National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement: Preparticipation physical examinations and disqualifying conditions.

Objective: To present athletic trainers with recommendations for the content and administration of the preparticipation physical examination (PPE) as well as considerations for determining safe participation in sports and identifying disqualifying conditions.

Background: Preparticipation physical examinations have been used routinely for nearly 40 years. However, considerable debate exists as to their efficacy due to the lack of standardization in the process and the lack of conformity in the information that is gathered.

Preparticipation cardiovascular screening among National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I institutions.

Background: Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in competitive athletes during sport, and screening strategies for the prevention of sudden cardiac death are debated. The purpose of this study was to assess the incorporation of routine non-invasive cardiovascular screening (NICS), such as ECG or echocardiography, in Division I collegiate preparticipation examinations.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of current screening practices sent to the head athletic trainer of all National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I football programmes listed in the National Athletic Trainers' Association directory.

Diagnosis of an ulnar collateral ligament tear using musculoskeletal ultrasound in a collegiate baseball pitcher: a case report.

Objective: To demonstrate a comparative diagnostic approach between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and musculoskeletal ultrasound for detecting UCL trauma of the elbow in a collegiate baseball pitcher.

Background: A 19 year-old male baseball pitcher with no previous history of an elbow injury presented with left medial elbow pain after experiencing a popping sensation during a bull pen throwing session. Patient initially demonstrated palpable tenderness directly over the UCL and a positive milking maneuver.

Protective athletic equipment slows initiation of CPR in simulated cardiac arrest.

Objective: Standard protective athletic equipment used in collision sports such as American football poses a unique challenge to rescuers because they block access to both the airway and chest. The main objective of this investigation was to determine the effect of athletic equipment on the initiation of CPR. The feasibility of performing compressions over the chest protector as a potential time-saving step was also evaluated.

Introduction to rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation plays an integral role when it comes to managing sports injuries in a safe and timely manner. Doing so competently allows for a greater chance of quick recovery and ultimate success on and off the field. Understanding the goals of rehabilitation and how to enhance communication between all providers who are involved with athlete care is critical to the process.

Diagnostic ultrasound in sports medicine: current concepts and advances.

Diagnostic ultrasound is a valuable imaging tool that is slowly gaining in popularity among sports medicine clinicians. Commonly referred to as "musculoskeletal ultrasound," its valuable role in assisting with sports medicine diagnoses has been to date underused for a variety of reasons. Effective clinical usage for sports medicine diagnoses includes commonly seen conditions such as rotator cuff disease, ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow injury, and internal derangement of the knee, among many others.

Communication: the key to the game.

Being a team physician requires a whole new set of communications skills, depending on the organization one is affiliated with. There may be a single expected procedure to follow, or multiple procedures may be required. Regardless, it is imperative for the team physician to understand that his or her role is vital to those who seek accurate and timely information, thus potentially requiring physicians to adapt their current methods for communicating.

Controlled warm-up intensity enhances hip range of motion.

Acute effects of active and passive warm-up, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were compared during hip-joint range of motion (ROM). Two active warm-up treatments included (a) achieving a respiratory exchange ratio (RER) of 1.00 and (b) achieving 60% of heart rate reserve (HRR).

A Model for Learning Over Time: The Big Picture.

OBJECTIVE: To present a method of describing the concept of "learning over time" with respect to its implementation into an athletic training education program curriculum. BACKGROUND: The formal process of learning over time has recently been introduced as a required way for athletic training educational competencies and clinical proficiencies to be delivered and mastered. Learning over time incorporates the documented cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills associated with the acquisition, progression, and reflection of information.