HEADLINES

NFL To NCAA

Tim Bream has left the NFL's Chicago Bears to return to his alma mater, Penn State, as Head Athletic Trainer.

Workout Nutrition

It's the food consumed beforehand that matters most, not what the athlete eats during a workout.

Cheer Safety

USA Cheer and the American Sports Medicine Institute will hold a cheerleading safety symposium in April.

Purdue Hires Boersma

Purdue University has hired Doug Boersma to take over as Director of Sports Medicine for the retiring Denny Miller.

Player Collapses, Dies

A Spokane High School boys' basketball player collapsed and died during practice.

Off The Field

A look at how some students' concussions have impacted their lives off the playing field.

Don't Wait

New research says that prolonging surgery in youths with ACL tears results in a higher incidence of other knee injuries.

Fit Matters

Temple University researchers say helmet fit is a factor in preventing concussions.

Back At It Faster?

A different repair procedure could return athletes to play sooner after cartilage damage occurs.

In Critical Condition

A Kentucky eighth grader who collapsed at a baseball practice earlier this week is in critical condition.

New Triad Research

Researchers say there is a link between girls participating in competitive soccer and female athlete triad risk.

Concussion Bill Pushed

In Wisconsin, state legislators have joined a public push for a youth concussion bill.

High School Help

This athletic trainer used a grant to upgrade the athletic training room at Boston's English High School.

Sports Massage Research

Post-workout massage may be more beneficial to athletes than originally thought.

With SCT

This women's basketball player has learned to manage having the sickle cell trait while still playing hoops.

Basketball Death

A North Carolina community college men's basketball player died this past weekend after collapsing during a game.

IHSA Says Bill Is Unsafe

Illinois administrators are opposing a bill that reduces the preseason practice minimum for students in military training.

Soccer Headers

A recent review of research says there is no link between frequent heading of the ball in soccer and CTE.

Sprinters Are Different

Researchers have found that sprinters have longer bones in their forefeet and reduced leverage in their Achilles tendons.

Measuring Soreness

A look at measuring athletes' muscle soreness using thermal imaging as opposed to a pain scale.

Reducing Stress

Athletes at this New Jersey high school learned how to reduce stress from a well-known sports psychologist.

Rules For Safety

Amateur ice hockey in Minnesota approved heavier penalties for boarding and checking from behind.

Research Money

NOCSAE has awarded $845,000 in grant money to further concussion research.

Free Coverage

This Rhode Island high school will have athletic trainers for the first time--free of charge.

Safety in Wrestling

The December injury of a North Carolina high school wrestler has led to increased awareness of safety concerns.

Chiropractor for Concussion?

NHL player Sidney Crosby is being assisted by a chiropractor in his treatment for a concussion.

Up and Down

NCAA Division II has approved sickle cell testing, while Division III wants to study the idea further.

Close Watch

Should athletes wear heart-monitoring bracelets to curb the number of heart-related deaths?

Ice Hockey Injury

An on-ice injury that left a Minnesota girls' ice hockey player without feeling in her legs is the subject of debate.

MRSA Strikes

At least 11 students have a staph infection and one has MRSA at this New Mexico high school.

Learning Opportunity

The University of Delaware will host a Medical Aspect of Sports seminar next month.

Straighten Up

A new "shirt" aims to correct athletes' posture.

Preventing Heat Stroke

A recent study says an already-existing drug could guard against heat stroke in those who are susceptible.

Licensure Stays Strong

A New Hampshire bill that would have made state licenses for athletic trainers optional was shot down this week.

Dynamic Warmup Better

New research finds static stretching decreases performance, while a dynamic warmup does the opposite.

Out at Altitude

The Steelers' Ryan Clark, who suffers from sickle cell trait, will not play in Denver due to health concerns.

ATC Facing Charges

A high school athletic trainer is facing charges as a result of allegedly having sexual contact with two girls.

Hoops Death

A Chicago State University student died at the hospital after collapsing while playing basketball Wednesday.

Poor Role Modeling

Many NFL players say they would still try to hide a concussion if they sustained one.

Food for Football

A look at how revamping the school lunch menu helped this Georgia high school football team win a state title.

Extra Eyes

The NFL will employ non-team-associated athletic trainers to attend games and monitor possible concussions.

Later in Life

New research finds that male athletes who participate in elite-level contact sports are at higher risk of arthritis.

Swimming Records

A recent study found that full-body swimsuits were the main reason so many world records were set in 2009.

One Stop Shop

A Canadian physician has created a Web site called the Sport Concussion Library.

More Caffeine Benefits

A new study shows that caffeine intake among athletes can improve skill and performance.

Following the Sport Coach

University of Florida Director of Strength and Conditioning Mickey Marotti is heading to Ohio State.

Shaving for Charity

Six athletic trainers and 12 athletic training students at SUNY Cortland had their heads shaved for charity.

Big Savings

Last year, the athletic trainers in this South Carolina school district saved families $1.55 million.

College Athlete Death

An Oregon State football player collapsed and died from an apparent heart attack Wednesday night.

Endurance Exercise Damaging?

Researchers say that some endurance athletes may be damaging the right ventricle of their heart.

Wrestler Injured

A high school wrestler suffered a severe spinal cord injury during a match this weekend.

ATC Saves Life

This Texas high school athletic trainer saved a referee's life with an AED after he went into cardiac arrest.

NCAA Sued

Four former college athletes are suing the NCAA in a class-action lawsuit regarding brain injuries.

Case For More Time

Recent research confirms that the physiological effects of a concussion can linger for for a week.

The Down Side

Emergency rooms saw 10 times more energy drink-related visits in 2009 than in 2005.

Heart Condition Blamed

A Minnesota high schooler with a pre-existing heart condition died Saturday after playing basketball at a local YMCA.

Don't Use Your Head?

A recent study found that soccer players who head the ball often are at higher risk for brain abnormalities.

New Kickoff Rules

The Medical Society of New Jersey approved changes to make kickoffs at the high school level safer.

Personal Profile

A closer look at renowned UNC concussion researcher Kevin Guskiewicz.

PTs Can Clear

In Pennsylvania, physical therapists can clear an athlete for play after a concussion.

Supplement Sales Soaring

One of the largest supplement companies in the U.S. says sports nutrition products sales are increasing greatly.

Screening As a Choice

This Illinois high school will give its athletes the option to undergo a heart screening.

Deadly Hockey Accident

A 16-year-old hockey player died a day after being hit in the neck with a puck.

ATC Arrested

An assistant athletic trainer at Limestone College has been fired after being arrested on child pornography charges.

Heart Health

A recent study found that less than half of doctors performing preseason physicals were aware of AHA guidelines.

Tests Now Available

Examining DNA testing that predicts whether a young child might excel at a particular sport.

Short Preseason? More Injuries

With a shortened NFL preseason as a result of the lockout, players suffered Achilles tendon injuries at an even higher rate than usual.

Basketball Death

A Georgia teenager died Saturday after collapsing at basketball practice last Monday.

The Right Warmup

The key to preventing lower extremity injuries in female athletes may be a neuromuscular warmup program.

Comparing Protection

A recent study compared today's football helmets with the leather helmets worn in the early 1900s.

More Military ATCs

The U.S. Marine Corps is hiring athletic trainers to provide medical coverage during training drills.

Ankle Injury Spurs Clots

Blood clots that resulted after a sprained ankle are to blame for the death of a high school football player last week.

Talking Injuries

The athletic training staff at UCLA talks about injury prevention and rehab.

Curbing MRI Use

Recent research suggests MRIs may be overused by sports medicine practitioners.

Female ATC in MLB

The Los Angeles Dodgers are hiring the first female athletic trainer in Major League Baseball.

ATC Arrested

A former athletic trainer at Tennessee Tech and Oregon Tech was arrested on child pornography charges.

ACL Trends

Why are youth athletes suffering from ACL tears at increasingly higher rates? This article examines the issue.

After The Hit

A Pennsylvania athletic trainer has started a post-concussion support group for athletes and their parents.

Overhydration Warning

Examining exercise-associated hyponatremia.

Neck Rolls in the News

With increased awareness about athlete safety, will neck rolls make a comeback in football?

Youth Helmet Safety

Virginia Tech recently completed a study on the ability of youth football helmets to protect children from head injuries.

Looking Elsewhere

According to a recent study, the key to avoid a repeat sprained ankle may be in strengthening the hips and knees.

Heat Rules

In Texas, new rules will result in less intense two-a-day practices next summer.

HS Athlete Death

A New York high school football player died Friday night following a game in which he suffered a head injury.

ACL Aftermath

Recent research says that about half of athletes who undergo ACL repair surgery don't return to form.

More Concussions

The CDC has reported a 60 percent increase in traumatic brain injuries in youth athletes over the past eight years.

Eye on Field Hockey

Not everyone is on board with the NFHS rule that debuted this year requiring eye protection in field hockey.

Baseball Death

A Florida high school pitcher died after being hit in the head with a ball that ricocheted off the pitching screen.

Ankle to Knee

Athletes' range of ankle flex may indicate risk for developing jumper's knee, according to new research.

Hot Streaks

A recent study found that a streak of positive outcomes, like basketball free throws, is likely to continue.

All Natural

Scientists may have found a natural alternative to performance-enhancing supplementation in homobrassinolide.

Opening Up

A recent study found that football players who express their emotions may have a mental edge.

Heart of the Matter

A Pennsylvania bill would ensure appropriate action is taken when a student-athlete shows signs of cardiac arrest.

Cost Variables

Examining healthcare costs and insurance coverage for high school athletes.

Vitamin D Study

A recent study found that low levels of Vitamin D may contribute to lung damage and a severe type of asthma.

Sickle Cell Carrier

The parents of a Western Carolina University football player who died at a voluntary workout in 2009 have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the school.

Second Surgeries

A $2.6 million grant has been awarded to study the high failure rate of second ACL surgeries.

Too Risky

Recent concussion tests have prompted a University of Texas football player to quit the sport.

New Group Forms

ACSM has partnered with Sanford Health to form the National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute.

Sprint Training

A recent study found that assisted, rather than resisted, sprint training techniques led to better "first-step" quickness.

Up In The Air

Taking a look at the effects of high altitude training.

Guskiewicz Wins MacArthur

Leading concussion research Kevin Guskiewicz was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship on Tuesday.

Preventing ACL Injuries

An Ohio State professor has developed a new program aimed at curtailing ACL injuries.

Locked Out

A Massachusetts athletic trainer has resigned after not being given a key to his school's security system.

Steroid Suspension

Four New Jersey high school athletes were suspended for a season after testing positive for steroids.

Over Hydrating

A recent study found that almost half of the country's runners drink too much while running.

Educating Parents

Several Massachusetts high schools have recently held concussion awareness meetings for parents.

On The Lookout

An Iowa high school has seen seven recent cases of MRSA in its football and volleyball athletes.

Player Death

A Mississippi high school football player collapsed during a game and later died.

Digging Deeper

Utah State University is launching a new, interdisciplinary concussion research project.

Breaking It Down

A three-year study of football players found linemen absorb the most hits and running backs take the hardest hits.

Early Action

Catching hip pain in young athletes is proving important to avoiding degenerative hip disease later in life.

Fueling To Win

Should more schools be employing full-time sports dietitians?

Kids Get The Okay

The NSCA recently published a position statement on how strength training can be beneficial for children.

Player Dies After Collapse

A football player at Frostburg State died from head trauma a week after collapsing in practice.

Heart Concerns

A recent study found a correlation between cross country skiing races and developing an arrhythmia.

Promotions & Shifts

The athletic training staff at Duke University gets a shake up.

Preseason Problems

The NFL has already seen more Achilles tears this season than in all of last season.

Too Early?

Taking a look at the rising number of youth athletes who work with personal trainers.

Vitamin D In Spotlight

Several recent studies point to widespread vitamin D deficiency, but over-supplementation can be toxic.

Performance Center Coming

The University of Wisconsin is planning renovations in order to create an athletic performance center.

Save A Tooth

The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation says more than three million youth athlete teeth will be knocked out this year.

Does A Body Good

Is milk the best post-workout recovery beverage?

No Competitive Edge

Is training the core not as important as many think?

All Types Allowed

The U.S. Navy has reversed a rule that banned the use of minimalist shoes during training and testing.

Change Coming?

West Virginia is examining a new certification process for athletic trainers practicing in the state.

Bad Combination

High temperatures are a concern for preseason practice, but when athletes are obese, there is more risk of heat illness.

Butkus Starts Program

Dick Butkus has started a program aimed a keeping high school athletes off steroids.

Monitoring For Safety

Georgia Southern is keeping tabs on its football players with a thermometer sensor in each player's helmet.

HS Football Death

An Arkansas high school football player collapsed at a practice Tuesday and died soon after.

Spicing It Up

A common curry spice called curcumin may offer hope to athletes who suffer from tendinitis.

High Performance

The University of California's new Student-Athlete High Performance center is almost completed.

Curveballs Okay

A new study says that throwing curveballs does not put youth baseball players at risk for injury.

Community Takes Action

Twelve high schools in this North Carolina county are getting athletic training coverage for free.

On The DL

The number of injuries in Major League Baseball is continuing to increase.

ATC Care For All

The Athletic Trainers' Equal Access to Medicare Act of 2011 was introduced into the House of Representatives this week.

Easy Access

The Chicago Bears are outfitting players with new shoulder pads that have an easy removal system.

Adding Strength

East Carolina University's strength and conditioning staff is growing, with the addition of two new coaches.

Expanding Field

Taking a look at the continual rise in popularity of sport-specific training facilities.

Athlete Death

A high school football player died at an Albright College football camp last weekend.

CTE Not As Prevalent?

Only two of the four Canadian Football League players who recently donated their brains to research after their deaths had CTE.

With the Help of iStan

Athletic trainers in Florida recently got together to practice handling emergencies using a mannequin that can simulate serious injuries.

Brace It

A recent study found that lace-up ankle braces helped high school basketball players avoid ankle sprains.

Energy Drink News

Red Bull has decided to pull its Cola and energy shot products from the U.S. market.

Too Much Too Early

A recent study found that abnormal femur development caused by high impact sports may lead to osteoarthritis.

NFL Sued

The NFL is being sued by 75 former players for concealing the risks of concussions.

Endurance Gene?

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have identified a gene for endurance and linked it to Olympic athletes.

Alzheimer's Precursor?

Researchers have linked the cognitive impairment of many retired NFL players to Alzheimer's disease.

Beet It

Beetroot juice may be an answer to improved cycling performance, says a new study.

Weaker Cartilage?

A recent study found that males with ACL injuries are more likely than females to develop a hole in their knee cartilage.

CTE Brains Examined

Researchers are learning more about CTE from the postmortem brains of professional athletes.

Ice Bath Save

Athletic trainers responded quickly to a South Carolina high school football player who had collapsed due to the heat.

Vitamin D to Blame?

A recent study found that the majority of NFL players have a vitamin D deficiency, which may contribute to injury risk.

UCF Found Guilty

The University of Central Florida was found negligent in the death of Ereck Plancher.

Adding Cheer

A New Jersey law would require cheerleading to be covered in student-athlete head injury training.

Going to Camp

The University of Texas is now offering an athletic training summer camp.

Concussion Strap?

Could a new chin strap alert athletic trainers to a concussed athlete?

Pay Cut

An Arizona high school is slashing the pay of its four athletic trainers.

Seminoles ATC Retires

After 32 years with the Florida State University sports medicine staff, Randy Oravetz is retiring.

Celebrity Help

Rapper Snoop Dogg is teaming with sports medicine professionals in Chicago to help youth athletes.

Concussion Research

NOCSAE has approved over $1 million in grants to fund concussion-related research.

Stretch Length Matters

Researchers found that the length of time a stretch is held can greatly determine negative vs. positive results.

Tossing Thoughts

Examining whether long toss is a good training tool for pitchers, or one that meddles with throwing mechanics.

Mandating AEDs

The parents of Wes Leonard are pushing for a law requiring schools to have AED's.

Getting Fit

A group of New Jersey athletic trainers have started a new fitness center.

ATC Needed

A small Pennsylvania high school has not been able to find an ATC and uses EMTs and a PT instead.

AED Saves Player

A New York high school lacrosse player is still alive following the swift action of an athletic trainer and coaches.

Foot Focus

The recent trend of toning shoes isn't getting everyone's support.

Short Warmup Only

Recent studies have found that short, easy warmups may be better for performance than long, intricate ones.

Plancher Trial Starts

Jury selection has begun in the wrongful death suit of former Central Florida football player Ereck Plancher.

Higher Risk

Olympic-level athletes may be at higher risk for developing asthma, a new study finds.

Vote On Saturday

Not everyone likes the USA Hockey proposal to raise the age at which checking is allowed in youth hockey.

More Milk Research

This study, from the University of Texas, touts the benefits of refueling with chocolate milk after an aerobic workout.

College Athlete Death

An enlarged heart may be to blame in the death of a UMass-Lowell baseball player.

Trying Testing

This North Carolina high school school will try a pilot drug testing program, paid for in part by the booster club.

Phone App Solution?

A look at using a smartphone app to diagnose a concussion.

Thinking Opposite

Walking backwards on a treadmill and pedaling backwards on a elliptical machine may help athletes with knee injuries.

Baseline Testing Questioned

The high "false negative" rate of baseline concussion testing has some researchers questioning the method.

Fingers Spell Injury Risk?

A recent study found that a discrepancy between index and ring fingers may make one at a higher risk for knee injury.

Comprehensive Look

A new report reviews sports and energy drinks as they relate to youth consumption.

Prescription For Wine

Could a red wine compound help decrease the short- and long-term effects of a concussion?

Recover & Grow

A protein drink after exercise doesn't just help the body recover--It may also help maximize physical gains.

Local Docs Give Back

A group of doctors in Oklahoma donated $11,000, brought in from doing PPEs, to their local high school.

Examining Face Shields

Findings from a recent study suggest that football teams might need to replace face shields more often.

Bill Sidetracked

Legislation which would require athletic trainers at football games in Louisiana has been held up.

Vision Training

A recent study found that athletes who trained with strobe glasses improved in their motor abilities.

OSU Hires Blaske

Oklahoma State has hired Miami's Kevin Blaske as its new head football athletic trainer.

Heart Safety Group Debuts

The newly-founded Wes Leonard Heart Team has a mission to promote heart screenings for athletes.

Saving a Coach

Several quick-thinking people are to thank for saving the life of Mississippi State Director of Track and Field Al Schmidt.

More TJ Surgeries

The Andrews Institute has seen a five- to seven-fold increase in Tommy John surgeries performed on teens.

Team Travel Safety

A look at the progress of the Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act.

HGH During Surgery?

Major League Baseball is investigating the surgical procedure Yankees pitcher Bartolo Colon underwent last year.

Heart Defect Death

A Wisconsin high school track and field athlete who died at a practice last week had a congenital heart defect.

Safer Slides

Debating the safety--and speed--of head-first slides versus feet-first slides on the baseball diamond.

ATC Honored

North Dakota State University is naming its new athletic training room after Denis "Izzy" Isrow.

Hyperhydration

Examining NFL teams' use of IV fluids prior to game time to "hyperhydrate" players.

Heart Check

In North Carolina, this school district plans to continue offering free heart screenings to its student-athletes.

Another CTE Case

It was confirmed that former NFL safety Dave Duerson had a "moderately advanced" case of CTE.

World Traveler

This athletic trainer recently returned from Russia, where he was providing coverage for the U.S. fencing team.

Supplement Confusion

A football athlete at Grand Valley State has been suspended five games for using a newly banned substance.

Marshall Plan

Marshall University is planing to build a sports medicine research center along with other facilities.

Rhabdo Concerns Continue

Rhabdomyolysis may present in non-athletic scenarios as well, including the hazing ritual of "paddling."

Concussion Rehab

A look at whether antidepressants may have the ability to heal the brain after a concussion.

Radar Technology

Using radar to detect changes in an athlete's gait may reveal if an athlete has suffered a concussion.

ATC Cut

This Pennsylvania high school cut its athletic trainer position and will instead outsource athletic training care.

More Supplements

A new report says the supplements market in the U.S. has grown five percent in the past year.

Branching Out

Taking a look at athletic trainers and physical therapists who work on-site with industrial workers.

Athletes At Higher Risk?

The American Athletic Institute says athletes are more likely to try recreational drugs than non-athletes.

Detecting Hip Dysfunction

A single-leg squat test may be all you need to assess an athlete's hip muscle function.

19-Year-Old Pitcher Dies

A junior college baseball player who suffered a stroke while pitching in a game last week was taken off of life support.

Mind & Body

Even with safeguards in place, wrestlers who regularly practice "cutting weight" can suffer psychological damage.

MRSA Response

This Montana high school had to act quickly when one of its students was found to have MRSA.

Baseball Injuries

Researchers in Boston have shown that a misaligned scapula is the underlying cause of many baseball shoulder injuries.

Fracture Risk

Examining the risk factors for stress fractures in adolescent girls playing high-impact sports.

Sickle Cell Concerns

Data from the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation sheds light on the dangers of sickle cell trait in athletes.

No Standard?

A look at drug-testing at the college level, which lacks a unifying policy.

Better Equipment

This Georgia high school's booster club has pledged to upgrade the school's strength and conditioning equipment.

Citrus For Recovery?

Ingesting citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges may help control inflammation in the body.

Sudden Death Stats

Recent research found that about one in 44,000 NCAA athletes suffers sudden cardiac death per year.

Trained Eyes

A Middle Tennessee State University athletic trainer caught a player's ruptured spleen just in time.

More Confidence, Less Injury?

A recent study found that an athlete's confidence level could affect their risk for injury.

Good Hire

For this California high school, hiring an athletic trainer five months ago has proved to be worth the cost.

After the Lockout

The NFL will now use a standardized sideline test to determine whether an athlete has sustained a concussion.

Conflict of Interest?

Some MLB team doctors face scrutiny over providing athlete care while also serving a team's best interests.

Pumped Up By New Facility

Tennessee Tech University has opened its new 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Athletic Performance Center.

New Position at Purdue

Purdue University has hired Duane Carlisle, former strength and conditioning coach for the San Francisco 49ers, to fill its newly created Director of Sports Performance position.

Athlete Focus

Are athletes' brains able to focus faster and better than non-athletes?

Shockwave Therapy

A recent study found that shockwave therapy, when used as the only rehab method, didn't help with jumper's knee.

McDonald's Diet

After eating only McDonald's food for 30 days, this runner posted a personal best marathon time of 2:36:14.

Students Get Political

Athletic training students from Southwestern College spoke to Congress about their future profession.

N.C. A&T ATC Fired

Seven months after a track and field athlete with sickle cell trait died, a suspended athletic trainer has now been fired.

Licensing in Calif.

A look at three bills being introduced in California, one of which requires athletic trainers to be licensed.

Athletic Trainer Sues

An Alabama ATC is suing a company that makes hand warmers after she says one caught on fire in her pocket.

A Safer NHL?

The NHL announced new concussion protocols at its annual general manager's meeting Monday.

Trained Graduates

New York state is considering making CPR and AED training a mandatory part of high school curriculums.

Protecting Muscles

A recent study found that about a third of injuries sustained by professional soccer players are muscle-related.

Without License

California is one of only three states that doesn't require its athletic trainers to be licensed, but that could soon change.

Hidden Danger

Athletic trainers are reporting athletes experiencing problems after taking K2 and other types of synthetic marijuana.

ECG Screenings

A look at whether ECG screenings were effective in decreasing the rate of cardiac arrest among athletes in Israel.

Accupressure For Concussions?

A recent study found positive results from using accupressure after mild traumatic brain injury.

Player Death

A Michigan high school basketball player collapsed and died hours after hitting a game-winning shot.

At The Combine

Often overlooked in the media are the medical evaluations that occur at the NFL scouting combine.

Exercise & Knees

A look at a recent review of research on the connection between exercise and knee injuries.

Concussion Rate Rise

Could high school athletes be suffering four times as many concussions as a decade ago?

ATC Position Dropped

A St. Cloud State University athletic trainer received unofficial notice that his position will be cut.

Preventing Heat Illness

Ingesting dairy colostrum for several days before a workout may help guard against heat illness.

CTE Likely

An NFL player's suicide over the weekend continues the discussion on the long-term effects of concussions.

Coming Clean

A high school student in Pennsylvania admitted to a local news station that he used steroids.

Hips & Hernias

For some athletes, a mechanical issue in the hip joint may be the underlying cause of a sports hernia.

No Helmets Best?

A look at whether helmets should be worn in women's lacrosse, or if they would lead to more reckless play.

One for Their ATC

This Minnesota high school swim team dedicated its league title to the school's athletic trainer, who is fighting cancer.

Easier Detection

Testing for a certain protein complex may be the solution to easier meniscus tear detection.

Weightroom Death

A 41-year-old San Diego City College student lost consciousness and died after a weight training class.

New Resource

The American College of Sports Medicine has unveiled its REACH Web site.

Energy Review

Energy drink manufacturers respond to a recently published review of over 100 studies on their product.

MRSA Reminder

Several Long Island high schools have experienced MRSA scares recently, with one athlete in intensive care.

Power Of Cherries

Research continues to find that the antioxidants in tart cherries help athletes' muscles recover faster after workouts.

Leading By Example

Taking a look at what the NHL is doing to try and put a dent in its concussion rate.

HS Wrestler Death

A Texas high school wrestler died last week after collapsing at a meet.

Additional Test?

The World Anti-Doping Agency is considering implementing a hair sample test.

ATC Honored

The University of Central Missouri honored Ron "Doc" VanDam by naming its athletic training facility after him.

Sideline Concussions

A look at head injuries among females involved in cheerleading.

Increasing Awareness

Students at Hope College have won the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association Public Relations Contest.

More Innings, More Injuries

A new study has found that those who pitch more than 100 innings per year are 3.5 times more likely to be injured.

New Position Filled

Notre Dame has named Jim Russ Director of Athletic Training and Rehabilitative Services.

More Running Injuries

The latest data has found a 34-percent increase in the number of youth running injuries.

PRP Examined

Several recent studies are finding that platelet rich plasma therapy doesn't live up to its hype.

AEDs Reliable?

A federal panel has called for stricter oversight of automated external defibrillators, due to reports of malfunctions.

Helmet Standards

NOCSAE has pledged to devise new football helmet safety standards, and is also offering $600,000 in grants.

LaLanne Passes Away

The fitness world said goodbye to a legend Sunday when Jack LaLanne died at his home.

Pay Raise

The strength coach staff at the University of North Texas will see a large increase in salaries.

ACL Surgery Risks

Although most athletes choose surgery to repair a torn ACL, there is a heightened risk for osteoarthritis.

New Helmets Coming

David Halstead explains how football helmets might change in the near future.

Runner's Knee

A recent study found that a stretching routine performed before running helped guard against runner's knee.

CPR Training

The AHA is pushing for U.S. high schools to implement curriculum that would train all students in CPR.

Cole Inducted

William and Mary Athletic Trainer Steve Cole will be inducted into the VATA Hall of Fame.

Concussion Bill Endorsed

The Wyoming State Senate has endorsed a bill offering more protection to concussed athletes.

Fracture Figures

The latest data on the almost 600,000 fractures that high school student-athletes sustain every year.

Celebrated Surgeon

Mayfield Harris, MD, founding member of the Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, died last week.

Food For Thought

A recent study found that traumatic brain injuries may heal faster with help from Omega-3 fatty acids.

Good Samaritan Act

In Oklahoma, a new bill will protect citizens who act as medical volunteers at sporting events.

NBA To NCAA

Golden State Warriors longtime Head Athletic Trainer Tom Abdenour is headed to San Diego State University.

Player Recovering

An RPI ice hockey player's throat was lacerated by a teammate's skate during a game last weekend.

Wii For Rehab

Studies on Nintendo's Wii Fit video game say it can be a big help in athlete rehab programs.

Steroid Testing Worth It?

Numerous states have spent money on steroid testing for high school athletes, but some don't see results.

Questionable Actions

A student athletic trainer says warning signs were ignored in the case of an athlete who suffered a massive brain injury.

Lighter Better?

This recent study found that athletes could build muscle just as well with lights weights as compared to heavy ones.

Three Percent Rule

A new study says runners who lose three percent of body weight during a marathon have a better chance of winning.

Concussion Testing

Athletes who receive computerized testing for concussions are less likely to resume playing in under a week.

HS Coverage

In North Carolina, Rowan-Salisbury Schools will receive athletic training coverage thanks to a new agreement.

Player in Hospital

A Massachusetts high school ice hockey player is in the hospital after being hit in the chest with a puck.

Too Hydrated?

A recent study found that marathon runners can drink too much during a race, which appears to slow them down.

Better Safe Than Sorry

A volleyball player who has suffered several concussions is wearing a padded helmet this season.

Plancher Lawsuit Update

The wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of UCF football player Ereck Plancher is in mediation this week.

Illegal Practice?

A first aide technician who volunteered at a Seattle high school was charged with the unlicensed practice of medicine.

Latest Safety Data

The NATA has released its 2010 Safety Report Card.

School Honors ATC

This Virginia high school has started a scholarship in the name of its athletic trainer who passed away last week.

Club Sport Coverage

At the University of Vermont, club sport athletes are lobbying for more athletic training coverage.

Culture Barrier

With players from 25 different countries, NHL officials have a tough time communicating about concussions.

Saving A Life

Two athletic trainers at East Stroudsburg University used a recently installed AED to save a student's life.

Heat Illness Numbers

The Center for Injury Research and Policy has released its latest data on heat illness injuries.

Brain Tumor Found

A Syracuse University punter will undergo surgery for a benign brain tumor.

Baseball Death

A New Jersey high school baseball catcher died Saturday after being hit in the chest with a pitch.

Too Much Energy?

Examining athletes' use of caffeine-packed energy drinks and the potential negative effects.

New Numbers

The latest data on high school athlete concussions sheds light on how more of them can be prevented.

Starting Young

Examining the trend of parents starting their children on the path to becoming a successful athlete as early as infants.

Healing Micro Tears

A recent study found that a combination of the patient's own blood and a steroid helped to heal micro tears quickly.

Meningitis Scare

A Purdue women's basketball player is in the hospital batting meningitis. Her teammates are also being treated.

NATA Backing

The NATA is endorsing the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussion Act of 2010, introduced this week.

ATC Down

The NFL's Washington Redskins suffered a rash of injuries last Sunday, including one to an athletic trainer.

Tracking Injury Reports

In a positive sign for player safety, more concussions are being detected in high school sports in Oregon.

Record Donation

Part of a $5 million donation will allow the University of Miami to build a super-sized sports medicine facility.

ATCs For All

This North Carolina school district announced plans to hire athletic trainers for each of its high schools.

The New Tommy John?

An innovative shoulder surgery technique is gaining supporters in the medical world.

National Spotlight

Two Wilmington College athletic training students interning with the NFL got some nice publicity last week.

MRSA Not Cause

An Ohio high school football player did not die from MRSA complications, but natural causes.

Extra Benefit

We don't often think of weight lifting as cardiovascular training, but a recent study discovered new cardio benefits.

No Helmets?

Dr. Robert Cantu suggests several changes to football practice that can help prevent concussions.

Off the Ice

Resisted sprint training on dry land has shown to be beneficial for ice for hockey players.

Coach Care

A survey of South Dakota high school coaches found that 89 percent are responsible for medical care at practices.

Size Factor

Could the reason there are more youth injuries in sports be that adolescents are getting bigger and bigger?

Education Best

This study found educational injury prevention programs did more to limit concussions than headgear and mouthguards.

Best Experience

Taking a behind-the-scenes look at the UCLA Sports Medicine Internship Program.

For Bone Health

A recent study says green tea extracts and Vitamin D may help bones heal faster and stay stronger.

Playing Through

A Georgia State University men's soccer player is playing this season with a torn ACL.

Player Dies After Collapse

A Kansas high school football player has died. He had sustained a concussion earlier in the month.

Best Warmup

The 11+ injury prevention warmup program has been found effective for soccer players.

New Helmets Needed?

Examining helmet safety in the wake of increased attention on preventing concussions.

Baking Soda Boost

Another study touting the performance enhancement effects of sodium bicarbonate was recently published.

Free Coverage

In California, budget crunches are leading high schools to turn to volunteers for team medical coverage.

Big Hits

In light of Eric LaGrand's spinal cord injury, a look at enforcing rules prohibiting illegal tackles in college football.

Under Hydrated

A recent study found that the majority of professional athletes begin practices or training sessions already dehydrated.

ATC Blamed For Injuries

The Oakland A's have fired their head athletic trainer after a season full of player injuries.

Kansas Ethics Complaint

Is it okay for an athletic director to receive free PT services from the school's sports medicine department?

Hockey Examines Concussions

A concussions summit involving the NHL, USA Hockey, athletic trainers, and many others begins today.

Seeing Clear

Thanks to a pair of goggles, a high school soccer player continues to excel despite suffering a rare eye injury.

Better Educated

NFL players diagnosed with concussions now stay out of play almost three days longer than 10 years ago.

Player Collapses, Dies

A New Orleans high school football player collapsed and died during practice on Tuesday.

Updating PPE Forms

In Michigan, the state association is examining how to update its pre-participation medical forms.

Playing Through

A Virginia Tech football player lost part of his pinky finger in Saturday's game, yet kept playing anyway.

Shocks To Ease Pain?

A small study showed evidence of shockwave therapy helping athletes with chronic pain.

Protecting Pregnant Athletes

A look at the NCAA's Pregnancy Policy, and its beginnings at Wright State University.

Iowa Coach Recovering

A University of Iowa assistant football coach who had his foot amputated due to diabetes is recovering.

Inflammation Okay?

A new study questions the practice of treating inflammation associated with a sports injury.

Dose Of Dairy

A recent study found that milk proteins help athletes better retain fluids post-workout than carbohydrates.

MRSA Outbreak

A school district in Illinois announced six cases of MRSA, after two infections showed up on football players.

On Their Own

Student-athletes at this Illinois high school are feeling the void since their athletic trainer was transferred.

Reactions in Pa.

A look at reactions to Pennsylvania's bill calling for more stringent return-to-play guidelines following concussions.

Coping With The Heat

In Los Angeles, teams are making adjustments as record breaking temperatures hit the city.

Paralyzed Player Settles

A former football player who was paralyzed during a scrimmage received an $8 million settlement on Friday.

Sports Drink Survey

This study looks at the consumption of sports drinks among teens and its correlation with healthy eating.

Concussion Bill On Table

A House hearing was held Thursday on a bill titled "Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act."

New MRSA Case

In Asheville, N.C., a football player at Reynolds High School has been infected by MRSA.

Pa. On Board

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are attempting to pass a bill to protect players from head injuries.

Hockey Injuries

The number of ice hockey injuries seen in emergency rooms more than doubled between 1990 and 2006.

Calif. Wrestler Dies

A wrestler at Rio Hondo College died Saturday after collapsing suddenly during a match.

Testing To Continue

New Jersey has announced it will continue to test high school athletes for steroids over the 2010-11 school year.

Starting Later

To avoid the heat, the kickoff for a preseason Sun Belt Conference game has been moved from 2:30 to 6 p.m.

Stealing ATCs

A sports medicine company is suing Ohio State University, claiming the school hired away two of its athletic trainers.

Estrogen's Role

A recent study found that female athletes with higher estrogen levels may be at higher risk for injury.

Basketball Brain Injuries

A study tracking basketball injuries over the past 11 years found that traumatic brain injuries increased 70 percent.

Football Death

In Florida, a high school football player died after a practice session this week.

Critiquing Sickle Cell Testing

Was the NCAA's implementation of a sickle cell testing program "too hasty" of a decision? This expert says yes.

Heart Testing

In New Jersey, this high school is working toward offering heart screenings for athletes.

Energy for the Young

A study found sports drinks allowed 12 to 14 year-olds to play at a high-intensity level for 24 percent longer.

Preventing MRSA

New research has found that cranberry juice could help protect athletes from staph infections like MRSA.

New ACL Study

A look at how male and female soccer players kick the ball may shed light on why women suffer more ACL injuries.

To Stretch or Not?

A recent study comparing those who stretched before running and those who did not found an identical rate of injury.

More Hospital Visits

The number of youth athletes visiting a hospital with concussion-related symptoms has more than doubled.

Nitric Oxide Boost

Research found a supplement that ups nitric oxide levels allowed participants to exercise up to 20 percent longer.

The Right Notes

The music that an athlete listens to when working out or competing may affect their performance.

Why More Injuries?

Anecdotal evidence says that despite a better understanding of the human body, athletes are suffering more injuries than ever before.

In Massachusetts, a new law is set to go into effect Sept. 1 will require all those involved with extracurricular activities to take a head injury safety course. There's only one problem: With one week to go, the course hasn't yet been created.

Donated Coverage

After this Maine school board eliminated its athletic trainer contract, a local hospital has offered to waive its fees for athletic training services at four high schools.

Muscle Mystery

Washington Redskins defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth has reportedly been suffering from rhabdomyolysis, which results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle and can result from heavy exertion in hot weather.

Helping Hand

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio's foundation is giving $40,000 to help schools provide athletic trainers.

Coach Coverage

Thanks to a crunched budget at this high school in Florida, coaches are doubling as athletic trainers.

New Concussion Policy

This high school hockey league will now put players on the disabled list for 14 days if they have concussion symptoms.

Casein Not Superior

A recent study found that protein from soy helps promote muscle synthesis as well as protein from casein.

Tragic End to Jamboree

An 18-year old high school player in Lewisville, S.C., collapsed and died after a football jamboree.

Added Stress

Athletes' anxiety over the pressure to perform well may play a role in how often they sustain injuries.

Strong Landing

New research says instructing basketball players to tweak their landing method can reduce force on ACLs.

Nevada On Board

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Assoc. has adopted the new concussion guidelines from the NFHS.

Temps Too High

After canceling outside practices for three days last week, this school district has done the same for all of this week.

Betaine For Better Performance

Another study touting the nutrient betaine and its positive effects on athletic performance has been published.

Sickle Cell Test Debate

Some critics of the NCAA's new sickle cell testing mandate believe it borders on racial discrimination.

No Cut After All

In this Louisiana school district, athletic trainers' salaries were reinstated after being cut due to budget constraints.

Inexperience To Blame?

A study of youth ice hockey players found the majority of injuries were not caused by checking but accidentally.

ATC Outreach

The University of West Alabama has helped create a special athletic training outreach program.

Logistical Questions

In states with new concussion legislation, some administrators are struggling with how to enforce the new rules.

HS Athlete Cardiac Arrest

An Ohio high school football player's collapse at practice revealed a previously undetected heart condition.

Preseason Prep

In anticipation of football season, NC State ATCs teamed up with the local EMS for some emergency situation practice.

No Positive Signs

Six years after new recommendations to curb college drinking were published, a study says little progress has been made.

Injury Prevention Success

Since tweaking its warmup routine, NDSU women's soccer saw only one ACL tear this year as opposed to nine in 2007.

More HGH Testing

Major League Baseball announced last week it will start testing its minor league players for Human Growth Hormone.

Just Rinse?

By just rinsing their mouths with a carbohydrate solution, athletes in this study saw an improvement in performance.

Concussion Caution

Tennessee's high school association became the latest group to adopt stricter concussion protocols.

No Right Shoe?

Three large studies found almost no correlation between sneaker "type" and injury prevention.

ATC in Lawsuit

A football player says his former athletic trainer forced him to lift weights too soon after surgery.

A Good Night's Sleep

A recent study found that MLB pitchers who go to bed and wake up early performed better than night owl players.

Surgery For Quick Return

For hip joint problems, a recent study says that arthroscopic surgery could be the answer to return athletes to play faster.

In Their Eyes

A recent study examined football players' perceptions of being treated by female athletic trainers.

Overuse Causing Injuries

According to the AAOS, nearly half of all injuries to middle and high school athletes are due to overuse.

Suit Settled

A football player who was paralyzed after sustaining a broken spine has settled his suit against his former school.

Strong Feelings

Former Michigan strength coach MIke Gittleson believes neck training can help reduce concussion risk.

New Idea in Rehab?

Gait analysis tecnology being developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory could be used to help rehabbing athletes.

Trailblazer Honored

One of the first female ATCs of a D-I men's basketball team, Mary Cardarelli was honored recently.

NFHS Rules Changes

Among rules changes made by the NFHS is a tougher stance on players who may have suffered a concussion.

Beware Online Info

A new study warns athletes to be wary of the information they find online regarding sport medicine diagnoses.

Lefties At Higher Risk

A recent study of college baseball pitchers showed evidence that left-handers are more injury-prone than right-handers.

Sickle Cell Tests Coming

In August, NCAA Division I schools will be mandated to test all of their athletes for sickle cell trait.

Caffeine Boost

A recent study showed that high doses of caffeine during activity may lead to better sub-maximal performance.

Not Always Fixed

Of the 400,000 ACL repairs performed each year, 18,000 to 35,000 of them require follow-up surgery.

Doctor's Discretion

A look at the quality of the annual physical exams high school athletes are given in order to be eligible to play sports.

Hard Hits

According to this researcher's data, most concussions deliver 95 Gs of force.

MRSA Guidelines Updated

The National Athletic Trainers' Association unveiled updated guidelines for MRSA prevention.

Water Denied?

A former student is suing Ashford University, claiming he was denied water during practice.

Outsourcing The Answer?

This New Jersey school district is cutting costs by outsourcing its middle school athletic training services.

Shoulder Injuries Gaining

Though ACL tears still hold the title for most common injury in high schoolers, shoulder injuries are catching up.

Summer Students

At this high school, those interested in becoming student athletic trainers must attend a special summer camp.

Wrong Measurement

A new study says BMI is a flawed measurement when determining football players' obesity levels.

Unclear Timeline

Experts continue to disagree on when someone who has suffered heatstroke can return to play.

Steroids Suspension

After finding multiple players used steroids, Waterloo University has suspended its entire football team.

Hockey Head Safety

Among the NCAA ice hockey rules committee proposals is tougher punishment for a hit to the head.

Adding On

The U of Houston announced plans for a $160 million upgrade to its athletic facilities, including a new sports medicine clinic.

Lights Out

A recent study added to the growing body of evidence that says sleep is important for athlete performance.

Easing Knee Pain

Knee pain in female runners was reduced when the subjects in this study performed a hip-strengthening routine.

NCAA Steroid Use

Although more NCAA athletes tested positive for steroids in 2008-09, the overall rate of positives remains low.

Athletes And Drinking

A recent study of NCAA Division I athletes found that over a third of them mixed alcohol and energy drinks.

Choc. Milk For Rebuilding

Four studies on the effects of consuming chocolate milk after a workout add to the growing body of research on its benefits.

Updated Guidelines

The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its guidelines on playing sports with hypertension.

No Sports Drinks

The California Senate has approved banning the sale of sports drinks at high schools.

ATC Heads To World Cup

This Washington high school athletic trainer is heading to South Africa to help with coverage at the World Cup.

Thirty Years at BYU

After a battle with cancer, longtime Brigham Young University athletic trainer Gaye Merrill passed away Monday.

Concussion After Effect

A new study indicates that concussions can lead to an increased risk for depression.

A Good Night's Sleep?

A recent study challenges the thought that exercise helps people to sleep better at night.

Yearly Checkup

In North Dakota, high school athletes must now undergo a physical every year instead of every two years.

Something in the Ice

In this study, athletes who drank a cold, sugary slushie could run longer than those who drank only cold, sugary water.

Ginger For Pain?

A recent study says the daily consumption of ginger can help to reduce muscle pain from exercise.

Pole Vault Death

A Grinnell College track and field athlete has died from injuries sustained during a pole vault competition.

Very Early Retirement

Teen soccer star Zach Herold has retired from soccer after an EKG revealed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Impact Research

Researchers in New Zealand are studying athletes' movements by having them wear impact sensors.

Head Injury Death

An Eastern Oregon University football player died last weekend after sustaining a head injury during a scrimmage.

ATCs of the Year

Two Contra Costa College athletic trainers have been honored for their quick response to a neck injury.

Exponential Injury Rate

A recent study finds the time span between games in soccer affects athletes' rates of injury.

Folic Acid for Amenorrhea

For female runners who are amenorrheic, folic acid may be the answer to better vascular function.

Baseball Death

An investigation has begun into the death of a baseball player who apparently died after being hit with a batted ball.

Healing Hamstrings

A recent study showed the effectiveness of steroid injections guided via x-ray to be effective for hamstring tendonitis.

Athletic Trainer: Smooth Professional

Two James Madison students made a video showcasing the ATC profession while spoofing the song "Smooth Criminal."

National Plan

Taking a look at the National Physical Activity Plan, which took 10 months and many experts to compile.

New HGH Research

Evidence that human growth hormone significantly helps athletes perform better was scarce--until now.

Erring on the Side of Caution

This Florida high school athletic trainer received praise from her athletic director after making a tough decision.

Iowa ATC Honored

John Streif, longtime Assistant Athletic Trainer at the University of Iowa, was honored over the weekend.

NCAA Update

The NCAA has approved legislation that requires all member schools to have a concussion management plan.

Another Concussion Bill

The Massachusetts Senate is very close to passing a concussion safety bill that is similar to those in other states.

Chilis For A Boost?

A recent study showed evidence that chili peppers may aid in boosting energy.

Join the Club?

Should club teams have access to athletic training services or only varsity athletes?

Doesn't Cover Costs

After a 20-year partnership, this Kansas clinic has told an area school district it won't renew its athletic training contract.

Turf, ACL Connection

A recent study showed a connection between ACL injuries and running and cutting on high-friction surfaces.

Weightlifting Injuries Surge

A new study has found an almost 50-percent jump in injuries related to weight training between 1990 and 2007.

Healthy Feet

In Foot Health Awareness Month, the APTA reminds athletes about taking care of their feet to avoid injury.

Shot of Beets

Very soon, beetroot juice will be available in an "energy shot" drink form.

Concussions in Wrestling

The NCAA Wrestling Committee is seeking a rule change with regards to concussion safety.

Running With the Buckeyes

The Athletic Training Club at Ohio State University is gearing up for its inaugural 5K charity fundraiser.

Doctor Cleared

The doctor accused of misdiagnosing a Texas A&M football player who later died was found not negligent.

Great Hires

This West Virginia school board just approved the hiring of four full-time athletic trainers.

Safety Committee Revamped

Canisius College's Andy Smith was one of four athletic trainers named to the NCAA's Medical Committee.

Sickle Cell Testing

Taking a look at a proposal that would mandate NCAA schools test their athletes for sickle cell trait.

Promoting the Profession

Florida's high school athletic trainer of the year talks about the low number of ATCs in his county.

Students To Compete Nationally

Three Lander University athletic training students won the 2010 South Carolina Athletic Trainers' Association Quiz Bowl.

Player Out of Coma

The baseball player who was struck in the head with a batted ball last month is now awake and responsive.

New Drug Concerns

The NCAA is concerned about a new street drug called K2, which mimics the effects of marijuana.

Antioxidant Hero

A recent study showed that blueberries have the power to help athletes' bodies recover after intense exercise.

John Davis Honored

Montclair State University has named its new athletic training facility after its longtime Athletic Trainer John Davis.

Steroids Investigation

All football team members at the University of Waterloo are being tested for human growth hormone.

Weight Training Injuries

A new study finds a major increase in weight training-related emergency room visits, especially in females.

College Footballer Dies

A Tarleton State football player died Monday, two days after hitting his head on the ground during practice.

Better Testing for HGH

Anti-doping experts say a new test allows them to detect HGH use up to 14 days previous to the test.

NCAA Meet Delayed

The NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships have been delayed after a norovirus outbreak.

Jumping For Risk

Using a jump training test to determine if girls are at higher risk for an ACL tear is gaining some supporters.

ADs Recognize ATC

Pennsylvania athletic directors will honor this high school athletic trainer who's been on the job for 50 years.

No Helmets Best?

Neurosurgeon Robert Cantu has proposed doing away with helmets during practice to help reduce concussions.

Uniform Protection

Taking a look at some of the protective clothing players in this year's NCAA Basketball Tournament are wearing.

Swift Action

The athletic trainer and an assistant coach at this New York high school used an AED and CPR to revive a track athlete.

Conn. Concussion Bill

To garner support, Connecticut lawmakers held a public hearing about its newly-developed concussion safety bill.

Suing Over Steroids

A Tennessee high school football player is alleging a volunteer coach sold him steroids.

Field Dedication

The Connecticut high school has renamed its baseball field for a three-sport athlete who died during football season.

Satisfied Surgery Patients

This study found that 84 percent of male ACL reconstruction patients are still active 15 years post-surgery.

Turf Issues

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

Bonus Effect

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

Worse Than MRSA?

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

Vitamin D For Strength

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

Hoops Head Injuries Rise

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

Safety Concerns

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

ATC Reacts

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

Shoulder Injury Rates

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

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.

Baseline Testing Required

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

First Female Honored

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

At First Sign

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

Football Player Death

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

Angles & ACLs

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

Referee's Discretion

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

Quick Catch

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

With Cheese?

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

Predicting Injuries

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

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.

Endurance Athletes At Risk

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Supplement Safety

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

Regulating Energy Shots

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

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.

Promoting Cartilage Growth

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

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.

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.

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."

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.

Soccer Injuries Increase

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

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.

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.

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.

Licensure Coming to Calif.?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

HS Wrestler Dies

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Eight ACLs

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

ATC Awarded Fulbright

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Warmup for Prevention

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

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.

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.

NFL Supporting Research

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

Exercise And Bone Health

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

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.

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.

New Concussion Rules

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

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.

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.

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.

Teen Footballer Dies

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

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

More Iron, Please

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

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.

Anderson To Head CATS

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pushing It

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

Supplement Risk

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Multiple Concussions

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

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.

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.

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.

One Stop Shop

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

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.

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.

DNA Answers

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

Easing the Pain

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

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.

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.

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.

Early Dehydration

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

Staph Infection Spreads

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

Safe Weights

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

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.

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.

Supplement Warning

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

Raising Awareness

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

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.

Promoting Cartilage Growth

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

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.

Stinson is Acquitted

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

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.

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.

Another ACL Factor?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pain Killer Problem

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

College Hoops Death

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

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.

Injections Study

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

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.

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.

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.

Soccer Athlete Dies

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

Smaller Weights

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

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.

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.

Kicking Plays Risky?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Asthma Responsible

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

ATCs Off The Field

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

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.

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.

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.

Quick Diagnosis

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

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.

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.

Taller Faster

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

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.

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.

Twist To Recovery

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

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.

Balancing Act

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

Setting an Example

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

Football Death

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

ER Visits

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

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.

New Study on Dysmorphia

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

Off-Site Training

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

Endurance Enhancer?

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

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.

Mandatory Test?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Youth Recovery Slower

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

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.

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.

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.

Testing For Sickle Cell

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

Improving Athletes

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Running Right?

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

Safer Baseball?

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

Heart Smart

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

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.

Post-Workout Pain Relief

A soon-to-be-released body suit from athletic apparel company Under Armour is being touted as a post-workout pain reliever by pushing excess water from the muscles into the bloodstream.

Sports Med Doc Faces Charges

A Vermont-based orthopedic surgeon has been accused of inappropriately penetrating female athletes in order to diagnose hip injuries.

Cast Only?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Athletic Trainer Arrested

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

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.

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.

Plyos, Anyone?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Career-Affecting Injuries

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Performance Enhancing Coffee?

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

NATA's Take

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bill Addresses Concussions

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

Enough Coverage?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

New Asthma Study

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Herpes Cancels Matches

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rebounding Risks

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Injury Wipes Out Memory

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

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.

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.

The Skinny on Supplements

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Specialization & Injuries

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

Post-Workout Massage

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Infection Issues

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Virus Cancels Game

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

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.

In Recovery

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

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.

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.

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.

B-Ballers Bulking Up

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Weight Loss for Athletes

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

HGH Summit

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Coaches To Don Helmets

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

A Matter of Faith

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Shaping Your Heart

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Heart Healthy

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On The Fast Track

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Apparel Boost

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

ATC Honored

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Educating the Community

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

MRSA Quick Test Approved

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

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.

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.

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.

ATCs for Advertising

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

ACSM Predictions

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

More MRSA Reported

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Feet First

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Shoulder Pain

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

Exercising Advice

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Q&A With Jeff Hogan

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Regulating Supplement Ads

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

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.

Acupuncture & Athletes

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rehab For Two

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Youth Weight Training

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ride On

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

Training Through Pain

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

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. Read more...

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. Read more...

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. Read more...

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. Read more...

Run With It

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

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. Read more...

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. Read more...

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. Read more...

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. Read more...

"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." Read more...

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. Read more...

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. Read more...

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. Read more...

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. Read more...

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. Read more...

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. Read more...