions by studying the brains of deceased professional football players.

Posted: April 27, 2007

Monitoring Every Move

The Australian Football League is considering a proposal to outfit each of its players with a GPS device that would report every step and heartbeat in real time. The information could be used to determine when a player is tired and for developing more effective training routines.

Posted: April 26, 2007

Neglecting the Neck

When an athlete suffers a head injury, their neck is often injured as well. However, neck injuries often go undetected--when 108 freshman football recruits at the University of Iowa had neck x-rays, 35 of them showed signs of previous neck injuries.

Posted: April 25, 2007

NYC Bat Ban is Official

The New York City Council banned metal bats from high school baseball yesterday, overriding a veto by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Posted: April 24, 2007

No H2O?

As the London Marathon gets underway today, a University of Exeter scientist warns that downing water won't keep competitors cool in the heat. His recent study says fluid intake has no effect on core body temperature or performance.

Posted: April 23, 2007

Good News in Colorado

The Colorado House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday requiring athletic trainers in that state to be certified. It's unclear whether Gov. Bill Ritter will sign the legislation.

Posted: April 20, 2007

Sex & Concussions

A letter in the May issue of The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences warns that sexual activity can aggravate symptoms in post-concussive athletes and may need to be addressed when warning them about avoiding exertional activities following a concussion.

Posted: April 19, 2007

Rehab For Two

A look at the rehab process for two University of San Diego football players, who supported each other throughout.

Posted: April 18, 2007

Averting Allergies

It's that time of the year—with spring and outdoor exercise come allergies. To allow your athletes to get the most out of their practice sessions, a few simple guidelines can help.

Posted: April 17, 2007

Sports so Soon?

Toddler leagues of three and four year-olds are cropping up across the country, and while some parents are excited about their offspring competing in sports at an early age, childhood development specialists are not.

Posted: April 16, 2007

Texas to Test

Texas legislators have passed a bill that will require random steroid testing of its high school athletes beginning next school year. Who will pay for the tests is still undecided.

Posted: April 13, 2007

Lacrosse Safety

On Wednesday, a high school lacrosse player was killed during pregame warmups when a ball struck the back of his head below his helmet. The (Rochester) Democrat & Chronicle looks at the prevalence of injuries in the sport.

Posted: April 13, 2007

Running on Baking Soda

For years, doctors have recommended taking sodium bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid in ulcer patients. A new study shows it may also neutralize the acid in muscles during intense exercise and help athletes exercise longer.

Posted: April 12, 2007

Youth Weight Training

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's resident pediatrician answers the question of whether youth weight lifting programs are safe.

Posted: April 11, 2007

Protein Power

It's common knowledge that synovial fluid helps joints function, but a team of researchers at Brown University recently discovered that a key protein plays a big role, too. There may be implications for treating sports injuries.

Posted: April 10, 2007

Sweat It

A recent article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine says hepatitis B may be spread through sweat in contact sports such as wrestling.

Posted: April 9, 2007

Catcher's Mask Safety

Using crash test dummies and high-speed video equipment, a group of students at Kettering University tested the protective qualities of traditional-style catcher's masks and the newer hockey goalie-style masks.

Posted: April 6, 2007

Talking Steroids

Notre Dame's Sports Physician, James Moriarity, offers his take on the ill affects of steroids and how manufacturers take advantage of an athlete striving to be the best.

Posted: April 5, 2007

My Head Hurts

Thanks to a recent study covering almost 12,000 children, there is now concrete evidence that for youths, one head injury makes another more likely.

Posted: April 4, 2007

Ride On

Iliotibial Band Syndrome, a common repetetive stress injury in cyclists, can be avoided through the proper preseason precautions.

Posted: April 3, 2007

Training Through Pain

In the wake of muscle pain, cross-training can help shorten recovery time without stopping exercise.

Posted: April 2, 2007

Nutrition and Recovery

Working with competitive rowers, a new study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise suggests that fluid intake has a greater effect on recovery than either carbohydrate or sodium intake.

Posted: March 30, 2007

What the Future Holds

A group of Chinese researchers is collecting saliva samples from sports superstars in hopes of finding a common thread that would help identify future talent for early training.

Posted: March 29, 2007

Therapies for Tendon Pain

Robert Dimeff, MD, Medical Director of Cleveland Clinic Sports Health, discusses some of the newest treatments for tendon pain caused by sports.

Posted: March 28, 2007

Gateway Supplement?

A University of Mississippi administrator says he is firmly against high school-age athletes taking supplements such as creatine, as he believes it can lead to steroid use in their college years.

Posted: March 27, 2007

Run With It

Runners often skip the strength training aspect of their workouts, but lifting light weights can help prevent injury and improve endurance.

Posted: March 26, 2007

Eight a Day?

The old adage to drink eight glasses of water per day doesn't hold true for everyone, including athletes. Each body is different when it comes to hydration.

Posted: March 23, 2007

ATC To Cycle Across US

This summer, Tim Glover, ATC, Assistant Athletic Trainer at Ferris State University, will ride his bike across the United States to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Glover hopes to raise at least $50,000 through donations.

Posted: March 22, 2007

Keep it on Ice

Can storing a young child's stem cells help repair torn ligaments or tendons if the child becomes an injured athlete in the future? This article takes a look at the idea.

Posted: March 21, 2007

Knee Deep in Rehab

The Naples (Fla.) News takes a look at local high school athletes rehabbing after ACL injuries, examining the physical and emotional effects of the injury as well as its impact on athletes' chances of being recruited to play in college.

Posted: March 20, 2007

"Stop the Madness"

As the NCAA basketball tournament continues, the American Medical Association is campaigning to ban alcohol marketing from college sports, asking colleges to "Stop the Madness."

Posted: March 19, 2007

Cardiac Arrest in Athletes

The latest issue of the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine includes recommendations from a task force on how to plan for sudden cardiac arrest in student-athletes.

Posted: March 16, 2007

NYC Bans Metal Bats

Wednesday, the New York City Council passed a bill banning metal bats in high school competitions. However, some question whether wood bats are truly safer than metal.

Posted: March 15, 2007

Stress & Injuries

Can non-athletics related stress cause injury on the field or the court? The American College of Sports Medicine says there is a connection.

Posted: March 14, 2007

Acing the ATC Test

Nationally, 35 percent of test takers pass the written section of the athletic training certification exam. But, at Slippery Rock, that number is 80 percent. And 100 percent of Slippery Rock students passed the written simulation--compared to 56 percent nationally.

Posted: March 13, 2007

Yellow Card for Safety

High school soccer coaches have always had the responsibility to make sure their players are properly equipped, but if a player is found to be unsafely outfitted next season, coaches will be charged with a yellow card as consequence.

Posted: March 12, 2007

Certification in Colorado

In Colorado, no certification is currently required for athletic trainers, something that will change if a bill currently in the works passes. Meanwhile, the lack of a certification requirement has some questioning the profession.

Posted: March 11, 2007