http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/07/jumping_for_joy.html By Ryan Johnson At Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., Jordan Helgren, a two-time Minnesota girls’ state champion triple jumper, dislocated her patella three weeks before the 2008 state meet. Ryan Johnson, CSCS, Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata, blogs about the team effort that got Helgren back on track and able to successfully defend her title. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/07/rugby_injury_breakdown_1.html By R. Dawn Comstock Dawn Comstock, PhD, Principle Investigator at The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, analyzes injury rates and trends for rugby while sharing the results from two new studies. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/07/qa_with_dave_dc_colt.html By Abigail Funk T&C would like to congratulate Dave “DC” Colt, MSEd, LAT, ATC, Head Athletic Trainer at Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU), on his induction into the NATA Hall of Fame last month! In this interview, Colt shares his thoughts on his most recent honor and how the profession has changed during his 27 years in and on the field. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/06/supplement_and_nutrition_notes.html By Dave Ellis Contributor Dave Ellis, RD, CSCS, a sports nutrition and recovery professional, provides a list of recent links to important health and nutrition news and studies from across the country. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/06/live_from_the_nata_show.html T&C Assistant Editor Greg Scholand blogged from the 59th annual NATA Meeting and Clinical Symposia in St. Louis. Read his take on convention happenings as well as interesting tidbits he saw on the floor, during seminars, and while attending different events. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/06/sweet_taste_of_recovery_1.html By Ryan Johnson Ryan Johnson, CSCS, Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., has been seeing great results with a low-cost post-workout recovery drink that is readily available at his school's cafeteria. Chocolate milk is now an essential part of his strength development program. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/05/can_turf_fields_pose_health_ri.html By Dennis Read Athletic trainers are used to watching contests that are played on their teams' fields. Now some are seeing battles being fought over those fields. Recent reports of high lead levels in a few synthetic turf fields have roused critics with concerns about the technology’s safety. However, industry leaders strongly stand behind the safety of their products, countering that there is no evidence linking synthetic turf to illness or environmental damage. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/05/injury_rates_for_practice_vs_c.html By Dawn Comstock Contributor Dawn Comstock, PhD, Principle Investigator at The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, compares rates and trends for injuries sustained during competition versus those that occur at practice. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/05/sticking_with_one_sport.html By Nate Dougherty In many places, the three-sport high school athlete is an endangered species. Whether it's fall baseball, indoor soccer in the winter, or summer volleyball leagues, more young athletes are being pressured into choosing one sport to play year round. This becomes especially important when college scholarships are on the line and student-athletes are more or less forced to pick one sport just to keep up with competitors. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/05/no_stopping_em.html Carefully designed aerobic workouts and sport-specific movement drills lay the training foundation for the high-flying University of Portland women’s soccer team. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/05/unmasking_pain.html Recent research into the physical and psychological mechanisms of pain is revealing new ways to help ease the hurt without the use of medication. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/05/safe_from_steroids.html More than ever before, there is pressure to find out how serious steroid use is at the college and high school levels. Is more testing the answer? http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/05/take_a_load_off.html Low-impact training and active rest aren’t synonyms for slacking off after the season. When planned properly, they let athletes recharge body and mind while still being challenged in their workouts. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/05/a_different_route.html As new professional opportunities continue to arise for athletic trainers, there is no longer one career path to follow. In this article, three trailblazers explain the twists and turns that brought them to where they are today. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/05/qa_with_diana_palmer.html Westmont College, USA Olympic Triathlon Team http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/05/showing_what_youre_worth.html An end-of-season report can make sure everyone appreciates all that you do. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/05/summer_strength.html By Ryan Johnson Ryan Johnson, CSCS, Coach Practitioner and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., shares his thoughts on running an eight-week summer strength training program for his student-athletes. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/05/blisters_be_gone.html By Stan Reents Blisters occur commonly and they can occur anywhere. Here, contributor Stan Reents shares tips for blister treatment and prevention. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/in_alignment.html Sometimes, an athlete’s toughest opponent is his or her own biomechanical flaws. One way to correct them is through a form of Pilates called Contrology. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/pooling_resources.html Aquatic therapy creates dynamic, controlled resistance. Biofeedback offers quantifiable information about muscle function. Together, they allow athletes to begin rehab in a supportive, pain-reducing environment. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/serving_up_support.html By Abigail Funk Last April, the the Brigham Young University women’s volleyball team found out that its long-time Athletic Trainer and BYU’s Director of Sports Medicine, Gaye Merrill, MS, ATC, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. They wanted to show their support and came up with the idea to wear pink bracelets, signifying breast cancer awareness. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/a_case_for_creatine.html By Michelle Rockwell Contributor Michelle Rockwell shares the case study of a track and field athlete who used creatine to make lean muscle gains and performance improvements. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/qa_with_jenny_moshak.html By Abigail Funk It isn’t every day a college athletic trainer is heralded in a front-page story on ESPN.com or in USA Today. But Jenny Moshak, MS, LAT, ATC, CSCS, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine at the University of Tennessee, recently found herself in the media spotlight as she helped to rehab All-American forward Candace Parker in the midst of the Lady Volunteers’ run to its eighth NCAA national championship last month. Here, Moshak recounts Parker’s injury, what went into her extremely fast rehab in the days before the team’s Final Four game, and how Moshak dealt with the sudden onslaught of interview requests and media exposure. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/coordinated_effort.html At the University of Cincinnati, speed work and a creative approach to building strength are the foundations of the football training program. But just as important is how the coaches coordinate their efforts. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/leap_of_faith.html From Muslim athletes in headscarves to patients who don’t speak English, our clientele is growing more diverse by the day. Improving your cultural competence will ensure you are providing the best healthcare possible. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/choices_and_more_choices.html As the number of nutritional supplements on the market keeps growing, athletes can easily get lost among the choices. Our expert explains how to steer clear of unwanted risks and toward real performance gains. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/micro_holes_macro_results.html In the past, suffering a chondral defect often meant an end to an athlete’s career. Today, exciting advances in microfracture surgery and rehab are allowing players to come back more explosive than ever. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/jordan_bauman.html Stratford (Wis.) High School http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/bulletin_board_4.html http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/under_the_microscope.html Protecting your athletes from MRSA means taking a close look at how these bacteria function. Here, we delve into your most pressing questions on the topic. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/what_a_save.html To be an effective goalie—in any sport—you need a certain mindset. You also need a specific strength and conditioning program that is different from position players. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/on_the_same_page.html How do you deal with sport coaches who question your workouts, want to try all the new fads, and are always looking for an edge? By getting on the same page with them. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/the_better_to_heal_you_with.html The latest research shows that certain dietary changes during rehab can help athletes control inflammation, heal more quickly, and get back into the game sooner. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/the_alumni_connection.html When it comes to making contacts, try starting with your school’s athletic training alumni. http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/qa_with_mark_stoessner.html Grand Valley State University http://www.training-conditioning.com/2008/04/youth_lacrosse_injury_breakdow.html By Dawn Comstock Contributor Dawn Comstock, PhD, Principle Investigator at The Center for Injury Research and Policy at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, takes a look at injury rates and trends for youth lacrosse players.