President Bush has discussed our need to be prepared for it. The evening news has warned of its potentially devastating impact. The government is stockpiling vaccine to guard against it. It is H5N1 avian influenza, commonly known as the Asian bird flu, and scientists predict that it could reach the United States some time this fall or winter. As an athletic trainer, should you be alarmed?

When athletes are working out in hot weather, warming up should include cooling down. That's the finding of a study published in the May edition of the International Journal of Sports Medicine.

Boyd Epley, once labeled the "Godfather of Strength and Conditioning," founded the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in 1978, with just 76 people attending its first conference. Twenty-eight years later, the association boasts 33,000 members in 56 countries, and Epley has returned to its leadership ranks. As the new Director of Coaching Performance, he's looking forward to leading the NSCA to new heights.

An independent study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise in 2004 found that adding protein to sports drinks consumed during exercise improved performance. Now, another study in the same journal has refuted that conclusion, finding that the presence of protein offers no performance benefit.

Watching Tyler Oliver's slick play at first base, you would never guess the Lexington (Ky.) Christian Academy (LCA) senior only recently learned how to catch with his right hand and throw with his left. By the time he was 16 years old, Oliver had undergone two surgeries on his right elbow—one as a 14-year-old to correct osteochondritis dissecan (OCD)—an articular cartilage defect, and another two years later to remove a bone chip from the same elbow.

Designing single-leg training programs means more than targeting specific muscles. It requires evaluating the athlete and using a whole-body approach.

The latest buzz in the athletic training world is whole body vibration, which holds promise for everything from strength work to prehab to rehab.

At the University of Washington, strength training for middle distance runners focuses on establishing a good base, improving leg strength through full ROM, and limiting muscle soreness. This spring, it lead to two first–place finishes at nationals.

On a farm, a windmill can keep going forever. But on the softball diamond, windmill pitchers need to be watched closely for overuse injuries, which are becoming more prevalent in the game.