Orthopedic Special Tests

Review, review, review.  One of the benefits of the internet is the availability to watch special tests performed "real time", rather than just reading them out of a textbook or seeing them once or twice at clinicals.  While some tests are more valid than others, it's always good to fill your evaluation arsenal with as many as possible.  Over time, you may come to realize which ones work best for you and which are better predictors of specific pathologies.  

 To study, you can either click on the link to Musculoskeletal Special Tests on the upper right hand side of the blog or, check out this website which also offers detailed explanation of several tests.   It can be a great way to stay "fresh" over the summer!

Student Resources

Students often ask me, "Where can I learn more about athletic training internships/scholarships/opportunities, etc?"  Short of both the textbooks  I require and specific peer reviewed journals I recommend, there are some high quality sites available. 
In addition to the National Athletic Trainers' Association website (which should go without saying), one of particular interest to students is the Collegiate Sports Medicine Foundation which highlights a number of topics currently pertaining to athletic training.  They cover everything from study abroad opportunities, to injury photos/videos, and even current topics covering legal issues and catastrophic injuries in sport.  So the next time you have a few minutes, check this site out.  Good for ATC's and students alike!

Supplements: Are you keeping up?

In this day and age, there is much talk and practice of supplementation.  Are they good or bad? A difficult task for the ATC can be staying informed on what commonly used supplements are viable or not.  This google document collected information on various  supplements, and connects them directly to peer reviewed research which examines their use and effects.
http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/play/snake-oil-supplements/
Simply click on a balloon for a specific item, or use the tab on the right to see empirical data for supplements as they rate for specific conditions.  


I also read this study on additives in supplements which may serve to help educate athlete's about what they are actually ingesting  http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/july/food/protein-drinks/whats-in-your-protein-drink/index.htm

Once in the article, click on links on the upper left hand side to peruse the article.  This topic truly is a moving target, and highly individualized. 

History of Athletic Training

 Everyday, ATC's and students find themselves educating others about who we are, and what we do.  We often are confused with personal trainers, which is a great profession, but we differ in what we do on a day to day basis.  This article can be used to help educate others on not only our origins, but the level of education we have prior to even taking our certification exam.  It may be a little dense, but I find it an interesting read.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1322875/pdf/jathtrain00005-0067.pdf

Football Helmets

One of the most common tasks for the athletic trainer during the sports seasons is helmet fitting.  Not only must they know  proper fitting protocols, but they also must be well versed and proficient at it's removal in an emergency situation.  A difficulty for today's ATC is that they may have a team which has several different helmet styles on one team, meaning that they have to familiarize themselves with the appropriate, or most efficient removal method for each style.  Recent advancements in helmet technology may provide a quicker release system.  Check it out!

Anatomy of a Football Helmet
A nice schematic which takes a look at the helmet from the inside out, courtesy of the NY Times.

http://www.riddell.com/usafootball
Overview of the Quick Release System on Riddell Football Helmets

Google Body: Visualizing the Human Body

A common issue amongst AT students is that not all can learn by simply looking at pictures in a textbook, and not all educational programs can provide a gross anatomy course (which is indispensable, in my humble opinion).  Google has unveiled a new tool in which you can scroll almost 3 dimensionally throughout the body, and click on specific areas to reveal terms for the different systems in the body.  This is the best free tool I have found in some time for students to study...this can be a fantastic augmentation to your studies.  Enjoy!

http://bodybrowser.googlelabs.com/

Of note:  this works best with Google Chrome, which is easily downloadable if you don't already have a browser which supports the feature.  

Palpation Lab Activity

A frequent frustration for students can be to understand the purpose of palpation.  While at times it is taught as a way to identify anatomical structures, it must also be understood as a way to identify abnormal structures.  How many students could correctly identify a fascial bind?  What about a muscular "knot"?  Don't even get me started on a partial tear.  Here is a link to a fantastic article I read recently:
 http://nataej.org/5.4/0504-170175.pdf
Not only is it spot on, but it can make an otherwise drab lecture turn into a powerful teachable moment.  Essentially, each student completes various tasks including:
1.  Palpating a penny and describing it in a tactile fashion.
2.  Palpating bundled Twizzler candy with various deformations/abnormalities in it.
3.  Using their index fingers to compress a scale at specific pound intervals.
I tried this last week and the result was a resounding success.  Students loved it, and it took palpation to the next level for them.  Great article, great tool for educators.