Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the athlete: an American Medical Society for Sports Medicine position statement.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an important issue for the physician taking care of athletes since ADHD is common in the athletic population, and comorbid issues affect athletes of all ages. The health care provider taking care of athletes should be familiar with making the diagnosis of ADHD, the management of ADHD, and how treatment medications impact exercise and performance. In this statement, the term "Team Physician" is used in reference to all healthcare providers that take care of athletes.

An approach to the diagnosis and treatment of plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition affecting many athletes. Anatomic and biomechanical factors combined with overuse can contribute to its genesis. Correction of gait disturbances, changes in footwear, use of tension night splints, and stretching of tight calf and plantar tissues have all be proven to relieve symptoms.

Eating disorders among male athletes.

Eating disorders may affect some athletes at rates much greater than the general population. Among male athletes, eating disorders are on the rise. Studies show that males participating in sports in which leanness confers a competitive advantage may be at greater risk of eating disorders.

Misrepresentation of research citations by applicants to a primary care sports medicine fellowship program in the United States.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of misrepresentation of publications and national presentations claimed in applications to the Maine Medical Center (MMC) Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program from 2001 through 2004.

Design: A retrospective chart review study.

Setting: The Maine Medical Center Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program.

The ergogenics of hypoxia training in athletes.

Hypoxia elicits hematopoiesis, which ultimately improves oxygen transport to peripheral tissues. In part because of this, altitude training has been used in the conditioning of elite endurance athletes for decades, despite equivocal evidence that such training benefits subsequent sea level performance. Recently, traditional live high-train high athletic conditioning has been implicated in a number of deleterious effects on training intensity, cardiac output, muscle composition, and fluid and metabolite balance--effects that largely offset hematopoietic benefits during sea level performance.

Awareness of altitude sickness among a sample of trekkers in Nepal.

Objective: To quantify awareness of altitude sickness in a sample of trekkers in Nepal and identify strategies for increasing knowledge in that population.

Methods: Sixty-five high-altitude trekkers were surveyed. Demographic data were gathered.

Lower extremity soft tissue conditions.

Lower extremity soft tissue injuries and overuse conditions are frequently encountered among athletes. Muscles are frequently strained or contused, arteries and nerves can become entrapped, and tendons and bursae can become inflamed. Familiarity with the anatomy of the involved area is essential for making the correct diagnosis.

Management of heatstroke and heat exhaustion.

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are part of a continuum of heat-related illness. Both are common and preventable conditions affecting diverse patients. Recent research has identified a cascade of inflammatory pathologic events that begins with mild heat exhaustion and, if uninterrupted, can lead eventually to multiorgan failure and death.

Bag of worms.

In this story, I describe, from my perspective as a resident, working with a surgeon to resuscitate a woman who has suffered an avulsion of her pulmonary artery. The patient, a victim of a collision with an intoxicated driver, arrived at the hospital as I was caring for another patient who was undergoing his tenth admission for detoxification. Having been thrown unexpectedly into the fray, I looked upon a beating heart for the first time.

Soft-tissue injuries of the lower extremity.

A diverse set of conditions affect the lower extremities in athletes. Good history taking and knowledge of the anatomy of the affected areas can aid in accurate diagnosis. Most conditions can be treated conservatively with great success.

Plantar fasciitis: current concepts to expedite healing.

Plantar fasciitis is a degenerative condition affecting many active people. Anatomic and biomechanical factors can contribute to its genesis, as can overuse. Clinicians can recommend correcting gait disorders, modifying footwear, using tension night splints, and stretching tight calf and plantar tissues to bring about lasting relief.

The ergogenics of fluid and electrolyte balance.

Fluid and electrolyte balance within a fairly narrow range is a requirement for human life. Athletes, particularly endurance athletes, routinely stress their bodies to the point of altering fluid and electrolyte levels. In some cases, significant fluctuations can lead to deterioration in performance and even the athlete's health.

Your life on film: teaching continuity to residents through powerpoint and videotaped interviews.

Residents often lack the context they need to care for challenging patients. We developed a curriculum using videotapes of patient visits to teach (1). knowing the patient's context, (2).