Training & Conditioning 13.2 by Momentummedia

$5.00 MARCH 2003 Vol. XIII, No. 2

TRAINING

CONDITIONING

◆ Vision Training ◆ Conditioning Pitchers

Getting Hip to HIPAA The latest advice and interpretations

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Training & Conditioning • March 2003 • Vol. XIII, No. 2

F E AT U R E S ◆ Special Focus ◆

Getting Hip to HIPAA..........12 Being ready for the implementation of HIPAA means understanding privacy issues, covered entities, and the specifics of release forms. It also means rethinking your communication procedures. By David Hill ◆ Optimum Performance ◆

Focused On Vision..........21 Not just for baseball players anymore, vision training is becoming a part of many coaches’ performance enhancement programs. The drills can be as simple or sophisticated as you like. By David Hill

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◆ Tr e a t i n g T h e A t h l e t e ◆

Mystery Maladies..........29 Getting rid of an overuse injury means getting to the bottom of what’s causing it. In this article, athletic trainers show you how they do their detective work. By Guillermo Metz ◆ Management ◆

Top Dogs.........36 Building a career as a top strength and conditioning coach requires strong skills in and out of the weight room. Six NCAA Division I strength coaches share the secrets of their success. By Dennis Read

D E PA R T M E N T S

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◆ Sideline ◆

Energy Drinks..........3 ◆ Above The Call Award ◆

This issue’s winner..........4 Nomination form..........6 ◆ Student Corner ◆

Double Certified..........8 ◆ Competitive Edge ◆

A Big Windup..........42 Contrary to myth, a sound conditioning program for pitchers works from the ground up. By Vern Gambetta Advertisers Directory..........54 Scouting Report: Hot & Cold Therapy..........49 Scouting Report: Aquatics..........50 Catalog Showcase..........52 Web Connections..........56 More New Products..........57 Cover illustration by Jon Conrad

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Marjorie Albohm, MS, ATC/L Director of Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Research, Orthopaedics Indianapolis Jon Almquist, ATC Specialist, Fairfax County (Va.) Pub. Schools Athletic Training Program Brian Awbrey, MD Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Instructor in Orthopaedics, Harvard Medical School Jim Berry, MEd, ATC, SCAT/EMT-B Director of Sports Medicine and Head Athletic Trainer, Myrtle Beach (S.C.) High School Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD Director, Sports Medicine Nutrition Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Ctr. Health System Christine Bonci, MS, ATC Asst. A.D. for Sports Medicine, Women’s Athletics, University of Texas Cynthia “Sam” Booth, ATC, PhD Manager, Outpatient Therapy and Sportsmedicine, MeritCare Health System Debra Brooks, CNMT, LMT, PhD CEO, Iowa NeuroMuscular Therapy Center Cindy Chang, MD Head Team Physician, University of California-Berkeley Dan Cipriani, MEd, PT Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physical Therapy, Medical College of Ohio Gray Cook, MSPT, OCS, CSCS Clinic Director, Orthopedic & Sports Phys. Ther., Dunn, Cook, and Assoc. Bernie DePalma, MEd, PT, ATC Head Athl. Trainer/Phys. Therapist, Cornell University Lori Dewald, EdD, ATC, CHES Athletic Training Program Director and Associate Professor of Health Education, University of Minnesota-Duluth Jeff Dilts Director, Business Development & Marketing, National Academy of Sports Medicine David Ellis, RD, LMNT, CSCS Sports Alliance, Inc. Boyd Epley, MEd, CSCS Asst. A.D. & Dir. of Athletic Perf., University of Nebraska Peter Friesen, ATC, NSCA-CPT, CSCS, CAT, Head Ath. Trainer/ Cond. Coach, Carolina Hurricanes Lance Fujiwara, MEd, ATC, EMT Director of Sports Medicine, Virginia Military Institute Vern Gambetta, MA President, Gambetta Sports Training Systems Joe Gieck, EdD, ATC, PT Director of Sports Medicine and Prof., Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia Brian Goodstein, MS, ATC, CSCS, Director, Sports Performance, Metro Orthopedics Sports Therapy, Md.

2 ◆ T&C MARCH 2 0 0 3 ◆ A T H L E T I C B I D . C O M

Gary Gray, PT President, CEO, Functional Design Systems Maria Hutsick, MS, ATC/L, CSCS Head Athletic Trainer, Boston University Christopher Ingersoll, PhD, ATC, FACSM Director, Graduate Programs in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training University of Virginia Jeff Konin, MEd, ATC, MPT Assistant Professor of Athletic Training, James Madison University Tim McClellan, MS, CSCS Director of Perf. Enhancement, Makeplays.com Center for Human Performance Michael Merk, MEd, CSCS Director of Health & Fitness, YMCA of Greater Cleveland Jenny Moshak, MS, ATC, CSCS Asst. A.D. for Sports Medicine, University of Tennessee Steve Myrland, CSCS Owner, Manager, Perf. Coach, Myrland Sports Training, LLC Instructor and Consultant, University of Wisconsin Sports Medicine Mike Nitka, MS, CSCS Director of Human Performance, Muskego (Wisc.) High School Bruno Pauletto, MS, CSCS President, Power Systems, Inc. Stephen Perle, DC, CCSP Associate Prof. of Clin. Sciences, University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic Brian Roberts, MS, ATC Director, Sport Performance & Rehab. Ctr. Ellyn Robinson, DPE, CSCS, CPT Assistant Professor, Exercise Science Program, Bridgewater State College Kent Scriber, EdD, ATC, PT Professor/Supervisor of Athletic Training, Ithaca College

Publisher Mark Goldberg Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel Circulation Director Mark Shea Associate & Assistant Editors Jim Catalano Dennis Read David Hill Laura Smith Guillermo Metz Kenny Berkowitz Art Director Leslie Carrère Production Manager Kristin Ayers Assistant Production Manager Kristi Kempf Production Assistants Jonni Campbell Hildi Gerhart Prepress Manager Adam Berenstain IT Manager Mark Nye Business Manager Pennie Small Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter Administrative Assistants Sharon Barbell Daniela Reis Advertising Materials Coordinator Mike Townsend Advertising Sales Associates Diedra Harkenrider (607) 257-6970, ext. 24 Sheryl Shaffer (607) 257-6970, ext. 21 T&C editorial/business offices: 2488 N. Triphammer Road Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 257-6970 Fax: (607) 257-7328 info@MomentumMedia.com

Chip Sigmon, CSCS Strength and Conditioning Coach, Carolina Medical Center Bonnie J. Siple, MS, ATC Coordinator, Athletic Training Education Program & Services, Slippery Rock University Chad Starkey, PhD, ATC Associate Professor, Athletic Training Educ. Program, Northeastern University Ralph Stephens, LMT, NCTMB Sports Massage Therapist, Ralph Stephens Seminars Fred Tedeschi, ATC Head Athletic Trainer, Chicago Bulls Terrence Todd, PhD Co-Director, Todd-McLean Physical Culture Collection, Dept. of Kinesiology & Health Ed., University of Texas-Austin

Training & Conditioning (ISSN 10583548) is published monthly except in January and February, May and June, and July and August, which are bimonthly issues, for a total of nine times a year, by MAG, Inc., 2488 N. Triphammer Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850. T&C is distributed without charge to qualified professionals involved with competitive athletes. The subscription rate is $24 for one year and $48 for two years in the United States, and $30 for one year and $60 for two years in Canada. The single copy price is $5. Copyright© 2003 by MAG, Inc. All rights reserved. Text may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without the permission of the publisher. Unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a selfaddressed, stamped envelope. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Training & Conditioning, P.O. Box 4806, Ithaca, NY 14852-4806. Printed in the U.S.A.

What to Tell Your Athletes About “Energy Drinks” LESLIE BONCI, MPH, RD

Products that advertise increased energy and stamina are very appealing, but many are nothing more than highly caffeinated fluids with inappropriate amounts of carbohydrate for the active occasion. Energy drinks are often high on hype but short on performance.

doctor or pharmacist the herbal ingredients in products they consume. Sports Drinks Fuel Success Sports drinks are proven to be the best choice for active individuals because they help keep the body well hydrated and deliver usable carbohydrate energy. A well-formulated sports drink: • Stimulates fluid absorption • Helps the body maintain fluid balance • Provides energy for exercising muscles • Enhances performance • Expedites recovery

Why Some Energy Drinks Fall Short Certainly consuming enough calories is critical to athletic success. From a nutrition perspective, carbohydrate is the fuel that is utilized the most during The bottom line is that both fluid and fuel activity. While energy drinks contain are critical for athletic success. Caffeine carbohydrate, their formulation is too or herbal-laden energy drinks place too concentrated for the active occasion. much emphasis on carbohydrate and proAlso, many energy drinks contain lots vide unnecessary ingredients during the of caffeine. Caffeine is not a fuel active occasion. That’s why sports drinks source for active muscle and are recommended over supeven though it may provide a Choosing Your Beverage - Some Guidelines plement-containing energy boost of perceived energy, drinks whenever possible. • Don't expect a beverage to replace training, rest or the effect is short-lived. In fuel. addition to carbohydrate and Properly Formulated Energy • Using a product without a complete Nutrition Facts caffeine, some energy drinks Drinks Can Be Useful or Supplement Facts Panel is risky. contain: Sometimes an athlete is look• Incredible claims don’t translate to optimal ing for a beverage that will performance! • Herbal stimulants that can help speed recovery from • Athletes should steer clear of products containing heighten pre-competition exercise or assist with carboephedra (banned by many sports governing. nerves and limit concentrahydrate loading. In this case, agencies), yohimbe, and mate which are all unsafe tion. energy drinks that deliver a and may give the “buzz”, but do not energize the • Doses of herbal ingredients high carbohydrate formula exercising body! that are frequently not stanwithout unnecessary ingredidardized. ents are advantageous. Liquid carbohydrate sources are • Ingredients with potential side effects that detract from convenient, easy to consume and can help eliminate the performance. discomfort associated with eating large quantities of bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Energy drinks with certain herbal additives may also diminish the effects of prescription medications or cause Leslie Bonci, a registered dietitian, is Director of the Sports Medicine Nutrition Department at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and adverse reactions. Athletes should to discuss with their nutrition consultant to the Pittsburgh Steelers football team.

For more information on nutrition, visit the Sports Science Center at www.gssiweb.com.

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be better positioned to more effectively help an athlete return to full health. The true value of holding dual certification will vary based on the work location. Here’s a look at four typical settings and how an ATC/CSCS might operate: College Level: Thomas Palmer ATC, CSCS, Curriculum Director at Charleston Southern University, encourages his athletic training graduates to pursue a dual ATC/CSCS certification. This comes out of his experience at Coastal Carolina University, where he was the Head Athletic Trainer working with men’s soccer, basketball, and baseball. Desiring to use his CSCS knowledge and seeing a great need for it, he volunteered his services as a strength coach that first year. The college saw the need for a strength coach, formally expanded his position to include strength and conditioning, and increased his salary. One of the advantages he found was a decrease in the number of overuse and low back injuries. The athletes had been performing too many plyometrics, had advanced too quickly into Olympic-style lifts, and showed poor flexibility. As ATC/CSCS, Palmer was able to quickly address these problems, resulting in a decrease in injuries. He says that the biggest drawback to the position was the time commitment. He would open the weightroom and supervise two one-hour workouts at 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. He would then perform his athletic training duties. Professional Sports: Minor league sports franchises have proliferated over the last few years, creating many new opportunities for clinics and individuals. Most minor league franchises run under tight budgets and can not afford the services of a CSCS, but would love to have one. During the hiring process for a minor league athletic training position, the ATC/CSCS with a strong desire to develop a strength and conditioning program has a distinct advantage over applicants without the CSCS credential. The Clinical Setting: Many sports medicine clinics are expanding their services to include personal training and group training for local athletes. Progressive clinics looking to market themselves in the community are running strength and conditioning camps; speed and quickness camps; weightlifting camps; and the like. These clinics prefer to hire If you are interested in submitting a column of advice for athletic training students, please send it to: T&C’s Student Corner, 2488 N. Triphammer Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850. Submissions must be double-spaced, 800-1200 words long, and accompanied by the author’s resume or curriculum vita.

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a sponsor in this year’s Mt. Dora Bicycle Thank you again for your upcoming participation as there will be roughly 1800 cyclists riding Festival on October 12-14, 2001. As we discussed, day festival and they all, carry their free anywhere from 6 to 125 miles throughout our three the massage tent area to tell me how sample of Biofreeze with them. Many come back to could get their massages. your product got them through their ride until they have traveled with marathon clients to I have been using your product from its inception and personally participated and completed. 15 marathons since 1990, which three of these I have treatment along with the massage I took several tubes of Biofreeze with me for post event n and pain within minutes. I also have sessions. Biofreeze greatly reduced their inflammatio ont, Florida in the past and these used your product at various triathlon events in Clerm recovery. athletes fell in love with Biofreeze for their post event for healing by reducing inflammation, Biofreeze helps to speed up the athletes recovery time great for pain and best of all... no lindecrease histamine reaction to over exerted muscles, for it during their sessions and often buy gering odors. Clients also love this product and ask several tubes for themselves or as gifts. touch, I apply a small amount to the In massage sessions, when an area is too sensitive to ulate the tissue without any discomfort affected area, wait one minute and I am able to manip it enough over other products which to the client. I love this product and I can’t recommend y. Biofreeze still out performs all I have tried in my 13 years of practicing massage therap a wonderful product that goes on other cryotherapy liniments. Thank you for producing . easy, doesn’t stain clothing and has no lingering odors Sincerely,

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Student Corner burnout created by the increased demand on an athletic trainer’s time. It takes a lot of time to develop a strength program, distribute it to the coaches and athletes, and teach the athletes how to perform the routine. However, this time commitment can be reduced over time through judicious re-use of effective programs. Having the head coaches supervise the athletes while using the weightroom will lessen time commitment further. In addition to seeing the way a CSCS credential can change their own job, athletic trainers should also be aware of the ways it may change how some strength and conditioning coaches view them. Some strength and conditioning professionals feel the CSCS doesn’t properly reflect all the skills and competencies needed to be a full-time strength coach and are wary of dual-certified athletic trainers replacing strength and conditioning coaches in some situations. Despite the potential challenges, I believe the ATC/CSCS role is one with great potential for growth, from the high school level to the pros. It can help reduce injuries, keep you more in tune with the coaches, and give you a better understanding of how strength programs and athletic training relate. And it may just land you that dream job. ◆

ATC/CSCS personnel for these positions because the clinic can contract the ATC out to local high schools and utilize the CSCS credential in the clinic. High School Level: I currently work as the athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coordinator at the Lower Dauphin School District in Hummelstown, Pa., which fields 45 squads in 19 sports. I have found my dual certification to serve me very well here. While my duties include designing each team’s strength and conditioning program, it is up to the head varsity coach for each sport to implement the program with his or her athletes, track their progress and attendance, and perform the supervision of the weight room. I assist in the supervision and teaching of the lifts. Lower Dauphin has also implemented a strength and fitness course for physical education credit. About 65 athletes are taking the course this school year. There are some disadvantages to a combined ATC/CSCS role. An ATC’s first priority will always be injury care. The ATC must ensure that in-season athletes receive proper injury treatment and that practices and games have adequate medical coverage. This takes priority over any strength coaching duties. Thus, the ATC/CSCS can not always monitor the weight room during most on-campus sporting events or practices. Another disadvantage can be greater stress levels and

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Illustration: Jon Conrad

Getting Hip to HIPAA Being ready for the implementation of HIPAA means understanding privacy issues, covered entities, and the specifics of release forms. It also means rethinking your communication procedures. BY DAVID HILL

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uring a football game last fall, a Hofstra University administrator came onto the sidelines and toward Head Athletic Trainer Rick Zappala, ATC. He wanted to ask Zappala how a player with an in-game injury was faring. “I said, ‘I don’t think I have permission to say. Let me go check,’” Zappala recalls. “He said, ‘What, are you kidding me? Is this a joke?’ I said, ‘No, I’m serious.’” Serious, indeed. With the effective start of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) scheduled for April 14, many athletic trainers have spent recent months figuring out a plan to comply with the new law. Non-compliance could subject a health-care professional to penalties of up to $250,000 and even prison. Hofstra had been preparing for the law by adding a paragraph to its injury report form in which athletes under treatment could authorize the release of their medical information. Without that authorization, Zappala and his staff would remain mum on an athlete’s injury, except among fellow members of the sports medicine staff. While more recent interpretations of HIPAA have somewhat loosened the silent treatment, every athletic trainer must be aware of, and have a plan for, dealing with this new law. Whether you work as the sole athletic trainer at a high school or oversee a large sports medicine team, the implementation of HIPAA will affect your procedures. KEY CONCEPTS

Congress passed HIPAA in 1996 with several aims in mind, one of which is to protect the confidentiality of medical information. Instead of being locked away in filing cabinets, patients’ medical records are increasingly being stored as computer files and flying around the Internet during David Hill is an Assistant Editor at Training & Conditioning.

electronic claims, billing, care authorizations, and other administrative tasks. Horror stories abound about misuse and abuse of records. Thus, HIPAA includes privacy rules forbidding health care providers, insurers, and claims clearinghouses from selling or otherwise providing medical information to anyone who doesn’t need it. Unless the patient specifically authorizes release for a certain purpose, only those with a legitimate need may get a person’s private medical information, and anyone who maintains such records has to set up procedures to ensure they’re kept private. So while the law was clearly written for aims far removed from athletics, anyone involved in sports medicine is very much affected.

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how to interpret the law for their school. WHO IS A COVERED ENTITY?

The defining feature of HIPAA and how it relates to athletics boils down to covered entities. If you are a covered entity, you are subject to HIPAA’s rules. As defined by HHS, covered entities are organizations or individuals who conduct healthcare or healthinsurance transactions electronically. By transactions, HHS means a slew of administrative procedures, such as billing, payments, authorization for services, certification of referrals, benefits coordination, eligibility determination, and verification of the status of claims. An athletic trainer on staff at a col-

Exactly how the law affects athletics is not crystal clear, and many athletic departments are struggling with how to interpret it. “Legislators really didn’t see the implications for athletics when they first authored this act,” says Keith Webster, MA, ATC, Administrative Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Kentucky and Chair of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Governmental Affairs Committee. As a result, exactly how the law affects athletics is not crystal clear, and many athletic departments are struggling with how to interpret it. In December, Webster met with officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the part of the federal government responsible for enforcing the law, and found them sympathetic to athletic trainers’ concerns. “They seemed to be willing to give us a little bit more liberal interpretation,” Webster says. “I think they were trying to help us through it, not intimidate us by holding it over our heads.” But every athletic trainer must decide for themselves how HIPAA applies in their particular situation. And most will want to get athletic administrators involved in deciding

lege, university, or high school is not automatically a covered entity. If the athletic trainer bills for medical coverage or bills athletes’ insurance plans for in-house or outside treatment, however, that may make his or her employer a covered entity. If an athletic trainer does not conduct any electronic transactions, but other employees in the institution do, his or her status is a bit murky. “You have what’s known as a hybrid entity,” says Elizabeth Squeglia, a partner in the Columbus, Ohio, law firm of Bricker & Eckler, who has been focusing her practice on preparing for HIPAA, including its athletics implications. “A hybrid entity is an organization with some aspects of its operation that are covered entities, and some that are not. The classic example would be a major university where the student health clinic, which is owned by the university, is a provider, but the rest of the university—the engineering department, the college of art—are not. “Under HIPAA, you have the ability to designate yourself as a hybrid entity and to designate your covered components—and which individuals

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are a part of them,” Squeglia continues. “By doing that, you limit the HIPAA requirements to that category of people you’ve defined as your covered healthcare components, and the rest of the organization’s not subject to it.” “If you’re [an athletic trainer] employed by a covered entity, you need to ask more questions,” Webster says. “On one day I’m a covered entity: I’m an employee of the University of Kentucky, which has components

information with a coach. “The release of the private health information [PHI in HIPAA lingo] for treatment purposes was a key clarification,” Webster continues. “Our receiving the information does not make us covered entities by definition. That was our fear: By us receiving information, we might become covered entities, and have to sit on that information and not disclose it.” But a noncovered entity still has

“Outside the athletic trainer, coach, and athletic director, no one really needs to be saying anything to anybody.” that do electronic transactions. Another day I may be determined to not be a covered entity because I’m not involved with the electronic transactions in our athletic department, even though our doctors are. Lawyers can make a pretty good living helping people abide by these policies.” COMMUNICATING TREATMENTS

Another issue is relations between covered and noncovered entities who work together. For example, a team physician in a private practice working with a noncovered athletic department will need to communicate with the school’s athletic trainers. The physician’s disclosure of information about players he or she is treating would be restricted, says Squeglia, but the athletic trainers are not. If the physician discloses information to the athletic trainers do they then become covered entities? Webster says his committee took these concerns to HHS and had their fears largely resolved. HHS clearly stated that protected health information can be disclosed for treatment purposes, Webster says. “That allows the physician to call me and say, ‘Okay, Johnny sprained his knee, and he needs ice, exercise treatment, et cetera,’ and that’s fine,” Webster explains. “If I’m not a covered entity under the privacy rule, he can still give me that information, and then the HHS enforcement stops at that point, allowing me to discuss this 14 ◆ T & C M A R C H 2 0 0 3 ◆

no restrictions on what he or she can say, according to Squeglia. “They are free under HIPAA to use or disclose that information however they want,” she says. “HIPAA simply doesn’t cover them.” However, David Jones, ATC, Director of Sports Medicine at Jackson Hospital in Montgomery, Ala., and a member of the NATA Governmental Affairs Committee, is advising the athletic trainers he supervises and other athletic department staff to be careful just the same. If information passed from the physician to the athletic trainer to the coach consists of more than a treatment plan, and it becomes headline news, the physician could be called on it. Mainly to protect the team physician, an athletic trainer may want to be careful not to broadcast any athlete’s health information. Or, if an athletic trainer wants to discuss an athlete’s injury with a coach, the two should be careful to keep the conversation private. “We’ll definitely be educating our athletic trainers on what we are interpreting as being reasonable and just in releasing information to a coach,” says Jones. “And the coach needs to realize that he doesn’t need to spread everything out among the entire team, the parent-teacher organization, and everyone else. Technically, it’s all going to boil down to, outside the athletic trainer, coach, and athletic director, no one really needs to be saying

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anything to anybody.” Other relationships HIPAA may affect are those with business associates. A commonly cited example in athletic training is a brace manufacturer who needs details about individual athletes to make its custom braces. HIPAA requires covered entities to get written assurances from business associates that they will not misuse protected health information and will help the covered entity meet its privacy obligations. If these agreements are properly made, HHS does not plan to prosecute covered entities whose business associates violate the HIPAA privacy rules, says Webster. At Kentucky, staff lawyers have been taking inventory of vendors who might get protected health information from the university and deciding whether agreements are needed, Webster says. “The vendors are aware of what’s coming and taking measures to comply because they know they could lose business,” he adds. SIGN ’EM UP

While it’s important for athletic departments to understand the nuances of covered entities, some are choosing to bypass the restrictions by asking student-athletes to sign an informationrelease form. “You simply get a signed authorization from a player that authorizes the treating healthcare provider, the physician or whoever it is, to disclose the information to the coach,” Squeglia says. “And with that, it’s permissible. Once that information has been released to the coach, it is no longer protected under HIPAA.” A HIPAA-release form need not be complicated, but the law does set forth some requirements for it to be valid, Squeglia says. First, it must have an expiration date—no one can talk about a person’s condition forever. How long it can last isn’t specified in the law, but lawyers believe one sport season or one year is reasonable. Under earlier interpretations, the NATA Governmental Affairs Committee had recommended members get authorizations for each injury, but Webster says HHS officials have since

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affirmed the validity of blanket longterm authorizations. Second, the authorization should be specific about who may disclose information. “You can name more than one person,” Squeglia says. “You can name the treating physician and the hospital emergency room, but you have to specifically designate by person or at least by type of person who is authorized to disclose the information. You also have to state who the information can be disclosed to. Then you have to specifically describe the information. “So a valid authorization might say something like, ‘My treating physician, Dr. Mike Smith, is authorized to disclose information regarding any injuries I might receive during the course of the season, as well as my general fitness to play, to my coach or any designated member of the coaching staff,’” explains Squeglia. Other required points include a stipulation that the student-athlete cannot be denied treatment for refusing to

sign, and notice that if the information is disclosed to a non-covered entity, such as a coach, it may no longer be protected under HIPAA, Squeglia says. The form must also explain that the athlete has a right to withdraw his or her consent, which is to be done in writing. However, HHS has also said that schools can require athletes to sign the form in order to be allowed to participate. “What they’re suggesting with athletes is making play contingent on the release of information,” explains Webster. “Then, if the athletes choose to revoke, they’re choosing not to play. “It goes back to what we do now,” Webster continues. “In August, we have athletes sign an authorization to release this information, but if they choose to revoke it, then they choose to not be on the team. It can be that basic.” CULTURE CHANGE

The task of dealing with HIPAA won’t end with well-written release-of-infor-

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mation authorizations, however. Even at organizations not specifically subject to the privacy rules, discussions about HIPAA have made people aware of other restrictions on releasing student-athletes’ medical information. For instance, student-athlete medical records are generally covered by the Federal Educational Records Privacy Act (FERPA), which forbids unauthorized release of most student information. In many states, parentalconsent laws also govern what medical information about minor student-athletes can be shared. And some state medical-privacy laws are more strict than HIPAA. Aside from laws, many sports medicine professionals are considering how student-athlete medical information is handled as an ethical issue due for more thoughtful consideration. “In our profession, we may not be as diligent as we could be, so it’s probably a timely thing for us to readdress,” says Webster. This may mean changes in culture

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Educating Athletes efore asking student-athletes to sign a HIPAA release form, you must educate them about what they are authorizing. At Hofstra University, Head Athletic Trainer Rick Zappala, ATC, has found it equally important to clearly outline with athletes the pros and cons of not signing release authorization forms. He feels many overlook the cons, which can be serious. For one thing, details of injuries and the nuances of prognoses are easily lost if sports medicine professionals are cut out of the communications loop. “I’ve had athletes walk out of the doctor’s clinic and go see their coaches,” Zappala says. “Then the coach comes to see me and says, ‘The athlete just came to see me and said the doctor said this is what they have.’ And I respond, ‘Well, I was in the room, and I didn’t hear the doctor tell them that.’ And many times, that misinformation also goes to the media.” Athletes with aspirations for the next level of play may want the seriousness of their conditions withheld. But Zappala points out that, in many cases, openness about

and operations. For example, athletic trainers at the University of Tennessee used to simply get a verbal okay from student-athletes before discussing

injuries can be in an athlete’s long-term best interest. “We had an individual who did not perform up to most people’s expectations this year, and the truth is that there was a series of injuries that affected this person’s performance,” he says. “The athlete did not want that information released, so it appeared that he was having a lousy year, when in reality he was fighting through injury.” In addition, athletic trainers can clear up misperceptions about an injury before rumors spread. For instance, a “knee injury” may often be interpreted as a torn ACL, though the condition may be found less serious after tests that can’t be done on the sidelines. “If I report an injury, I always say that we’re scheduling an MRI and there will be a follow-up appointment afterward where we will confirm the diagnosis,” Zappala says. “It’s certainly not for me to tell someone that they should release information or not release information,” Zappala says. “But you’ve got to let them know what the pros and cons are, and let them make the decision.”

injuries with the sports-information staff—information that was then forwarded to the media. But now the authorization is a written part of the

medical notes that athletic trainers maintain, and care is taken to be specific about what will be said and to whom, says Jenny Moshak, MS, ATC,

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CSCS, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine in the Tennessee women’s athletic department. When a basketball player was hurt in the closing minutes of a tournament game in November, Moshak got the okay from the athlete to give an injury briefing to a radio reporter. But when two print reporters questioned her a few minutes later, Moshak says she asked again. “A lot of it is heightening the conversation and the communication, and just checking and double-checking, ‘Is this okay?’” says Moshak. “We haven’t been turned down yet by a player. But we’ve reiterated, case-by-case, asking the players, ‘This is what we’re going to tell the media. Is this okay?’” Prudence is demanded for other reasons. Jones recalls a scene a few years ago in a hospital emergency room where the father of a high school NBA prospect demanded secrecy over the exact nature of his son’s knee injury. “He brought in our orthopedic doctor, the nurse, the ER physician,

and me and said, ‘I know what the laws are. And nothing can leave this room. I don’t want you even telling the high school coach. And if it comes out, I will take you to court on the basis that you hurt this boy’s chances of earning millions of dollars.’ “Here’s a kid who wasn’t even going to be around in another year,” Jones continues, “yet I still couldn’t tell anything to the athletic director.” Athens (Ohio) High School Athletic Director Pat Murtha says he expects to explain HIPAA rules to parents at the beginning of next season and to include a release for parents to ensure that the coach can be filled in when injuries happen. He and the school’s athletic trainer will also have an in-service explaining HIPAA and other medical-privacy concerns to coaches. “The biggest thing is educating the coaches, the kids, and the parents,” Murtha says. Zappala sees more mundane issues. For instance, athletes’ files should be kept in locked drawers in

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rooms with controlled access. “The days of having notes out on the table when you’re doing treatment are over,” he says. For Zappala, it all points out that a person’s private health information should be respected and handled for the precious commodity it is. “Whether we’re determined to be a covered entity or not, we’re all going to adjust what we do to protect the confidentiality of medical and health information regarding our athletes,” Zappala says. “That doesn’t mean that it can’t be released, just that we’re going to need their permission to release it. It’s not that hard, but you need to set up procedures to allow that to happen. We will live and learn, and then it will just become another part of our job.” ◆

Web Resource: For more information on determining if your organization is a covered entity, check out the Department of Health and Human Services’ online tools at www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/.

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THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN TEACHING A NEW SKILL by John Stemm, MEd., PT, ATC, Rehabilitation Coordinator, Oklahoma State University While it is a simple phrase to say, "Skill Acquisition" is an elaborate term, that is complex in definition. Skill acquisition is often used to describe the process an athlete undergoes in learning a new skill or improving an existing task. Mastery of this new or improved task varies in difficulty from person to person, as each person learns in different fashion, form, speed and direction. Also, a person’s learning curve can be impacted by how he or she has been taught the skill. With this in mind, it is imperative that the fitness instructor, athletic trainer, physical therapist, or strength and conditioning specialist be sensitive to a number of key principles as they teach any skill. SKILL ACQUISITION A common foundation of definition and understanding is important to establish. Schmidt and Lee defined skill(s) as "movements that are dependent on practice and experience for their execution, as opposed to being genetically designed."3 The focus of this article is not to review the influence of fitness parameters or one’s familiarity with related movement patterns toward acquiring a new skill, but to focus on the neuro-motor aspects of the acquisition. The central nervous system (CNS) receives afferent (sensory) information from multiple sources. Motor control is the CNS’s interpretation of this afferent information with a resulting efferent (motor) response. The motor control system stores afferent information and constantly uses it for future motor tasks. It has the ability to compare past movement with present movement to help develop appropriate coordinated motor programs suitable for the task being performed. The more stored information the system has to use, the finer the control. Motor learning, therefore, is the CNS’s ability to teach conscious control of new movement tasks. Efficiency takes place when the system can control movement without conscious control.4 Motor control occurring at the subcortical level can only happen with

multiple repetitions of the same movement. Cortical interference is the biggest barrier to motor learning.1 When an athlete is first learning a new skill - be it a move, pitch, stroke, swing, shot, lift, technique, etc. - the efficiency of the system is compromised because of the cortical interference. To affect a quick, effective and efficient change from the compromised, conscious system to the unconscious system, the following techniques can be used by the instructor prior to and during the skill progression program to improve the system’s efficiency and optimize the athlete’s motor control and learning. These techniques will set the stage for a proper learning environment for the athlete, allowing for augmented feedback and an organized practice setting. SETTING THE STAGE The instructor of the task must be cognative of the environment in which he or she is placing the athlete when teaching new tasks. The learning environment should be safe, yet beneficial, to the athlete; and it builds from a simple, single task to complex, multi-level tasks. This can be done with the application of different therapeutic exercise equipment such as balance devices (exercise balls, dyna-discs, wobble boards, foam rolls, etc.) or by increasing the demands functionally. It is important to remember that the practice environment is like a continuum. Introduction to a skill should be in a stable and simple environment, as the athlete’s skill level or the acquisition of a new skill increases, the environment becomes more unpredictable and complex.2 The athlete must understand the skill or task before using these techniques. Ultimately, the goal is for the athlete to mimic the environment in which the task will be performed.2 Setting the stage for learning can be done several ways, one of which is visual demonstration. It must be understood that the athlete’s personal characteristics play a

major role in his or her acquisition of the skill being taught. The instructor or the person demonstrating the technique also influences the athlete’s ability to learn the task. The instructor needs to exhibit some form of skill in demonstrating the movement and also properly convey the purpose of the skill.2 PRACTICE VARIABLES Practice sessions that focus on quality and controlled variability foster the best learning environment. Practice variability requires the athlete to practice the skill in different ways, which causes the athlete to produce multiple motor programs that he or she can use to compare results.2 The key is to manipulate those skills in order to develop multiple programs and enhance learning. The importance of this in the process of skill acquisition is that it can be used either early or late in the progression program depending on the mental and physical state of the athlete. Introducing contextual interference is the next step. Contextual interference is practicing multiple movements in succession.2 Early in skill acquisition this can be detrimental to the athlete; structuring the practice in more of a blocked format allows the athlete to practice multiple movements independently for the same amount of time. As skill level increases, the practice session can move more to a random format, causing the athlete to practice each of these multiple movements randomly. Random format is better for problem-solving, whereas blocked format is better for performance. Additionally, an instructor and/or coach can influence a practice session by using different instructional techniques. Guidance techniques are used quite often in the gym or practice field without anyone knowing that they are using them. These techniques range from verbal cues, to manual techniques, to even expensive mechanical performance aids; unfortunately, these techniques do little to promote learning of movement tasks.2

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What can the instructor do if the athlete is still having difficulty mastering the skill? Using part-task practice strategies can be an effective way, especially early in the learning of a new skill. There has been some debate in whether part-task practice prevents the athlete from attaining the fluidity required in sports; however, it can be used as a progression to whole-task practicing. Segmentation involves breaking up a movement task according to spatial or temporal criteria.2 This technique can be used when teaching a new movement that has multiple segments and the athlete is struggling to put all segments together in a coordinated fashion. Simplification is used when the instructor takes complex skills and simplifies them.2 There are several ways to simplify any movement, such as controlling velocity, intensity, force, direction, etc. Fractionization of a skill involves practicing the skill components in isolation.2 For example, the instructor can partition the jumping motion into deceleration phase, stability phase, and acceleration phase, practicing each phase individually.

There are several other factors that influence learning, and many depend on what theory of motor learning you believe. However, the three conditions discussed in this article are well-represented in many of the theories. The instructor who is sensitive to the minute nuances of a particular

skill can immediately use these techniques to achieve better and quicker acquisition of the skill. Using these techniques will ensure that the athlete takes the field with the right mind-frame and physical skills necessary to perform at their highest level.

1. Hellenbrandt, F.A. (1978) Motor Learning Reconsidered: A Study of Change. Neurophysiologic Approaches to Therapeutic Exercise. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis. 2. Rose, D.J. (1997) A Multilevel Approach to the Study of Motor Control and Learning. (pp.215-290). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. 3. Schmidt, R.A. & Lee, T.M. (1999) Motor Control and Learning. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. 4. Tippett, S.R., & Voight, M. (1995). Functional Progression for Sports Rehabilitation (pp. 6-7). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

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AUGMENTED FEEDBACK The instructor can affect the quality of each individual treatment session by providing feedback to the athlete on his or her performance. Feedback can be given via two sources: internal and external. Internal feedback is provided by the sensory system of the athlete. Visual, vestibular, proprioceptive, and cutaneous systems all provide the cortex with a pleura of information which is used in the feedback loops to determine appropriateness of the movement. External feedback, or augmented feedback, is given to the athlete following movement. This feedback can be given three ways: 1) describing the outcome of the movement; 2) describing the quality of the movement; 3) using sensory biofeedback.2 Providing appropriate and meaningful feedback is the most important responsibility of the instructor. The last piece of the puzzle is to know how much and when to give feedback. There is no hard rule, but it is well supported that the more feedback given on the outcome of the movement, the better the final results. There is no set time when to give the feedback but research has shown that providing feedback too quickly or too slowly is detrimental to the learning process. Therefore, the instructor should use good judgment of the situation and ask questions that will engage the athlete intellectually in detecting possible errors.

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FOCUSED ONVISION

©Getty Images

Not just for baseball players anymore, vision training is becoming a part of many coaches’ performance enhancement programs. The drills can be as simple or sophisticated as you like.

magine a record player turned on its side, small letters and numbers fastened with Velcro to the flat spinning edge of the disk. You stand six to 10 feet away and have to call out the letters as they fly by. Student-athletes at the U.S. Air Force Academy don’t have to imagine. This dynamic

visual training exercise is part of a vision training program credited with helping Falcon athletes perform better in many sports. “We can’t say that by doing sports-vision training your batting average is going to go up by .2 points or anything like that,” says Lt. Col.

BY DAVID HILL

Mike Zupan, PhD, Director of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Human Performance Laboratory. “But we know the athletes are getting quicker in the lab, their eyes are responding better, and they’ve got better eye-hand coordination, quicker reflexes, and betDavid Hill is an Assistant Editor at Training & Conditioning.

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goal-keepers in ball and puck sports— practicing vision training. Even linemen are doing the drills, and some experts say it even helps athletes in unexpected sports, such as swimming, skiing, and track and field. At Air Force, hurdlers seem to be benefitting, Zupan says. “The coach is amazed by how much better they’re able to pick up the hurdles and make adjustments when they hit them,” he says.

At Frostburg State University, athletes toss around what look like 1960s Hula Hoops with spinning plastic balls of various colors attached, trying to catch them by the ball of a specific color. ter peripheral vision. So we’re saying that it is helping them; we don’t know how much.” Can your athletes benefit from vision training? Chances are they already do, in some fashion. Any handeye coordination drill is, in a sense, vision training. Many elite-level programs have used vision training for years, especially in baseball. But in just the past five years or so, a plethora of new products

MORE THAN 20/20

and services have hit the market, and many performance specialists and coaches believe it’s a great way to help athletes reach their potential. What sports benefit most? Athletes in any hand-eye activity, such as baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, and tennis, are the most obvious beneficiaries, but some schools have athletes in certain positions— such as football quarterbacks, receivers, and defensive backs, or

When talk arises about improving vision, the first and natural reaction might be: “Well, I have some nearsighted players, but they have corrective lenses, so what’s the problem?” But there’s more to seeing well in sports than acing the eye chart on the wall. “[The concept of] 20/20 was developed in 1853 and that’s just where it belongs,” says Sue Lowe, DO, an optometrist in Laramie, Wyo., and chair of the American Optometric

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Association’s Sports Vision Section. Lowe adds that while marketing campaigns for sports vision-training products are new, the field dates back at least 75 years. “It’s all based upon the fact that vision is learned, just like walking and talking,” Lowe says. “And because vision is learned, it’s something that can be rehabilitated. If a person has a stroke and sees double, we can teach them to see single again. If a person has a head injury and loses half their vision, we can teach them what to do with what they have.” Similarly, vision training may benefit athletes who have unexplained performance problems. Vision training has its skeptics, however. The biggest complaint is that the effectiveness of vision training for athletes who are not sight-impaired has not been scientifically validated, says Kuldev Singh, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Stanford University and media spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “I’m not aware of any scientific evidence conclusively showing any benefit of vision training,” Singh says. Proponents say that proof is hard to come by because sports outcomes are affected by too many uncontrollable variables. Differences in physical strength, quality and quantity of practice, innate ability, experience, and outside conditions, such as weather and opponents, can easily sway any studies. Athletes themselves say vision training helps, says Barry Seiller, MD, owner of Seiller’s Visual Fitness Institute in Chicago (which developed some of the first vision training programs for Olympic athletes) and the director of the sports-vision program at Georgia Tech. Seiller says 77 percent of the athletes who went through the Georgia Tech program reported it helped their athletic performance, and 83 percent said it helped their academic performance. “That’s not unusual because many of the techniques we use were originally developed for kids with learning disorders,” Seiller says.

Zupan acknowledges the lack of hard, study-based validation of sports vision training. But at the Air Force Academy, he says, the athletes who do the best on vision-training skill evaluations are generally among the highestperforming athletes in their sports. He adds that a program properly followed can improve those same skills. It’s not unreasonable, then, to believe vision training will lead to improved sports performance.

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Fernando Montes, formerly the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Cleveland Indians and now with the Texas Rangers, says, at the very least, vision-related skills can be bettered. “We can monitor them on the computer programs and see that their eyes have improved in tracking and flexibility,” Montes says. For Zupan, performance suggests vision training is paying off. In addition to the hurdlers, he says the Falcons’

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Three Skills he following are the three main vision skills the Air Force Academy program addresses: Convergence and divergence: Athletes look through prism devices that cause images to appear out of focus. “When their eyes are converging,” says Lt. Col. Mike Zupan, PhD, Director of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Human Performance Laboratory, “the images are crossed over each other so you have to relax your eyes to bring them back together. In the other exercise, the images are apart and you have to bring them to the center.” In another drill, players must quickly alternate between letters printed on a paper 20 feet away and fine print held about six inches away. “Your eyes are going through kind of a weight-training program where they’re contracting and relaxing the lens,” Zupan says. “If they’re in the outfield and the ball’s coming at them, their eyes can track it better because their lenses are responding better.” Hand-eye coordination: Players stand before a poster-sized board and touch the 120 red lighted dots that are programmed to appear at random. “If we put them through a pre-test and find the upper-right quadrant of their vision is the slowest, we can program the board to emphasize the upper-right quadrant,” Zupan says. The drill can be enhanced to build concentration by instructing players to not touch any dots when a green dot in the middle of the board lights up. “It’s like when you see that slider coming and you’re not going to swing at it because it’s headed out of the strike zone,” Zupan says. “Freshmen will come in and might get five or six penalties. They’re so focused on those red dots coming up that they lose focus on the central dot. What we want them to do is refocus on that central dot and still be able to hit those red dots.” Tachistoscopic vision: A device flashes images for two seconds to a hundredth of a second, and players must write down what they saw. Another machine resembles a record player turned on its side, with letters attached with Velcro. As the “record” spins faster and faster, players must learn to concentrate to find the letters.

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water polo goalie became nearly unstoppable after an off-season of vision training, and the baseball team has been among the NCAA Division I leaders in team batting average. “We have 4,000 total students and we’re competing against schools that have around 29,000 students and can recruit better athletes. But our athletes work hard, and if the coaches find something that’s going to help them, they’ll use it.”

when Lindley gave his athletes visiontraining evaluations, he found that some with glasses actually had faulty prescriptions. “The evaluation found that some of our student-athletes who have correction of their vision had glasses or contacts that were inappropriate for their needs,” he says. “So, we’re starting by making changes there.” At the second level of the pyramid, sports-vision specialists test eye function in dynamic settings. Montes

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cites the example of a center fielder who has trouble adequately picking up the ball off the bat. It could be an eye flexibility issue, says Montes, with the eyes following the ball in a herky-jerky way. Exercises can increase flexibility and help the player better track the ball, he says. Seiller also examines where an athlete’s eyes point in space. “Sometimes they do not point exactly where they should,” he says. “When a coach says, ‘Watch the ball’ and the

CHECK-IN WITH A CHECK-UP

Probably the first step in establishing a vision-training program is to get athletes’ vision evaluated by an optometrist with a background in sports vision training. Even though the components of vision are related, testing sets them apart, so that a program can be designed to work areas that are weak, says Seiller. The exam will also create a baseline from which a vision therapy or enhancement program can be built. Tory Lindley, MA, ATC/L, Director of Sports Medicine at Northwestern University, says a recently implemented vision-training evaluation has already been valuable to his football and baseball players. “It’s steered us to look at individual needs as opposed to group needs. Especially in baseball, we’ve gotten more individualized,” he says. While many aspects of visual performance are interrelated, Lowe suggests thinking of the components in a pyramid. At the base is eye health, including structural integrity and basic neurological function. If those are okay, there’s good input into the system. The next step consists of how well the eyes function—depth perception, eye flexibility, fusing what each eye sees into one image, focusing precision and quickness, the ability to fixate on an object and to follow it if it’s moving. At the top of the pyramid, there’s how well the brain puts all the input together to actually see. A thorough evaluation should start at the base of the pyramid, examining the athlete’s ability to see non-moving objects. At Northwestern University,

DYNAMIC VISION SKILLS CONCENTRATION The ability to maintain a high level of focus on a specific task while also maintaining awarness of what is happening peripherally. EYE/HAND CO-ORDINATION The eyes lead the body; the visual system leads the motor system. It is visual judgment alone that detrmines eye/hand co-ordination. PERIPHERAL VISION A heightened awareness of what is happening around you.

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athlete says, ‘I am watching the ball,’ he or she may be watching it differently than their coach is watching it. And that’s why they may be early or late— whether they’re swinging at a tennis ball, taking off early on a ski jump, or putting a golf ball short or long. They perceive that critical spot, the hole, the end of the hill, whatever it may be, to be in a different position than the coach is saying it is.” The cap of the pyramid may be understood more clearly if a malfunction is considered. In a cross-eyed person, the brain has to choose from two very distinct images. If the condition is severe, the brain ignores one image and uses only the other. The same happens in less extreme cases, when the eyes don’t look at one spot at the same time. The brain can compensate for that, but it may lead to poor depth perception. In baseball, for example, the result may be trouble judging a fly ball in the outfield that momentarily gets lost in the sun. In football, it may be

“The athlete stands on top of a special saccadic balance board, gets in a balanced position, and then as the light turns has to move the balance board to different sides to trigger the mechanism.” catching a pass over the shoulder. If there’s a problem in this area, training can help, says Lowe. She likens it to military fighter pilots who can learn to judge distances at altitudes where there are no background cues. They teach themselves to judge the distance by training themselves to rely purely on how the eyes must adjust to focus on the distant object.

“With guys who do poorly on pop flies but do well with ground balls, I’d be looking at their visual system,” she says. “They’re not taking in the right information. We can teach them what to look for.’” PROGRAM IDEAS

A vision training program can be basic or detailed, high-tech or low-tech. It can be conducted in the off-season, the preseason, or be strictly in-season. It can be designed as an integral part of an athlete’s year or be approached as a supplement or alternative to other training plans. Zupan, however, stresses starting with general vision skills, particularly the saccadic eye movements, where the eyes move to change the point of focus from near to far, also referred to as the accommodative process. Convergence is moving the gaze of each eye toward each other to see objects close to or moving toward the eyes; divergence is moving the eyes apart to see objects

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farther away or moving away. “That is the baseline that they have to get before we start making them do more specific exercises,” Zupan says. “If they don’t have that basic information down and they don’t process that information quickly, then they’re not going to improve very fast on the more specific exercises. We always start them with the general exercises, and then as they get better we move them to the more specific exercises to fine-tune them and make them more sport-specific.” Montes uses a high-tech approach. His major-league players have access to a state-of-the-art computerized facility nearly identical to that at Seiller’s Visual Fitness Institute. Athletes sit down with a computer-game joy stick in hand and are taken through a series of drills that work on the main visual skills, their scores recorded each time to show progress or the lack of it. Typically, images flash on a computer screen, and the athlete must react with

a joystick or keyboard directional arrows. As athletes advance, Montes has them leave their chairs and hop on a special saccadic balance board, then get into a hitting or fielding stance. “It’s a big square board and it has four electrical contact points, one on each side,” Montes says. “The athlete stands on top of it, gets in a balanced position, and then as the light turns has to move the balance board to that side to trigger the mechanism. The athlete has to react quickly, back and forth. It gives us an actual read-out of how well they pick up a visual stimulus, get it to their brain, down to their lower half, and act on it.” But training need not be high-tech. Many sport coaches, especially in baseball, have developed their own visual training equipment and drills. Frostburg State University baseball players toss around what look like 1960s Hula Hoops with spinning plastic balls of various colors attached, trying to catch them by the ball of a spe-

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

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cific color, says Head Baseball Coach Chris McKnight. In another drill, players take batting practice with hard-plastic bats that have a flat hitting surface and a hole cut in the middle. The aim is to swing perfectly and make the ball go through the hole—that is, to make contact by not making contact. Ricky Davis, CSCS, Head Baseball Coach and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the Lovett School in Atlanta, uses a mix of lowtech and computer-based vision training drills. In one, players perform softtoss drills to a strobe light to build concentration and tachistoscopic vision— the ability to perceive something seen for only a split-second. Davis has worked players up from soft-toss to pitching to them from 45 feet away in the strobe light. Other drills involve hitting tiny balls with broomstickdiameter bats, colored-ball drills in which players must identify which color patch they made contact with,

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and pitching machines with balls of varying colors, each requiring the batter to do something different with the pitch in a split second. Davis also uses VizualEdge, a sort of home version of the system used by Montes and developed by Seiller that takes users through a series of vision evaluations and drills. “It takes your eyes out of alignment and you’ve got to force them back into focus,” says Davis. “I hear them saying, ‘Dang it, I lost it,’ then, ‘I got it again.’” It also comes with a Brock String, a 10-foot string with beads of three colors that is used to practice change of focus-point. During the preseason last year, Davis had baseball players perform the VizualEdge drills while on a balance board. The idea was to make the work more realistic and sport-specific, he says. “You’re trying to see and react and at the same time maintain your balance,” Davis says. “Vision, concentration, and focus —they all go hand-in-hand,” Davis

continues. “And balance training helps. If you lose balance, you lose focus. If you lose focus, you lose balance.” Specific schedules and progressions for vision training drills vary among the proprietary computer-based programs, but most experts recommend at least 15 minutes a day two or three days a week. Zupan says Air Force athletes aim for three days a week, doing 10 exercises each session. As they’re learning, the sessions take 30 to 35 minutes, but once they become familiar with the exercises, many cut it down to 20 minutes. “If you start vision training,” Zupan says, “the first two weeks you’re going to have very tired eyes and some headaches. It’s just like when you go into the weightroom for the first lift of the year and your arms and legs are sore afterward because you’re getting back into shape. It’s the same with the eyes. When you walk out and your eyes are really hurting, you know

you’re getting maximum benefit from that training session.” Montes recommends training three times a week. Rangers players have the software on CDs that they can use on the road or at home. “The program is so simple that you can spend 15 minutes every day on it and make great improvements,” he says. “But if you spend 15 minutes once a month, you’ll make no improvement. It’s a skill, and you can get better at it only if you are willing to put the time in.” No one is suggesting vision training can compensate for shortcomings in overall conditioning, strength, or sport-specific skills. Instead, it’s another service to offer athletes in their quest for excellence. “I think of it as something in my toolbox,” says Montes. “I work from head to toe, I work balance, I work nutrition, I work conditioning, I work strength. Now I have a tool to train a player’s visual tracking capability and concentration.” ◆

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Getting rid of an overuse injury means getting to the bottom of what’s causing it. Here, athletic trainers show you how they do their detective work.

Mystery Maladies ©Getty Images, 2002

“Hey, do you have a minute? My elbow’s been bugging me for a couple of weeks. And yesterday, I couldn’t even finish practice.”

ou hear it all the time. If it’s not an elbow, it’s an ankle, a knee, a hip, a shoulder. You shake your head, wondering why the athlete waited two weeks before coming to you. Then you get down to business, knowing you’ve just begun a treatment process that could take months to complete. Athletes at every level, in every sport, are susceptible to overuse injuries. As always, the best medicine is prevention. But you can’t prevent every overuse injury. A well-planned

strategy, however, can go a long way to getting athletes back out on the field— and keep them from returning to the training room. A PROGRAM OF PREVENTION

The best way to prevent overuse injuries is by varying the training and stresses imposed on athletes, and building in time for recovery. But that’s easier said than done in an era when there is little if any true downtime for competitive athletes. “The whole philosophy of sport at the college level has become, ‘We can

BY GUILLERMO METZ

outwork the other team,’ even though there’s no scientific basis for it,” says Dan Hooker, PhD, PT, SCS, ATC, Coordinator of Athletic Training and Physical Therapy Services at the University of North Carolina. And, according to Geoff Schaadt, MS, ATC, Director of Athletic Training and Rehabilitation at UCLA, “as things have become more specialized and elite in nature, it’s almost become a situation where those individuals who don’t break down are the ones who are going to become the elite athGuillermo Metz is an Associate Editor at Training & Conditioning.

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CASE STUDY

Wrestling Back Pain By Missy Strauch n September, a 20-year-old male college wrestler presented to the athletic training room prior to the start of wrestling practice complaining of low back pain at the L4 to L5 level. The mechanism of injury was unknown. This athlete reported having a water skiing incident the previous summer and continuing to work a construction job for the rest of the summer. At the initial training room evaluation this athlete complained of vague mid to low back pain (T-10 to L5 levels), and showed negative straight-leg raise, negative Fabers test, and no myotome weakness or neurological symptoms. He reported most of his pain at approximately 40 to 50 degrees of standing trunk flexion. Trunk extension did not seem to create pain. The athlete is a very active and fit individual with good muscle tone. However, due to his back pain he was unable to train at the level of conditioning required for his sport. Initial treatment consisted of ice, stretches, massage, electric stim and ultrasound, and abdominal and paraspinal strengthening. The team family practice physician, suspecting paraspinal strain, prescribed muscle energy techniques for neural group left dysfunction, but this and adjustments by the team chiropractor failed to resolve the pain. X-rays showed no pars defects. The athlete was prescribed anti-inflammatory medication, and his family-practice physician (who saw him because of the athlete’s insurance restrictions) ordered oblique views of the lumbar spine, which revealed bilateral spondylolysis at the L5 level. He recommended two months of restricted activity with possible referral for surgical fusion or bracing. This was not acceptable to the athlete. I requested a physical therapy referral be written for core stabilization training. This was granted and, in January, the athlete started a regimen of physical therapy that continued to April. The initial evaluation by the physical therapist found that forward trunk flexion continued to duplicate pain, and trunk extension, side bending, and rotation left also duplicated pain but to a lesser degree. Additional findings: reflexes normal, right hip flexor stronger than left, causing low back pain, no palpable “step-off” deformity, and hypertonicity

❖ Missy

marked tenderness over lumbar muscle group. The Sorenson test was only held for six seconds. The treatment plan consisted of progressive strengthening, stretches, functional retraining, and manual therapy twice a week in the clinic. He was also instructed to continue with a similar program daily at home. After 18 visits, the athlete perceived significant improvements. Objectively, good core stabilization with advanced exercises, Sorenson test at 190 seconds, and lumber AROM were within normal limits. The athlete reported to fall wrestling camp (one year after the initial complaint) stating that he still had some low back soreness. His summer regimen included only very mild manual labor, but he also stated that he was not very disciplined with daily back stabilization exercises. He was able to successfully strength train over the summer and reported a significant decrease in pain with wrestling activity. However, the pain was still there. The athlete was then sent to see a physical therapist assistant trained as a certified Pilates instructor, who found that the athlete lacked flexibility in his hamstrings and upper thoracic muscle region. She also noted a lack of strength in his core muscles. Other evaluation revealed that the hamstrings and adductors are weak in a shortened position, which contributes to the overuse of the iliopsoas, external rotators, and the rectus abdominis. With these weaknesses, he was unable to utilize his transverse abdominis (primary core muscle) effectively. The lack of transverse abdominis strength contributes to the overuse of the iliopsoas and erector spinae muscles. This information and further evaluation led us to believe that this athlete’s lumbar pain may not be coming from the diagnosed spondylolysis, but perhaps from the abnormal amount of stress put on the anterior lumbar spine at the origin of the psoas muscle. After four Pilates sessions, the athlete reported an increase in flexibility, improved core strength, and, most importantly, little to no low back pain. He continues to strength train with Pilates techniques and is having a successful wrestling season this winter.

Strauch, ATC, CSCS, is Head Athletic Trainer at Augsburg College.

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Most teams already do some sort of basic conditioning tests, and these can help spot a potential injury. But, to be truly effective, Schaadt believes the tests must be sport-specific and biomechanically based. “You have to base your assessment tool on what they’re going to have to do in their sport,” he says. For example, tests for football athletes would be broken down by position. Thus, a quarterback would have his throwing arm tested for basic

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strength and flexibility, while a lineman’s test would be focused on leg and hip strength. Athletic trainers suggest incorporating these tests somewhere in the first two weeks of practice, but not on the first day back. “They may be better off going into practice gently, then being put through the performance tests every few days after that,” says Hooker. The final part of prevention is making sure athletes come to you at the

letes in their sports. That’s helped take a lot of our events to a higher level. But, unfortunately, there are a lot of people who aren’t able to adapt to that level of training.” That means it’s more important than ever for athletic trainers to be in tune with individual athletes’ capabilities, for athletes to know when they’re heading down the road of doing too much too fast, and for athletic trainers to remind athletes and sport coaches that optimal fitness is possible only when the schedule allows for proper recovery. And the communication should be two-way at all times. For example, athletic trainers can gain a lot by tapping into sport coaches’ expertise on the demands of their sports. At the University of Connecticut, Ralph Mansell, MEd, ATC, Assistant Athletic Trainer and former Head Athletic Trainer, says his baseball coach has shown the athletic training staff what’s involved with throwing. In lacrosse, the staff also suggested to the sport-coaching and strength staff some exercises to address a rash of ankle injuries and stress fractures. “We try not to step on anyone’s toes, but when there are areas of concern, we try to point them out,” Mansell says. Missy Strauch, ATC, CSCS, Head Athletic Trainer at Augsburg College, consults on conditioning plans for coaches who ask her help—and some who don’t. “I may look at their strength programs and say, ‘We had a lot of shoulder injuries last year. I think they came from overuse. And I think you’re doing way too much in a certain category in the weightroom, so let’s fine-tune this.’” Another tool for detecting athletes in danger of overuse injuries is the preparticipation physical exam. By working with team doctors, athletic trainers can identify athletes who may have some biomechanical imbalance or strength deficiency. Athletic trainers can then address potential problems in what some people refer to as a “prehabilitation” program, beginning treatment before an overuse injury starts to develop.

TREATING THE ATHLETE

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Hidden Fractures

CASE STUDY

By Russell Zelko, Michelle LaForte, and Ian McLeod our weeks into the season of her junior year, a 20-year-old female collegiate field hockey player had complaints of general weakness and an inability to perform at her maximal level. She especially felt weak in both legs and complained of a lowgrade aching discomfort in both thighs and in the right knee. This discomfort began two weeks prior to the initial evaluation and had slowly progressed. Several weeks prior to the evaluation, the athlete had significantly increased her level of activity for preseason conditioning. The athlete stated that during the summer she ran 45 minutes on a rubberized track three to four times a week. Formal field hockey practice then began and involved approximately two hours of constant running, 29 practices in 31 days, with 27 of those having occurred on artificial turf and two on grass. She did not engage in additional conditioning outside of practice. She had been a vegetarian for two years and denied ever having any menstrual irregularities. The initial assessment by the athletic trainer revealed full range of motion and no obvious strength loss in her arms or legs. The athletic training staff suspected possible dehydration and fatigue from overuse and possible heat-related illness because temperatures had been above normal during the previous week and the athlete had not increased her fluid intake. The athlete was advised to decrease her activity and increase her fluid and electrolyte intake. Ten days later, her thigh discomfort had increased and become more localized to the proximal midthighs. She also developed visible, unilateral muscle twitching of the right quadriceps every few hours lasting approximately five seconds at a time. The weakness and aching in her right quadriceps region had become more pronounced and constant. She said it felt like a chronic muscle pull. The muscle twitching gradually became more frequent and lasted for longer periods, especially after prolonged activity. On re-evaluation, there was pain with combined hip movements of passive flexion, abduction, and external rotation. Later that evening, the team physician elicited a positive fulcrum test, a positive hop test, and focal thigh tenderness. The most persistent and unusual observation, however, was the repetitive

❖ Russell

muscle twitching of the right quadriceps muscle. The twitching occurred directly over the area in which the athlete experienced most of her pain. Radiographs of the right hip and femur performed the following day (approximately three weeks after the onset of symptoms) revealed a small focal area of fine fuzzy periosteal elevation along the medial cortex of the proximal femoral shaft. A Technetium-99 bone scan performed the same day showed increased uptake in the focal area seen on the x-ray and also disclosed an area of increased uptake in the medial cortex of the mid-shaft of the opposite (left) femur. These studies confirmed not only unilateral but bilateral acute femoral stress fractures. Although still rare, fractures of the femur are becoming increasingly common. This is the first case we are aware of with muscle twitching as a primary presenting symptom. If associated with muscular weakness and atrophy, muscle twitching can signify motor neuron disease, but may also be seen in diseases that affect the gray matter of the spinal cord. Widespread twitching also may occur with dehydration. In our case, the muscle twitching represented increased muscle irritability due to an underlying painful stimulus (occult stress fracture). Treatment at that point included restriction from all running with walking limited to necessary daily activities only. The muscle twitching subsided approximately 10 days following activity restrictions. After two weeks of relative rest, aquatic therapy and work on a stationary bike were started three times weekly to maintain cardiovascular conditioning and to improve musculoskeletal strength and flexibility. Radiographs performed three weeks later revealed increased healing callus formation and consolidation of both areas. Repeat fulcrum test caused less pain. The athlete noted that the symptoms and her limp initially increased even with activity restriction, but by the third week of restricted activities, they began to subside. Seven weeks after this point, she started into spring lacrosse, but continued to have low-grade discomfort during the entire season. After the end of the season, when she was able to cut back on activities further, her symptoms slowly receded, and she is now symptom-free.

Zelko, MD, PC, is an orthopedic consultant to Cornell University, Michelle LaForte, ATC, MAEd, is a former Assistant Athletic Trainer at Cornell, and Ian McLeod, ATC, MEd, is an Assistant Athletic Trainer at Arizona State University.

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earliest sign of trouble. Of course, you don’t want to know about every little soreness, but you want them to recognize when they’re on the road to an overuse injury. Various pain scales have been developed to track overuse injuries, and it may help to post one of these in the locker room. (For a copy of one, see “Getting On the Scale” in the Bonus Editorial section of our Web site, www.athleticsearch.com.) FINDING THE CULPRIT

Unfortunately, even with all your preventative efforts, athletes will still succumb to overuse injuries. They can be the most frustrating, time-consuming injuries you see, which is why it’s critical to have a game plan beforehand. The first step is to treat them no differently than any other injury; the next steps involve putting on your detective hat. “You begin by treating the injury symptomatically to get rid of the pain,” says Mansell. “Then, it’s a long, slow evaluation process. The history is the most important part: You have to make sure you’re asking the right questions to find out what’s going on, considering both extrinsic and intrinsic factors.” Common extrinsic factors include training errors, improperly sized or adjusted equipment, environment, poor technique, sports-acquired deficiencies, and extrinsic stresses. Intrinsic factors include malalignment, muscle imbalance, inflexibility, muscle weakness, instability, history of prior injury, and psychological factors. Kip Smith, MEd, ATC/L, Head Athletic Trainer at Indiana University, hits many of these points by considering the problem from both a subjective and objective view. “Subjectively, we’ll ask them what they’ve been doing in the past that’s brought on their symptoms,” he says. “What are the mechanisms, and what sort of activity causes them pain? Have they done anything different in training? “Then, objectively, we do a thorough assessment of the injury, where we look at things closely from an anatomical standpoint,” he continues. “We palpate over the area that’s bothering them. We find out if they’ve been injured before and how the injury was treated in the past. We consider different diagnostic tests that may be appropriate to help evaluate them—from manual or clinical tests we can do here to things that may require a physician referral, like x-rays and MRIs, or even advanced biomechanical testing. And then we come up with a plan to correct the problem.” However you look at the factors that could be at play, often the hardest part is patiently going over the list of possibilities again and again. “What I’ve found is that people, including doctors, will jump to the most recent thing as the culprit,” says Mansell. “If the athlete recently started weight lifting, they’ll say, ‘Aha! That’s the problem!’ But that may not be the problem at all. Maybe it’s leg-length difference or maybe they’ve been running the same path every day. It might be something that’s been going on for a year but that didn’t bother them until now.” “I’ll look at their particular sport to see if they’ve been doing something repetitive that could have led to the injury,” says Strauch. “I’ll observe them in practice and talk with the

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TREATING THE ATHLETE

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Chronic Ankle Sprain

CASE STUDY

By Lee Burton & Gray Cook freshman college basketball player reported to the athletic training room after “coming down on someone’s foot and rolling his ankle” during a practice in November. This athlete had a history of poorly managed ankle sprains (four sprains, of roughly grade II severity, in high school). The athlete was weightbearing, but on evaluation, he had slight swelling, and ligamentous testing revealed laxity and slight pain. He had significant weakness and pain during manual muscle testing for dorsiflexion, inversion, and eversion when compared bilaterally. The foot, knee, and hip areas were cleared with range of motion, ligamentous, and muscle testing. However, there was tightness in his iliotibial band, which was revealed through the modified Thomas Test. We addressed this with gluteal and tensor fascia latae stretching. Single-leg stance and squat tests were both performed poorly due to a lack of stability and mobility. The assessment testing indicated that closed-chain dorsiflexion was a limiting factor. If this movement is limited, then the entire kinetic linking system, from the foot to the torso and upper extremities, will be altered and lead to chronic ankle problems. We assessed the athlete’s closed-chain dorsiflexion by having him kneel on the uninvolved side and place the involved foot on the floor. We then had him lean forward, closed-chain dorsiflexing the involved ankle. The athlete had decreased motion and pain when compared bilaterally. We believe this motion is a common problem area in chronic ankle injuries due to instability in the talocrural joint, causing anterior impingement. Because he was weightbearing and able to do some closed-chain exercises when we first saw him,

we taped the athlete’s ankle and did some stability techniques the very first day by placing a posterior stabilizing force on the medial and lateral malleolus during the closed-chain dorsiflexion movement as described above. The athlete’s motion and pain were tremendously improved during this technique. This movement was performed 10 times; the athlete was then instructed to perform a squat in order to incorporate the improved motion into a functional movement pattern. We then applied tape along the medial and lateral malleolus, pulling them posterior, the same as the stability technique. The athlete’s single-leg stance and functional movements were greatly improved after the stability technique and tape were applied. At the same time, we treated the athlete’s ankle with a regimen of ice, elevation, and compression, as well as high-volt electrical stim. We continued to see the athlete at least four times a week for the first three weeks. He was held out of practice for two weeks and then started back in slowly. During the treatment period we continued to work to improve the athlete’s closed-chain dorsiflexion through the stability technique and functional movements (squat, lunge, leg press) during the next few exercise sessions. We slowly weaned the athlete off the taping technique as we progressed with the functional movements and stability exercises. When we repeated the functional movement and stability testing, as performed initially, after a couple weeks of therapeutic exercise, these tests were greatly improved. To maintain the closed-chain dorsiflexion and stability in the involved ankle in order to prevent the recurrence of ankle sprains, the athlete’s maintenance program included squats, in-line lunges, jumping rope, and various agility movements.

❖ Lee

Burton, MS, ATC, CSCS, is Athletic Training Program Director at Averett University. Gray Cook, MSPT, OCS, CSCS, is Clinical Director at Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, in Danville, Va.

coach about the drills they’ve been doing. We also look at things like footwear—maybe they’ve been in a shoe too long and it’s breaking down, or maybe they need to have extra support or orthotics. “Where it’s a situation of stress fractures, especially with female athletes, I may get into a discussion with the athlete about bone health, and I’ll 34 ◆ T & C M A R C H 2 0 0 3 ◆

involve my team physician or orthopedist,” she adds. “We might send the athlete for a workup with the general practitioner to assess if we are dealing with an eating disorder. I would make sure that the physician asked about her diet, found out when her last menstruation was, and so forth.” Strauch also looks for other mental and emotional factors. “If I go

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through and cannot find any physical cause for their pain,” she says, “I’ll talk with them about any underlying issues, like with family or school. I believe that a lot of the illness that we see on campus comes from general stress. I’ve also had athletes who were dealing with issues of suicide, depression, anorexia, drug use, schizophrenia—a whole host of things. I’ll often

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prompt the physician to look for any factors that the athlete needs to talk about with a counselor or psychologist.” Mansell agrees it is important to recruit all necessary experts in the treatment process. “We have a doctor here available 24 hours, and we have specialists—for example, someone who’s very good with foot biomechanics,” he says. “Also, we meet as a group every Friday and go over every single athlete we’re working with. That meeting includes our full-time physician, his part-time assistant, the head strength coach, all of our athletic trainers and graduate students. That way, we get a variety of angles and ideas.” Getting many people involved doesn’t mean trying out a dozen new techniques all at once, though. Because overuse injuries can have so many causes, Schaadt recommends testing one remedy at a time. “Obviously, you’ll have some clear-cut cases where you have to make multiple changes,”

he says. “But I was told a long time ago that if you throw all your darts at once, your athlete may get better, but you won’t know why. “So you evaluate as many variables as you can, and you first address the ones that you think are most serious,” Schaadt continues. “If making those changes is not having an effect, then you re-evaluate. You try to find subtler things or things that you missed the first time through. As with any injury, you’re constantly re-evaluating, reassessing, and changing treatment and rehab protocols based on the most recent findings.” During the treatment process, athletes can usually continue to work out. As with injury prevention, the key is to vary the athlete’s activity while he or she is recovering. “You have to change their impact cycle and enforce a relative rest period to let their bodies recover,” says Hooker. “I’ll tell the athlete, for example, ‘We’re going to let you work out,

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TREATING THE ATHLETE

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but we’re only going to let you work out in the pool.’ “The challenge is that most of the time, overuse injuries don’t hurt so badly that the athlete wants to stop,” he continues. “They have enough pain that they want to talk about it, but they don’t have enough pain that they want to quit. So you find ways that they can continue to train that muscle group without overstressing it.” Finally, the treatment of overuse injuries differs from that of acute injuries in one significant way: You have to address the factors that caused the injury in the first place. Hopefully, the underlying causes of the overuse injury have become apparent during the course of the treatment, and any mechanical inefficiencies, strength imbalances, training errors, and equipment problems have been corrected. It can be a long and difficult process, but once you fix the root of the problem, you’ve got one less student-athlete with question marks on their chart. ◆

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MANAGEMENT

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or many, it’s the dream job. Working with football coaches like Mark Richt and Bobby Bowden and training some of the best collegiate athletes in the nation. Having the resources to hire a large staff. Coaching in spacious facilities with the latest and greatest equipment. That’s the life of Dave Van Halanger, CSCS, MSCC, Head of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Georgia, and he loves it. But it’s no piece of cake, and it doesn’t mean he’s stopped learning or working hard to be an even better coach. Head strength and conditioning coaches at NCAA Division I schools don’t get there by accident. They have skills that go far outside the ability to put together a great workout plan. So what does it take to advance to this place in the profession? What qualities do these coaches possess that enable them to keep high-profile teams winning? We talked to six head strength and conditioning coaches at a variety of NCAA Division I schools to provide some insight into what young coaches need to know to climb the ladder.

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A STUDENT FOREVER

Even when they’re well established, top strength coaches never stop educating themselves. And that is the first key to moving ahead. “I’ve always been very openminded,” says Dave Armstrong, MS, CSCS, SCCC, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Xavier University. “I’m quick to adopt things that work and fit my style and quick to eliminate things that don’t. My programs constantly evolve over time.” “It’s tough to do sometimes, but I try to set aside time every day to sit down and read,” says Dan McGettigan, MS, CSCS, Head Strength Coach for Football at Iowa State University. “It can be technical, it can be motivation-

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BY DENNIS READ

al—as long as it’s something that could help present a better program to our players. And if I can watch something on tape or talk to other strength coaches, I try to do that. It’s part of my job to find those things.” Robert Lindsey, CSCS, Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at Illinois State University, makes education a departmental effort by incorporating it into regular strength and conditioning staff meetings. “During our staff meetings we’ll have a topic of the month,” he says. “We may choose something like supplements and each of us will do some research on that. Then, when we get together again, we’ll have eight different views on that topic. It helps to keep all of us energized and looking for Dennis Read is an Assistant Editor at Training & Conditioning.

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TOP

The Georgia Bulldogs had one of their best football seasons ever last fall,

DOGS

thanks in part to the arrival of Strength

and

Conditioning

Coach Dave Van Halanger two years ago. In this article, he and other top coaches share the secrets

Photo: ©Getty Images

of their success.

new information.” In fact, Lindsey looks for learning opportunities in all settings. “Some of the best information is passed back and forth in informal office settings, talking between teams or during down times,” he says. “A lot of our guys are graduate assistants, so they’re getting good information from their classes that they share with us, which is fun and exciting, too.” ADVANCING THE ATHLETE

Keeping up in the field helps top coaches design better and better programs, but many say that how they deliver those programs to the athletes is what makes or breaks a career. They suggest developing a style that is part of your personality and speaks to the student-athletes.

“I think a strength coach had better be a great encourager,” Van Halanger says. “On the field, players get screamed at. That’s just the way coaches do it. But it can’t be that way in here. The weightroom has to be a safe place. It has to be a place where kids are going to work their butts off, but know whatever we say is true and it will never be demeaning. “Kids want to be encouraged,” he adds. “You can always find something good to say to every kid and that may be all he or she needs—a little spark, a little comment that says, ‘You can get this thing done.’” But no athlete ever mistakes Van Halanger’s approach for a soft one. He outlines a set of rules he expects all players to follow, including no swearing in the weight room and being on time for all workouts. “If a kid is one minute late, I’m going to run him 10 stadium steps the next morning,” Van Halanger says. “I’m going to give kids an opportunity to be great and if they don’t take that opportunity, then shame on them—that’s their fault.” At Auburn University, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Kevin Yoxall, MS, MSCC, uses a very basic approach. “I try to get across to

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the athletes that ‘Someone else is doing the same thing you’re doing right now and you want to make sure you’re doing it better than they are,’” he says. “I know that sounds pretty elementary and I’ve had a lot of kids look at me and say, ‘Well, yeah, I know that.’ But it goes deeper than that and they have to understand how hard this whole thing is.” Armstrong sees himself as a salesman pitching the benefits of hard work. “If I have a gift, I guess it’s that I can get kids to do things that are very hard and have a good time doing them,” he says. “I couldn’t go out and sell a car if my life depended on it. But when I’m selling hard work, they learn to trust me enough to know that I’ll get them there if they can do what I ask them to do. And I build that trust through hard work and being there with them, busting their hump, being fairly uncompromising, being very straightforward, and letting them know what I think.” Armstrong also emphasizes teamwork in the weightroom, even among members of different squads. Workouts at Xavier are scheduled to fit academic schedules, which means teams are rarely able to have all their members training together. “At any one time, you’ll probably see half a dozen kids helping other kids,” Armstrong says. “You’ll see a golfer spotting for a basketball player. You’ll see a basketball guy spotting for a tennis player. Just the other day I saw our 6-10 basketball center spotting for one of our women soccer players who can’t be more than 5-4. We have an excellent atmosphere here and I promote that. The athletes know that their attitude toward each other is important to me, so they work at that. “Some people will say, ‘I don’t like that atmosphere, it’s too social,’” Armstrong continues. “Well, it is what you let it become. We laugh and get up on each other and have a great time, but they know when they hit the door they have a certain amount of warmup and stretching to do, then they’re going to work because they have only about 45 minutes to be here.”

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Van Halanger tries to get the most out of his athletes by teaching them to use imagery. “Sets and reps are great. Everybody does sets and reps and a lot of people work hard,” he says. “But the great strength coaches paint a picture of where a kid can go and then encourage him or her to get there. “One of my rules around the weightroom is: See yourself making a great play,” he continues. “I tell them, ‘Lifting weights is important, but when you’re lifting in here, don’t just lift weights to be strong. Lift weights so that when you go on the field, you can

Jason George, MS, CSCS, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Fordham University, follows a similar approach, in part because he is the school’s only full-time strength and conditioning coach. “Out of necessity, I start everybody on a very basic weight-training program their freshman year,” he says. “Athletes who are progressing will start moving to something more advanced. The ones who need more time at the beginner level stay with that program longer.” In some cases, it’s the experienced freshman lifter who is harder to train,

“If a sports coach has some really strong opinions, you have to be open-minded and say, ‘Explain to me why you have this opinion.’ Then we’ll take a look at it and try to incorporate it.” make that great play.’ “I’m fortunate to have coached some great players, and I tell our current players that Deion Sanders would sometimes lift weights with his eyes closed. I’d yell at him, ‘Hey, Deion, get your eyes open.’ And he’d say, ‘Coach, I can’t. I’m running a punt return back right now. I got a pick, Coach, and I’m gone. I’m down the sideline.’” START BASIC

Another part of being successful with student-athletes is dealing with the different backgrounds of each freshman class. Some incoming athletes have been strength training since middle school and have even worked with personal trainers. Others have never set foot in a weightroom. A popular approach to dealing with this experience gap is to start everybody off on the same level. “I tell them all that they’re going to go through a long orientation process with me,” Yoxall says. “I put them all in the same group and progress them at the same pace. Even if some kids are being held back, I want to make sure that everybody is on the same page before we move on. That’s frustrating to some kids but that’s the way I do it.” 38 ◆ T & C M A R C H 2 0 0 3 ◆

and a coach has to use different tactics. “With kids used to a certain regimen from high school, it’s almost like you have to win them over,” Lindsey says, “so I feel the education of the athlete is extremely important. It’s so much better to explain to an athlete, ‘This is why we’re going to do this. It’s going to possibly prevent this injury, and it’s going to help you on the field by doing this and this,’ instead of just saying, ‘I want you doing four sets of that exercise,’ and not giving them a reason why.” At Xavier, Armstrong takes it a step further—he cultivates athletes who show a strong interest in weight training to lead the others. “We identify within each team those hard-core kids who love to train,” says Armstrong, who has one full-time assistant coach. “We focus on those athletes initially and make sure they have the mechanics and concepts well in mind that we want. Then we use them to help teach other kids. And they’ll learn more from each other than they will ever learn from me.” Van Halanger counts on his seniors to do much the same thing. “I’m going to make sure my seniors are my leaders,” he says. “They’re going to become my coaches and they’re going

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to help me as much as my assistants do. If they see a guy not doing something, they’re going to come and tell me. I’m going to give them as much responsibility as I can, because they’re the guys I’m going to live and die with.” COACH TO COACH

Your student-athletes may be who you sweat and suffer with, but it’s just as important that you clearly communicate with sport coaches. Strength coaches can easily get tripped up in this area, especially those who deal with numerous sports. Top strength coaches say it takes a delicate balance of being both a leader and a follower to stay on track. At Illinois State, Lindsey has had success setting up solid channels of communication. The assistant strength coach assigned to a sport meets weekly with the coach of that sport and often attends the staff meeting for that sport. Lindsey meets with the head coach at the start of each semester and once a month afterward. “I want to get a feel for what they want and let them know what’s going on in our area, if we’ve made any changes,” Lindsey says. “It helps everything run more smoothly if you have clear lines of communication set up from the beginning.” Ideally, the strength coach works hand in hand with the sport coach to combine knowledge of strength training with knowledge of the sport. This means listening to the sport coach with both ears open. For example, Armstrong recently adjusted his program for the golf team based on input from the golf coach. The program had been working well, but Armstrong wondered if there was room for improvement. He asked his golf expert, the coach. “That’s how we find out if something works or not,” he says. “The coach came in and said, ‘Hey, you’ve really had a positive effect on golfer A. He’s increased his shoulder rotation by an inch-and-a-half, which translates into more impetus when he hits the ball. I don’t know what you’re doing but keep doing it.’ So we showed him what we were doing. He looked at it

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and said, ‘Well that looks pretty good, but it’s not quite the way I want their legs to work.’ Then he went into a demonstration. We tried some different things and made a slight modification in our program.” The harder part is when you run up against a coach who doesn’t share your philosophies. McGettigan recommends trying to persuade skeptical coaches by showing the benefits of your plans. “I ask if I can present a program to them and have them look at our goals and what we’re trying to achieve,” he says. “Then I’ll tell them that what I’ve presented is soundly based and organized and will help us achieve their goals, because we’re both working for the same things.” “If a sport coach has some really strong opinions,” Lindsey says, “you have to be open-minded and say, ‘Explain to me why you have this opinion.’ Then we’ll take a look at it and try to incorporate it.” “They’re under pressure to win, and they have justifiable concerns

sometimes,” Yoxall adds. “As support personnel you have to listen to them and adhere to what they say. But I’ve always been of the belief that if there’s something we don’t agree on, I’m going to continue to hammer at that issue and make sure they understand why I’d rather be doing things a certain way. “If there’s anywhere I’ve drawn a line with a coach,” Yoxall says, “it’s when they want to change how things are conducted in the weightroom or during a conditioning workout. It’s not their job to come into the weightroom and say, ‘Here’s how I want you to run the workout.’ I’m not going to let that happen.” When faced with coaches who are ambivalent about or resistant to strength training, Armstrong has had some success in training team members who are interested in it. He will work with those athletes with the expectation that the coach will notice the increase in their performances and want to see the rest of the team do the same. But Armstrong warns there is a

MANAGEMENT

potential drawback to this approach. “The downside is if you bring a kid in and hurt him or mistakenly do something that’s inappropriate, then you stand no chance of ever getting that coach and his or her athletes involved in your program,” he says. Although strength coaches may tend to have more in common with sport coaches than athletic trainers, it’s important to develop ties with the athletic training staff as well. “There have been times I’ve butted heads with athletic trainers and times where we’ve gotten along very, very well,” Yoxall says. “It’s a relationship you have to cultivate and develop because you work so closely together. Ideally, they come to you for ideas and you go to them for ideas.” Lindsey has also established strong communication channels with his school’s athletic training staff. “All of the athletic trainers here are very good at giving us injury reports almost on a daily basis,” he says. “Before the athletes get here, we’ll know what

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injuries have occurred so we can modify the workout beforehand. And that alleviates problems with athletes saying, ‘Oh, my knee is sore. I’m not squatting today.’” STAFF ASSISTANCE

At a Division I program, many head strength and conditioning coaches actually coach two completely different teams. One team is made up of athletes. The other is made up of assistant strength coaches, graduate assistants, and interns. Success with the second group will go a long way to ensuring success with the first. “There’s an old adage that says coaches who are well thought of usually surround themselves with good assistants,” Yoxall says. “That’s a very important thing to do. Every place I’ve been, I’ve been fortunate to have had great assistants and great graduate assistants around me.” At Illinois State, Lindsey asks his assistants to develop their own strength-training plans for their sports,

which he’ll review and make changes to only where needed. “My feeling is that if I were to write a program for, say, women’s tennis, and give it to one of my assistants saying, ‘Here’s the next eight weeks, I want you to supervise this,’ they’ll probably do a good job,” Lindsey explains. “But they may not put their heart and soul into it. If it’s something they developed themselves, then they want to make sure it works and gets good results. And if they make mistakes, they will remember those years afterwards. If I write something out, and they’re just supervising, they may or may not remember what did and didn’t work well.” Yoxall also expects his full-time assistants to be able to develop and implement their own programs, but he tends to keep graduate assistants and interns on a short leash. “I know some of my graduate assistants have been frustrated by this in the past, but they’re pretty much doing what I ask them to do,” he says. “I let them cultivate their own philosophies by asking them a lot

of challenging questions, asking what they feel about what we’re doing right now, and so forth. But the bottom line is that I’m going to make the decisions on what we do. I make it clear to them how I want something done and if anything is going to get screwed up doing it that way, it’s going to be my fault. I’m going to start them off slow and let them progress from there.” And that learning process doesn’t have to be limited to the younger members of the coaching staff. A couple of times a month, McGettigan has his staff discuss things they need to work on. “We try to critique ourselves and evaluate ourselves and see how we can do a better job,” he says. “Maybe there’s something we thought we were communicating well, but from the athletes’ perspective, we’re not. Maybe we’re trying to teach a young athlete our technique, but we’re just not making a connection. Then we might need to change our approach.” Savvy head coaches choose assistant coaches who complement their

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own style, creating balance within their own department. That’s the situation at Xavier, where the 60-year-old Armstrong has 27-year-old Tracy Prosser as his assistant. “She can do some of the things that I can’t do,” Armstrong says, “so I’m quick to use her in that way. And if I get out of line—which I occasionally do because I can be a little rough sometimes—she’ll say, ‘Hey, coach you need to back off a little bit.’ And nine times out of 10 she’s right. That’s an important quality she brings.” Van Halanger has two full-time assistants who were at Georgia when he arrived, Keith Gray and Mark Kirchbaum. “I’m more of the motivator and they’re kind of the nuts and bolts guys,” Van Halanger says. “Keith is the supplements guy and Mark is the research guy—sets and reps, what’s new on the market in equipment, and what other people are doing.”

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State,” he continues. “But we didn’t vary what we did. We kept saying, ‘I know what we’re doing is going to work. We just have to stay the course.’ The next year was the breakthrough, and we were doing exactly the same things we did in ’86. Outside people will always come after you, so inside you have to stay strong as a family, and the strength coach has a huge role in that.” ◆

Although it’s important to change your program when needed, Van Halanger feels it’s just as important to stick to your guns when you know you’re right. “If you have a good plan and it’s a plan you came up with, stay the course,” he says. “A lot of times you’re just on the edge of breaking through. “For example, 1986 was the worst year Bobby Bowden had at Florida

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PERFECTING SETS & REPS

Although so much of being a great strength coach in a large program rests on communication with others, the nuts and bolts of the job—developing great programs—is still critical. The most successful coaches say they develop plans they believe in, carefully evaluate results, and tweak workouts to fit the situation at hand. “I think the number-one thing is having a program that is sound, scientifically based, organized, and progressive,” McGettigan says. Most coaches review their programs at the beginning of each training cycle and make minor adjustments from season to season. The important thing is to make sure your changes fit the goals of the program. Armstrong feels that some coaches are too willing to adopt something new without thinking about how it will work for them. “People will see a program that looks successful and they’ll copy it and try to apply it to their situation,” he says. “But that often doesn’t work. You have to look at who you have to teach it, what you have to work with, what kind of equipment you have, how much time you have, and the pretraining status of your athletes. Will it fit what you can do?”

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▼ Contrary to myth, a sound conditioning program for pitchers works from the

A BIG WINDUP ground up.

©Getty Images

BY VERN GAMBETTA

hen people talk about pitchers, they usually talk about arms. “What a great arm he has!” “Look at his arm motion!”

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Sure, great pitchers must have great arms, that is a prerequisite. But at least as important, they must have great leg and torso strength. It is the legs and the torso that put the arm into the optimum position to deliver

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the pitch. As I’ve talked about in these pages before, the body is a link system, and all the links must be timed to work together in an optimal sequence for athleticism to come forward. This

is true for the pitcher as much as any other athlete. A sound pitching conditioning program will build from the ground up, segment by segment, training component by training component. Perhaps no position in sports is surrounded with more myths and artificial limitations than pitching. Considering what we now know about pitching from a scientific perspective it is Vern Gambetta, MA, is the President of Gambetta Sports Training Systems in Sarasota, Fla., and the former Director of Conditioning for the Chicago White Sox. He is a frequent contributor to Training & Conditioning and can be reached at www.gambetta.com.

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▼ amazing to me how little progress we have made in conditioning the pitcher. Understanding the demands of pitching and basing your program on these demands will allow the development of the most effective pitching conditioning program. COMPONENTS OF SUCCESS

The actual physical demands of pitching are somewhat simple, but with complex implications. Location and control are the main determinants of success, but velocity is often emphasized in a conditioning program. However, a proper program takes into account not only the ability for a pitcher to increase the speed on his fastball, but also his ability to maintain a higher percentage of velocity on all his pitches as the game progresses. It should also strive to increase strength throughout the entire motion a pitcher uses, eliminate mechanical flaws in the pitcher’s delivery, lessen injuries, and improve the player’s agility. A complete pitching conditioning program should include all of the following components: Balance: Dynamic balance is a key component of sound pitching mechanics. Without good balance the pitcher will have difficulty with consistent control. Good agility and body awareness are also necessary to be able to effectively field the position after the ball is hit. Improving dynamic balance can be accomplished during

Table One: Getting Warm General Warmup Jog three to five minutes Mini-band routine sidestep walk: forward/back carioca monster walk Hip mobility crawls hurdle walks Basic rotations walking wide twist x 20 walking tight twist x 20 walking over the top x 20 walking figure eight x 20 Leg swings Skip 2 x 30 yards

Sidestep 2 x 30 yards Carioca 2 x 30 yards Backward run 2 x 30 yards High skip 2 x 30 yards

Specific Warmup To Throw Using Tubing Dynamic protraction/retraction Dynamic scarecrow Back stroke (swim) Backhand (tennis) External rotation (90/90 standing position), 1x 10 regular, 1x 10 plyometric Triceps extension (standing from wrist flick position), 1x 10 Finger flicks

Table Two: Med-Ball Routines The following core work is done every day in the off-season and preseason. Follow a similar routine in-season, but with a lower volume.

Med-Ball Total-Body Throws Single-Leg Squat & Throw x 10 each leg Over the Back Throw x 10 Forward Through the Legs x 10 Squat & Throw x 10

Standing Cross in Front x 10 each side Around the Back x 10 each side

Med-Ball Rotations (with partner)

Overhead Throw x 20 Soccer Throw x 20 Chest Pass x 20 Standing Side to Side x 10 each side (cross in front)

Standing Full Twist x 10 each direction Standing Half Twist x 10 each direction Half Chop x 10 each way Seated Side Throw x 12 each side Solo Med-Ball Sit-Up (two positions, right & left) x 5 reps

warmup and lateral speed and agility sessions. Strength/Power: Successful pitching demands a high level of leg and trunk strength, along with arm and shoulder

strength. In formulating workout plans, I break down strength work into four areas: lower body, upper body, plyometrics, and core strength. Conditioning: Pitching

Med-Ball Wall Throws

is a high-power-demand activity that is alactate anaerobic in terms of energy system needs. That means that there is essentially no lactate buildup in pitching, contrary to common myth. The actual pitch occurs in a very short amount of time—there is only 0.15 seconds from the time the front foot contacts the ground until the ball is released. The primary source of fatigue in pitching is not metabolic but neural. Therefore, distance running to build up endurance is not needed. In fact, it is counterproductive. Numerous scientific studies have shown that distance running significantly detracts from explosiveness, and a loss of explosiveness will result in a decrease in velocity. A better alternative is to build specific stamina for pitching using the following methods: • Alactate Short-Speed Endurance: short, fast sprints with 45 to 60 seconds recovery. • Intensive Tempo Endurance: runs at 80 to 90 percent maximum effort at lengths of 100 to 120 yards, with 45 seconds rest between runs. (The goal should be to bring the time of the run down each week while still maintaining the prescribed rest interval.) • Extensive Tempo Endurance: runs at 70 to 80 percent maximum effort for 30 seconds. For example, have athletes complete a 30-second run at 70 percent effort, followed by a 30second jog recovery. Build

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â&#x2013;ź up to 12 to 18 of these. Finish with a 10-minute steady cool-down run. â&#x20AC;˘ Strength Endurance: as the game progresses, the power endurance demand increases. Strength endurance can be increased through circuit routines. Throwing: It is very important to build functional arm strength, and long tosses are still a great way to do this. My rule of thumb is two long toss sessions a week. In-season, the volume should be kept low. Note that the ball must not be lobbed, but thrown on a line with some force. Eventually a pitcher with a good strength and conditioning base should be able to effectively throw 10 to 15

times at 280 to 300 feet. Some coaches use overweight and underweight baseballs to improve velocity. This method works, but I have found that it is most effective with pitchers who have a good training and work capacity base. It is not for beginners. Various studies have shown that the range of weights for the balls should be 10 percent over and under a regulation weight ball. That works out to be around four ounces for underweight and six ounces for overweight. What about opposite arm throwing? Yes, it can help. If the pitcher is righthanded, have him occasionally play catch left-handed. There is a cross-transfer

effect that will have a positive carryover to the dominant arm. We have used this with injured pitchers to allow them to keep throwing. Injury Prevention: The pattern of injuries incurred by pitchers is very well documentedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the shoulder and elbow are high-risk areas, followed by the low back and groin. Injury prevention should be accomplished through flexibility/mobility exercises and remedial shoulder exercises. For the shoulder exercises, use dumbbells that allow the athlete to work through a full range of motion with good control. There is no limit to the

weight of the dumbbellsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; reps and rhythm of exercise determine the load. Here is a sample of remedial shoulder exercises: â&#x20AC;˘ Prone Lateral Raise x 10 â&#x20AC;˘ 90/90 External/Internal (prone) x 10 â&#x20AC;˘ Side-Lying External Rotation x 10 â&#x20AC;˘ Supra Raise x 10 â&#x20AC;˘ Protraction/Retraction x 10 â&#x20AC;˘ Shrug x 10 â&#x20AC;˘ Dynamic External Rotation: 3 positions (prone, side-lying, upright) x3 Testing & Evaluation: The guiding principle is to keep it simple but consistent. I use power tests like vertical jump, standing long jump, and over-the-back

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▼ medicine-ball throws with a three kilogram ball, and a 5-10-5 agility test. PERIODIZATION

As with any strength and conditioning program, periodization is the key to the effectiveness of training pitchers. Traditionally the majority of a pitcher’s work has been concentrated in the off-season, with the inseason devoted to a minimal maintenance program. Contemporary thought, however, is that a planned program should distribute the work throughout the year to allow the pitcher to build and accumulate his training from phase to phase during the year. The planning scenarios

are slightly different depending on the level of competition and timing of seasons. The high school or college pitcher who only competes during the traditional spring season can build to a plateau where he is at his performance best in May or June (depending on the exact end of the season). But as more and more young players compete year-round (fall baseball, spring season, and summer league) the planning is trickier. The first step is to determine which season has the greatest priority. Next, determine the number of projected starts, then look at logical divisions where the emphasis can be changed.

For example, for the first third of the starts, the training can still have a volume emphasis; the next third, reduce volume and raise intensity; and the last third, keep intensity high and volume very low. Context is a key element of the planning process. What you do today must be a logical extension of what was done yesterday and should lead to tomorrow’s workout. The same paradigm holds true from week to week and month to month in the context of the overall goals of the program. Planned systematic variation is also essential to progress. One of the biggest problems with baseball is

that there is virtually no variation in the routine throughout the year. Pitchers do the same thing each day. The movements are not as varied as other sports, and there is a lot of dead time between the action. Without programmed systematic variation the pitcher will soon reach a level of stagnation or fall prone to overuse injuries. Variation can be accomplished by constructing rotating cycles in-season and sequenced blocks in the off-season. Each cycle in-season and block in the off-season should have a different theme and slightly different means of implementation to force

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THERMALATOR TREATMENT PRODUCTS In addition to our quality whirlpools, Whitehall carries various other quality products for patient rehabilitation. Our complete line of moist heat therapy treatment products is designed to be easy and convenient to use.

Experience a Whitehall product today. For more information: www.whitehallmfg.com • (800) 782-7706 • (626) 968-6681 Circle No. 30

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8337 Penn Ave. S. • Bloomington, MN 55431 FAX:952.884.3424 • email:order@kytec.us http://www.kytec.us Circle No. 31 46 ◆ T & C M A R C H 2 0 0 3 ◆

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adaptation. Also be sure to take the individual athlete into account. The high school freshman will do less than the senior, and the role of the player on the team can be a factor. For example, a pitcher may play another position on the days he is not pitching. Some elements are the same but the volume, intensity, and frequency should vary depending on the particular athlete. Here are some overall tips for developing programs during different cycles: Off-Season: A typical off-season plan would run Monday through Saturday with Sunday off for recovery. Every day starts with a warmup, balance work, and core work. Warmup and core work are shown in Tables One and Two (page 43). Balance work consists of: • Pitcher prayer, hold 10 seconds. • Dip and separate, 10 reps. • Dip and touch, 3 reps at each position (side, front, back). We do plyometrics and strength train the legs and back on Mondays and Thursdays. Strength training for the legs and back consists of exercises such as squats, lunges, step-ups (forward and lateral), jump squats, dumbbell rows, and front pulldowns. On Tuesdays and Fridays, we work on agility and strength train the upper body. Upper-body work includes incline push-ups, combo I (curl and press),

C O M P E T I T I V E

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▼ combo II (nose in armpit), dumbbell bench presses, rhomboids, front crosses, and swimmers; this is followed by a stretch-cord routine (reverse flys, nordic rows, pec flys, and punching), each x 20 in a circuit style. We also do throwing work on Tuesdays and Fridays. The key is to make sure athletes are throwing and not pitching. Have them throw a variety of different implements, such as a softball, football, or even rocks. Whatever is fun for them! As the season approaches, obviously more work should be done on the mound. Wednesdays and Saturdays are for conditioning. As mentioned above, this should include alactate anaerobic work. Preseason: Our strength work in the preseason uses the same exercises done in the off-season but we increase the sets on some of them. When training the legs and back we place the squat, lunge, stepups, and jump squat into a circuit. We start with two leg circuits and add one circuit per week until the athletes can do five circuits without stopping (20 reps on each exercise, except for jump squat, 10 reps). In-Season: Strength and conditioning during the season should build on what has been developed in the off-season and preseason, then stabilize as you get toward the end (see Table Three, above). WARMING UP

No matter what cycle of the

Table Three: In-Season Work The following is a suggested in-season program for an athlete pitching every fifth day. DAY ONE Warm up to pitch with med-ball and tubing exercises Pitch in game Cool down with remedial shoulder exercises DAY TWO Core Work: med-ball rotations Structured Long Toss: just get loose Aerobic Work: 20 minutes, choice of modes Strength Training: legs & back (work the legs heavy on this day in order to allow more time for recovery before the next start) DAY THREE Warm up to pitch Bullpen day Lateral Speed & Agility Repeat Crossovers Shuttle Runs (5-10-5) Footwork (Ladder) Forward 2 In Forward 1 In Lateral 2 In In/In, Out year, a pitcher’s warmup is absolutely essential, both to prevent injury and enhance performance. It should be active, involve the whole body, and take a minimum of 15 minutes. However, it can be an individual routine

Remedial shoulder exercises to cool down Strength Training: upper body Core Strength: med-ball wall throws DAY FOUR Core Strength: total-body throws Alactate Short-Speed Endurance: 3 to 4 sets of 4 x 50 yards at 85% to 90% on 60second cycle, 3 minutes between sets Plyometrics Tuck Jumps Side to Side Ice Skater Cycle Jumps Pitcher Squat Jumps Jump-Ups Strength Training: legs & back (low volume) DAY FIVE Core Work: rotations and twists Sprints Strength Training: light upper body

that each pitcher develops. (See Table One on page 43.) Perhaps the biggest mistake young pitchers make is to throw to warm up. The idea is to warm up to throw, not to throw to

warm up. The warmup should include core work, a tubing routine, and coordination and movement exercises to warm up the whole body. Once these steps have been completed then the pitcher is ready to begin throwing. The cooldown is also important after pitching. When I began as Director of Conditioning for the Chicago White Sox in 1987, icing was very prevalent. It seemed every time a pitcher picked up a ball he had to ice afterwards. I noticed a common complaint the next day—they were stiff and sore. As I began to question the efficacy of icing I could find no research basis for icing a healthy limb. Gradually, over the next few years, we began to discourage icing and replaced the ice with a structured cooldown designed to improve blood flow to the shoulder and elbow to speed recovery. This consists of 10 to 15 minutes on a stationary bike or a light 10-minute run, and remedial shoulder exercises, one set of 10 reps. If dumbbells are not available, three to four tubing exercises would work. We found less soreness and quicker recovery. All that most people see when they watch an outstanding pitcher is a great arm. But the best way to give them that arm is to develop their skills in a well thought out program. By considering all the components, and fitting them into an effective year-round plan, you’ll get the best out of your pitching athletes. ◆

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www.AthleticBid.com

www.AthleticBid.co Looking for companies and products via the INTERNET? AtleticBid.com gives you the tools to research products

thleticBid.com is a free service to help buyers at schools and athletic organizations research and contact companies in the most efficient fashion. AthleticBid.com offers the following services.

Online Buyer’s Guide Using AthleticBid.com’s on-line Buyer’s Guide, you are able to: • View the complete product line of companies. • View catalog pages or spec sheets from many of the top companies. Click on the “View Company Brochures” button for these companies, and you will find PDF

files titled by product or category. Print them out for easy reference. • Read a profile or description of select companies by clicking on the “About the Company” button. • Request to be contacted by a company representative. • Request catalog and sales literature from companies. Simply click on a button and fill in your address and an e-mail with your request is sent directly to the supplier.

Place an RFP

Dealer Locator T t•Locate your

nearest dealer for many leading manufacturers and Fr suppliers. As sport t The Market Place

• Purchase inventory closeouts, discontinued items and SPORT products on sale from national TAPES suppliers. The products featured in this section are being sold at significant savings.

The Product Connection • Products for your team or organization are highlighted through both descriptions and photos. You can request sales literature on products you’re interested in with just a click.

• You can use this service to request and receive information from numerous suppliers by providing your product specs only once and letting AthleticBid.com do the rest.

Jersey Field Products Park City, NJ 08832 Phone: (800) 275-8000;

(973) 222-3300 | Fax: (973) 222-3333 Contact Name: John Jame s Email address: Jersey@a ol.net Company Description: Your “One-Stop Source” for America’s Leading Spor Supplies! Special mixes t Surfaces and for infields, pitcher’s mou nds, home plate areas and by over 100 pro teams and warning tracks. Used 5000 colleges, with 200 products from more than and bulk plants across the 20 distribution centers country. Call 1-800-275-80 00 for more information. View Product Line

ScoutingReport Hot & Cold Therapy AIRCAST, INC. (800) 526-8785, www.aircast.com The Aircast® Cryo/Cuff, from Aircast, Inc., combines the therapeutic benefits of controlled compression to minimize hemarthosis and swelling and cold to minimize pain. Each cuff is anatomically designed to provide maximum coverage to the injured area. The Cryo/Cuff line includes cuffs to fit most areas of the body, including the knee, ankle, shoulder, and foot. Simplicity of application and operation makes the Cryo/Cuff ideal for both the athletic training room and home. Circle No. 46 on Reader Inquiry Card

BIOFREEZE (800) 246-3733, E-mail: health@biofreeze.com For pain management programs, Performance Health, Inc., offers Biofreeze®, which can help reduce swelling, pain and stiffness; increase mobility and recovery time; and effectively aid in the overall healing process. Apply Biofreeze before, during and after each therapy session to reduce swelling and stiffness enabling greater range of motion and flexibility for therapeutic exercises. Biofreeze can enhance any situation that would require the use of ice and breathable wraps and also enhances and prolongs the benefits of ultrasound, electrical stimulation and massage therapy treatments. Biofreeze is endorsed by the Florida Chiropractic Association Sports Injury Council, The United States Taekwondo Union, The American Occupational Therapy Association, The California Chiropractic Association and The Florida State Massage Therapy Association. For more information and your no-charge trial package please contact the company. Circle No. 47 on Reader Inquiry Card

Biofreeze® is an extremely effective topical pain reliever used in Pain Management Programs to treat athletic injuries, muscle injuries and strains, stiff joints and upper/lower back pain and spasm. Biofreeze helps with both deep trigger and soft tissue work. Prior to massage, it helps athletes relax for a more effective treatment and minimizes post-treatment swelling when

applied after massage. Athletes who rarely bother to use ice can be counted on to use Biofreeze. Athletes can also use Biofreeze at home to relieve pain. Biofreeze is available in a no-touch rollon, perfect for trainers’ supply bag. Circle No. 48 on Reader Inquiry Card

CROWN POLY (800) 874-8566, www.crownpoly.com Most claims about ice bags don’t hold water (or ice). Crown Poly’s do. PULL-NPAK® Ice Bags and Dispensers, from Crown Poly, offer superior protection against leaks. They have ideal conformity during application. The system features “one bag at a time” dispensing and is an organized and flexible way to store bags. Choose from three dispenser models—wall mount, floorstand, and “on-the-go.” To learn more contact your distributor rep., call Crown Poly, or visit its Web site. Circle No. 49 on Reader Inquiry Card

DURA*KOLD CORPORATION (800) 541-7199, www.dura-kold.com Dura*Kold Ice Wraps from Dura*Kold Corporation, in Oklahoma City, Okla., have been used by athletic trainers for over 10 years. The Dura*Kold shoulder products provide coverage of the shoulder girdle and rotator cuff area. The Baseball Shoulder Wrap is available in both adult and youth sizes. More than 30 anatomically designed ice wraps and 10 universal designs provide ice treatment up to two hours without water mess. The wraps can be used on the field, in the training room, or elsewhere to ensure necessary icing to relieve pain and edema. See the complete line at Dura*Kold’s Web site. Circle No. 50 on Reader Inquiry Card

Dura*Kold Ice Wraps have been used by athletic trainers for more than 10 years. Dura*Kold offers the Arthroscopic Knee Wrap, Surgical Knee Sleeve, and the CPM (for use in the CPM machine). The wraps can be used on the field, in the training room, or elsewhere to ensure necessary icing to relieve pain and edema. Circle No. 51 on Reader Inquiry Card

THE GEBAUER COMPANY (800) 321-9348, www.gebauerco.com Gebauer’s Ethyl Chloride® is now available in two easy-to-carry spray can delivery systems: Pain-Ease® Stream Spray and Pain-Ease® Mist Spray. Athletic trainers can choose the spray can that works best for them to relieve minor sports injuries such as bruising, contusions, swelling and minor sprains. It works as fast as ice without the mess — in seconds—so athletes can get back in the game faster. Circle No. 52 on Reader Inquiry Card

Gebauer’s Instant Ice™ is a non-prescription, non-flammable topical skin refrigerant. Gebauer’s Instant Ice comes in either mist or stream spray cans. Both are ideal for the temporary relief of minor pain and swelling from sprains, strains, bruising, contusions, and minor sports injuries. Stream spray is also used for the temporary relief of muscle spasms. Circle No. 53 on Reader Inquiry Card

EXTREME FREEZE (704) 894-9292, www.extremefreeze.com Extreme Freeze, from Techni Products, Inc., is a great alternative to ice for cold therapy treatment. The product stays cold for days and can be frozen over and over. Unlike bag ice, it does not melt down into water. Extreme Freeze’s perforation technology allows water to enter through the plastic surfaces to activate the polymer, and its higher polymer levels allows the product to remain frozen longer than other cold packs. And unlike some other gel packs, it is completely non-toxic. Circle No. 54 on Reader Inquiry Card

Extreme Freeze also doubles as a hotpack for heat therapy use. Simply hydrate the pack by submerging it in water and place it in the microwave initially for two minutes. The user can then continue heating in 30-second intervals as needed. When finished using, simply clean and store for next use. Extreme Freeze offers a variety of wraps in addition to the two pictured here, such as one for ankle injuries and one for arm/shoulder injuries. Circle No. 55 on Reader Inquiry Card

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ScoutingReport Aquatics AQUA PRODUCTS (800) 705-0582, www.AquaProducts.com/AM.htm Clean any Olympic size pool in about an hour at the touch of a button, while providing the healthiest swimming environment and reducing every cost associated with pool maintenance with the world’s leading and most powerful commercial cleaners. Paying for themselves in as little as three months in labor savings alone, UltraMax cleaners work independently without labor, hoses, external pumps, filter connections, installation or assembly while automatically scrubbing, vacuuming, and microfiltering any design or surface pool. Circle No. 56 on Reader Inquiry Card

At the touch of a button reduce every cost associated with swimming pool maintenance with the leading commercial cleaners that automatically scrub, vacuum, and microfilter the floor, walls, waterline, ramps, and most stairs of any design or surface pool up to 75’ in length. Working without labor, hoses, external pumps, filter connections, installation or assembly—the AquaMax robotic cleaners pay for themselves in as little as three months. Circle No. 57 on Reader Inquiry Card

FERNO (888) 206-7802, www.fernoperformancepools.com Ferno offers over 225 Custom Therapy Pools to fit any facility’s needs. With various sizes, depths, and configurations, Ferno can deliver the pool that best suits what you want for your patients. Numerous accessories for the pool include: an underwater treadmill, Water Bike, therapy/resistance jets, wall-size windows, video camera system, pool lifts, benches, and exercise bars. Ferno Custom Therapy Pools can be installed without the removal of walls to fit your existing facility. Circle No. 58 on Reader Inquiry Card

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Ferno has introduced the new Ferno® Water Bike to its line of aquatic therapy products. Through water resistance, peddling on the Ferno Water Bike helps muscle strengthening, growth, and endurance, while reducing joint impact. Also included is an independent upper body crank exercise feature and a digital display unit, which gives the speed, distance, and time. The Ferno Water Bike suspends from the side of a pool allowing it to be used in a wide variety of pool depths. Circle No. 59 on Reader Inquiry Card

as inground, aboveground, or partially aboveground installations. Plyometric cants, running cants, Badu current generator, ROM and jet benches, multiple depths, and viewing windows can all be incorporated. Med-Fit’s unique manufacturing process and the all-tile construction ensure maximum heat retention, longevity, and aesthetics. For more information and a free CD-ROM catalog with pool video and slide show, please call (800) 831-7665 or check the company’s Web site. Circle No. 62 on Reader Inquiry Card

KYTEC ATHLETIC SPEED EQUIPMENT (800) 732-4883, www.kytec.us The Swim Resistance Chute™ from Kytec Athletic Speed Equipment is designed to strengthen swim-specific muscles and improve power, endurance, and explosiveness. An adjustable clasp at the end of the Swim Chute regulates the amount of water that flows through the orifice of the chute. The resistance varies up to 15 lbs. The Swim Chute can actually increase your range of motion and flexibility as you are able to stretch each of your muscle groups to their maximum potential. The Swim Chute can also be used for running, jogging, or physical therapy in water. It comes with a belt.

OPTP (800) 367-7393, www.optp.com OPTP offers Fin & Flipper® Exercise Logs that can be used on either the hands or feet. Simply slide the hand or foot through the innovative Fin & Flipper slot and begin to exercise. The unique soft foam is comfortable and the grip-free design does not require grip strength. The Fin & Flipper Exercise Logs can be used for a variety of functions. They can be used as a gentle flotation aid for relaxing, resistance in the water for muscle strengthening and conditioning, and for cardiovascular training. Use the Fin & Flipper alone, in pairs, or attach the large size to the blades of the AquaPaddle™ for added resistance.

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Kytec also offers Power Gloves™. Create the resistance you want by opening or closing your fingers. The Power Gloves help to improve stroke technique and arm and shoulder strength. Soft, durable nylon lycra provides a comfortable fit. Circle No. 61 on Reader Inquiry Card

The AquaBodyCiser, also from OPTP, is a new product that is perfect for overall body fitness and targeting low back pain. A physical therapist and a team of rehabilitation specialists specifically designed the AquaBodyCiser to help the medical and fitness communities. Use it to incorporate versatile, exciting, and innovative approaches to exercise and rehabilitation programs. It may be used for strengthening the muscles in

MED-FIT (800) 831-7665, ext.4, www.medfitsystems.com Med-Fit all-tile pools can be built in virtually any size, shape, or design either

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Aquatics the lumbo-pelvic and abdominal regions, lumbar stabilization, cardiovascular exercise, and rehabilitation of the knee and shoulder. The AquaBodyCiser also encourages stabilization and strengthening of the spine through low-impact exercise. Circle No. 64 on Reader Inquiry Card

POWER SYSTEMS, INC. (800) 321-6975, www.power-systems.com Power Systems, Inc., offers Buoyancy and Resistance Cuffs. These versatile fitness cuffs enhance the natural buoyancy and resistance of water. Improve your overall muscle tone with this four-way product by wearing it around your ankles, arms, wrists, or clipped together around your waist. The cuffs can be used individually or in pairs. Enjoy a total conditioning water workout four different ways with one product.

CD Product Catalog that has lower prices. Look for new products, like these shoes, improved products and lower prices. Call or e-mail Sprint Aquatics to request your catalog. Circle No. 67 on Reader Inquiry Card

upper and lower extremity exercises, running, walking, swimming, and explosive plyometrics. Circle No. 68 on Reader Inquiry Card

SWIMEX (800) 877-7946, www.swimex.com Nearly 50 universities and 38 professional sports teams have incorporated SwimEx into their aquatic training programs. SwimEx aquatic therapy and sports conditioning pools feature a patented paddlewheel propulsion system that circulates more than 30,000 gallons of laminar water flow per minute. Adjustable water depths allow for weightless rehabilitation and progressive weight-bearing exercise programs. With eight workstations and a deepwater running platform, SwimEx is a complete isokinetic aquatic therapy system that facilitates

SwimEx, premier innovator of total aquatic therapy and sports conditioning solutions, has introduced the SwimEx SPT Aquatic Treadmill™, a first-of-its-kind, self-propelled treadmill that can be used for running or walking in any SwimEx therapy, or fitness pool. While many existing aquatic treadmills stop once both of the user’s feet leave the belt, the SwimEx SPT’s unique flywheel mechanism keeps the belt in continuous motion, allowing users to run in water without difficulty. Whether the workout is for rehabilitative or conditioning purposes, SwimEx SPT users can walk or run in a safe, low-impact aquatic environment. Circle No. 69 on Reader Inquiry Card

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The Aeromat® Fitness Mat offered by Power Systems is more that just a fitness mat. The closed cell foam is sealed so it can be used in water. It is very buoyant giving the user an ability to perform numerous therapeutic movements with the aid of a large mat. Sizing options are from 24” to 39” wide, 56” to 72” long and 5/16” to 5/8” thickness. To receive more information and request a FREE catalog, call Power Systems or visit its Web site. Circle No. 66 on Reader Inquiry Card

SPRINT AQUATICS (800) 235-2156, e-mail: info@sprintaquatics.com Sprint has a new line of comfortable men’s and women’s shoes. They are excellent, flexible aqua shoes that contour to your feet. They have a wider sole and excellent grip. Use them in or out of the water for supreme comfort. Sprint’s Aqua Dogs and Twinkle Toes are the most comfortable shoe you will ever wear. Request your new 2003 Sprint Aquatics

Safety, Security & Reliability in High Level Training! • Created for the extreme demands of resistance training, and used by professional athletes around the world! • Available in a variety of resistance levels, kits & interchangeable accessories, with innovative safety and security features! • See our new 2003 CATALOG to learn more about the entire TurfCordz line! Call for your copy, or visit us online!

Distributed by M-F Athletic Company

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C A T A L O G Biofreeze

S H O W C A S E

BodyGlide

(800) 246-3733, e-mail: health@biofreeze.com

Cho-Pat, Inc.

(888) 263-9454, www.bodyglide.com

For pain management programs, use Biofreeze to reduce swelling, pain & stiffness, next day aches and pains, and recovery time. It can also help to increase mobility and flexibility, and will aid in the overall healing process. Biofreeze can be used in situations requiring ice and breathable wraps and can be blended with water for ice cups. Biofreeze will also prolong the effects and benefits of Ultrasound and Massage Therapy treatments. For more information and your free trial package, please contact Biofreeze.

BODYGLIDE® products are revolutionary. They are reliable, long lasting, allow perspiration to escape, and they won’t sweat off. No petroleum or oils, and they are non-greasy. BODYGLIDE® Skin Lubricant comes with or without sunscreen. WarmFX™ Muscle Conditioner stays hot—and you don’t need gloves to apply it. Not just better—simply the best.

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(800) 221-1601, www.cho-pat.com Cho-Pat manufactures specific and innovative preventive and painreducing sports/medical devices for the arm, leg, and knee. Incorporating unique design characteristics, excellent craftsmanship, and quality materials, our American made products are effective, dependable, durable and highly recommended by medical professionals, physical therapists, athletic trainers, athletes, and active individuals for their role in preventing or lessening pain and discomfort. Circle No. 73 on Reader Inquiry Card

Creative Health

Ferno

(800) 742-4478, www.chponline.com Creative Health Products, in business since 1976, is a leading discount supplier of Rehabilitation, Fitness, Exercise and Athletic Equipment and also Health, Medical, Fitness Testing and Measuring Products all at discounted prices. Products include Heart Rate Monitors, Blood Pressure Testers, Pulse Oximeters, Bodyfat Calipers, Scales, Strength Testers, Flexibility Testers, Stethoscopes, Pedometers, Exercise Bikes, Ergometers, Stopwatches, Fitness Books and Software, Exercise Bands, Step Benches, Hand and Finger Exercisers, Heating Pads and more.

(888) 206-7802, www.fernoperformancepools.com Ferno Performance Pools, the leader in aquatic therapy, rehabilitation, fitness, and sports systems, offers over 250 custom configured pools to fit any facility's needs. With various pool sizes and depths, Ferno pools help train and rehabilitate athletes to keep them in the game. More information about Ferno pools can be found in the company's brochures, detailed specification sheets, and at www.fernoperformancepools.com.

Foot Management has provided quality foot orthotics to athletic trainers for more than 25 years. We manufacture a wide variety of orthotics to suit the needs of any patient. We also supply a variety of prefabricated insoles, footpads, foam, felt, and heel cups. We pride ourselves on our quality products and excellent customer service.

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Gatorade

The Gebauer Company

www.gatorade.com, www.gssiweb.com Sweat is more than just water— a combination of water, sodium, and other electrolytes lost through sweat. That’s why drinking water is simply not enough to replace what you lose in hot and sweaty occasions. For more than 35 years, the hydration experts at The Gatorade Company have been researching, studying, and analyzing the benefits of Gatorade for active people. Science shows that no other beverage—including water—is formulated to rehydrate an athlete’s body better than Gatorade and helps athletes perform at their best. Gatorade contains the right combinaton of carbohydrates, sodium, and potassium to help put back in the body what is lost in sweat, help fight fatigue, and enhance performance.

(800) 321-9348, www.gebauerco.com

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Foot Management

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The Gebauer Company, the most trusted name in skin refrigerants for over 100 years. Call (800) 3219348 or visit www.gebauerco.com.

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(800) HOT FOOT, www.footmanagement.com

VertiMax (800) 699-5867, www.vertimax.com This full-color trifold brochure explains HOW and WHY VertiMax produces radical improvements in explosive leg power. It shows the design and engineering that allow it to produce LARGE gains in an athlete’s vertical jump and first-step-quickness, NO trainer can come close to matching its results. When you request the VertiMax Information Packet, you not only get the brochure, but a great DEMO CD, showing high schools, colleges, and pro teams conducting VertiMax training in their own weight rooms. VertiMax is in wide use in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, as well as Div I colleges such as Miami, Penn State, Nebraska, Florida, Georgia, Duke, UCONN and many others. Circle No. 79 on Reader Inquiry Card

C A T A L O G Injury Tracker

S H O W C A S E

Kelly Kinetics

Kytec

(888) 465-8725, www.injurytracker.com Injury Tracker and InjuryZone are complete software solutions for the management of all aspects of athlete health. Designed for athletic trainers, sports physicians, researchers, and other medical professionals, they not only track injuries and treatments, but tests, prescriptions, surgeries, diagnostic images, and more. Key features of both applications are the user-friendly tools to generate reports on individual and team health, graph data to discern injury trends, and view associated x-rays and videos.

Kelly Kinetics, makers of the Ankle Isolator, Pivot Plate, and GlidePoint Massage Tools, specializes in lowerextremity rehabilitation and soft-tissue massage tools for training rooms and therapy clinics. Visit the company’s Web site, www.kellykinetics.com, for information on the new Hot and Cold Stainless Steel Massage Tools, as well as wholesale, package and volume discount pricing on all of Kelly Kinetics’ products.

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Med-Fit Systems (760) 723-9618, www.medfitsystems.com Med-Fit Systems provides the most revered brands to the athletic training profession. The company features Nautilus, Stairmaster, and Schwinn strength and cardio products, and distributes the nation’s best-selling electric therapy tables. Med-Fit Systems’ aquatics division has been manufacturing customs pools, spas, and cold plunges for the past 10 years, and can provide virtually any configuration, including above-, below-, and partially below-ground pools and spas.

www.kellykinetics.com

NASM

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NZ Manufacturing

800.460.NASM, www.nasm.org

NASM is the international leader for education and certification for fitness, sports-performance, and sportsmedicine professionals. With more than 15,000 members in 15 countries, NASM is dedicated to cutting-edge concepts and state-of-the-art programs and products. In addition to its leading certification programs, NASM offers advanced credentials, more than 20 continuingeducation courses, corporate health-club partnerships, and an annual educational conference.

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(800) 732-4883, www.kytec.us. Kytec Athletic Speed Equipment has been a proven name in sports training for 12 years. Kytec offers a wide variety of products dealing with fitness, strength, rehabilitation, speed, and flexibility for all types of athletes and individuals. Its goal is to have a wide variety of superior merchandise at the best possible prices, to handle your order courteously and to ship merchandise as quickly as possible, usually within 24 hours. There is a difference in Kytec products. It's the difference between being the runner-up and the winner. It is the difference between nearing the top and reaching it. When you buy Kytec products the difference is quality factory direct savings and prompt delivery. Begin to feel the benefits of the highest-quality and lowest-priced athletic speed, strength, and rehabilitation equipment in the USA.

(800) 886-6621, www.nzmfg.com TurfCordz™ by NZ Manufacturing Inc., recently released their latest product catalog. Offering the latest in high-quality resistance exercise products designed to fulfill any sports training, fitness, and rehabilitation application, the catalog is filled with an extensive line of training and rehabilitation products including: TurfCordz products for strength training, MediCordz® products for rehabilitation and conditioning, and StrechCordz® products for swim training needs. Its patentpending Safety Bungie™ and Safety Cord™ products provide the ultimate in safety for clinician and patient alike. Circle No. 85 on Reader Inquiry Card

Oakworks

OPTP

Perform Better

(800) 558-8850, www.oakworks.net Oakworks: progressive ergonomics that supports you and your clients. Our catalog features our full line of ergocentric equipment—including our Portable Taping Table; weather-resistant and height adjustable with a marine-grade plastic top, weighing just 35 lbs. It’s easily portable, folding flat for transport and storage. Now, maximum effectiveness for every ATC, no matter how challenging the environment.

(800) 367-7393, www.optp.com OPTP, The Conservative Care Specialists, has released its new full color Volume Fifteen Catalog. It features exclusive items such as the Stretch Out® Strap, The Original McKenzie® SlimLine™ Lumbar Support, 2Trac™, Balance Aids, and The COM-PRESSOR™ by Diane Lee. A few of the new publications are Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Management of the Lumbar Spine, Pelvis and Hip region CD-ROM by Tim Flynn and Bounce Back Into Shape After Baby by Caroline Creager. OPTP still offers such favorites as OPTP Foam Rollers, The Original McKenzie® Lumbar Rolls, Thera-Band®, and the Gymnic® Balls, as well as new resources based on Pilates, Core Stability and Myofascial Therapy.

(800) 556-7464, www.performbetter.com Now increased to 60 pages, the 2003 edition of the Perform Better catalog includes a wide array of highquality products for training, coordination, and rehab. The items selected focus on speed and agility, plyometric, strength and weight training, as well as balance and stabilization applicable to both training and rehab of the individual. The focus on the entire presentation is on functional training and rehab.

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ADVERTISING DIRECTORY COMPANY

CIRCLE NO. PAGE NO.

COMPANY

CIRCLE NO. PAGE NO.

COMPANY

CIRCLE NO. PAGE NO.

Aircast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 . . . . . . . .31

Injury Zone/Injury Tracker . . . . . . . 9 . . . . . . . .15

ProMaxima Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 . . . . . . . .55

Aristar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 . . . . . . . .17

IOMED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 . . . . . . . .33

PROTEAM by Hausmann . . . . . . . . .13 . . . . . . . .20

Athletics Plus (SpringCo) . . . . . . . . . . . 8 . . . . . . . .15

Kelly Kinetics (Pivot Plate/Ankle Isolator) .19 . . . . . . . .27

Pull-N-Pak (Crown Poly) . . . . . . . . . . .14 . . . . . . . .22

Biofreeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . 9

Kytec Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 . . . . . . . .46

Seton Hall University . . . . . . . . . . . .27 . . . . . . . .40

BodyGlide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 . . . . . . . .39

Med-Fit Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 . . . . . .IBC

Sprint Aquatic Products . . . . . . . . . .37 . . . . . . . .57

Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . 2

NASM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 . . . . . . . .41

SwimEx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . . . . . . .10

Creative Health Products . . . . . . . . .34 . . . . . . .55

Oakworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 . . . . . . . .BC

Techni Products (Extreme Freeze) . . . . . .18 . . . . . . . .26

Dura*Kold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 . . . . . . . .24

OPTP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . .11

Total Gym/efi Sports Medicine . . . . . 3 . . . . . . . . 5

Dynavision 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 . . . . . . . .25

Perform Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . 7

TurfCordz/NZ Manufacturing . . . . . .32 . . . . . . . .51

Exertools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 . . . . . . . .19

Perform Better (seminars) . . . . . . . . . .38 . . . . . . . .59

VertiMax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 . . . . . . . .54

Ferno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . .16

Power Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 . . . . . . . .23

Vizual Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 . . . . . . . .28

Foot Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 . . . . . . . .44

Power-Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 . . . . . . . .57

Whitehall Manufacturing . . . . . . . . .30 . . . . . . . .45

Gebauer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 . . . . . . . .35

PowerBar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . .IFC

InjureNet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 . . . . . . . .28

PrePak Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 . . . . . . . .39

IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOME REAL EXCITEMENT IN THE TRAINING ROOM AND PRODUCE NEW PERSONAL BESTS FOR YOUR ATHLETES

IS THE ANSWER! • NO trainer–anywhere, at any price, will increase an athlete’s vertical jump and first-step-quickness like VertiMax. Rapid, large gains are guaranteed! Your athletes will feel and see their improvements immediately!

Adding VertiMax to your arsenal will give you a whole new training dimension, expand your client base, and increase your revenue.

• Patented Hip Trackers move laterally with the

athlete to sustain a proper gravity vector and preserve balance and form during lunges and other sports specific exercises. • Engineering under the platform applies a

non-varying resistance throughout the complete jumping motion, optimizing the proprioceptive response.

• VertiMax has been featured in Sports Illustrated and seen on ESPN, HBO, and Fox Sports Networks

• Individually tailored resistances

can be set in seconds!

1-800-699-5867

www.vertimax.com

THE TRAINER CHOSEN BY THE #1 NBA AND #1 NFL DRAFT PICKS Circle No. 33 54 ◆ T & C M A R C H 2 0 0 3 ◆

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY COMPANY

CIRCLE NO. PAGE NO.

COMPANY

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COMPANY

CIRCLE NO. PAGE NO.

Aircast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 . . . . . . . .49

Med-Fit Systems (all-tile pools) . . . . . . . 62 . . . . . . . .50

Creative Health Products . . . . . . . . .74 . . . . . . . . .52

Aqua Products (AquaMax) . . . . . . . . . . 57 . . . . . . . .50

Med-Fit Systems (Nautilus treadmills) . . .109 . . . . . . . .58

Ferno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 . . . . . . . . .52

Aqua Products (UltraMax) . . . . . . . . . . 56 . . . . . . . .50

OPTP (AquaBodyCiser) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 . . . . . . . .50

Foot Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 . . . . . . . . .52

Aristar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 . . . . . . . .57

OPTP (Fin & Flipper Exercise Logs) . . . . . . . 63 . . . . . . . .50

Gatorade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 . . . . . . . . .52

Aristar (TeamTriad) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 . . . . . . . .57

Power Systems (Aeromat) . . . . . . . . . . 66 . . . . . . . .51

Gebauer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 . . . . . . . . .52

Biofreeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 . . . . . . . .49

Power Systems (Buoyancy/Resistance Cuffs) 65 . . . . . . . .51

Injury Tracker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 . . . . . . . . .53

Biofreeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 . . . . . . . .49

PROTEAM (modular taping stations) . . . . .111 . . . . . . .58

Kelly Kinetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 . . . . . . . . .53

Crown Poly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 . . . . . . . .49

PROTEAM (Split Leg Lift Table) . . . . . . . .112 . . . . . . . .58

Kytec Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 . . . . . . . . .53

CSMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 . . . . . . . .57

Seton Hall University . . . . . . . . . . . .113 . . . . . . . .59

Med-Fit Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 . . . . . . . . .53

Dura*Kold (knee wrap) . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 . . . . . . . .49

Sports Motion, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 . . . . . . . .59

NASM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 . . . . . . . . .53

Dura*Kold (shoulder products) . . . . . . . . 50 . . . . . . . .49

Sprint Aquatic Products . . . . . . . . . . 67 . . . . . . . .51

NZ Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 . . . . . . . . .53

Dynavision 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 . . . . . . . .57

SwimEx (SPT Aquatic Treadmill) . . . . . . . . 69 . . . . . . . .51

Oakworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 . . . . . . . . .53

Exertools (Follers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 . . . . . . . .58

SwimEx Systems (conditioning pools) . . . 68 . . . . . . . .51

OPTP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 . . . . . . . . .53

Exertools (Golf Program) . . . . . . . . . . .106 . . . . . . . .58

Techni Products (Extreme Freeze-cold) . . 54 . . . . . . . .49

Perform Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 . . . . . . . . .53

Ferno (custom therapy pools) . . . . . . . . . 58 . . . . . . . .50

Techni Products (Extreme Freeze-heat) . . . 55 . . . . . . . .49

Power Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 . . . . . . . . .56

Ferno (Water Bike) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 . . . . . . . .50

Vizual Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 . . . . . . . .59

PrePak Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 . . . . . . . . .56

Gebauer (Ethyl Chloride) . . . . . . . . . . . 52 . . . . . . . .49

Winning Edge insoles . . . . . . . . . . . .110 . . . . . . . .58

ProMaxima Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 . . . . . . . . .56 PROTEAM by Hausmann . . . . . . . . .92 . . . . . . . . .56

Gebauer (Instant Ice) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 . . . . . . . .49

CATALOG SHOWCASE

Sprint Aquatic Products . . . . . . . . . .94 . . . . . . . . .56

InjureNet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 . . . . . . . .58

Athletics Plus (Springco) . . . . . . . . . . .93 . . . . . . . . .56

SwimEx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 . . . . . . . . .56

IOMED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 . . . . . . . .58

Biofreeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 . . . . . . . . .52

Total Gym/efi Sports Medicine . . . . .96 . . . . . . . . .56

Kytec Athletic (Power Gloves) . . . . . . . . 61 . . . . . . . .50

BodyGlide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 . . . . . . . . .52

VertiMax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 . . . . . . . . .52

Kytec (Swim Resistance Chute) . . . . . . . . . 60 . . . . . . . .50

Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 . . . . . . . . .52

Go Flow, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 . . . . . . . .58

SAVE BIG DISCOUNT PRICES ON FITNESS TESTING PRODUCTS AND EXERCISE EQUIPMENT from

CREATIVE HEALTH PRODUCTS We stock popular brand name instruments for Fitness Measuring and Testing at the lowest prices. Examples of products include:

FITNESS MFG. STANDARD FEATURES: • 4” X 3” - 7 GAUGE STEEL TUBING UPRIGHTS WITH 3/16” THICK WALLS, UNITS 8’ TALL • HEAVY DUTY ADJUSTABLE BAR SUPPORT HOOKS • WEIGHT STORAGE RACKS • CHIN UP STATION • TECHNIQUE TRAYS • MAGNETIC BAKED ON POWDER COATED FINISH PL-49

ULTRA PRO HALF RACK

• HEART RATE • STRENGTH MONITORS TESTERS • BODYFAT • FLEXIBILITY CALIPERS TESTERS • BLOOD PRESSURE • LUNG CAPACITY TESTERS TESTERS • FITNESS • ANTHROPOMETRIC APPRAISAL KITS CALIPERS • SPIROMETERS • SCALES • STETHOSCOPES • GONIOMETERS • ERGOMETERS • METRONOMES • EXERCISE BANDS • STOPWATCHES AND MUCH MORE QUALITY PRODUCTS GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICES PROMPT FRIENDLY SERVICE WRITE OR CALL FOR FREE CATALOG

CREATIVE HEALTH PRODUCTS 5148 Saddle Ridge, Plymouth MI 48170

800-742-4478 AUTHORIZED POLAR SERVICE CENTER 800-287-5901

WEB SITES AT: WWW.CHPONLINE.COM SERVICE CENTER: WWW.POLARSERVICECENTER.COM

1495 PL-50

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1195 $ 8’X4’ PLATFORM . . . . 895 8’X6’ PLATFORM . . .

PL-51

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NO POP PINS 0 TO 80 DEGREE ADJUSTMENT LINEAR BEARING TELESCOPING FRAME SINGLE LINKAGE ADJUSTABLE SYSTEM ALIGNS BACK PAD AND SEAT SIMULTANEOUSLY TO EXACT POSITION •SPOTTER STAND AND BENCH LOCKING MOUNTS

e-mail: sales@chponline.com

Circle No. 34

ORDER NOW! TOLL-FREE! 1-800-231-6652 E-Mail: promaximamfg.com@worldnet.att.net Website: www.promaximamfg.com

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C A T A L O G

S H O W C A S E

Power Systems, Inc.

PrePak Products

ProMaxima Fitness, Mfg.

(800) 321-6975, www.power-systems.com Since 1986, Power Systems has made it a number-one priority to become a leading supplier of sport training, health, and fitness products. Its new 2003 catalog is re-worked to provide the best possible resource for all your training needs. Included areas are core strength, medicine balls, group exercise, yoga/pilates, personal trainer aids, strength equipment, strength accessories, and a sport performance section that has agility ladders, step hurdles and other hard-to-find products. You’ll find the catalog full of new products as well as some products that have been improved upon. You will also find that the company has lowered some of prices, enabling the customer to get great premium products at great pricing.

(800) 544-7257, www.prepakproducts.com The Web Slide Exercise Rail System, from PrePak Products includes everything the busy training room needs to effectively and quickly train and monitor your athletes. It requires just 3’ of wall space. The deluxe system contains: Set of three exercise rails; 16 position storage rack; Five exercise devices— 14 total pieces; Wall poster; and "Tearoff" sheet exercise pads (50 sheets).

(800) 231-6652, www.promaximamfg.com ProMaxima Fitness is a leader in designing and manufacturing a full line of reliable, high-quality fitness equipment for commercial use. ProMaxima Fitness is the largest direct commercial fitness equipment provider in North America. ProMaxima Fitness is a 38-year-old company with more than 128 years experience on staff to provide and design your facilities with efficient, easy-to-use equipment.

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PROTEAM by Hausmann

Athletics Plus

Sprint Aquatics

(888) HAUSMANN, www.proteamtables.com PROTEAM by Hausmann, a Specialty Division of Hausmann Industries, Inc., has recently introduced a new concept in athletic trainer’s tables and treatment furniture. PROTEAM provides customized, modular taping stations to fit any space and any need. PROTEAM provides professional teams, colleges, and high schools with a full line of treatment and exam tables, split leg tables, mat platforms, stools, benches, cabinets, and stadium lockers. PROTEAM’s durable laminates allow for ease of maintenance, contamination control, and stain resistance. School colors can be matched on contract sales.

(800) 333-7781, www.athleticsplus.com Athletics Plus offers a wide range of training and conditioning aids. We are also a national dealer for York Barbell products and carry a complete line. At Athletics Plus, we pride ourselves on excellent customer service and top quality product.

(800) 235-2156, e-mail: info@sprintaquatics.com Sprint Aquatics happy to announce its new CD Product Catalog, allowing the company to save trees and lower postage, and allowing Sprint Aquatics to lower your prices. Browse the CD Product Catalog on your computer or select the option to print it out. Contact the company to request your new CD product catalog.

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SwimEx

efi Sports Medicine

(800) 877-7946, www.swimex.com The SwimEx pool allows the sports medicine professional to utilize the principles of water to aggressively rehabilitate their injured athletes. The patented SwimEx current enables the athlete to exercise in up to 6.5 mph of water resistance. The SwimEx multi-depth capabilities allow a gradual progression of functional activities and the pool’s eight different workstations provide unparalleled versatility in designing a comprehensive aquatic therapy program. Circle No. 95 on Reader Inquiry Card

(800) 541-4900, www.efisportsmedicine.com efi Sports Medicine offers a wide variety of products to improve strength, power, endurance, body composition, and range of motion. The non-compressive nature of efi’s flagship product, Total Gym, uses body weight as resistance and creates a safe environment for athletes to begin or continue strength training.

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Web Connections AIRCAST WWW.AIRCAST.COM For over 30 years, Aircast has helped medical professionals worldwide provide functional treatment options. Visit this site to learn about the market leading Aircast Ankle Brace, AirSport Ankle Brace, and Cryo-Cuff.

FERNO WWW.FERNOPERFORMANCEPOOLS.COM Ferno can provide you with all of your aquatic equipment. Whether it’s a therapy pool, fitness pool, rehabilitation pool, an aquatic bike, or an underwater treadmill, Ferno has a unit that will fit your facility.

More New Products Aristar offers innovative, point-of-care charge capture and electronic medical records systems for orthopaedics, sports medicine and rehabilitation. These applications take advantage of advances in handheld and wireless technology for coding and documentation in the clinic, at the hospital, and on the athletic playing field. The fully integrated software modules operate on PDAs and PCs. The system allows users to gradually implement a comprehensive program to meet their documentation needs. Call (330) 668-2267 or visit www.aristar.com for more information Circle No. 100 on Reader Inquiry Card TeamTriad, from Aristar, is an electronic medical records system for sports medicine that leverages the portability of handheld computers with wireless connectivity bringing documentation to the point-of-care. Features include: Anywhere/anytime record access and capacity to document injuries, medical conditions or rehabilitation; Reduced risk exposure through improved communications and more thorough documentation; Automated generation and trans-

mission of daily reports to medical and athletic personnel; and integrated forms for tracking injury epidemiology. Call (330) 668-2267 or visit www.aristar.com for more information. Circle No. 101 on Reader Inquiry Card On December 23, 2002, CSMI, the maker of the HUMAC®/CYBEX Computer System, purchased the design, patents, and inventory for the CYBEX NORM Single Chair Isokinetic Evaluation and Exercise Machine from Znetix. “Since 1982 our goal has been to help CYBEX owners maximize the utility and value of their equipment,” reports Rich Potash President of CSMI. “Over time we have acquired the rights to various CYBEX isokinetic testing systems. This most recent acquisition not only completes our purchase of all CYBEX isokinetic designs, but allows us to expand our business from supporting existing machines to manufacturing and marketing the most advanced isokinetic system available.”

The Original! POWER•WEB

CSMI was the first company to release a PC-based software package (their HUMAC System) for the CYBEX II in 1982. The HUMAC replaced the dual channel chart recorder, providing real-time patient feedback and automatic report generation. CSMI provides worldwide sales, service, and support for the CYBEX II, II+, 300 series, Back series, 6000, and NORM systems. For more information, contact Rob Potash at 781-255-1292 or visit www.csmisolutions.com. Circle No. 102 on Reader Inquiry Card The Dynavision 2000 is a training and evaluation tool for the monitoring and improvement of visual processing skills. These include eyeto-hand coordination, reaction time, speed and span of recognition, concentration and sensoryvisual integration. It is used by professional sports teams, high-performance centers, military specialized training, driver-training centers, and also as a rehabilitation tool for

The All-In-One Finger, Hand, Wrist, Forearm & Ankle Exerciser! • Patients can perform all joint actions! • 6 color-coded resistance levels! • Includes illustrated instruction manual in a retail package! • Call, fax or e-mail us for our complete brochure!

POWER•WEB INTERNATIONAL

888-823-0310 Fax 330-630-5091 www.pwrwebintl.com Circle No. 36 Circle No. 37

More New Products head injuries and motor-impaired recovery. Visit www.dynavision2000.com for more information. Circle No. 103 on Reader Inquiry Card InjureNet™ is injury-management software that provides athletic trainers with the ability to capture information right at the treatment table via a touchscreen interface. Originally developed by Etchasoft for a professional football team, the product has delivered Web-browser based health management since its introduction in 2000. The product allows athletic trainers to manage rosters, patients, injuries, and associated treatments. The latest release includes a new module that tracks the inventory of medical supplies and medications. Visit www.injurenet.com or call (904) 493-0701 for more information. Circle No. 104 on Reader Inquiry Card EXERTOOLS Follers™ are high-quality foam rollers for mobilization, balance, strength training, and more. They are available in a variety of sizes and in full- and half-round. With the 2-in-1 Follers, the core of the 6” roller can be pulled out and used as a 4” roller. They save space and are easier to transport. Call (800) 235-1559 or visit www.exertools.com for more information. Circle No. 105 on Reader Inquiry Card The EXERTOOLS Golf from the Inside-Out Program was developed with a focus on biofeedback and training exercises for strengthening and conditioning the muscles in and around what is known as “the core.” These exercises are designed to help a golfer correctly and consistently contract the proper muscles and dynamically stabilize the spine throughout the swing. Retail price is $280 plus shipping and handling. Dealer/teaching golf pro price is $196 plus shipping and handling. Call (800) 235-1559 or visit www.exertools.com for more information. Circle No. 106 on Reader Inquiry Card Go Flow Inc. exhibits its patented-totally portable drinking device along with Schaefer cooling devices, Way Cool, Versa Mist, and Versa Fogg. Also exhibited are 58 ◆ T & C M A R C H 2 0 0 3 ◆

popular water proofbreathable Frogg Toggs rain gear, X-bands, and various new products to their unique line. Go Flow is a proud NATA Corporate Bronze Partner and contributes to the FCA. Contact the company at (888) 4635699 or visit www.goflow.net. Circle No. 107 on Reader Inquiry Card The Phoresor PM900, incorporates IOMED’s latest iontophoretic drug delivery technology, operates at the touch of a button to reduce set-up time, and improves the efficiency of iontophoretic drug delivery treatments. The unit is preprogrammed for a 40mAminute dose with 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0mA current setting options. The current can be adjusted any time during the treatment and the treatment time is automatically adjusted. The Phoresor PM900 features include: Simple push-button controls; Pre-programmed 40mA-minute dose with variable current options for straight-forward, easy operation; Compact and portable design; and integrated state-of-the-art electronics for safe drug delivery. The one-touch controls of the Phoresor PM900 offer clinicians quick set-up time and make it easier for patients to adjust the current based on their comfort level. Call (800) 621-3347 or visit www.IOMED.com for more information. Circle No. 108 on Reader Inquiry Card New Nautilus treadmills are now available from Med-Fit. The new Nautilus models NTR800 and NTR700 feature a 20” by 57” Supersoft belt with React Absorption Control Technology to eliminate the trampoline effect for all weight groups, a 3 HP Leeson motor, 4” step-up height, 400 lbs. weight capacity, speed range of 0.1 to 12 mph, incline of 0 to 12 percent, touch and telemetric heart rate control, stop button and pull pin, safety side rails, and a reading rack with

ATHLETICBID.COM

bottle holder. The model 800 also features several preset, user defined, and HR control programs. List price: NTR700 $2,599, NTR800 $2,799. Call Med-Fit at (800) 831-7665, ext.4, or check out www.medfitsystems.com for more information and a free CD-ROM catalog. Circle No. 109 on Reader Inquiry Card Winning Edge insoles, the latest premier product offered by Post-Up Marketing, can be used to improve performance in tennis, volleyball, soccer, baseball, track and field, cheerleading, and many other athletic activities. The insoles are made of EVA foam and resin for comfort and durability. The molded heel cup and contoured arch support absorbs impact, shock, and side-to-side friction. Wear Winning Edge insoles for an extra workout while going through daily routine tasks such as working, doing errands, cleaning, etc. Winning Edge insoles are used for conditioning by the three-time North Carolina 4-A state championship boys’ basketball team from R. J. Reynolds High School. Call (877) 822-4677 or visit www.TheWinningEdge.US for more information. Circle No. 110 on Reader Inquiry Card PROTEAM by Hausmann offers the athletic trainer a complete line of all-laminate treatment furniture designed to enhance the functional capacity and appearance of the Athletic Trainer’s Room. PROTEAM Modular Taping Stations are available in a wide variety of sizes & with many options. Individual Taping units are finished on all sides and can be easily re-positioned to fit your needs or space changes in the future. PROTEAM also offers a wide selection of treatment tables, split-leg tables, cabinets, and stadium lockers. For more information, check out www.proteamtables.com. Circle No. 111 on Reader Inquiry Card PROTEAM by Hausmann offers the athletic trainer a complete line of all-laminate treatment furniture designed to enhance the functionality and appearance of the Athletic Trainer’s Room. The model A9068 Split Leg Lift Table features: spacious full cabinet storage, an

More New Products optional air spring backrest, a weight capacity of 400 lbs. & positive locking, padded leg rests that adjust up to 45 degrees. PROTEAM offers a wide selection of treatment tables, modular taping stations, cabinets and stadium lockers. For more information, check out www.proteamtables.com. Circle No. 112 on Reader Inquiry Card Launch your career with a Master of Science (M.S.) from Seton Hall University’s School of Graduate Medical Education’s Athletic Training Program. Our mission is to prepare outstanding athletic trainers to achieve success in today’s rapidly evolving healthcare arena. Unique features of Seton Hall University’s Program include: Part of an interdisciplinary gradu-

ate school within a prominent university; Numerous clinical affiliations; Technology integrated into the curriculum; and Preparation for Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certifications. Call (973) 275-2051 or visit www.Gradmeded.shu.edu for more information. Circle No. 113 on Reader Inquiry Card Sports Motion, Inc., offers Pro Trainer Software. An athlete’s motions are captured in high-resolution digital images and then fed (downloaded) to the computer. The computer is equipped with custom software capable of processing the fast frame rates (60 frames per second) and displaying individual frames on a full-sized computer screen for analysis. The software permits precise frame positioning so as to get the most critical portions of an athlete’s motion. Once

critical frames are located, the coach can skip forward or backward one frame at a time to carefully analyze the athlete’s motion. Other features include, chalkboard, timer, overlay, split screen, multi-frame strips, and more. Visit www.sportsmotion.com or call (888) 265-6226 for more information. Circle No. 114 on Reader Inquiry Card Superior athletes possess superior visual skills. The Vizual Edge Performance Trainer™ (patent pending) is an interactive visual performance program on CDROM. The program allows athletes to improve his/her visual skills on their own computer or at a training facility. Visual skills, like all physical skills, can be practiced, trained, and perfected. Awarded “Best New Product” at the ABCA Show. The product is directly available to the consumer at www.vizualedge.com. Circle No. 115 on Reader Inquiry Card

Perform Better Learn-by-Doing Functional Training One-Day Seminars For Everyone Who Trains or Rehabs Clients, Patients, Athletes Call Toll-Free 1-800-556-7464 OUR SEMINAR PROGRAM FOCUSES ON TIMELY SUBJECTS BY WELL-KNOWN SPEAKERS • Juan Carlos Santana • • Robb Rogers • • Walter Norton, Jr. • • Duane Carlisle • 2003 SUBJECTS: • Body Weight Training • Tools for the Trade • Low Back Rehab and Injury Prevention • Exercise Nutrition • Agility and Acceleration Training SEMINARS: Jan. 4 – San Francisco Jan. 11 – Los Angeles Feb. 1 – Orlando March 22 – Boston March 23 – Boston April 5 – Chicago Area

Mike Clark • Al Vermeil • Steven Plisk • Mark Verstegen •

Mike Boyle Thomas Incledon Diane Vives Darryl Eto REQUEST OUR SEMINAR BROCHURE All One-Day Sessions All Affordable, $109 Pre-Registration

May 10 – Richmond June 14 – Dallas

Over 400 Innovative Products and Concepts for Functional Training to Improve Conditioning and to Prevent and Treat Injuries

REGISTER FOR OUR NEWSLETTER FREE at your request. Our team shares their ideas with you to better understand functional training and rehab.

Visit Our Web Site

Call for Our 2003 Perform Better Catalog

www.performbetter.com • Updated Weekly • Timely Specials • New Ideas • New Product Lines SIGN ON TODAY

Write us, Fax us at Perform Better • 11 Amflex Drive • P.O. Box 8090 • Cranston, RI 02920-0090 • Toll-Free Fax 1-800-682-6950 Circle No. 38 A T H L E T I C B I D . C O M ◆ M A R C H 2 0 0 3 T & C ◆ 59

I’m Back! When Easton athlete, Sheila Douty, sustained a C4/5 and C5/6 disc herniation, she continued to play—injured—securing an Olympic gold medal with a game winning home run against China in 1996. In 2001 Sheila discovered Total Gym at the ARCO Olympic Training Center in California. She saw all types of athletes training on Total Gym for a variety of reasons and very creatively. “I immediately liked the machine. It allows for back stabilization, neck safety and core strength building. Plus, its exercise positions eliminate the possibility of excessive stress on the body. My neck injury worsened when I started to lift weights, but I experienced great results when I started to rehab on Total Gym.” Sheila Douty, PT

Sheila Douty, PT Two-time Olympic Gold Medallist Softball, 1996, 2002 Four-time World Champion, Four-time Pan American Gold Medallist

Sheila collected another Olympic gold in 2002 and now uses Total Gym at home for continued rehab and strength training without fear of recurring injury.

Chest Press

Twister

Squats

Upper Body

Core

Lower Body

Discover the benefits of Total Gym for clinical rehabilitation and sports performance training. Call Now!

800-541-4900 Mention Code #2037, or visit us online

www.totalgym.com

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Association Corner The following associations offer services of interest to our T&C readers.

The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine A world leader in sports medicine education, research, communication and fellowship. The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is a national organization of orthopaedic surgeons specializing in sports medicine, including national and international sports medicine leaders. The AOSSM works closely with many other sports medicine specialists and clinicians, including family physicians, emergency physicians, pediatricians, athletic trainers and physical therapists, to improve the identification, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries.

ECA MIAMI 2003 SPORTS TRAINING & FITNESS CONVENTION! Nov 14-16 Learn to earn...challenge yourself....push your limits DON’T

MISS OUT!

CALL

FOR YOUR FREE BROCHURE AND REGISTER!

1-800-ECA EXPO

OR REGISTER ONLINE WWW.ECAWORLDFITNESS.COM

I T S MORE THAN CONTINUING EDUCATION... I T S PASSION!

For more information, please visit our website: www.sportsmed.org.

SPECIALIST IN SPORTS CONDITIONING ISSA Certification Program • • • •

Be the conditioning coach for your team. Expand strength & conditioning programs. Maximize earning potential as a coach. Learn to enhance athletic performance. CALL FOR FREE INFO:

1.800.892.4772

www.FitnessEducation.com

International Sports Sciences Association

Take Your Career to New Heights PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT CONTINUING EDUCATION ● CERTIFICATION

• Earn CEUs for NASM, NATA, NSCA • Live workshops, home-study and online courses • Flexibility, core, balance, power, speed and strength training

• Clinical applications • Proven methods

60 ◆ T & C M A R C H 2 0 0 3 ◆

ATHLETICBID.COM

Athletic Therapy. Rapid return to work and play.

Athletic Therapists are dedicated to the promotion and delivery of quality care through injury prevention and rehabilitation and emergency services. In collaboration with other health care professionals, athletic therapists work to create a healthier environment that encompasses the needs of the active community, including the high-performance athlete.

For more information please visit us online at www.athletictherapy.org

All NATA certified athletic trainers are eligible to receive a free subscription to T&C.

Just ask some of our customers! Orthopedic Association of Princeton • Fallbrook P.T. • NovaCare • Rancho P.T. • Grinnell Regional Medical Ctr. • Texas A&M University • HealthSouth • Macomb Hospital Center • Golden State Warriors • Harvard University • Sports Rehab & P.T. • Walla Walla YMCA • VA Palo Alto Health Care • Kern & Assoc P.T. • University of Nevada - Reno • Veterinary Specialist Southeast • Mississippi Baptist Senior Care Ctr. • Trace Point Senior Ctr. • Med Central Health System • Eastern Carolina Medical Center • University of Arkansas Medical Science • Denver Nuggets - Pepsi Center • Physical Therapy Unlimited • Washakie County Memorial Hospital • Frasier Meadows Manor • Defiance Clinic • White River Medical Center • PRN • Lutheran Care Ministries • Milan Physical Therapy • Bay Park Total Rehab • Bryan LGH Medical Center • Western Missouri Medical Ctr. • Camarillo Aquatics & Rehab • Tuscarawas P.T. • Cuyuna Medical Ctr. • Kitsap P.T. • Fremont Medical Therapy Group • Generation Care • Health One Broncos • Team Rehab • Schmieding Foundation • Peak Physical Therapy • Guardian at Smith Ranch • OFS Medical Ctr. • Therapy & Rehab Services • Gem City Bone & Joint • Spencer Municipal Hospital • High Desert Aquatic & Rehab Ctr.

Custom, all tile pools, spas, and cold plunges can include Swim Gym current generating devices, various floorplans and depths, above, below or partially submerged installation, viewing windows, stainless steel exercise rails, and more. Our modular model can fit through a standard doorway! Please visit our site @MEDFITSYSTEMS.COM, or call 1 800-831-POOL (7665) for a free CD-ROM presentation and pool planning packet. Med-Fit Systems also offers a wide variety of land based therapy tools, including HOIST and Schwinn products, Med-Fit tables, and KAT balance assessment products.

800•831•7665 Fax: (760) 723•5396 http: //www.MEDFITSYSTEMS.com • E•mail: MEDFIT@AOL.com 2759 Secret Lake Lane • Fallbrook, CA 92028

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B u i l t l i ke a B O S S .

D u r a b l y ve r s a t i l e R e l i a b l y s t ro n g Naturally beautiful Ergonomically intrepid

Circle No. 40