Training & Condititoning 13.5 by Momentummedia

TRAINING

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CONDITIONING

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C ONTENTS Training & Conditioning • July/August 2003 • Vol. XIII, No. 5

F E AT U R E S ◆ Special Focus ◆

Poised for Yoga..........13 Whole body movements. Functional stretches. Proprioceptive training. Breathing techniques. Yoga’s got it all for athletes looking to round out their training or rehab programs. By Jim Catalano ◆ Optimum Performance ◆

Bettering the Odds ..........20 ACL injuries are not like the weather—there is something you can do about them. Here’s a look at the recent studies on the subject and how to develop your own ACL injury-prevention program. By Vern Gambetta

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◆ Management ◆

Time Out..........29 A recent study found that 83 percent of athletic training students experience sexual harassment. Head athletic trainers can play a huge role in changing this alarming statistic. By Laura Smith ◆ Tr e a t i n g T h e A t h l e t e ◆

The Heat is On ..........37 You can lead them to water, but even if you could force them to drink, that’s only the first step in keeping your athletes free from heat illness. By Guillermo Metz

D E PA R T M E N T S ◆ Sideline ◆

Muscle Cramps..........3 ◆ Bulletin Board ◆

Pitching Injuries … Chromium Picolinate … CSCS Test..........4 ◆ Comeback Athlete Award ◆

Professional Winner..........6 New Nomination Guidelines ..........10

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◆ Competitive Edge ◆

Power on Ice..........44 From youth leagues to college club teams, figure skating is a growing sport. Training programs must focus on core and unilateral strength in various vectors, as well as balance and stability. By Brian Grasso Advertising Directory..........56 Scouting Report: Ankle & Foot Care..........48 Scouting Report: Aquatic Therapy..........53 Catalog Showcase..........55 Scouting Report: Yoga & Pilates..........58 More New Products..........59 Web Connections.........63 On the cover: Eddie George, running back for the Tennessee Titans, uses yoga to increase his flexibility and prevent injuries. Story begins on page 13. Photo by Rob Lindsay.

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TRAINING & CONDITIONING • July/August 2003 • Vol. XIII, No. 5

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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, Head Athletic Trainer, DC United

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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 Assistant Jonni Campbell Prepress Manager Adam Berenstain IT Manager Mark Nye Business Manager Pennie Small Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter Administrative Assistants Sharon Barbell Amy Watson 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.

An ATC’s Role in Curbing Muscle Cramps By E. Randy Eichner, MD Everyone has seen heat cramps – the painful muscular spasms that can take athletes out of the game. Common in football "two-a-days," heat cramps also strike in summer tennis, distance cycling and tropical triathlons. The ATC is often first to help. Picture a football player on his back with an ATC stretching his leg, or a tennis player sitting with an ATC massaging her calf. Other aids for heat cramping are topical ice (nature’s balm) and fluids. But water is the wrong fluid for treating heat cramps—as are many other mythical "fixes." Some wrongly believe potassium depletion causes heat cramps, so bananas and oranges are popular. Some tout magnesium. Indeed, magnesium sulfate intravenously will lessen any kind of cramping, but magnesium loss is not the cause of heat cramps. Neither is calcium depletion the culprit, nor is phosphate the solution. Why? Athletes lose little potassium, magnesium, calcium or phosphate in sweat. The major sweat electrolyte is sodium, with matching chloride: salt.

heavy and salty sweaters. In contrast, selected athletes who don’t "lock up" don’t lose as much sodium in sweat. A GSSI study of Oklahoma Sooner football players in action finds that football players who are crampers dehydrate more and lose about twice as much sodium in sweat as position-matched noncrampers. So growing research ties heat cramping to dehydration and salt depletion. Pudding Proof The third line of evidence is anecdotal "proof in the pudding." At Oklahoma, our ATCs have cut heat cramping by urging our cramp-prone athletes to consume more dietary salt and drink sports drinks with adequate sodium. We: • Have them salt their food • Tout healthful foods high in sodium • Put pretzels in team meetings • Debunk the mythical fixes I mentioned earlier • Emphasize sodium-containing sports drinks, not plain water

Water Hazard Plain water is the wrong fluid for heat cramps, because it has no sodium. Indeed, if a cramping athlete drinks too much Some athletes who are "salty The adult body contains 200 to 250 water, it can dilute blood sodium, grams of salt. But some athletes who sweaters" can lose 25 to 50 grams leading to a risky complication known are "salty sweaters," can lose 25 to as hyponatremia. A sports drink of salt in sweat—that’s as much as 50 grams of salt in sweat. So athtastes good, which promotes drinking 10 to 25 percent of their total body letes can lose up to 10 to 25 percent and rehydration, and has some sodisalt in one day! of their total body salt in one day! um to fend off cramping. At This massive salt drain – along with Oklahoma, athletes identified as dehydration and muscle fatigue – is the cause of heat cramps. crampers are given the right balance of sodium and fluid for Three lines of evidence tie sweat sodium loss to heat cramps. their needs, rotating Gatorade and GatorLYTES (an electrolyte powder), using water only as a chaser. If a player does cramp Ancient Mariners up, drinking these same sodium-containing sports drinks often First, there is historical evidence. Knowing that stokers on relieves the cramping. If the athlete is vomiting, we can often ocean liners mixed sea water with drinking water to stave off relieve even severe cramping in an hour or two with two to three cramps, a doctor prevented cramps in British industrial stokers liters of intravenous normal saline. about 80 years ago via a saline drink. Adding salt to various beverages also cut heat cramping in coal miners, men building Bottom Line the Hoover Dam and U.S. soldiers in the desert. To prevent heat cramping, key on sodium. The prevention - and Sweaty Sooners The second line of evidence is research conducted by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI). It shows that individual athletes, such as NFL players who suffer heat cramping, are

cure - of heat cramping is salt and fluids. E. Randy Eichner, MD, is the team internist for the Oklahoma Sooners

Football Team in Norman, Oklahoma.

For more information on muscle cramping, please visit the Sports Science Center at www.gssiweb.com.

Bulletin Board Ultrasound On The Mound In hopes of spotting problems before they become injuries, researchers in Philadelphia are studying the use of ultrasound for baseball pitchers. Looking at the elbows of healthy professional pitchers, they found that ultrasound scans were able to spot abnormalities in the ulnar collateral ligament that may predict future risk of an elbow injury. The UCL can be torn as a result of sudden trauma, but the more insidious injuries often result from microtears produced by repetitive stress and other abnormalities. Not only are these asymptomatic, but there has not been a good way to screen athletes for them. The Thomas Jefferson University Hospital researchers, which include a team physician for the Philadelphia Phillies, looked at the UCL in 26 asymptomatic major league baseball pitchers. They found that the thickness of the anterior band of the UCL varied significantly between pitchers’ pitching arms and their non-pitching arms, both during rest and when applying stress. The joint space width did not vary significantly when their arms were tested at rest, but when stress was applied, the joint space was significantly greater in the pitching arms. Perhaps most interestingly, ultrasound showed microtears on 18 pitching arms and calcifications on nine; microtears were found on only three non-pitching arms and no calcifications were found on non-pitching arms. The researchers concluded that dynamic ultrasound is a quick, painless way to evaluate the UCL in baseball players. They plan to follow up with all 26 players to see how well their findings correlate with future problems, in the hopes of being able to someday tailor training to address UCL problems before they become serious. Their results appeared in the April issue of Radiology.

Another Supplement Under Scrutiny Chromium picolinate, thought by some to trim fat and build muscle, is the latest supplement to raise warning flags. University of Alabama researchers are saying it may cause sterility in a user’s children and grandchildren. The study was conducted on fruit flies and supports earlier research on rats that showed similar results. Although it may not be as well known as ephedra or androstenedione, sales of the substance now exceed $87 million a year. The findings were published in the April 1 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

NSCA Strengthens Certification Test The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) recently announced some changes to its Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT) exam that

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A former standout at Notre Dame, Niele Ivey is playing in her third WNBA season while also juggling being a new parent.

Back After Baby Three months after giving birth to her first child, Niele Ivey conquers the rigors of the WNBA.

n February 13, 2002, Niele Ivey was in a hospital delivery room, giving birth to her son. Two weeks later, she was back in the gym, trying to lose the 50 pounds she put on during pregnancy. And three months after that, she was being introduced into the starting lineup for the WNBA Indiana Fever. 6 ◆ T&C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

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The year previous, Ivey had made the tough transition from college ball to the WNBA. Now, she was attempting to blend the challenge with being a new parent. In May of 2001, she’d finished her senior year at Notre Dame, helping the Fighting Irish win a national championship, and gone straight to training camp with the Fever. In June, she realized she was pregnant, but decided to finish the season anyway, despite struggling with nausea for much of the time. By September, she was exhausted. Ivey spent the fall working with her former strength coach at Notre Dame, Tony Rolinski, SCCC, CSCS, lowering the weights on her usual routine and staying in shape by walking and bicycling. Then on February 13, 2002, she went through 10 hours of labor before giving birth to a son, Jaden, and starting her recovery. “It was very painful, but having my family there helped me get through it," says Ivey. “I’ve been through two ACL surgeries, I’ve had many tests of mental strength, and I’ve always fought through them. A lot of people didn’t think I’d be able to come back, but I’m determined to play professional basketball. It’s something I’ve dreamt about my whole life, and I’m going to work as hard as I can to make it happen.” It has taken a lot of work and determination, but she certainly is making it happen. She did not miss one WNBA game through her pregnancy and first year of motherhood, starting in 26 (of 32 total) games in 2001 and 23 (of 31) games in 2002. At the halfway mark of this season, she is the Fever’s starting point guard, averaging 2.9 assists per game and ranked second in the league in assists per turnover ratio. She also ranks second in the WNBA in three-point field goal percentage at .473. For her courage in tackling two huge roles at once, and for doing the tough work to make her comeback a reality, Niele Ivey is the recipient of Training & Conditioning’s Comeback Athlete of the Year Award, professional athlete category. Reaching the top of her game again has taken a full year of steady workouts, along with learning to balance the demands of motherhood with a career as a professional basketball player. Along the way, she’s gotten used to playing with only five hours of sleep and spending days away from her son when the team goes on road trips. It’s taken a lot of mental work, a new exercise program, and help from Fever Strength Coach Greg Moore, CSCS, who is also Director of Athletic Performance at the National Institute for Fitness and Sport. “You’ve got to lay a solid foundation before you can build a house,” says Moore, who had never before worked with an

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Comeback Athlete athlete trying to re-condition after pregnancy. “So I talked to her doctor, did a lot of research, and made sure to design a program that would keep Niele moving forward.” “When I first came back, I was just trying to get on the court again,” agrees Ivey. “So I did a little bit at a time, and spoke to my doctor every week to tell him how I was feeling. There were times that I struggled, but slowly I started doing a little more every day, working a little faster. I wanted to be smart about it and not do more than my body could handle.” From Ivey’s doctor’s advice and research on the Internet, Moore came up with a list of dos and don’ts for Ivey’s rehab. From his wife, a fitness instructor and mother of two girls, Moore learned to let Ivey take the lead in her own rehab. “You have to listen to your body, listen to what it’s telling you,” he says, repeating his wife’s advice. “In time, your strength will come back, but if you push yourself, you’re going to have problems. Athletes tend to fight through pain, and you have to know the difference between pain and something that can actually harm your health.” To rebuild bone density and muscle mass, he started Ivey with a series of low-impact exercises, increasing her aerobic activity while keeping an eye on her heart rate to avoid sudden spikes. As her aerobic capacity increased and her weight continued to drop, Moore made sure to monitor her nutritional intake, and gave her increasingly difficult strength exercises. “Each day I did a little bit at a time, and we kept shifting my workout, so I wasn’t working the same muscles every day,” says Ivey. “I’d do as much as I could stand, and if I started feeling bad, or my body started hurting, I would stop immediately.” Within the first few weeks, Ivey was doing 200 sit-ups at a time, along with crunches and workouts in the weight room. To lighten the pressure on her midsection and lessen the impact on her lower body—especially her ACLtorn-and-repaired knees—Ivey stayed

Award Winner

Niele Ivey ◆ Category: Professional Athlete ◆ Sport: Basketball ◆ Rehab From: Pregnancy and Childbirth ◆ Performance Team: Greg Moore, Tony Rolinski away from plyometrics, exercising her legs by running in a pool before moving up to a stationary bicycle. Some days, she was too sore to make much progress. Her abdomen felt heavy, her stomach hurt, and even on a good night she wasn’t getting much sleep. But over the course of a couple of weeks, she could feel her muscles getting stronger and her body coming closer to her playing weight. She was lifting as much as she safely could, and spending hours on the court, re-sharpening her basketball skills. Breastfeeding helped Ivey quickly lose the extra pounds, going from 190 pounds before the birth to her usual 140 pounds. Bringing Jaden to the gym allowed the two of them to stay together while she did her workouts. “When he was able to go outside, I started taking him everywhere with me,” says Ivey. “I’d be shooting baskets, and he’d be sleeping in his baby seat next to the court. He became very, very familiar with the gym. And all my teammates just fell in love with him.”

By May, when the Fever began its training camp, Ivey had increased her speed and endurance on the bike, staying on for an hour at a time. She’d been shooting baskets for two months, and had weaned Jaden, who stayed at home with family when Ivey and the Fever went on the road. But even though Ivey began the season as a starter and played in 31 games, averaging 1.3 assists and 14 minutes per game, she still hadn’t reached full strength, and by September the fatigue was showing. During the Fever’s three playoff games she played a total of only nine minutes. “By June, the doctor had cleared her to play,” says Moore, “but by the end of the season it was clear she wasn’t ready to compete consistently at this level of the game.” “That first year of coming back from having a baby was tough, because I was already so fatigued,” says Ivey. “For three months, I’d hardly been getting any sleep, and having to go from being with my newborn to full-time basketball training was pretty difficult. I put a lot of pressure on myself, and had some battles with my confidence, especially when I wasn’t shooting the ball well. I knew what I was capable of doing, but for two seasons I hadn’t been able to show the rest of the team.” That’s why this new season has become so important to Ivey. Starting in January 2003, the Fever hired her to work part-time promoting the team, giving her the chance to continue working with Moore to complete her rehab. Two days every week, they worked on speed, agility, quickness, and upper body strength; the other two days, they focused on aerobic conditioning, lowerbody strength, and plyometric training. “Finally, after being out of school for two years, Niele had the opportunity to actually have an off-season of conditioning, and it’s made a big difference,” says Moore. “You can see it in her quickness, mobility, and overall fitness. She looks leaner, like an athlete again. Her strength levels keep going up, and she’s completely committed to staying in condition through the season.”

A T H L E T I C B I D . C O M ◆ T&C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

Comeback Athlete “I feel good now,” says Ivey. “My body feels good, and my challenge right now is to just stay healthy and maintain that strength all season long.” To stay in shape, Ivey is continuing her workouts, going to the weight room two to three times a week, putting up extra shots before and after team practice, and spending more time on her long-range jumper. (Now a year and a half old, Jaden is also progress-

“For three months, I’d hardly been getting any sleep, and having to go from being with my newborn to full-time basketball training was pretty difficult.” ing quickly, and now knows how to brush his teeth, wave bye-bye, and say “mama” and “dada,” says Mom.) So far, the conditioning is paying off. Ivey has regained her starting spot in the lineup, is hitting her threes with consistency, and is dishing out enough assists to keep her team over the .500 mark. She scored a career-high 14 points vs. Washington in the second game of the season, and that helped her regain the confidence she needed to turn her game up a notch. “She looks better than she did in college,” says Moore. “She’s committed to playing at this level, and she’s had four solid months of strength and conditioning workouts to get here. She looks young again, and to have come back to play this quickly after delivering is a great accomplishment.” “My two knee surgeries taught me a lot about perseverance and determination,” says Ivey. “I was determined to do everything possible to come back from those surgeries, and that’s the same way I’ve felt about the pregnancy. “My priorities have changed, and I’m not just playing for myself anymore,” continues Ivey. “Every day I come onto the court, I know that I’m playing for my son. I’m taking care of my family, and that makes me work harder.” ◆ 10 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

Nomination Criteria and Procedures

he Comeback Athlete Award Program serves to honor those outstanding athletes who have successfully returned to competition in their sport following a serious injury. It also serves to recognize those people who worked with the athlete behind the scenes: the physician who set up the treatment plan, the physical therapists and athletic trainers who oversaw the rehabilitation process, and the strength coach and sport coach who helped the athlete regain his or her competitive form. CRITERIA FOR NOMINATIONS: Starting with our fall 2003 issues, we will no longer judge comeback athletes within a specific category (e.g., High School Male, College Female). Rather, we will honor a comeback athlete every other issue, regardless of level of play or gender. So send in your nominations as soon as you have a candidate you feel fits the bill!

TO NOMINATE AN ATHLETE: Please fill in the form below, attaching a 500- to 1,000-word description of the athlete’s rehab program, which includes the following points: • The athlete’s injury, including cause and severity. • The physician’s initial medical assessment and treatment protocol. • The details of the rehabilitation program. • The details of the athlete’s conditioning program prior to returning to competition. • The degree of success the athlete achieved upon returning to competition. • Dates of when the above occurred. • Names, titles, and phone numbers of those physicians, athletic trainers, other sports medicine professionals, and coaches who played a major role in the athlete’s comeback.

✁

Comeback Athlete Award NOMINATION FORM

Name of Athlete_______________________________________________ Your Name____________________________________________________ Your Affiliation________________________________________________ Your Phone No._______________________________________________ Your Address__________________________________________________ Send nominations to: Comeback Athlete Award, Training & Conditioning, 2488 N. Triphammer Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 If you have any questions, feel free to call us at (607) 257-6970, ext. 18.

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Whole body movements. Functional stretches. Proprioceptive training. Breathing techniques. Yoga’s got it all for athletes looking to round out their training or rehab programs.

I Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George demonstrates a yoga pose called the “tree.”

BY JIM CATALANO

Poisedfor Photo: Rob Lindsay

t’s a tradition thousands of years old, yet yoga has never been more popular than it is today. Millions of Americans practice yoga, and an increasing number of them are competitive athletes. “Twenty years ago, athletes didn’t consider practicing yoga until they got injured, and then it was the last stop on the train after orthopedist, chiropractor, and physical therapist,” says Beryl Bender Birch, founder of The Hard and The Soft Astanga Yoga Institute in East Hampton, N.Y., and author of Power Yoga. “Now, there’s a lot more awareness of yoga for the prevention of and recovery from sports injury.” Yoga, especially the more strenuous form called Astanga or “power yoga,” helps prevent injury by making the body stronger and more flexible. “Athletes get pretty beat up and structurally out of shape,” says Baron Baptiste, a yoga instructor based in Boston, Mass., who has worked with

Jim Catalano is an Associate Editor at Training & Conditioning.

YOGA

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the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and many other pro athletes, and is author of Journey Into Power. “When that happens, certain muscle groups get tighter and imbalances develop. Their strengths tend to get stronger, but their weaknesses tend to get weaker. And they’re only as strong as their weakest link. Power yoga ends up being the perfect counterbalance for athletes in training by helping to develop functional strength and flexibility.” Yoga can also enhance performance. “The ACSM’s guidelines for an exercise program were expanded in 1998 to include flexibility, because we know it helps overall athleticism,” says Andy Getzin, MD, Head Team Physician at Ithaca College. “As we age, we lose flexibility, then we lose function. Improved flexibility tends to improve muscular function, and yoga is one of the best places to develop that.” Another plus is that yoga has a mental component that can lead to improved concentration, reduced stress, and an overall sense of wellness.

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“For many athletes, it’s a challenge to put on muscle mass while maintaining flexibility. Yoga is an excellent complement when you’re trying to increase strength but not lose flexibility.” “There have been a lot of studies about what really leads an athlete to success,” says Jim Eavenson, founder of Santosha Yoga in Ithaca, N.Y. “Yoga’s main goal—the ability to focus and not be distracted, as well as to have good consideration of oneself—has been found to be important.” Indeed, the word “yoga” is

derived from the Sanskrit term for union, and refers to uniting one’s mind and body. There are several styles of yoga, including Hatha (also known as “gentle yoga”), Bikram (also called “hot yoga” because it’s practiced in sauna-like temperatures), and Astanga, which is particularly well suited for athletes because of its use of a series of flowing movements (called vinyasa) through a range of poses (or asanas). The objective of yoga is to form the body into poses that require both strength and flexibility. One pose is called shoulder stand, an inverted posture in which the shoulders and upper back bear all the weight as the legs are lifted straight up in the air until the body forms an “L”. Another is downward-facing dog, in which the arms reach forward to the ground, the head is dropped, the buttocks are raised, and the legs are nearly straightened with feet flat on the ground so the body forms a “V”. In the standing forward bend, you raise your hands, bend forward from the hips, bring head and

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arms toward the floor, and place your palms flat on the ground. The sun salutation, a 12-step sequence of poses, targets back, arm, and leg muscles. FINDING FLEXIBILITY

Athletes who do extensive strength training often find themselves becoming bigger but tighter at the same time. Yoga can help to alleviate that conundrum. “For many athletes, it’s a challenge to put on muscle mass while maintaining flexibility,” says Getzin. “Yoga is an excellent complement when you’re trying to increase strength but not lose flexibility.” Agrees Bender Birch, “Weightlifters will show up in our classes, and they’re so bulky and tight from just lifting constantly that they can’t access the strength they’ve worked so hard to develop.” Baptiste notes that becoming more flexible will enable athletes to work out a lot of kinks that can hinder training and performance. “If you have a knot or pain in your shoulder related to muscular imbalance, it’s going to limit your ability to really push yourself,” he says. “You’re going to back off because of the pain or to subconsciously protect yourself from further injuring it. Through functional power yoga training, essentially a lot of those aches and pains disappear, because you’re giving the body the counterbalance it needs. Your joints and muscles actually feel cleaner and less achy.” “Yoga is the best way to get flexible,” adds Eavenson, “because it stretches the body in ways that are much more sophisticated and complex than the basic 10 or 12 stretches any athlete might learn to do. It’s kind of a full-body approach, in that changing a pose slightly can affect the rest of the body. For example, the way you move your big toe while you stand can actually affect what’s happening in the neck and shoulder. “It’s all connected,” he continues, “so rather than calling something a hamstring stretch, you should realize it’s really targeting the hamstring, shoulders, along the spine, extensor muscles, the calves, and certain tendons that might be too short.”

Hilary Lindsay, a yoga teacher in Nashville, Tenn., began working with Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George six years ago, and now teaches yoga to many of his teammates as well. “They find they feel a lot less pain in their bodies after a game,” she says. “Some of them also find it helps to free themselves up, like the way Eddie can turn his torso in a direction completely different from the direction his legs are going—yoga has helped him do that. Receivers also say they find it really

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helpful, especially those with chronic injuries and scar tissue.” It’s not just big, bulky football players who can benefit from yoga. Long-distance runners also can have issues with flexibility. “I don’t believe runners stop running because they get old—it’s because they get tight,” says Bender Birch, who has worked with the New York Road Runners Club. “As the hamstrings get tighter and tighter from the specificity of training, it’s like cranking down a guitar string—eventu-

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ally something’s going to snap. The whole principle of some of the stronger forms of yoga is to open up these tight areas.” THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION

Along with flexibility gains, many athletes are benefiting from yoga’s focus on the mind-body connection. “Most athletes will probably start yoga for physical reasons,” says Bender Birch. “But the mental component is always there—they just may not realize it. Yoga is about linking the mind and body, and whether or not you’re aware of it, you can’t really separate the two. The mental components are more subtle and you might not see them right away. “Practice in the yoga scriptures is defined as ‘effort toward steadiness of mind,’” continues Bender Birch. “The whole objective of yoga is to be present in this moment in this place, and focus on one’s own pointedness.” Bender Birch points out how this can help a track athlete. “If you are a competitive runner in a race, you need to have an awareness of what everyone else in the pack is doing,” she says. “But at some point you have to focus on your own race. If you spend too much time focused on what everyone else is doing, it’s going to cost you energy.” Much of yoga’s mental work is based on breathing techniques. “For example, one of the techniques of breathing is the ujjayi breath, which has a sound like the ocean,” says Eavenson. “I teach it to most people as they begin yoga, and because the mind can follow the sound, it is calming. Many people use it in their lives when stressed to feel calm, centered, and focused.” “You can’t do ujjayi breathing unless you pay attention to it,” adds Bender Birch. “And just doing this brings about transformation, but it’s very subtle.” Aladar Kogler, PhD, co-Head Coach of the Columbia University fencing teams, author of Yoga for Athletes, and founder of Columbia’s Sports Psychological Research 16 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

Try It Yourself! ompetitive athletes aren’t the only ones who can benefit from practicing yoga. Athletic trainers themselves may also want to consider taking it up to help deal with the rigors and responsibilities of their job. “Last August I began doing some stretches from a book called I Can’t Believe It’s Yoga!,” says Karen Hostetter, MS, ATC, Athletic Trainer at George Fox University. “I needed to improve my flexibility to deal with some very sore hips and legs, not to mention my low back. I have been diligent about my stretching, doing it five mornings a week, at least 15 to 30 minutes per day. “At Christmas I was so excited because my forehead was about four inches from my knee when sitting in a V-sit, with legs on the floor,” she continues. “By spring break I was resting my forehead on my knee. The back pain has decreased to a tolerable level, and I am able to work for longer periods of time.” Alice Buchanan, ATC, Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at George Washington University, says she also has benefited from yoga both mentally and physically. “I began yoga a year ago,” she says. “Within the first month of doing it at least twice a week, my back (which is frequently sore) was feeling noticeably better. My flexibility improved, I was more relaxed when I got home at night, and I just felt better about myself as a whole. Unfortunately, my practice and travel schedule picked up this spring, and so I have not done yoga in over two months. I have also had to see a doctor in the last month about my back and have been on pain meds, so I think there is definitely a correlation there.”

Laboratory, has devoted much of his life to studying the benefits of yoga. “Yoga can be used for controlling the mind, controlling emotions,” he says. “The biggest obstacle for many athletes is fear of failure or losing. Through yoga, you can learn how not to be attached to the results, and you

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can just enjoy the process of competition itself.” Kogler also combines yoga and hypnosis, called autogenic training. “It can be used for coping with anxiety, and for being able to bear the hard work of weight training or running,” Kogler says. “It also helps develop a positive attitude for coping with the anxiety of injury or rehab.” IN THE ATHLETIC TRAINING ROOM

Yoga has found its way into some athletic training rooms, both for healthy and rehabbing athletes. Denise Yoder, MS, ATC/L, Assistant Athletic Trainer at Augustana College, introduced a short program to her football athletes that they do prior to their spring lifting sessions to help get the muscles and tendons in the joints warmed up. “The poses are held for a 15 count and involve the ankles, shoulders, elbows, hips, back, and knees,” she says. “It met with some resistance at first, but soon they said they noticed a difference in their workouts due to the ‘warmup’ with yoga. They feel better prepared. They increased their flexibility and felt they had a better workout.” Cecily Dawson, MS, ATC/L, Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, also has introduced yoga to her student-athletes. “Yoga provides a lot of core strength and balance training,” she says. “A lot of the poses are really challenging, like those where you stand on one foot and hold a position for 45 seconds to a minute. The athletes are all in really good condition already, but they find out that all the isometric stuff in yoga is really taxing. And many of them like the amount of stretching and flexibility training.” “We incorporated many of the yoga stretches into an early-season stretching routine for several of our track athletes,” says Karen Hostetter, MS, ATC, Athletic Trainer at George Fox University. “I am hoping to incorporate a stretching and core strengthening routine into each of our sports’ preseason programs.” Yoder also recommends yoga as a rehab tool. “I utilize it for all types of

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injuries, especially when dealing with flexibility and proprioception,” she says. “I have found it useful in dealing with back injuries as well as lowerextremity strains and sprains.” Poses that deal with proprioception are particularly useful. “With proprioception comes strength without having to use a piece of equipment,” Yoder says. “I will use poses throughout a rehab program, from something as simple as a mountain pose (standing with feet together and eyes closed), to a standing scale (balancing on one foot with arms out or at the side).” Dawson occasionally sends rehabbing athletes, particularly those with back and hamstring problems, to yoga class. “Many of the things they do in yoga class are the same exercises we do for back rehab, so it saves us time by just sending them there,” she says. “They all seem to really like it.” Yoder adds that yoga can help keep athletes from getting bored in their rehab programs. “In my experi-

ence, the more challenged (within the guidelines of healing phases) the athletes feel during rehabilitation, the more likely they are to continue with what you need them to do to return to the field or the floor,” she says. “A happier athlete is one who seems to complain less and seems to show up on time and is motivated. But it is important to be familiar with what you are trying to accomplish with the different yoga poses. As with anything else, you can run into problems if you incorporate things too quickly.” GETTING STARTED

Most competitive athletes already train extensively, so they may feel that they don’t have time to add another element to their program. That’s why you need some creative strategies for introducing the idea. “For the past two years, we’ve had yoga instructors conduct free classes right down the hall, usually early in the morning,” Dawson says. “Some of the athletes do them as

teams, such as cross country and sometimes the soccer team. And a lot of individual athletes from every team, especially swimmers and skiers, also attend.” Sometimes, appealing to athletes’ competitive instincts can spur them to give yoga a try. “They can be frustrated at first because it looks so easy,” Yoder says. “But once they get into a pose and are unable to hold it, they see the challenge right away.” Although the market abounds with yoga books, videos, and classes, experts recommend that athletes take a beginning yoga class as the best way to learn. “Have them start with a beginners’ class, even if they are strong and flexible,” Eavenson says. “It’s much better to begin with the fundamentals and build from there. The best thing is to eventually practice yoga by yourself, but it’s good to start with a teacher and continue to study with teachers for a while because they keep their eyes on you to see how you’re doing.”

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Whatever you do, don’t send your athletes to an “open” class that includes advanced yoga practitioners. “They’ll look around and see what everyone else is doing and they’ll try to keep up, and that’s a prime way to get injured,” says Bender Birch. “Even if you tell them to just focus on themselves, and not worry about what anyone else does, they won’t. They will strain and struggle and try to be the best ones in class. Yoga ideally is supposed to be noncompetitive, but that has to be learned and can take a long time.” If you decide to bring a yoga instructor into the athletic training area, choose one who has experience working with athletes. Bender Birch notes that some yoga instructors can be overly enthusiastic and push students faster than advisable. “You don’t want yoga to cause injury,” she says. “There are good teachers all over the country, but some of them don’t realize that athletes might be especially tight. That’s why it’s important to find a well-

Yoga Web Sites www.yogajournal.com Home of Yoga Journal, one of the most popular yoga magazines.

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www.power-yoga.com Beryl Bender Birch’s Web site.

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www.baronbaptiste.com Baron Baptiste’s Web site.

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www.activeyoga.com Hilary Lindsay’s Web site.

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www.santoshayoga.net Jim Eavenson’s Web site.

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trained teacher who’s used to working with athletes.” Athletes should also understand that patience is the key to success with yoga, according to Bender Birch. “Those athletes who need it the most are probably going to like it the least,”

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she says. “They’re not going to be good at it, and they’ll feel like a fish out of water because they’re not going to be able to use their strength from other sports to be good at yoga. I tell them to focus on the benefits they’re going to get from doing it regularly. But they have to be prepared to not enjoy it the first couple of classes. “They also need to practice it and incorporate it into their training program,” she continues. “Doing it one day a week is essentially worthless.” As Baptiste notes, however, once athletes have learned the techniques, they can choose to incorporate just some of the poses into their routines. “Athletes can take what works for them,” he says. “That’s the nice thing about yoga. Some people want an overall life transformation, while others just want to improve in one area. You can take it as far as you want, or you can just take the chunks or techniques or principles or practices that are relevant to you.” ◆

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Better the Odds BY VERN GAMBETTA

ACL injuries are not like the weather—there is something you can do about them. Here’s a look at the recent studies on the subject and how to develop your own ACL injury-

Shannon MacMillan, a forward for the San Diego Spirit, goes down with an ACL injury in a game earlier this season.

prevention program.

Photos: Donald Miralle, Getty Images© 20 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

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ing or readers of this magazine it’s no secret: Female athletes tear their anterior cruciate ligaments more often than males. But the rest of the world has recently also taken notice of this phenomenon, and it is getting a lot of attention. From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to WBAL-TV in Baltimore to National Public Radio’s “Only A Game,” mainstream media outlets are picking up the story. At the recent American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Convention in San Francisco, the issue of ACL injury prevention was the hottest topic discussed. Just the other day, one of the young female basketball players I work with made the statement, “girl basketball players are more likely to hurt their knees.” What are the facts? Females are up to eight times more likely to injure their ACLs than males. An estimated one in 3,000 Americans will sustain an ACL injury per year, with high school and collegiate women athletes experiencing more than 30,000 serious knee injuries per year. A typical ACL surgery costs $25,000. High schools and colleges spend an estimated $100 million per year on ACL reconstruction surgery for female athletes.

The good news is that all this national attention has produced an increased focus on prevention tactics. From small studies to large-scale NCAA-funded research, clear guidelines are emerging on how to prevent these crushing injuries. For this article, I’ve reviewed the studies completed in the last few years and provide suggestions on developing ACL-injury-prevention programs for your own teams. STUDYING THE STUDIES

There are many theories about why women suffer more ACL injuries than men. These include: • Femoral-notch width differences • Size of the ACL • Vulnerability during a certain phase of the menstrual cycle • Greater joint laxity in women • Landing mechanics • Quad dominance • Inability to recruit the hamstrings • Wider pelvis • Larger “Q” angle • Greater hip varus • Knee valgus and foot pronation • Bracing and footwear Since it is impossible to change the anatomical structure of the body or significantly alter biochemistry, the logical approach is to work on aspects that can be changed through training: strength, balance, proprioception, power, agility, and sport-specific fitness. There is no question that the knee is vulnerable regardless of gender. It is not designed for some of the movements we ask from it on a consistent basis. We need to assist the knee joint by involving the entire kinetic chain to

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better reduce force. We need to get away from focusing on the knee and look at the knee as one link in the kinetic chain. A very important, yet often ignored, fact is that 70 percent of knee injuries, regardless of gender, are noncontact. The typical mechanisms of these non-contact injuries are planting and cutting, straight-knee landing (no flexion on landing), hard one-step stops with the knee hyperextended, pivoting, and rapid deceleration. These are all movements inherent in sports that often occur with high force and at high speed. They usually happen too quickly for the athlete to consciously think about them. But these movements can be trained to be more efficient as part of a comprehensive prevention program, which is what some of the recent studies have looked at. Tim Hewett, PhD, Director of the Sports Medicine Research Institute and Human Performance Laboratory at Children’s Hospital Research Foundation in Cincinnati, has pioneered research to identify some of the biomechanical factors that put female athletes at greater risk. Based on this research, he designed a prevention program that emphasized proper landing techniques and plyometric training. In one of Hewett’s studies, there were two non-contact ACL tears among 366 women who participated in a six-week training program. In the non-training group of 463 women, there were 10 ACL injuries. In another smaller study conducted by Hewett, he used a program that included weight training, jumping, and neuromuscular training to teach athletes correct landing positions. Peak landing forces were reduced 22 percent, and peak jump height increased 10 percent. 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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TABLE ONE: A Look at LEPPP The following details the portion of the “Lower Extremity Prevention & Performance Program”™ that I designed to be accomplished as a warmup before practice. It can vary from 15 to 20 minutes in length.

MINI-BAND ROUTINE Side step x 20 Forward walk x 20 Carioca x 20 Monster walk x 20 BALANCE Single-leg squat Sagittal Frontal Transverse Balance Shift Step to the side Step forward Step back Note: do one rep at each position, hold 10 seconds. CRAWLS Jackknife x 5 Creepy crawl x 5 COMBINATION LUNGES & REACHES Lunge A Lunge forward and reach up Lunge to the side and reach up Rotational lunge and reach up Lunge B Lunge forward and reach out Lunge to the side and reach out Rotational lunge and reach out Lunge C Lunge forward and reach across Lunge to the side and reach across Rotational lunge and reach across Note: Reaches should be both to the right and left. Do two reps with each leg in each plane. Combinations of A,B, and C should be varied from day to day.

The Santa Monica Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Research Foundation, under the direction of Bert Mandelbaum, MD, focused on improving biomechanics of female high school soccer players. The program was implemented as part of warmups for each practice session. During the 2000 season, 1,041 girls participated in the 22 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

COORDINATION Skip Crossover skip Side step Carioca (low and long) Carioca (short and quick) Backward run High-knee skip High-knee skip w/rotation Note: do two reps of each exercise the length of the basketball court. PLYOMETRIC PROGRAM Jump in place (over line) Forward/back x 10 Side to side x 10 Rotational x 10 each side Hop in place (over line) Forward/back x 10 Side to side x 10 Rotational x 10 each side Multidirectional jump Forward/forward/side/side/opposite side/side/back/back x 2 Restart jump Forward/forward/back x 3 Side/side/back x 3 Opposite side/side/back x 3 Rotational jump Land facing 180 degrees opposite to start x 10 each side Restart hop Forward/forward/back x 3 Side/side/back x 3 Opposite side/side/back x 3 Rotational bound Off one foot onto opposite foot x 10 each side

training, and two tore their ACLs, while a control group of 1,902 girls suffered 32 ACL tears. In 2001, 844 girls participated in the training, with four tearing their ACLs, while the control group of 1,092 had 35 ACL injuries. The NCAA is currently providing a similar program to its member institutions as part of its own study.

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Giuliano Cerulli, MD, and his colleagues at the Santa Maria Hospital associated with the University of Perugia in Italy looked at 900 highlevel male soccer players over three seasons. There were 10 ACL injuries in the proprioceptively trained group of 600 and 70 ACL injuries in the traditionally trained group of 300. The

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Quiet Landings eaching landing and stopping mechanics is a very important component of ACL injury prevention. Mastery of these mechanics should precede actual plyometric and agility training. Landings should be on a “full foot.” I believe it is incorrect to teach landing on the ball of the foot, or the opposite extreme, flat-footed landing. The landing should occur with the weight distributed along the midfoot to take advantage of the elasticity of the muscles and ligaments, which absorb shock. The most effective way to teach correct foot strike is to practice landing barefoot on a forgiving surface. Start simple—just step and hold. Cueing is important to improve these movements, because words create images and images create action. My

training took 20 minutes a day and encompassed five levels of difficulty. This study underscored the value of proprioception training as a key prevention factor. It also suggested that prevention benefits men as well as women. I designed a program for the Duke Women’s Sport Medicine Program and the Michael W. Krzyzewski Human Performance Lab Pilot Study under the Direction of Mike Huff, MA, CSCS, Coordinator of Sports Performance, and Alison Toth, MD, Coordinator of Women’s Sports Programs. The pilot study involved high school girls’ basketball teams. There were 122 players in the training group and 73 players in the control group. The training period was eight weeks, extending from preseason to the early competitive season, and involved minimal strength training, plyometrics, and agility drills. In the training group, 8.2 percent of the athletes sustained lower-extremity injuries. The control group sustained a lowerextremity injury rate of 17.8 percent. There were no ACL injuries in either group. I used a similar program with the girls’ basketball team at Sarasota (Fla.) High School during the 2001-02 season, but unlike the one above, continued it throughout the entire season. Weight training occurred three days a week, beginning with a one-hour program in the offseason, 30 minutes of 24 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

verbal cue is a “quiet landing.” A “soft landing,” implies mushy, compliant action, whereas “quiet landing” denotes a landing that has some structural integrity. Provide task-oriented cues or instructions that elicit the desired action you are looking for. For example, if you want athletes to take a longer step, provide a target on the ground they have to hit that forces them to take longer steps. The best way to teach good landing and stopping mechanics is with a simple balance progression. Start with static balance movements, progress to dynamic balance, and finally to ballistic balance activities. These movements emphasize bending the ankle, knee, and hip to spread force over three joints rather than one.

work during the preseason and early season, and 10 minutes by the end of the season. We trained balance, agility, and flexibility and conducted plyometrics five days a week (whenever possible) through a 20 minute warmup program. There was one ACL injury on the team. It occurred to a girl who had not gone through the off-season conditioning program and did not regularly follow the in-season program due to work commitments. Otherwise, there were no lower-extremity injuries that caused any loss of practice or game time. And the team made it all the way to the state semifinals. The common thread through all these studies was work on improving the mechanics of movement, balance, and proprioception; plyometric training; and strength training. In summary, these studies show that almost anything that strengthens the muscles around the knee and develops proprioception significantly reduces the incidence of ACL injury. The logical conclusion is that with an even more focused, longer-term, sophisticated intervention, the possibility of prevention and performance improvement should be even greater. MAKING IT SPECIFIC

While it is clear that lowering the incidence of ACL injuries is possible, what may not be clear is how to take the pro-

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tocols and adapt them to your specific teams. Depending on the level of play, the sport, time factors, the athletes, and the sport coach, you’ll want to alter the program accordingly. Let’s start by examining time factors, since this is the top concern of many sport coaches. The studies clearly show that a significant time commitment is a key factor in any ACL injuryprevention program. Twenty minutes two or three times a week is not enough. Some form of training needs to occur five days a week. However, most sport coaches will not be willing to give up a half hour of every practice strictly for injury prevention. Therefore, I suggest breaking down the training components into modules that can be completed at different time periods. These modules should be designed to fit within a time frame compatible with the other components of training that the athlete must accomplish. The most logical place to begin is in warmup, because the warmup is a necessary component of every training session. Others might be incorporated into drills done during the heart of practice. The athlete can also be given some of the more simple modules for “homework.” After examining all the time factors, take a look at your individual athletes. What do they do on non-training days? How active are they? What was

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their prior activity level and movement background before they started the sport? Athletes who have grown up playing games like tag and hopscotch and spend weekends playing pick-up games (in any movement-oriented sport) with family and friends will be steps ahead of those whose exposure to sport comes only through the team’s games and practices. Also look at how they condition for their sport. Are they conditioning by jogging and doing slow aerobic work that detracts from explosiveness? This predisposes the athlete to injury by making him or her less reactive to the ground. Injury history is also a key factor. If an athlete has a history of lower extremity sprains and joint laxity, start with a more remedial program. In this case, initial stages should look more like a rehab program. Demands of the game must also be assessed. Most of the studies have focused on female basketball and soc-

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The common threads through all these studies were mechanics, proprioception, plyometrics, and strength training. cer players, but athletes (of both genders) in many other sports tear their ACLs. Look at how much starting and stopping occurs in the sport and in how much space. For example, there will be differences between lacrosse and basketball because lacrosse players will have more room to accelerate and build up speed. Another factor I’ve been looking at recently is style of play. Although

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I’ve seen no studies on this, anecdotal evidence has shown that athletes who play out of control are more likely to tear their ACLs. You may want to chat with your sport coaches about the difference between an athlete who hustles and an athlete who plays without regard to proper body positioning and mechanics. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

As mentioned earlier, all of the successful prevention programs share a few key components: mechanics of movement, proprioception, plyometrics, and strength training. They can be translated into the following five modules: • strength/power, including basic strength, core strength, elastic/reactive strength (plyometrics); • balance/proprioception; • agility, including body awareness, footwork, and change of direction; • dynamic flexibility;

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• sport-specific conditioning. Here’s how I combine modules and fit them into different parts of the season and different sections of practices: Off-season: One hour, three to four times a week, with an emphasis on strength training and balance/proprioception work at first, followed by a gradual shift to include agility and plyometric training. Preseason: Every day before practice, 15 to 20 minutes of work as a

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warmup that includes balance/proprioception, agility, and plyometric training. After practice, 20 to 30 minutes of strength training three times a week. In-Season: Before practice, the same as preseason work. Post-practice workouts can be reduced as the season progresses. In early season, 20 minutes of strength training three times a week; in midseason, 20 minutes of strength training twice a week is recommended; during the late season and playoffs, 10 to 15 minutes of strength training twice a week. In the sidebar titled “A Look at LEPPP” (on page 22), a full program is detailed. It can be used for any sport and any level of play. Here are some additional tips for designing your own program: • Use minimal equipment to avoid equipment becoming a limiting factor. • Drills should be easy to teach and easy to monitor. • Training must be progressive and varied. • Teach landing and stopping mechanics before plyometric and agility training (see “Quiet Landings” on page 24). • Part of your strength training should focus on force reduction work, which can be accomplished through a heavy dose of strength training that emphasizes fast eccentric muscle action performed in postures and positions similar to sport movements. • Remember that training is cumulative. It is not any one workout or component that will ensure success but rather the sum of all workouts and the interaction of all components. One last tip is on communication. Just as important as developing your program is educating those who will be putting their trust in the program: the sport coach, athletes, and, in some cases, parents. If you can teach the “why,” then the “how” of the whole program will be meaningful. And since compliance with the program is vital, this final point may be the most important. ◆ For dates and locations of Vern Gambetta’s upcoming seminars on LEPPP, go to: www.gambetta.com/lepppseminar.html

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How it Works VersaPulley uses MV2 Technology (mass times velocity squared) rotary inertia for resistance. This inertial resistance, coupled with a cone shaped infinitely variable cam, produces 100% Responsive Resistance. It operates similar to a yo-yo (3). Adjust speed/force to train the force velocity curve, from high force-low velocity to high velocity-low force multi-joint, multi-planar movements with Maximum Rate of Force Development (MRFD). During the concentric contraction, the rotary mass accelerates at the athlete’s MRFD. It stores the energy during the concentric MRFD, and dishes it right back in the eccentric contraction. Sport specific concentric, eccentric, and plyometric stimulation is achieved on every repetition. Train athletes through the entire contractile continuum, from the earliest closed chain rehabilitation, to the most complex power and elastic development for every specific movement. Acceleration/deceleration loading in integrated sport specific movements can increase performance and reduce injury potential (4).

Rotational/Diagonal Training VersaPulley performs almost any exercise. It has enormous value for rotational/diagonal training. It provides an unlimited responsive rotational inertia resistance. This new technology for rotational/diagonal movements is equivalent to vertical power movements like Olympic-style pulls/presses.

Photos 1-3 are a high power rotational/diagonal squat pull, to a press of the lower body, trunk, and upper body with MRFD acceleration and eccentric deceleration loading. These exercises should be classified “structural or core movements” like Olympic pulls, squats, and presses (4). The movement demands of sport drive the exercise selection. Watch an athlete plant and cut. Many hip and trunk muscles function as internal and external rotators, which are not developed in the typical squat (4).

Diverse Applications Perform complexes and/or contrasts for sport specific movements. Santana, owner/operator of the Institute of Human Performance, gives examples in his training manual (3). Juan says the VersaPulley can be great for hypertrophy due to “time under tension at high speeds” (3, p.215). VersaPulley can be used for high quality metabolic conditioning (1,3,4).

Athletes’ Performance Institute Athletes’ Performance Institute has used the VersaPulley with MV2 technology for four years, especially during the Major League Baseball PreSpring Training and NFL Combined Prep sessions. Mark Verstegen says “This is the most versatile and practical technology ever developed. It is used from beginner to elite performance training. This revolutionary new piece of equipment will change forever how we are able to train athletes, limited only by our knowledge and creativity.” Call Heart Rate Inc. at 1.800.237.2271 or visit VersaPulley.com for more information. John Weatherly holds degrees in exercise science, assisted with conditioning programs for professional baseball, basketball players and the Olympic Training Center. He currently consults with Athletes in Action Power and the exercise industry. Mark Verstegen is Director of Athletes’ Performance Institute in Tempe, AZ. He and his staff work with world-class athletes in a variety of sports. Mark is Director of Performance for the NFL Players’ Association and former Founder and Director of the International Performance Institute in Bradenton, FL. References 1. Caruso, J.C. and D.A. Hernandez. Net caloric

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cost of a 3-set flywheel ergometer resistance exercise paradigm.. J. Strength Cond. Res 16: 567572, 2002. 2. Ives, J.C. and G.A. Shelley. Psychophysics in functional strength and power training: Review and implementation framework. J. Strength Cond. Res 17: 177-186, 2003. 3. Santana, J.C. The essence of band and pulley training companion guide. Optimum Performance Systems. Boca Raton, FL. 2002. 4. Verstegen, M. Rotary training. Presentation at the 2003 NSCA Sport Specific Conference. Jan. 910, 2003. New Orleans, LA.

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She had tried to discuss the incidents with her supervisors to no avail, and the department ultimately paid a $300,000 settlement. Thanks in part to Manning’s high profile, the case received wide coverage. But evidence suggests that the scenario is far from unique. Depending on the survey and the population studied, the number of athletic trainers and athletic training students who have experienced sexual harassment on the job ranges from 25 percent to an astounding 83 percent—and the majority of cases go unreported. What exactly are a head athletic trainer’s responsibilities when it comes to sexual harassment? Where are the danger zones, and what can you do to help ensure that your athletic training rooms are free of sexual harassment? Legal experts and experienced head athletic trainers agree that the keys are education, preparation, and a zero-tolerance policy—all established before an incident occurs. WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT?

Illustration: Jon Conrad

Time Out A recent study found that 83 percent of athletic training students experience sexual harassment. Head athletic trainers can play a huge role in changing this statistic.

ay “sexual harassment in athletic training,” and two names probably come to mind: Jamie Whited and Peyton Manning. In 1997, University of Tennessee Athletic Trainer Jamie

Whited filed allegations against the men’s athletic department—her list of grievances included 33 incidents of sexual harassment, some conducted by then Volunteer quarterback Manning.

BY LAURA SMITH

Two laws are typically used to prosecute sexual harassment. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees in the workplace, and Title IX protects students and graduate assistants at institutions that receive federal funds. These laws, and related court cases that have followed, have defined two types of sexual harassment. In quid pro quo sexual harassment, the victim’s job security, promotion, or other benefits hinge on accepting unwelcome behaviors, usually from someone in authority. One example would be an athletic training student whose grade depends on accepting inappropriate comments or advances from a clinical supervisor. The second type is hostile work environment sexual harassment, and this is more likely to cause problems in an athletic training setting, according to Barbara Osborne, JD, Assistant Professor of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of North Laura Smith is an Assistant Editor at Training & Conditioning.

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ATHLETES EDUCATING ATHLETES he sexual harassment complaint a head athletic trainer is most likely to hear is of student-athletes, individually or as a group, harassing an opposite-sex athletic trainer or athletic training student. “The idea of a student-athlete being the harasser is probably the biggest concern right now,” says Barbara Osborne, JD, University of North Carolina Assistant Professor of Exercise and Sport Science. “And it’s completely an issue of needing to educate them.” One program that’s working hard to educate student-athletes is the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Program, a gender violence prevention and education program based at Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society that enlists high school, college, and professional athletes as trainers. Director Jeff O’Brien says the program has found success with a “bystander” approach to educating athletes. “Most people trying to educate student-athletes look at them as part of the problem,” he says. “We look at them as part of the solution.” The MVP approach asks student-athletes to consider ways they can intervene as bystanders if they see a teammate crossing sexual harassment lines. “We base the training around scenarios,” O’Brien explains. “We’ll say, ‘You’re in the athletic training room with your teammates and they’re making sexual jokes. What do you do?’ “We talk with them about their leadership role, their visibility, and their potential for creating change. The difference sounds small, but it’s profound, because it prevents the defensiveness that usually keeps them from being open to learning about the issue. “Because we’re not accusing them of anything, it allows them to talk about what’s really happening,” O’Brien continues. “We get at the core of why sexual harassment happens. For instance, why is it that so many people who engage in forms of sexual harassment like cat-calling and joke-telling do it in a group, as opposed to when they’re alone? Is it really about the victim, or is it about their status in the group? We deal with questions of that nature.” For more information, go to www.sportinsociety.org/mvp.html.

Carolina and an expert on legal issues in athletic training. “Quid pro quo sexual harassment undoubtedly has happened in athletic training, but I am honestly not aware of a single case,” she says. “Hostile work environment, on the other hand, is pervasive.” So pervasive, in fact, that a 1998 East Stroudsburg University study of 825 athletic training students enrolled in 37 CAAHEP-accredited programs found that 83 percent reported having experienced hostile environment sexual harassment in the course of their work, primarily from student-athletes. Male athletes were the most frequent offenders, with football players and 30 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

wrestlers topping the list. (The study was published in the April-June 2001 issue of the Journal of Athletic Training.) In the business world, most harassers hold positions of authority over those harassed, but courts are increasingly willing to say that student-athletes can be held accountable as sexual harassers under a hostile environment definition. “This is a new area for the courts,” says Elsa Cole, General Counsel to the NCAA. “At first there was an assumption that the athletic trainer would always be in a position of power, so they would not be in a position to be harassed by stu-

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dents. The courts are shifting their thinking to recognize that where there is a lack of an age disparity, or where there is a large number of males and a single female or vice versa, the power balance can shift so that the students are in control and able to create a hostile environment.” “Hostile environment can be all sorts of small things that add up to a pervasive tone of hostility, or one incident that is so severe it creates a hostile environment on its own,” says Leslie Annexstein, JD, Senior Counsel at the National Women’s Law Center. “There can be a single perpetrator, or it can be a group.” Offensive posters on weightroom walls, sexual jokes thrown around the training room, comments about someone’s body shape, and unwelcome physical contact all qualify as contributors to a hostile environment. Such harassment can occur male to female, female to male, male to male, or female to female. “The key to the issue,” says Osborne, “is that hostile environment sexual harassment is defined by the receiver of the message, not by the intent of the sender. An individual or a group can create a hostile environment without meaning to.” “Basically, if someone is being made to feel uncomfortable by any type of unwelcome behavior that is sexual in nature, and they can demonstrate that the behavior is causing them discomfort in class or at work, it will probably be supported as sexual harassment in court,” summarizes John Hauth, EdD, ATC, Chair of the Movement Studies and Exercise Science Department at East Stroudsburg University and lead author of the 1998 study. Courts use a two-prong test when evaluating allegations of hostile environment sexual harassment. “There’s the ‘objectively speaking’ test,” Annexstein explains. “Would most people objectively looking at something say, ‘Yes, I can see where that would be offensive or someone might have a problem with it’? Then there is the subjective test: ‘How is it making

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the person experiencing it feel?’ Courts consider both questions.” Syracuse University Head Athletic Trainer Timothy Neal, ATC, uses a simpler test. “I ask my staff and students to think of someone in their lives who they care about—their mother, their sister, their wife,” Neal says. “Then I ask them if they would want her to be subjected to the behavior in question when she went to her job every morning. It’s simple, but it works.” SETTING BOUNDARIES

Because concrete definitions are hard to find, creating a department free of hostile environment sexual harassment requires the head athletic trainer to set unmistakable expectations. “The head athletic trainer sets the emotional tone,” Neal says. “I know my stance is going to set the standard, and I don’t engage in any sexually harassing behavior. I don’t tolerate it from those under me, and I don’t put up with it being done to the people who work for me.”

In the business world, most harassers hold positions of authority over those harassed, but courts are increasingly willing to say that student-athletes can be held accountable as sexual harassers under a hostile environment definition. “As a leader, the head athletic trainer needs to know that his or her actions are being noted, and that they’re being viewed as examples of acceptable behavior,” Annexstein agrees. “If you see something happening that could be construed as sexual harassment, immediately step in and

MANAGEMENT

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stop the behavior—don’t hesitate just because the victim isn’t saying anything. You send a very strong message by walking over at that moment and putting a halt to the behavior.” “I immediately confront any athlete, coach, student, or staff member if I think they’re bordering on crossing the line,” adds Don Bishop, ATC, Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Northern Iowa. “I tell potential offenders I am also protecting them—there are serious consequences for sexual harassment, and I don’t want to see that happen.” “People constantly test boundaries,” says Jeff O’Brien, Director of the Mentors in Violence Prevention Program based at Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society. “They’re figuring out what’s going to be tolerated and what’s not. When you address relatively small things, like inappropriate jokes, you clearly define where those lines are and you prevent bigger problems later on.”

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EFFECTIVE EDUCATION

Along with setting the right tone, it’s imperative to educate your staff about your school’s sexual harassment policies and procedures. “Seventy-five percent of the 825 athletic training students we studied did not understand their university’s sexual harassment policy,” Hauth says. “When you go to court, they ask three questions,” says Phyllis Powell, Affirmative Action Officer at Central Michigan University. “Do you have a written policy that is widely distributed? Do people understand the grievance procedure? Do they know where to go to report sexual harassment? If you can answer ‘yes’ to all three questions, you increase your credibility and decrease your liability.” John Mason, ATC, Head Athletic Trainer at Central Michigan University, relies heavily on Powell to spread the word among his staff members. “The affirmative action office provides refresher courses on CMU’s sexual

“I educate people that the easiest time to address sexual harassment is the first time it happens. If you let it go the first time because you think, ‘Well, that wasn’t such a big deal—I can handle it,’ it will happen a second time.” harassment policy to all staff members every two years,” he says, “and any time a new staff member comes on board, that office discusses the policy with them. New and returning athletic training students are educated on the policy as part of their orientation each year.”

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Some schools even institute a separate policy for their athletic training students. “Our policy very closely follows what the university has in place for all students,” explains Bishop. “The key difference is that it requires students to involve the department administration when a problem arises.” UNI’s policy requires that sexual harassment complaints go directly to the Coordinator of the Division of Athletic Training or the Director of Sports Medicine, who then informs the school’s Office of Compliance and Equity Management (OCEM). Neal relies on SU’s general policy, but finds it useful to break down the legal jargon into simpler terms. “Syracuse has a very involved policy, but I have a shorter list of cardinal rules that I post in my office and distribute,” he says. “The rule dealing with sexual harassment simply states, ‘Sexual harassment of any sort will not be tolerated, toward others or toward you.’ I think if you give people a long,

PROTECTING YOURSELF hile athletic trainers can be the targets of sexual harassment, they’re also open to accusations of sexual harassment themselves. “Basically, athletic trainers are in a hands-on field in a hands-off society,” says Central Michigan University Affirmative Action Officer Phyllis Powell. “But there are a number of things athletic trainers can do to protect themselves. “First, make sure you explain to athletes exactly what you’re going to do before you do it when you’re giving care,” she cautions. “Tell them where you’re going to touch them and why. If they express concern or you feel you need someone else in the room, stop what you’re doing and take care of that.” Paying attention to the athlete’s responses and comfort level is also important. “If he or she seems uncomfortable, that’s a red flag—don’t ignore it,” Powell says. “Learn to recognize those signals.” Finally, Powell urges athletic trainers to focus on establishing their credibility from the start. “The way you conduct yourself every day, the things that come out of your mouth, and the behaviors you exhibit toward colleagues and athletes are the things that can save you if someone levels a false allegation at you,” she says. “If you’ve conducted yourself in a professional manner all along, it’s going to make a difference.”

complicated policy to read, they can get caught up in the nuances instead of the basics. I make it very simple and very direct. We get into the details later.” Those details are thoroughly discussed during orientation with SU’s graduate assistants. “Our orientation lasts two weeks, eight hours a day, for both new and returning students,” he says. “The first day, I don’t even talk about medicine. I talk about professionalism, and sexual harassment is an area we discuss at length.” Mason discusses the issue whenever a student or staff athletic trainer is about to be assigned to a new sport. “We remind them that they will be working closely with people and having hands-on contact, and we let them know what we expect and don’t expect to happen,” he says. “We remind them not to work one-on-one with studentathletes behind closed doors, and we tell them that they need to inform us of any sexual harassment issues right away.” Several head athletic trainers find that meeting with men and women separately allows them to address the concerns of each in greater detail. “Some of the points are the same, but

the nuances differ,” Bishop says. “I talk specifically with females about issues pertaining to working with a male sport. I stress to them to be aware of the role they are in, and I talk about the ‘good old boy’ attitudes that they will probably encounter at some point in their athletic training careers and how they should handle them.” TALKING BACK

A key part of your educational efforts involves teaching staff and students how to respond to unwanted advances. In the East Stroudsburg study, 68 percent of those who said they had been sexually harassed also said they did nothing about the behavior. “I educate people that the easiest time to address sexual harassment is the first time it happens,” says Powell. “If you let it go the first time because you think, ‘Well, that wasn’t such a big deal—I can handle it,’ it will happen a second time. Don’t laugh or play along to try to gain acceptance or avoid making waves. If you do, it’s not going to go away.” “Ignoring sexual harassment always makes it worse,” Hauth agrees. “The way the harasser interprets that is, ‘Well, that didn’t really bother her.

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Let’s try this.’ But nearly half the time, sexual harassment ends when the victim goes to the individual and says, ‘I don’t appreciate this, and I want it to stop.’ That can be difficult for people to do, so we give them tips on how to do it.” Powell suggests they rehearse a planned phrase or sentence, write down what they want to say in advance, or practice the confrontation ahead of time with someone they trust. “We educate people to address specific behaviors when they confront the harasser,” Powell says. “For example, you can say, ‘Please do not call me ‘sweetie’ or ‘honey’ anymore. Address me by my name.’ Or, ‘I am uncomfortable with you putting your arm around me. Stop doing that.’ And indicate that you will report the behavior, if necessary.”

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Some people, however, won’t be comfortable confronting their harasser, and the law doesn’t require them to do so. “It can be empowering for a victim to confront the behavior, but they are not responsible for doing so,” O’Brien says. “I often hear people say, ‘If he or she would just stand up to the behavior, it would stop.’ That’s a victim-blaming mentality. It’s okay if someone can’t confront the harasser and we encourage them to report the behavior to someone who can deal with it.” When a team is on its own turf—in the locker room, on the bus, in a hotel—their conversation may turn to topics that the athletic trainer finds offensive, even though their comments are not directed at him or her. These situations require the athletic trainer to find a delicate balance between confronting truly offensive behavior and ignoring harmless juvenile behavior. The athletic trainer should not be forced to tolerate a hostile work environment, says Neal, but locker room talk among team members walks a fine line. “Frankly, as an athletic trainer, you’re going to hear some of it,” he says, “and that goes for women’s teams as well as men’s. Part of wisdom is knowing what to overlook.” However, when a situation is clearly out of bounds, the best tactic is for the head athletic trainer to approach the team’s coach. “Tell him or her, ‘I have been getting reports of your team engaging in conversation that makes their athletic trainer uncomfortable,’” Neal advises. “Ask for the coach’s help in monitoring the players’ conversations and request that he or she address any inappropriate discussions and ask the athletes to not discuss sexual topics in the

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athletic trainer’s proximity.” Students and staff also need to be educated on how their own behavior plays into the situation. “We tell people that their own demeanor is going to let people know what is and isn’t acceptable around them,” Hauth says. “Once you’ve laughed at an inappropriate joke, or wandered into inappropriate territory in your own conversation, people are going to assume that it’s okay to direct that behavior back at you. You have to safeguard yourself by starting off on a professional footing— and staying there.” The advice is particularly pertinent for athletic training students and graduate assistants, Neal says. “I tell them, ‘Even though you may be only a year or two older, you are a professional in this environment, not a peer,’” he says. “And I work to help them understand what professionalism looks like.”

that don’t expect to see it happen again,” says Mason. “Many times in my investigation, I find that a misunderstanding is involved, so I get the two parties together to discuss it,” Neal adds. “Usually an apology is offered and that’s where it ends, although I document the situation for future reference and give a copy to my athletic director.” Legal experts refer to this as con-

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fronting sexual harassment via the ‘informal’ route, which has its advantages. “Most people who complain just want the behavior to stop,” Annexstein says. “There are fewer procedural hurdles that have to be cleared in an informal route, so it can be quicker.” Other times, however, the situation is more serious and requires a formal approach. “If there has been a pattern of behavior, or if we’re not comfortable with the responses we get and

HANDLING A REPORT

Chances are, at some point in every head athletic trainer’s career, a student or staff member will come to him or her with a complaint of sexual harassment. The first step is making sure the complainant is aware of the formal grievance process specified in the university’s policy. In most situations, the next step is carefully gathering all the relevant information, then evaluating whether the complainant wants to take the formal grievance route or attempt a less formal resolution. “My job is fact-finding and facilitating the university’s process,” Neal says. “I ask the complainant to document everything that has happened, and I talk to each person involved to find out as much as I can. In every case, I listen to both sides. And then I document carefully what I’ve found.” The key to evaluating the situation can be determining whether it represents a one-time slip-up or a pattern of behavior. Isolated incidents can often be dealt with by addressing the harasser directly. “If my investigation reveals that I’m dealing with a single lapse due to immaturity, I confront the individual, discuss why the behavior was inappropriate, and let them know we

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we don’t feel assured that it will not happen again, we have to go further,” Mason says. “Once a victim has decided to go the formal route, the head athletic trainer’s job is to assist him or her in filing a formal complaint,” Annexstein says. “The procedure should be spelled out clearly within the school’s sexual harassment policy, including the name, campus address, and phone number of the person they need to complain to.” Whether the head athletic trainer handles the problem informally, or a formal complaint is filed, it’s usually necessary for him or her to report the incident higher up. “Here at CMU, the affirmative action office is the central clearinghouse for all complaints of sexual harassment, formal and informal,” Powell says. “Every complaint is reported here.” Knowing your own university’s policies in this area is key. Many complainants will express concerns about confidentiality, and may ask that their names not be

“My job is fact-finding and facilitating the university’s process … I talk to each person involved to find out as much as I can. In every case, I listen to both sides. And then I document carefully what I’ve found.” revealed. It’s important to assure the complainant that you will keep the complaint as confidential as possible, but it’s equally important to let them know that they may not be able to remain completely anonymous. “You cannot promise ultimate confidentiality to anyone,” says

Powell, “because if that person eventually files a complaint outside the university, the first question in court will be, ‘Did you tell anyone at the university?’ When they say, ‘I told the head athletic trainer,’ the next question will be to the head athletic trainer, asking, ‘Why did you not report the incident using the university’s system?’” Lastly, when a complaint of sexual harassment comes across your desk, know when to get outside help. “There are levels of sexual harassment that I would not deal with,” Mason says. “I would refer the complainant to either my direct supervisor or the office of affirmative action right away. Most of the incidents I’ve dealt with have been pretty low-level things—verbal comments, inappropriately putting an arm around someone, and things like that. But it’s important to recognize that there are things we’re not equipped to deal with, and those are the ones you pass up the command chain. If you don’t feel comfortable handling something, get help.” ◆

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The Heat is

TREATING THE ATHLETE

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You can lead them to water, but even if you could force them to drink, that’s only the first step in keeping your athletes free from heat illness.

Getty Images©

BY GUILLERMO METZ

TODAY’S FORECAST: Hot and humid. Ozone at dangerous levels. Limit outdoor activities as much as possible.

nfortunately, that’s the weather report that often coincides with preseason practice for fall sports. Limiting outdoor activities

usually isn’t a realistic option, so you have to take other steps to keep your student-athletes safe. Football athletes are the hardest

hit—a full uniform including pads and helmet limits sweat evaporation from more than 60 percent of the body— which is why the NCAA recently revised its rules for the critical first days of preseason camp. But the conditions can be nearly as brutal for soccer, field hockey, and cross country athletes, especially if summer jobs have kept them indoors with air conditioning. And if you think it’s solely a problem for fall sports, try traveling from Maine to Miami for an early spring baseball game. There are several things you can do to make the adjustment easier for your athletes, however. Preventing heat illness entails educating athletes and coaches about the dangers of high heat and humidity and the importance of acclimatization, having strategies in place to keep athletes hydrated, and spotting minor problems before they become major. LEADING THEM TO DRINK

Most athletes have a pretty good sense of how to prevent heat illness, but that doesn’t mean they always do what’s best for them. “To me it’s kind of like drugs,” says Paul Mock, ATC, Head Athletic Trainer at Mississippi State University. “Everyone knows they Guillermo Metz is an Associate Editor at Training & Conditioning.

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Not Just For Athletes igh heat and humidity can have serious health effects for anyone doing strenuous work outside. That includes those shouting out plays, lugging heavy boxes and equipment, and staying highly alert while standing in the sun a large part of the day. That’s right: coaches, managers, and athletic trainers can also suffer from heat illness. Staff members aren’t wearing full pads and exerting as much effort as their athletes, but the recommendations in this article work for them, too. To begin with, it’s important for athletic trainers, managers, and coaches to start getting used to the heat before the first day of fall camp. “I don’t work out with the athletes during the summer,” says Gary Diehm, MS, ATC/L, Head Athletic Trainer at Midwestern State University, “so I try to get used to the heat by mowing my yard during the heat of the day.” Then it becomes a matter of staying hydrated along with the athletes. “I talk to the student trainers and my staff about making sure they stay hydrated during practices,” Diehm says. “Coaches may not be as attuned to it, so we try to educate them as well and try to get them to drink as much water as they possibly can.” Matt Walser, MS, LMT, ATC/L, Associate Head Football Athletic Trainer at the University of Florida, has a similar strategy, “Our head football trainer, Adrian Melendez, keeps pretty close tabs on the coaches, as well as the athletes,” he says. Walser stresses the importance of keeping an eye on your staff as well. “They’re working very hard, too—doing heavy lifting, moving the water and ice around, assisting us with injuries,” he says. “And we need them to be as sharp as possible. So we encourage them to drink, and I keep an eye on them to make sure they’re doing okay.”

shouldn’t take drugs. We’ve all had that preached to us. But some people are still willing to try them. “I think the kids understand the basic dangers of heat illness,” he continues. “The key is to make athletes more aware of, and responsible for, their personal condition.” “The hardest thing is getting them to understand how important it is to follow our guidelines,” agrees Joan Reed, MAT, ATC, CSCS, Assistant Director of Athletics and Recreation for Sports Medicine at Emory University. “We use several methods to get the information to them so that it really sticks. When the freshmen come in, we show them a video on the importance of hydration to performance. We also put up posters in the training room.” Many athletic trainers also use urine and weight charts to bring the

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point home. “When someone told me about the urine chart, I thought it was a good idea, but I wondered if it would really work,” says Mock. “I’ve been surprised by how many of our guys come in and say, ‘Well, my pee was this color right here.’ It’s one thing to tell them to drink eight glasses of water, it’s another thing to show them what happens when they don’t.” And even though it may seem simple, don’t assume athletes know what to do with a weight chart. Spell it out for them: Losing two to three percent of body weight during exercise can be compensated for with plenty of fluids; a weight loss of four to six percent may require a reduction in training; and anyone who loses more than six percent needs to see you or a doctor. In order to make up the lost weight, they’ll need to drink eight ounces of water for each pound of body weight

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lost during exercise. “We have a scale readily available in the training room so they can weigh themselves before and after they work out,” says Matt Walser, MS, LMT, ATC/L, Associate Head Football Athletic Trainer at the University of Florida. “And we talk to them about what those numbers mean in terms of the water they’ve lost over the course of that workout. We’ve been very successful educating our athletes that way.” “We try to get people to hydrate earlier in the day,” Mock adds. “They don’t just drink an extra glass right before practice, they start drinking early in the morning. To me, that’s where the pee-color chart helps. Even when they feel fine, it makes them see they may have to push more fluids down.” Many schools have a simple policy to get athletes in the mindset of drinking all day long. “We hand out water bottles to all the athletes when they first get here,” says Reed. “And we tell them to carry that water bottle around with them all day.” Gary Diehm, MS, ATC/L, Head Athletic Trainer at Midwestern State University, gets a sponsor to pay for his athletes’ water bottles. And to keep student-athletes away from sodas, he has the cafeteria staff switch some machines. “During fall camp, they turn the cola machine off and put in a machine that dispenses sports drinks,” he says. “That was a really simple thing to do and it’s made a big difference.” Size can also make a difference. “Big cups was one of the best moves we made,” says Walser. “We went from a small cafeteria cup to big 32-ounce Styrofoam cups, which promote drinking.” Many athletic trainers also stress the importance of a good diet. “One of our athletic trainers meets with athletes at various points during the preseason to talk about what to eat,” says Jack Marucci, MA, ATC, Director of Athletic Training at LSU. “During two-a-days, she tells them to cut back on fats, and talks about the importance

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of the morning meal. She stresses the importance of simply eating. Because of the heat, a lot of these kids don’t feel like eating when they’re at camp.” “The training table helps with recovery, and we also have a lot of foods on there that help with hydration—we’ve really been pushing a lot of fruits on our athletes,” says Walser. “It’s also important to consider when they eat. We want them eating within an hour of working out, because that’s when the body needs to start repairing itself.” Reed suggests keeping an eye on athletes who may try to cut corners or rely on bad habits. “We stress to all our athletes the importance of a balanced diet and, especially for our female athletes, not just relying on nutrition bars for breakfast or lunch,” she says. “And we talk to them at length about the importance of getting enough rest and staying away from caffeine.” Some athletic trainers also tie performance supplements to the discussion of heat illness, since several are known to compound heat problems. “We do not want any of our players on any [performance-enhancing] supplements during those hot summer months—even non-banned substances like creatine—especially during two-a-days, when they’re strenuously working out,” says Walser. “We educate them on the effects of these things and the possible harmful side-effects.” TEAMING WITH COACHES

Every athletic trainer who’s been around for a while has a story about what it used to be like—coaches running practices during the hottest part of the day, passing out salt tabs like they were candy, withholding water, making athletes run extra laps if they took a drink, and so on. It’s rare to come across that mindset today, but coaches still need to be educated regularly about heat illness. “Our job as athletic trainers is to remind the coaches to continually bring it up with the student-athletes,” says Kent Scriber, EdD, ATC, PT, Professor and Supervisor of Athletic

Training at Ithaca College. “We sell the importance of hydration by telling coaches that it will help their players do better, both from a safety standpoint and a performance standpoint.” The next step is working with coaches to make practices safe. “Making sure coaches schedule specific times for water breaks during the practices seems to make the most impact,” says Reed. “And make sure athletes have to drink water during that

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time. Don’t give them the option to just stand around and talk. “It also helps to get the team captains and upperclassmen to lead by example,” she continues. “If you get through to them you’ve got the whole team.” And rather than just emphasizing the importance of grabbing a drink, remind coaches that the break itself can be as important as getting the fluids. “Letting the body recoup is impor-

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Spring Ain’t No Break or most northern-climate spring sport teams, trips to the south in late winter are a must for getting in more games and outdoor practice time. But this type of travel can pose acclimatization problems. Going from daytime highs of 40s to mid-80s can be a shock to the system. And time, one of the best tools to ward off the effects of the high heat and humidity, isn’t an option—true acclimatization takes upwards of seven days to kick in. But there are some things you can do. “From the time the kids get back after Christmas right up to spring break, we have them practicing indoors,” says Paul Culina, MEd, ATC/L, Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Maine. “During that time, a lot of our athletes wear multiple layers when they’re working out. Then, when we go south, all those extra layers come off, which may help a little bit.” Acclimation—the same process as acclimatization but by mimicking outdoor conditions inside—does indeed seem to work. According to a 1994 study by Brian Dawson, MPE, PhD, of the University of Western Australia-Nedlands, published in Sports Medicine (Vol. 17), it’s not as good as the real thing, but it can confer some of the same benefits. Also, be aware that even though you may not be able to get athletes fully acclimatized, every little bit helps. “On the way to Florida for spring games, the baseball team will usually stop in the Baltimore area for a couple of days,” Culina says. “That way, athletes get a couple of days where it’s not as hot as it’ll be in Florida, but it’s a lot warmer than it is in Maine. “The most successful thing we’ve done is reinforce the fact that they need to stay hydrated as

tant,” says Scriber, “particularly with football, where they’re wearing a lot of equipment. Let them take their helmets off, and maybe even their shoulder pads, for a minute.” Another key is working with coaches to make sure practices are safe when weather conditions turn dangerous. Most athletic trainers have some latitude to cancel practices when they deem it necessary, but most say that it’s unlikely they would ever take that path. The more desirable solution is to develop alternate plans. “In the eight football seasons I’ve been here, I don’t think we’ve ever had to cancel a practice,” says Walser. 40 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

much as possible,” he continues. “We take extra water on the bus for the overnight rides. We start pushing the fluids a few hours before they get onto the field, and then again after the game. We’re always reminding them to maintain their hydration levels and check the color of their urine.” But problems don’t only occur on trips to the deep south. “Our lacrosse team went out to the University of Denver and played on an artificial surface where it was 80 degrees,” recalls Doug Reeland, ATC, Coordinator of Sports Medicine at Hobart College. “That takes its toll. The elevation and the heat, coming from 40 degrees here, plays havoc. “If you don’t have a week to acclimatize,” he continues, “you have to practice early in the morning and late in the evening. And with things like lacrosse, you can work with the coach to change up the game a little bit, like revolving people through more often.” “We had it happen a few years ago with football,” recalls Kent Scriber, EdD, ATC, PT, Professor and Supervisor of Athletic Training at Ithaca College. “We played the championship game in Florida in December. It had been getting pretty cool up here and when we went down to Florida it was 87 degrees every day. So that was a big concern. “We spent a lot of time reminding the kids to pay attention to their fluids and their weight and to let us know of any symptoms. Obviously, we kept a lot of water and ice available during the practices and games down there. You can’t control the weather, so you just have to make people aware that they’re going into a different environment, and remind them to drink more water.”

“We’ve been in some hot ones, but you can almost always modify things. “Last year we had a really hot summer, so we practiced early in the morning and fairly late in the evening,” says Walser. “That meant really, really long days, but it was one of the best things we could have done.” Walser says they’ll be sticking to the same schedule this year, even if it’s not a particularly hot summer. “The workouts were actually more productive, because we were able to give the athletes more time to recover between practices, and they were able to work out when it wasn’t as hot. Our injury rate went down and our dehydration

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problems were reduced.” Marucci offers these suggestions: “You might have to have more breaks. You might have to move practice to later in the day. Or you might have to shorten a practice,” he says. “Another option is to forego the full pads and practice in shorts and shoulder pads.” Finally, you might suggest modifying the warmup. When it’s cool out, the warmup serves to elevate body temperature and increase blood flow to the muscles and connective tissues. But, Ronald Maugham, PhD, and Susan Shirreffs, PhD, from the University Medical School in Aberdeen Scotland, in Sports Science

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Exchange (Vol. 10, No. 2, 1997), suggest that “in hot climates, the body temperature should not be markedly increased during the warmup due to the very real possibility of reduced performance because of hyperthermia and dehydration. In explosive events of short duration, this advice may be disregarded, but where exercise discontinues for more than two to three minutes, body temperature should not be markedly increased before exercise begins.” Your athletes will be better served by going right into the practice, as long as they ease into it. When presenting concerns about the heat to your coaches, it’s important to do so carefully. Although Marucci has never had problems with the coaches he’s worked with, part of that could be attributed to his approach. “You have to always remember that it’s the coach’s program, it’s not the athletic trainer’s,” Marucci says. “So you have to be diplomatic about

TREATING THE ATHLETE

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GETTING USED TO THE HEAT

“Last year we practiced early in the morning and fairly late in the evening. That meant really, really long days, but it was one of the best things we could have done.” presenting your information. If you present it in the right way, it’s going to make sense. If the conditions have the potential to really affect the athletes, it’s always worthwhile to speak up. But conditions have to be pretty darned severe to cancel a practice.”

Educating coaches about the effects of the heat can also remind them to emphasize the importance of acclimatizing before preseason camp to their athletes. The NCAA-mandated changes to football—establishing a five-day acclimatization period, starting with limited equipment before working up to full pads and helmets, and doing away with consecutive two-a-days—are intended to give student-athletes a chance to get used to working out in the heat. While athletic trainers agree these measures will help, the research shows that athletes need to start acclimatizing to the heat well before the first day of practice. Being in good physical condition helps: Intense physical training, even in a cool environment, improves physiologic responses such as heart rate, VO2 max, and the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating, which speeds up the process of heat acclimatization. But the majority of the body’s

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acclimatization takes seven to 14 days, even in the fittest athletes. During this time, the body goes through several physiologic changes, resulting in lower core temperature, improved sweating, improved skin blood flow, lowered metabolic heart rate during exercise, reduced cardiovascular strain, improved fluid balance, and increased thermal tolerance. You can’t rush these things. So acclimatization should be a part of every summer conditioning program.

“Our coaches stress to our athletes that they need to get outside over the summer,” says Marc Powell, ATC/L, Head Athletic Trainer at Trinity University, in San Antonio, Texas. “We’re pretty fortunate in that 95 to 98 percent of our football players are from Texas, so they’re used to this, or as used to this as you can get. But that’s not the case with our soccer team. A lot of those kids are from out of state, so I talk to them a little more about preparing for the heat.”

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When it comes to acclimatization, Division III athletes may be the hardest to work with. They not only tend to stay on campus less in the summer than Division I and II athletes, but there’s a pretty good chance some of them will travel out of the area for work during the summer. The only thing you can do is emphasize, through the coach, the importance of doing some of their workouts outdoors, especially toward the end of the summer. “Our athletes have an off-season conditioning program that always includes doing some drills outside,” says Brian Coulombe, MS, ATC/L, Head Athletic Trainer at Texas Lutheran University. “We tell our athletes that three weeks before the start of fall camp they should go out in the heat of the day and run for about an hour. Over the following three weeks, we want them to build that up to two hours. It’s not the same as a full football practice in pads, but it helps. “And we especially talk to the guys who have suffered from heat problems in the past,” Coulombe continues. “We’ll tell them to start doing the work earlier, in the heat, to get used to it. As those players see that it works, we have more upperclassmen passing that lesson to the lowerclassmen.” At all levels, more and more athletes are either staying near campus for the summer or returning early. Be sure to take this opportunity to work with them. “We actually go outside all summer, but we build the time gradually,” says Walser. “Toward the end of the summer, instead of running three mornings a week, we run two mornings and one afternoon at a less intense pace. We’ll do that for a couple of weeks and then go to one morning run and two afternoon runs.” YOUR TURN FOR ACTION

Along with educating others, athletic trainers can help prevent heat illness by conducting thorough preparticipation exams, devising hydration strategies above and beyond just having water available, and always being on the lookout for problems. To discover who might be susceptible to heat illness, ask questions during the prepar-

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ticipation physical exam that uncover if anyone had problems in the past, did not follow their summer workout program, or didn’t have a chance to become acclimatized to the heat, such as someone who just arrived on campus from a cooler climate. And while your team doctor will no doubt know about this, you should also be aware that there are several outside factors that can hinder an athlete’s ability to handle the heat. These include such obvious things as dehydration and sickness, as well as skin disorders (even sunburns can seriously impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature through sweating), and some medications, including anticholinergics, diuretics, beta blockers, and tricyclic antidepressants. Even athletes who don’t fit any of those criteria can struggle with the heat and require special measures. Routinely handing out salt tabs is a thing of the past, because of the long-term health risks of too much salt in the

diet, but there are times when a little extra can be helpful. “We’ll have a student trainer identify the athletes who haven’t gained back the weight from the day before,” says Mock. “We have a product that has four or five kinds of salts in it, and if the athletes are right on the edge, we’ll give them some and keep an eye on them. Whether or not they dispense salts, most southern schools find it necessary to provide electrolyte drinks along with water, as well as ice towels and cold towels. Marucci also recommends having fruit available to give to athletes during their breaks. And some of the larger schools make regular use of cooling mist fans and cold-water immersion tanks. Once your staff is prepared, then it becomes a matter of keeping a watchful eye to make sure no one is getting hit too hard by the heat. “We’re on alert all the time, looking out for someone who’s lethargic, who can’t stop sweating, who’s weak,

TREATING THE ATHLETE

whose weight is down considerably,” says Marucci. “It’s not rocket science to spot someone who’s having a heat problem, but you do have to be on the lookout for it.” While body type can play into it, be wary of jumping to conclusions. “A lot of people will tell you to watch out for the big guys,” Mock says. “But we’ve seen more problems with the really thin, muscular kids. They’re not carrying anything other than muscle and blood.” You can also enlist the athletes themselves to keep you informed of any problems. “We educate our athletes on what the effects of heat illness look like,” says Marucci. “So to some extent, we rely on athletes to keep an eye on each other. If you tell them what to look for, they will be able to recognize if there’s a problem. And they know that safety comes first, so they don’t feel like they’re ratting somebody out if they tell us about a teammate who’s having a problem.” ◆

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POWER ON

BY BRIAN GRASSO

ost of us are familiar with the elite level of figure skating. We’ve seen singles and pairs perform in Winter Olympics and other international competitions. But what you may be less

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familiar with is figure skating at the non-elite level. More and more youth are getting involved in their local skating clubs and many colleges and universities now offer club figure skating teams on their campuses. Along with singles and pairs competitions, these clubs offer synchro-

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From youth leagues to college club teams, figure skating is a growing sport. Training programs must focus on core and unilateral strength in various vectors, as well as balance and stability. nized team skating, which could be described as synchronized swimming on ice: a team of 12 to 20 figure skaters perform as a

group and are judged on technical merit and presentation. Ice skating is a dynamic sport unlike any other,

Brian Grasso is Director of Developing Athletics and author of the book and DVD series, Complete Functional Conditioning. He has trained numerous members of the figure skating and synchronized skating community including the Haydenettes (13-time United States National Champions) and Ice Infiniti (2000 International Champions). He can be contacted at www.DevelopingAthletics.com.

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▼ and developing a program is a challenge for two reasons. One, the sport combines the need for balance at high speeds with difficult body movements. Two, many in the youth figure skating world simply don’t know a lot about functional training and are resistant to its ideas. But these two challenges can be overcome with some education and a well thought-out program. MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT

While many traditionalists in the sport still prescribe basic exercises such as the bench press, squat, and lat pulldown, supplemented with off-ice versions of onice skills, I believe a more functional program is the way to properly train figure skaters. The key to working with young athletes in any sport is to promote mobility, stability, and balance in conjunction with force. Especially with the demands of figure skating, young athletes need to have a virtual warehouse of athletic based skills in order to reach optimal levels. This is achieved by moving and stabilizing the body through various planes and producing force through various vectors. If they are doing little more than basic fitness and on-ice type movements, they are not furthering their athletic growth. The nervous system of a young athlete is malleable and requires input to develop optimally. For example, two prominent figure skaters, Kurt Browning and Elvis Stoiko, played ice hockey

Table One: Offseason Program 1. ROM activities: Hip flexion Hip extension Hip external rotation

5. Core: Medicine ball twists Pulleys Russian Twists

2. Rapid ROM: High knees Butt kicks Carioca

6. Unilateral exercises: Single leg balance touches Single leg squats Step-ups Lunges Romanian Deadlifts

3. Balance activities: Scramble to balance Toe walking Single leg balance holds Jump rope with movement Somersault to jump 4. Unstabling exercises: BOSU ball Swiss ball Wobble board DynaDisc

and performed martial arts, respectively. I’ve found that diversity contributes to athletic success in skating. (This is a hard pill to swallow within the world of figure skating due to the fact that many coaches, parents, and trainers are interested in concentrating only on skating with young kids with the hopes of national and international success.) KEY MOVEMENTS

During a program, skaters will be standing and in motion the entire time—at least that’s the hope! Thus, balance is very important. They also require a great degree of multiplanar support in order to stabilize themselves as they go from jumping to bending down to flexing from the waist in order to spin. The strength output is carried through a variety of vectors, and

7. Upper body strength: Variation push-ups Pull-ups Handstands Dive Bombers 8. Dynamic flexibility: Speed based ROM Leg swings

requires the upper and lower body to work together synergistically through the core. Training the reflex profile is also very important in figure skating. As noted by Paul Chek in his book Movement That Matters, one of the characteristics that makes any exercise functional to a particular task or sport is the reflex profile involved. Reflexes are activated as a means of protecting ourselves from falling or being struck by an oncoming object and can be sub-grouped into righting reactions and equilibrium reactions. Righting reactions serve the role of keeping the head in a biomechanically normal position, correcting the body to a normal position, and adjusting body parts in relation to the head. Equilibrium reactions, on the other hand, are intended

to maintain or regain control of our center of gravity. Righting reactions are often most dominant when we move across a fixed/ stable surface. Equilibrium reactions are more involved when the surface we are on is moving (e.g., riding a horse or water skiing). Figure skaters are in need of both righting and equilibrium reactions in order to perform and train optimally. Therefore, figure skaters need to be developed via multilateral disciplines. Everything from balance, to range of motion activities, to force production needs to occur in different planes, at different speeds and with varied stimuli. UNILATERAL & CORE STRENGTH

While training balance and reactions, strength should not be forgotten. Two of the primary concerns with regards to a figure skater’s off-ice strength program are the development of unilateral strength and functional core stability. While unilateral strength plays a role in most all sports, it is very dominant in figure skating since skating stride and on-ice power are produced unilaterally. A key element possessed by successful figure skaters is the ability to produce a great deal of force unilaterally while maintaining an ever-changing center of balance. Therefore, lower body strength drills programmed into the routine of a figure skater should be done as single leg activities. Two-footed strength exer-

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Figure One: The single leg balance touch promotes unilateral strength as well as balance and stability. Involve transverse stability by touching points on the ground that are to the side and behind the skater.

cises simply do not replicate the force production required by on-ice activities, nor do they promote any degree of balance, proprioception, or athletic development. Of secondary importance when prescribing unilateral strengthening exercises is the positioning of the “free leg.” With single leg squats, for example, the free leg can be either held straight out in front, straight out to the side, or in a hip flexion/external rotation position. With the leg straight out in front, you are essentially stabilizing through a sagittal plane. Straight out to the side involves frontal stability, and the hip flexion/external rotation incorporates transverse stability. The ability to produce force and stability through all three planes is crucial to figure skaters. Each jump and spin within the context of on-ice skill involves mild to dramatic changes in plane. Unilateral strength activities could include: sinCircle No. 33 46 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

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Figure Two: Single leg squats should be performed with the free leg in varied positions (which reflects sagittal, frontal, and even transverse strength/stability).

gle leg squats (with a ranging free leg and varied depth), step-ups (weighted or otherwise), lunge sequences and patterns (promoting different angles and involving locomotion) and single leg balance touches. With balance touches, it is important to vary the angle at which the athlete is performing the touch. Core strength and stability must also be emphasized in the strength program. The core has obvious application to overall strength, providing stability to the body while the periphery is in motion. The core musculature is also the transfer point from force produced in the lower or upper body into actual movement. Simply stated, if you spend a great deal of time training the power and force capabilities of the lower or upper body, but significantly less time on the core, then the force you are able to create in either extremity cannot be transferred into optimal movement. With jump take-offs, for example, the legs and

arms are used to propel off the ice and initiate rotation of the jump. The core needs to be strong and efficient in order to combine efforts of the upper and lower extremities, control rotation during the jump, stop rotation at the appropriate time, and stabilize the arm and leg positions during the landing. As with unilateral exercises, it’s important to train the core from several different vectors. As Juan Carlos Santana points out in his book, Functional Training, over 85 percent of the musculature in the core region is oriented either horizontally or diagonally. This means that these muscles are designed almost specifically for rotational strength and stability. If you examine the biomechanics of on-ice movements, you can see immediate application—rotational jumps, rotational spins, skating on curves, and changing rapidly from one curve to the next all require functional rotational strength and stability. PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS

The off-season for a figure skater is the best time to maximize their strength and conditioning needs. Alwyn Cosgrove, a conditioning expert and off-ice coach to Beebe Lang, who finished sixth at this past Junior World Championships, defines the proper sequence as: flexibility before stability, stability before strength, strength before power. In developing programs for figure skaters, I normally start with ROM activities, progress to balance drills, and add in unstabling exercises. Next is core strength, then unilateral exercises, followed by upper body drills. Finally, I add dynamic flexibility. See Table One (on page 45) for more details. Whether you’re working one-onone with an aspiring young figure skater or with a club team at your university, the key is using exercises that work in multiple planes at different speeds and with varied stimuli. With multilateral strength and balance, their on-ice practices will be much more effective and efficient, and their competitive scores will soar. ◆

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ScoutingReport Ankle & Foot Care AIRCAST, INC. (800) 526-8785, www.aircast.com The AirSport Ankle Brace, from Aircast, is a semi-rigid brace, clinically proven to resist inversion/eversion better than a laceup or tape. The foamfilled aircells and integral midfoot and shin wraps provide comfort and support, in a low profile design that fits easily into a shoe. Its simple “step-in” design increases patient comfort and compliance. The brace also provides effective support for chronic instability. Circle No. 55 on Reader Inquiry Card

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. 56 on Reader Inquiry Card

BIODEX MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. (800) 224-6339, www.biodex.com Lower extremity proprioception is the building block for all functional movements. Nothing tests and trains proprioception in a dynamic environment like the Biodex Balance System. The Balance System is effective in preseason testing, training, rehabilitation, and reconditioning of athletes with kinesthesia and joint position sense deficits. Get creative and the Balance System can be used for closedchain upper extremity and core stabilization activities. Best of all, the activities are documented and objective reports are available for printing. Circle No. 57 on Reader Inquiry Card

CHO-PAT, INC. (800) 221-1601, www.cho-pat.com The Achilles Tendon Strap, from Cho-Pat, Inc., was developed in conjunction with 48 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

the professional staff at the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research in Rochester, Minn., and is used extensively in treating its patients having Achilles tendonitis. The strap provides effective relief from pain and discomfort, while engaged in normal activities. Circle No. 58 on Reader Inquiry Card

wrist/elbow are anatomically designed, fit all sizes, and relieve pain and swelling the natural way. All Dura*Kold wraps provide up to two hours of cold therapy and stay frozen up to 24 hours in an insulated container for travel or game day use. Circle No. 61 on Reader Inquiry Card

CRAMER PRODUCTS (913) 856-7511, www.cramersportsmed.com Cramer’s new AS1 Ankle Brace combines the support of a heel-lock strapping system and superior value versus comparable ankle braces. The brace is constructed with an 840 D nylon shell, with a soft neoprene liner for comfort and feel. Nonstretch straps lock in the heel and spring steel stays on each side of the brace provide additional support.

FOOT MANAGEMENT, INC. (800) HOT-FOOT, www.footmanagement.com Turf Toe® plates, from Foot Management, Inc., are available on shoeboard to fit most cleated shoes or on the company’s Shocker® insoles when extra cushioning is needed. These plates limit MP dorsiflexion and assist in the prevention and treatment of turf toe. Foot Management has many other foot products–heel lifts, tubular foam, toe spreaders, moleskin, foam, and felt.

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DM SYSTEMS (800) 254-5438, www.dmsystems.com In response to requests from rehab professionals, DM Systems, manufacturer of the AnkleTough® Rehab System, has introduced lowcost eightpacks for each of the four resistive tension straps. The original system pack, comprised one each of the four color-coded resistive tension straps, will continue to be offered. But for those rehab professionals who prefer to purchase a limited resistance offering based on their typical patient profile, the new eight-packs fill the requirement. The eight-packs are offered in a handy, clear pouch with a zip lock top. Each package also contains a complete full-color instruction guide. Circle No. 60 on Reader Inquiry Card

DURA*KOLD CORPORATION (800) 541-7199, www.dura-kold.com The Dura*Kold Shoulder Wrap has been used by throwing athletes for many years. Now three additional joint specific, reusable ice wraps are also available. Ice wraps for the knee, foot/ankle, and

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Foot Management, Inc. manufactures a wide variety of footpads and other foot related products for all your athletic needs. For a detailed description on the footpads and their application, visit www.footmanagement.com. Foot Management also manufactures custom orthotics, moleskin, felt, Turf Toe® plates, and off-the-shelf insoles. Make Foot Management your distributor and wear what the pros wear. Circle No. 63 on Reader Inquiry Card

FUNCTIONAL DESIGN SYSTEMS (866) 230-8300, www.functionaldesign.com Vern Gambetta & Gary Gray have introduced therapists, trainers, coaches, athletes and physicians to the lower extremity concepts of Chain Reaction, subcortical sports specificity and integrated isolation. Utilized as an individualized or

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GAME READY (888) 426-3732, www.gameready.com Used by over 60 professional teams and top universities, the Game Ready™ Injury Treatment System is the first portable system to simultaneously provide deep tissue cooling and intermittent compression to help speed recovery from musculoskeletal injuries and post-operative symptoms. “I’ve seen a twofold increase in recovery rates. Players that normally would have been out for a week or more are back in half the time.” Stan Conte, Head Trainer, San Francisco Giants. Circle No. 65 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. 66 on Reader Inquiry Card

HAPAD, INC. (800) 854-2723, www.hapad.com See how in-shoe pressure reductions (shown on right) of up to 33 percent can improve your athletes performance with patented Comf-Orthotic® Sports Replacement Insoles. Contoured deformable EVA foot bed supports and cushions longitudinal and metatarsal arches. Shock absorbant Poron® with savoire suede cover reduces

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JUMP STRETCH, INC. (800) 344-3539, www.jumpstretch.com Jump Stretch, Inc., offers the complete line of Flex-Band® exercise equipment, including seven sizes of heavy-duty, continuousloop bands that provide 25-200 lbs. of resistance per band. Its band techniques are guaranteed to improve flexibility, speed, and vertical jump, and even to reduce downtime from injuries. The bands come with a full one-year warranty. Circle No. 68 on Reader Inquiry Card

Jump Stretch, Inc., offers seven sizes of heavy-duty continuous-loop rubberbands (Flex Bands®) for strength training, flexibility work, rehab, and even powerlifting. By combining the bands with the company’s customized pipe arrangements (for resisted walking/running and weighted abdominal exercises) and patented tubular steel bases (for squats and squat thrusts), Jump Stretch can help you make the most of any available space in your workout area. Circle No. 69 on Reader Inquiry Card

MCDAVID SPORTS MEDICAL PRODUCTS (800) 237-8254, www.mcdavidinc.com The #188 Ultra Ankle from McDavid Sports Medical Products is a professional quality hinged ankle brace designed to treat all ankle injuries including high ankle sprains.Engineered to reduce the excessive inversion, eversion, and rotation that causes most ankle injuries, Ultra Ankle incorporates advanced features that make it superior to other hinged ankle braces. Those features include the patented LDC (Lock Down Cuff) Technology with a pivoting posterior cuff that helps reduce excessive rotary forces. The thermal responsive molded pad system provides optimum comfort and fit.The adjustable quick-fit Lock Down Strap allows for quick application and removal. Circle No. 70 on Reader Inquiry Card

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ScoutingReport Ankle & Foot Care McDavid Sports Medical Products offers the #195 Ultralight Ankle Brace. This top quality product features a lightweight nylon/vinyl fabric with stirrup straps that may be adjustable at anytime during play without removing the shoe. These straps stimulate a professional taping technique that lends additional support and protection for common injuries. Other support and comfort features include a padded lining, notched front, elastic heel and tongue, and a sewn-in arch support. Circle No. 71 on Reader Inquiry Card

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES, INC. (800) 582-4040, www.medspec.com The Patellavator® knee orthosis, from Medical Specialties, was designed to apply pressure to the patellar tendon without creating a tourniquet around the leg or irritating the popliteal. This is achieved by having an interlocking base strap made of Coolflex material, which is very comfortable and flexes with the knee. Offers a low profile design that eliminates irritation to the opposite leg. Circle No. 72 on Reader Inquiry Card

The Dynatrack™ patella stabilizer, also from Medical Specialties, aids in the treatment of patellafemoral dysfunction. The internal buttress can be positioned to apply either lateral or medial pressure on the patella. The amount of pressure can be adjusted by changing the tension on the straps leading from the internal buttress and the tension on the outer neoprene wrap. A large popliteal opening permits a high degree of flexion with no discomfort. Circle No. 73 on Reader Inquiry Card

MUELLER SPORTS MEDICINE (800) 356-9522, www.muellersportsmed.com The new Soccer Ankle Support from Mueller Sports Medicine features crisscross tension straps and a sectional design that gives a custom fit to the arch area as 50 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

well as the heel. The patented support is extremely lightweight and comfortable, yet allows full range foot movement while providing firm support. One size fits either foot and fits shoe sizes from women’s 4 1/2 to men’s size 13. Circle No. 74 on Reader Inquiry Card

OAKWORKS (800) 558-8850, www.oakworks.com Because the game isn’t played in the locker room—there’s the Oakworks Portable Taping Table. Weather-resistant and height adjustable with a marine grade plastic top, the Portable Taping Table weighs just 35 lbs. and is easily portable, folding flat for transport and storage. With a UL® weight rating of 500 lbs., the Portable Taping Table can take whatever your athletes dish out. Experience maximum effectiveness for every ATC, no matter how challenging the environment. Circle No. 75 on Reader Inquiry Card

The Boss from Oakworks is the treatment table designed specifically for ATCs. Its lightweight design travels easily from the training room to the sidelines, while the unique aluminum understructure is tough enough to carry a UL® weight load rating of 600 lbs. Sealed seams and removable field feet mean the Boss works rain or shine. Easy push button height adjustments make the Boss the ergonomic answer for every ATC and every athlete. Circle No. 76 on Reader Inquiry Card

OPTP (800) 367-7393, www.optp.com OPTP has introduced the ROCK™ Ankle Exercise Board for the treatment and rehabilitation of ankle injuries. A professionally supervised exercise programusing the ROCK Board, can get patients back into form sooner, and help prevent painful injury recurrence. Typical, achiev-

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Ankle & Foot Care able results from a properly applied conditioning and/or rehabilitation program, using the ROCK Board include: strength conditioning to prevent excessive plantar-flexion and supination under stress; maintaining or increasing range of motion in the ankle joint complex while protecting the injured structures; reduction of chronic and recurring ankle injuries; and strengthening of the musculature comprising the foot, ankle, and lower leg. Circle No. 77 on Reader Inquiry Card The Resting Foot Sling from OPTP is a lightweight, comfortable positioning sling designed to place the foot perpendicular or slightly dorsiflexed for passive pro-

longed stretching of the lower leg and foot. The Resting Foot Sling was developed by a physical therapist and may be used to treat plantar fasciitis, achilles tendinitis, or for general stretching. It is an excellent alternative to expensive molded night splints. The Resting Foot Sling can be worn while sleeping, lying, or sitting down. It is not worn or used for walking. Circle No. 78 on Reader Inquiry Card

PRO-TEC ATHLETICS (800) 779-3372, www.injurybegone.com Unparalleled in comfort and effectiveness, the Shin Splints Compression Wrap, by Pro-Tec Athletics, alleviates symptoms of medial and anterior shin splints. It includes a compression strip to provide targeted compression. This helps prevent tearing of the soft tissue away from the tibia. In addition, the Shin Splints Compression Wrap absorbs stress

to the tibia and helps stabilize the area. Its contoured design keeps pressure off the calf area in cases of Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome. Circle No. 79 on Reader Inquiry Card Pro-Tec Athletics offers the Arch Support. The Arch ProTec applies upward compression to the arch alleviating conditions of plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. Circle No. 80 on Reader Inquiry Card

STROMGREN SUPPORTS, INC. (800) 527-1988, www.stromgren.com The #345 SuperWrap, from Stromgren Supports, provides maximum support of the ankle joint and stabilizes the heel and anterior area. The unique, dual-layered design and

Circle No. 35 A T H L E T I C B I D . C O M â&#x2014;&#x2020; T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 â&#x2014;&#x2020; 51

ScoutingReport Ankle & Foot Care color-coded strapping system provides the best support available. Heel-lock elastic facilitates movement of the foot and provides comfort over the Achilles tendon. It is available in black or white. Circle No. 81 on Reader Inquiry Card The Z175 Ankle System, from Stromgren Supports, Inc., features patented double-layer breathable knit elastic for maximum compression and conformity. Its ventilated design minimizes perspiration build-up. The Z175 also features webbing control strips, a hinged foam tongue with four metal stays, two side panel stays, and 16 closely spaced eyelets for localized support. It has a low profile, fits inside any shoe, and is lightweight and ambidextrous. Circle No. 82 on Reader Inquiry Card

WATERGIRL.NET (757) 422-2367, www.watergirl.net Watergirl.net offers through the Internet the Webly Ankle Orthosis from Hely and Weber Orthopaedics. The Webly limits inversion/eversion while encouraging plantar and dorsiflexion. The figure-8 straps provide stability by locking the calcaneous in position. The brace is supportive, yet provides low profile support. Its padded neoprene tongue and Achilles aid in comfort and help prevent blisters. Watergirl.net offers a variety of athletic braces online and features special prices for health care professionals. Circle No. 83 on Reader Inquiry Card

The Power Step

$299.00 A six level platform: 6", 9", 12", 15", 18", 21" ★ Used for step-ups, box squats, plyometrics, stiff-leg dead lifts, and military presses

★ Light enough to be moved Former Cincinnati Bengal, Ben Peterson

easily, yet strong enough to support 2,000 pounds and plyometric jumping.

For more information go to

www.thepowerstep.com or call

(816) 517-2872 for a free instructional video. Circle No. 36 52 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

ATHLETICBID.COM

C USTOMER T ESTIMONIAL

It was 85 years ago that Chuck Cramer, a pole vaulter at the University of Kansas, sprained his ankle and came up with an innovative way to treat it. Chuck and his brother, Frank, mixed up a bottle of liniment to use in treating the injury, and the mixture worked so well that eventually Notre Dame’s Knute Rockne endorsed the product because he was so impressed by it. That’s how Cramer Products was born. And the company has come a long way since that ground-breaking day in Gardner, Kans. It continues to be one of the leaders in the field of athletic training and sports medicine, providing innovative products to help treat and prevent injuries. And Cramer plays a leading role in the NATA—an organization that brother Chuck and Frank Cramer helped to create and fund for the first 20 years. Over the years, Cramer has developed many firsts in the sports medicine industry, such as the first to patent a reusable ankle brace with straps to duplicate a firstclass tape job; the first to develop a moldable plastic mouthpiece for football; and the first to offer an electrolyte replacement drink. Cramer is still delivering innovations. At the recent NATA Convention in St. Louis, the company debuted its new line of products, such as the Active Ankle line and the AS1 Ankle Brace with non-stretch straps that lock in the heel, emulating a tape job. Additionally, Cramer has introduced a new line of first aid kits, designed by athletic trainers as a complete solution for any team’s first aid demands.

Cramer Products, Inc. P.O. Box 1001 Gardner, KS 66030

913.856.7511 www.cramersportsmed.com

ScoutingReport Aquatic Therapy FERNO (888) 206-7802, www.fernoperformancepools.com Get back in the game faster with Ferno’s new AquaCiser® III Underwater Treadmill. Perfect for athletes rehabilitating from an injury and for athletes who wish to maximize their training and cardiovascular workout, the AquaCiser uses the advantage of water and buoyancy to offer low impact, high resistant exercise. Ferno’s new AquaCiser features a touch-screen console, workout jets, personal programming options, and a faster, quieter motor—perfect for the busy hospital, sports medicine or physical therapy clinic. Circle No. 86 on Reader Inquiry Card

Obtain the competitive edge you have always wanted with Ferno’s new,

improved Hydro Track™ 1103. Perfect for sports clinics, training rooms or therapy clinics with limited space, the compact Hydro Track offers a reversible treadmill with variable speed. The digital display unit shows speed, distance and time, while the moveable control panel allows for convenient operation. Dual-speed resistance jets offer superior outcomes, compared to traditional land-based equipment. Circle No. 87 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 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. Circle No. 88 on Reader Inquiry Card

MED-FIT SYSTEMS (800) 831-7665, ext. 2, www.medfitsystems.com Med-Fit all tile pools can be built in virtually any size, shape, or design either as inground, above ground, or partially above ground installations. Plyometric cants, running cants, current generators, ROM and jet benches, multiple depths, and viewing windows can all be incorporated. Med-

AN ORTHOTIC IS... In plain words an orthotic is a brace to control the foot while standing or walking. But that’s a lot to do, so take a minute and we’ll try to explain. Think of your body as a house, standing strong and erect. If a foundation is not laid properly or as any foundation settles with time you will start seeing cracks in the floors, walls and ceiling from the stress. So it is with your body that when your foot is out of line it can put the skeletal structures under stress. It has been proven that an unbalanced foot can cause problems as high in the kinetic chain as the cervical vertebrae (the neck). The foot may be the basis for neck pain, back pain, hip and knee pain, not to mention foot pain itself.

Please don’t be fooled by imitations sold over the counter without a prescription. Custom orthotics are exactly that: custom made from a cast of your feet. They will fit no one else and are made by prescription only. Your health care specialist will make a cast or impression of your non weight bearing feet and send it to an orthotic lab where exact replicas will be made of your feet. These replicas are then corrected to your health care specialist’s measurements and diagnosis. The lab will use specialized materials to custom design an orthotic to correct your problem. Ask your health care provider if the lab they are using is accredited by the Prescription Foot Orthotic Laboratories Association (PFOLA).

The foot has 26 bones connected by ligaments, tendons, and muscles and as time goes on with repetitive stress from walking, standing, and running, the foot can become misaligned and cause problems, such as heel pain, arch pain, metatarsal pain, and bunions. This is where a custom made orthotic can help. An orthotic can support the foot and control the alignment of these 26 bones to a neutral position, while still allowing the foot to function as a mobile adapter.

How long will you have to wear orthotics? That depends on your problem, but think of your orthotics as you would your eyeglasses. They won’t cure your problem, but with their use, they will allow you to function with a minimum of discomfort. The break-in period for your orthotics should be 4-6 weeks with reasonable comfort.

Orthotics are used by professional athletes, runners, tennis players, dancers, and most importantly, -YOU- the everyday person who needs relief from foot discomfort. Orthotics are used to help control structural misalignments, correct gait abnormalities, relieve pressure, and serve as a shock absorbing cushion (footbed). Your custom made orthotics will help control your foot whether you are walking on level ground, uphill, downhill, or on a rocky road.

Hopefully this has been helpful to you in understanding what a custom orthotic is and what it can do for you. This only briefly explains the complexity of orthotics, but your health care specialist can further review your personal need – so please ask.

Foot Management, Inc. 1-800-HOT-FOOT www.footmanagement.com Circle No. 37 A T H L E T I C B I D . C O M ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆ 53

ScoutingReport Aquatic Therapy Fit’s unique manufacturing process and the ADA compliant all tile construction ensure maximum heat retention, longevity, and aesthetics. Med-Fit pools can be shipped complete as one piece or in sections to accommodate not only new construction, but also existing facilities with difficult access. Med-Fit even offers dual temperature pools with segmented design for the aquatic perfectionist. Med-Fit’s pools can be nicely complemented with the company’s custom spas and cold plunges. For more information and a free CD-ROM catalog with pool video and slide show, please contact MedFit. Circle No. 89 on Reader Inquiry Card

PERFORM BETTER (800) 556-7464, www.performbetter.com Perform Better offers Aquajogger, the deep water exercise belt that is adjustable and helps you to stay upright during an aquatic workout. Use it for cardiovascular training, rehab from injury or simply as a supplemental workout with lowimpact resistance training. It takes the stress off joints. It is available in men’s and women’s models and a special model for those weighing over 200 lbs. Aquajogger is part of the 2003 Perform Better collection. Circle No. 90 on Reader Inquiry Card

SPRINT AQUATICS (800) 235-2156, E-mail: info@sprintaquatics.com Sprint Aquatics presents the newest attraction to the water sports and pool forum. Rising from the water,

the Aqua Climb wall has been designed for swimmers to add to their workout or playtime without leaving the water. The panels have a gentle texture, with a nonslip surface. the Aqua Climb can be permanently installed or designed as a portable structure. Call Sprint Aquatics for the latest pricing and availability of this revolutionary item. Circle No. 91 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 upper and lower extremity exercises, running, walking, swimming, and explosive plyometrics. Circle No. 92 on Reader Inquiry Card

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. 93 on Reader Inquiry Card

“When it comes to overall protection, comfort, and durability, the TriLok™ ankle brace is hands down the best brace on the market today. My athletes can only obtain the greatest level of ankle injury prevention if they are wearing the TriLok™ ankle brace.” E.C., ATC, Ashland, Oregon “I am twenty-one years old and I run orienteering on a high national level in Norway. I have used the TriLok™ ankle control system for two years running orienteering and have found that it is the best ankle support I have ever tried! The support is an inexpensive and comfortable alternative compared to taping and other supports I have tried. Thank you.” J.W., Norway “I just fit a TriLok™ on a 16-year-old male with cerebral palsy. Even after multiple surgeries he felt unstable even with a sports styled knee brace for his left knee and an ankle brace. His parents could not believe the change in his walk with the TriLok™.” Dr. P.J., New York “I really like the TriLok™. I’ve started back running this past week. I actually everted over a chunk of snow and felt the TriLok™ controlled me really well. It’s much more affordable than other braces that I usually suggest to my patients.” R.W., PT, Minnesota

Bio Skin/Cropper Medical, Inc. 240 East Hersey Street, Suite 2 Ashland, OR 97520

In the next issue... Nutrition Products Leg Strengthening Equipment Catalog Showcase 54 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

C USTOMER T ESTIMONIAL

ATHLETICBID.COM

800.541.2455 www.bioskin.com

Catalog Showcase Creative Health

Power Systems, Inc.

(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.

(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, speed, plyometrics, agility, strength equipment, strength accessories, and flooring. You’ll find the catalog full of new products as well as some products that have been improved. Not only will you find these changes, but you will also find that the company has lowered some prices enabling the customer to get premium products at great pricing. Go online or call Power Systems to request a free 2003 catalog today. Circle No. 96 on Reader Inquiry Card

Circle No. 95 on Reader Inquiry Card

Sammons Preston Rolyan

Perform Better (800) 556.7464, www.performbetter.com Now increased to 60 pages, the 2003 edition of the Perform Better catalog includes a wide array of high-quality 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 application to both training and rehab of the individual. The focus on the entire presentation is on functional training and rehab. Circle No. 97 on Reader Inquiry Card

(800) 323-5547, www.sammonsprestonrolyan.com From the leading provider of rehabilitation and splinting products, the 2003 Rolyan SportsMedicine catalog features over 200 pages of products for today's professional. Inside you'll find everything from bracing, splinting, tape & accessories and first-aid to clinic supplies, exercise equipment, treatment furniture, rehab products and much much more.

Circle No. 98 on Reader Inquiry Card

Finger Splints

one f inger splint treats Mallet Fingers, Volar Plate, Collateral Ligament injuries, and more. To order or request a free catalog, call

888-378-7763

Oval-8 finger splints are a proven winner for treating IP joint injuries.

Stevensville, Maryland

Visit our on-line catalog at:

www.3pointproducts.com Circle No. 38

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ADVERTISING DIRECTORY COMPANY

CIRCLE NO. PAGE NO.

COMPANY

CIRCLE NO. PAGE NO.

COMPANY

CIRCLE NO. PAGE NO.

3-Point Products (Oval-8) . . . . . . . . . .38 . . . . . . . .55

Foot Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 . . . . . . . .53

Power Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 . . . . . . . .52

Aircast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 . . . . . . . .26

Functional Design Systems . . . . . . . .14 . . . . . . . .18

Power Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 . . . . . . . .35

AnkleTough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 . . . . . . . .17

Game Ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 . . . . . . . .33

Power Yoga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 . . . . . . . .19

ASO (Medical Specialties) . . . . . . . . . . . .35 . . . . . . . .51

Gebauer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 . . . . . . . .31

Power-Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 . . . . . . . .59

AssistantCoach Systems . . . . . . . . . .28 . . . . . . . .36

Hafer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 . . . . . . . .63

Pro-Tec Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 . . . . . . . .34

Athletics Plus (SpringCo) . . . . . . . . . . .10 . . . . . . . .14

HPSO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 . . . . . . . .28

Quest Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 . . . . . . . .39

Biodex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . .11

Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 . . . . . . . .62

Sprint Aquatic Products . . . . . . . . . .39 . . . . . . . .55

Biofreeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . 5

Kytec Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 . . . . . . . .47

Stromgren Supports . . . . . . . . . . . .23 . . . . . . . .32

Brace International (Bar-1) . . . . . . . .46 . . . . . . . .61

McDavid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . .IFC

SwimEx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 . . . . . . . .23

Brace International (Fluk) . . . . . . . . .41 . . . . . . . .57

Med-Fit Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 . . . . . . . . 8

Total Gym/efi Sports Medicine . . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . 7

Brace International (MAX) . . . . . . . . .44 . . . . . . . .59

Mueller Sports Medicine . . . . . . . . . .16 . . . . . . . .19

TurfCordz/NZ Manufacturing . . . . . .42 . . . . . . . .57

Cadlow Shoulder Stabilizer . . . . . . . .12 . . . . . . . .17

NASM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 . . . . . . . .42

VersaPulley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 . . . . . . . .27

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

Oakworks (Adjustable Tables) . . . . . . . . .50 . . . . . . . .BC

VertiMax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 . . . . . . . .56

Cool Draft Scientific . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 . . . . . . . .46

Oakworks (Portable Taping Table) . . . . . . 8 . . . . . . . .12

Watergirl.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 . . . . . . . .61

Cramer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 . . . . . . .IBC

OPTP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 . . . . . . . .41

WissTech Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 . . . . . . . .14

Ferno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 . . . . . . . .43

Perform Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 . . . . . . . .25

FitBALL USA (Ball Dynamics) . . . . . . . . .27 . . . . . . . .36

Pilates Certification Program . . . . . .11 . . . . . . . .15

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 level of resistance through the complete concentric and eccentric movements, 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 DON'T WAIT FOR YOUR CLIENTS TO ASK ABOUT IT. HAVE IT! Circle No. 40 56 ◆

T&C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

ATHLETICBID.COM

PRODUCT DIRECTORY COMPANY

CIRCLE NO. PAGE NO.

COMPANY

CIRCLE NO. PAGE NO.

COMPANY

CIRCLE NO. PAGE NO.

3-Point Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 . . . . . . . .59

Functional Design (video digest series)

. . . . . . .60

OPTP (Resting Foot Sling) . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 . . . . . . . .51

Aircast (Ankle Brace) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 . . . . . . . .48

Game Ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 . . . . . . . .49

OPTP (ROCK) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 . . . . . . . .50

Aircast (Cryo/Cuff) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 . . . . . . . .48

Gebauer (Ethyl Chloride) . . . . . . . . . . . 66 . . . . . . . .49

Perform Better (Aquajogger) . . . . . . . . 90 . . . . . . . .54

AliMed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 . . . . . . . .59

Gebauer (Instant Ice) . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 . . . . . . . .60

Perform Better (catalog) . . . . . . . . . . 97 . . . . . . . .55

Biodex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 . . . . . . . .48

Hapad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 . . . . . . . .49

Pilates Certification Program . . . . . .102 . . . . . . . .58

Biofreeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 . . . . . . . .62

Hoggan Health Industries . . . . . . . . .116 . . . . . . . .60

PolarCool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122 . . . . . . . .62

CDM Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 . . . . . . . .59

HPSO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117 . . . . . . . .61

Power Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 . . . . . . . .59

. . .114

Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 . . . . . . . .48

Jump Stretch (continuous-loop bands) . . . 69 . . . . . . . .49

Power Systems (catalog) . . . . . . . . . . . 96 . . . . . . . .55

Cool Draft Scientific . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 . . . . . . . .60

Jump Stretch (Flex-Band equipment) . . . . 68 . . . . . . . .49

Power Systems (Pilates Ring) . . . . . . . .104 . . . . . . . .58

Cormax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 . . . . . . . .60

Kytec Athletic (Pro Gym Balls) . . . . . . . .101 . . . . . . . .58

Power Systems (Yoga Mats) . . . . . . . . .103 . . . . . . . .58

Cramer (Ankle Brace) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 . . . . . . . .48

Kytec Athletic (Swim Resistance Chute) . . . 88 . . . . . . . .53

Power Yoga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 . . . . . . . .58

Cramer (Coil Cool) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 . . . . . . . .60

McDavid (Ultra Ankle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 . . . . . . . .49

Pro-Tec Athletics (Arch Support) . . . . . . . 80 . . . . . . . .51

Creative Health Products . . . . . . . . . 95 . . . . . . . .55

McDavid (Ultralight Ankle Brace) . . . . . . . 71 . . . . . . . .50

Pro-Tec Athletics (Compression Wrap) . . . 79 . . . . . . . .51

DM Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 . . . . . . . .48

Med-Fit Systems (all tile pools) . . . . . . . 89 . . . . . . . .53

Quest Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . .124 . . . . . . . .62

Dura*Kold (Joint Specific Ice Wraps) . . . . . 61 . . . . . . . .48

Med-Fit Systems (K.A.T.) . . . . . . . . . .118 . . . . . . . .61

Sammons Preston Rolyan (catalog) . . . 98 . . . . . . . .55

Dura*Kold (Multi-use Ice Wraps) . . . . . . .113 . . . . . . . .60

Medical Specialties (The Dynatrack) . . . . 73 . . . . . . . .50

Sprint Aquatic Products . . . . . . . . . . 91 . . . . . . . .54

eSimtrak.NET (Premier Software) . . . . . .123 . . . . . . . .62

Medical Specialties (The Patellavator) . . . 72 . . . . . . . .50

Stromgren (SuperWrap) . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 . . . . . . . .51

Ferno (AquaCiser) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 . . . . . . . .53

Mueller Sports Medicine . . . . . . . . . . 74 . . . . . . . .50

Stromgren (Z175 Ankle System) . . . . . . . 82 . . . . . . . .52

Ferno (HydroTrack) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 . . . . . . . .53

NASM (continuing education) . . . . . . . . .120 . . . . . . . .61

SwimEx (SPT Aquatic Treadmill) . . . . . . . . 93 . . . . . . . .54

Foot Management (footpads) . . . . . . . 63 . . . . . . . .48

NASM (Integrated Flexibility Specialist)

. . . . . . . .61

SwimEx Systems (conditioning pools) . . . 92 . . . . . . . .54

Foot Management (Turf Toe plates) . . . . 62 . . . . . . . .48

Oakworks (Portable Taping Table) . . . . . . 75 . . . . . . . .50

Watergirl.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 . . . . . . . .52

Functional Design (lower extremity concepts) . 64 . . . . . . . .48

Oakworks (The Boss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 . . . . . . . .50

. . . . .119

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s WWW PERFORMBETTER COM Circle No. 41

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ScoutingReport Yoga & Pilates THE HARD & THE SOFT ASTANGA YOGA INSTITUTE (631) 324-8409, www.power-yoga.com Power Yoga by Beryl Bender Birch details a hot, sweaty, safe workout that is without equal as integrative yoga training for competitive athletes. The accompanying DVD, Power Yoga for Runners by AllAmerican distance runner Thom Birch is a 30-minute introduction to the practice. The system is internationally recommended for strength, flexibility and prevention of/rehabilitation from sports injury. Circle No. 100 on Reader Inquiry Card

KYTEC ATHLETIC SPEED EQUIPMENT (800) 732-4883, www.kytec.us Kytec’s Pro Gym Balls™ are the most versatile training product for core strength development and spinal stabilization. The balls ship deflated, and require a pump with an air nozzle adapter to inflate. Order by person’s height. The burst-resistant shell is much thicker than traditional balls and supports more weight safely. Ideal for institutional use. Circle No. 101 on Reader Inquiry Card

PILATES CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (206) 405-3560, www.pilatesseattle.com The Pilates and Physical Therapy Center of Seattle—10 years as the Pacific

Northwest's premier Teacher Certification center for The Pilates Method of body conditioning. During 700 hours of training and apprenticeship, you will develop a complete understanding of how the multi-level exercises compose an integrated system tailored to the specific needs and goals of individual clients, including a thorough knowledge of how/when to modify exercises for specific body types, conditions, and injuries. Circle No. 102 on Reader Inquiry Card

POWER SYSTEMS, INC. (800) 321-6975, www.power-systems.com Power Systems now offers it own line of Yoga products. The company’s new Yoga Mats not only are made out of comfortable closed cell foam, but come in two different thickness. The basic Yoga Mat is 1/8” thick and the Yoga Mat Plus is 1/4” thick. For more information and to request a free catalog call Power Systems or visit the company’s Web site. Circle No. 103 on Reader Inquiry Card

Power Systems not only offers a complete line of Yoga products, but it also has Pilates products too. Power Systems’ Pilates Ring is a soft foam covered high impact plastic ring. It is specifically designed to resistance to any Pilates or Yoga workout. For more information and to request a free catalog call Power Systems or visit its Web site. Circle No. 104 on Reader Inquiry Card

Correction Premier Software's contact information was incorrectly reported in the NATA Show Planner of the May/June 2003 issue. Below is the accurate information. We regret the error. Premier Software, Inc. PO Box 339, North Aurora, IL 60542 (630) 906-6630 Fax: (630) 906-6639 www.esimtrak.net and www.esimtrak.com E-mail: steve@simtrak.com

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“The INDIANAPOLIS COLTS have been using FOOT MANAGEMENT, INC custom foot orthotics and athletic training supplies for the last twenty years. I have been associated with Jack Kaeufer and FOOT MANAGEMENT, INC for thirty years, and I can say that his products and service to the COLTS and the college athletic training departments that I have been associated with have been exceptional. Jack Kaeufer and FOOT MANAGEMENT, INC have taught me a great deal about the care of sports injuries of the foot and ankle. In addition to this education, the products he produces have been outstanding for the athletes I have treated. Not only does he manufacture a fine product of orthotics, but he and his staff are very knowledgeable and helpful in making recommendations of what will work in the problem cases of the foot and ankle. The express shipment of their products is another plus with FOOT MANAGEMENT, INC. Many times we are in need of quick delivery of custom orthotics, and we can depend on FOOT MANAGEMENT, INC's staff to deliver to the COLTS an orthotic on time. They understand athletic trainers and the business we are in. My job as an athletic trainer has been successful with the help and assistance of Jack Kaeufer and FOOT MANAGEMENT, INC.” Hunter Smith, MA, ATC Head Athletic Trainer Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis, IN

Foot Management, Inc. 7201 Friendship Road Pittsville, MD 21850

410.835.3668 www.footmanagement.com

More New Products AliMed has added two new products to its Orthopedic Sports Medicine line. QualCraft Comfort Tennis Elbow Brace is ideal for lateral epicondylitis. Exerting gentle, adjustable pressure on appropriate muscle groups, it improves the biomechanics of wrist and forearm extension. Universal sizing simplifies stocking and inventory. The QualCare Comfort Knee Strap is best suited for chondromalacia, patellofemoral arthritis, runner’s knee, jumper’s knee, IT Band Friction Syndrome, patellar tendonitis, etc. Available in x-small to x-large. Improves patellar tracking and helps distribute dynamic forces evenly. Call (800) 225-2610 or visit www.alimed.com for more information. Circle No. 106 on Reader Inquiry Card Oval-8® finger splints, from 3-Point Products®, control the IP joints to stabilize acute injuries and protect healing fractures at rest or play. Thin and lightweight, Oval-8 finger splints can be worn under sports

gloves and allow fast, safe return to the playing field. Each splint can be turned on the finger to treat Mallet fingers, Boutonniere deformities, hyperextension, and more. They are sold individually and in a cost-saving kit. Call (888) 3787763 or visit www.3pointproducts.com for more information. Circle No. 107 on Reader Inquiry Card Castle Strength & Fitness offers the PowerStep. Use the same platform that 28 professional sports teams and 32 major colleges are now using. The PowerStep is revolutionizing lower leg training, while providing a base/platform for several other exercises. Several coaches are now realizing the advantages of concentric motion lifts (step-ups) as opposed to eccentric motion lifts (squats). The step-up is an in-season exercise that

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works the hips, thighs, and glutes without undue stress to joints and ligaments. Go to www.thepowerstep.com for more information or call (816) 517-2872 for a free instructional video. Circle No. 108 on Reader Inquiry Card CDM Sport has introduced to the U.S. market the Monitored Rehab Systems’ Functional Squat System along with five other pieces. This Functional Squat System is the first closed chain system designed for optimal training/rehabilitation and for diagnostic testing. The unique pivoting sled design replicates a standing squat during the entire range of motion. Many experts, who were on the squat system at Combined Sections Physical Therapy meeting in Tampa, said this is going to be the new gold standard for knee and hip rehab. The Functional Squat System is ideally suited for use in early rehab of ACL, PCL, PatelloFemoral, and Hip patients. The software is unmatched in the United States. You can

Stabilize Chronic Shoulder Dislocators, Separators, and Subluxators With over a decade of experience in shoulder brace design the MAXTM Shoulder Brace by Brace International, Inc. is an evolution in shoulder girdle support. The snug-fitting, lightweight material (under 2 pounds) allows for comfort with movement while its strap design system allows for many options to help protect the glenohumeral joint. Maximum Protection, Maximum Range of Motion

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Circle No. 43 Circle No. 44 A T H L E T I C B I D . C O M ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆ 59

More New Products test proprioception, coordination, maximal force, functional endurance, endurance capacity, strength capacity, and perform a Holten test. It is not how much weight you can move, but what you can do with the weight. There is also a Functional Training Module that has seven different exercises for the patient. People who normally have knee or hip pain on a regular leg press do not experience that pain on this Functional Squat System designed by Monitored Rehab Systems. Call (800) 400-7542 or visit www.cdmsport.com for more information. Circle No. 109 on Reader Inquiry Card For the 2003 season, Cool Draft Scientific presents its fully-redesigned Cool Draft. Cool Draft offers a portable and affordable way to cool over a 1,000square-foot area, is virtually maintenance free, and designed to last for years. The chilled breeze generated by Cool Draft gently lowers the body temperature. Combined with an effective rehab protocol, the Cool Draft substantially reduces the dangers associated with heat stress. Call (866) 676-1636 or visit www.cooldraft.com for more information. Circle No. 110 on Reader Inquiry Card Cormax Strength-Power Systems offers three machines that answer your explosive training needs safely and efficiently. This is a new and unique method of training that will improve and enhance the performance of athletes at any level. Squat jumps, cleans, jerks, and pressing at all angles. Cormax Strength-Power systems will change the way you train. Visit www.cormaxstrengthpowersystems.com for more information. Circle No. 111 on Reader Inquiry Card The Coil Cool, from Cramer Products, is an economical, efficient source for dispensing cold drinking water. A copper coil inside the cooler carries drinking water from the water potable hose attachment to the drinking hoses that hang on the sides of the cooler. Just add ice to the cooler, attach your water potable hose, and 60 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

crisp cool water is available through four adjustable drinking nozzles. Call (913) 8567511 or visit www.cramersportsmed.com for more information. Circle No. 112 on Reader Inquiry Card Dura*Kold Multi-use, Reusable Ice Wraps are available in two sizes. The 9” by 13” wrap can be used for injuries to the hand, elbow, knee, ankle, and neck. The 9” by 24” wrap can be used for these and injuries to the shoulder and back. Because of the simple design, the wraps are easy to use and fit all sizes. Ice therapy relieves pain and swelling the natural way. Call (800) 541-7199 or visit www.dura-kold.com for more information. Circle No. 113 on Reader Inquiry Card Functional Design Systems offers a comprehensive video digest series, (12-month subscription or individual monthly issues) encompassing the most up-to-date and proven information for functional analysis, injury prevention, physical rehabilitation, training and conditioning and performance enhancement. Based on in-depth knowledge of the biomechanics of human movement, the series teaches clear understanding of all forms of function. CEU accredited by the NATA, NASM, NSCA and most APTA states, this series is a great opportunity for physical therapists, athletic trainers, physicians, strength and conditioning coaches and personal trainers. Visit www.functionaldesign.com or call (866) 230-8300 for more information. Circle No. 114 on Reader Inquiry Card Gebauer’s Instant Ice™ is a non-prescription, nonflammable 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. Call (800) 321-9348 or visit www.gebauerco.com for more information. Circle No. 115 on Reader Inquiry Card The Sprint Upright Cycle, from Hoggan Health Industries, was designed with comfort and ease of use in mind. The adjustable seat and adjustable handlebars

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CAN'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT SWIMEX Spring training centers for Dodgers, Mariners, Rangers install new therapy pools The Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers have installed new SwimEx pools to be used for injury rehabilitation and conditioning at their spring training facilities in Florida and Arizona. SwimEx aquatic therapy, sport and conditioning pools are used by 35 professional sports teams, including 17 in Major League Baseball—more teams than any other pool maker—as well as 45 collegiate athletic programs. The Mariners use SwimEx pools in their home stadium as well. “We have a SwimEx in Seattle, and the players liked it so much they asked for one in Arizona,” said Mariners Head Athletic Trainer Rick Griffin, ATC. “Injured players can get back in shape faster than they would otherwise. The current generates more resistance than a still pool, which means it’s better for developing muscle strength, particularly in the upper body.” Griffin and Dodgers Head Athletic Trainer Stan Johnston, ATC mentioned that their positive experiences with the company helped them make the decision to purchase a SwimEx pool. “We chose SwimEx for our spring training facility because of the equipment quality, the company’s reputation and the level of service,” said Johnston. “If a company has good customer service, I’ll work with them for years even if the price is higher. SwimEx offers great follow-up in terms of education and customer support.” In a recent survey of athletic trainers who use SwimEx pools, two-thirds of respondents said their athletes were able to return to the field 20-50% faster with SwimEx than if they had not used aquatic therapy. Said Rob Lawton ATC, SwimEx’s Director of Sport Marketing, “When teams of this caliber tell us they can improve their performance just by having access to a SwimEx for a few extra weeks, that’s a tremendous endorsement of our commitment to quality and service. We look forward to continuing our work with the Mariners, Dodgers and Rangers.”

SwimEx 373 Market St., Warren, RI 02885

800.877.2946 www.swimex.com

More New Products allow the user to maximize their workout in either the upright or racing position. The Sprint Upright Cycle’s electronics do not require programming. The digital feedback system provides all vital information to the user including: Telemetry Heart Rate, Elapsed Time, Time Remaining, Watts, Distance, MPH, RPM’s and Target Heart Rate. Call (800) 678-7888 or visit www.hogganhealth.com for more information. Circle No. 116 on Reader Inquiry Card HPSO has been serving over 70 different healthcare professionals for more than 25 years. It now protects more than 650,000 healthcare professionals. Its service includes support and advice when you need it from its experienced staff of customer service representatives. Call (215) 773-4504 or visit www.hpso.com for more information. Circle No. 117 on Reader Inquiry Card Med-Fit Systems, Inc., offers K.A.T.— Kinesthetic Ability Trainer. The key to the

K.A.T. design is an inflatable bladder beneath the platform to provide variable, multilevel stability, incorporating actual motion into the assessment equation based on time and distance. A sensor on the platform using patented thermal accelerometer technology with no moving parts allows free 360 degrees range of motion and transfers data to a CPU with monitor using K.A.T. for Windows software. K.A.T. software includes provisions for both static and dynamic balance assessment through diversified tests, test patterns, and difficulty levels. In addition, the system incorporates built-in training modes or allows for the design of unique, individualized training protocols. Positive visual feedback to the patient and the automatic calculation of a balance index provide the necessary motivational tools. Test data are stored for each patient. There is no easier to use tool on the market today for diagnosis, evaluation, and rehabilitation of neurosensory deficits than the K.A.T. system. For more information, contact Med-Fit

Systems at (800) 831-7665, ext. 2 or visit www.medfitsystems.com. Circle No. 118 on Reader Inquiry Card The National Academy of Sports Medicine has introduced an advanced program designed just for athletic trainers. The Integrated Flexibility Specialist (IFS) introduces cutting-edge techniques to improve muscle tone, increase strength and agility, enhance weight loss and muscle gain and decrease the risk of injury in athletes of all levels. Discover why NASM’s revolutionary methods are used by thousands of professional, Olympic and collegiate athletes worldwide. Call (800) 460-6276 or visit www.nasm.org for more information. Circle No. 119 on Reader Inquiry Card The premier provider of industry certification now offers continuing-education recognized by NATA, NSCA and NASM. NASM’s cutting-edge courses are available through workshops in your area, homestudy and online methods. And its solution-based programs will help athletic trainers carve out a niche in today’s com-

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Need expert advice for the right brace for you? Visit our website WWW.WATERGIRL.NET or email us at MYM@ATT.NET Stay in the Game with Braces from WATERGIRL.NET “Judged to be the Best by Athletic Trainers” Circle No. 45 Circle No. 46 A T H L E T I C B I D . C O M ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆ 61

More New Products petitive industry with revolutionary techniques used by thousands of professional, Olympic, and collegiate athletes worldwide. Call (800) 460-6276 or visit www.nasm.org for more information. Circle No. 120 on Reader Inquiry Card Performance Health, makers of Biofreeze Pain Relieving Products and Prossage Massage & Bodywork Products, has announced that Brooks Kasson, a Texas massage therapist, is the recipient of The Charitable Humanitarian Award. Kasson volunteered much of her time and energy to the Texas Association of Massage Therapists. Peformance Health has initiated this award to give back to the communities and recognize healthcare professionals who have given of themselves. Recipients are presented with a plaque, and $500 is donated in the recipient’s name to a charity of their choice. Nominees must be a member of a professional healthcare association, and receive the approval of Performance Health. Call (800) 246-3733 or visit www.biofreeze.com for more information. Circle No. 121 on Reader Inquiry Card

On the practice field or during the game, when extreme heat conditions zap the performance and stamina of your athletes, turn on relief with PolarCool™ and “Defeat the Heat.” Manufactured with sports teams in mind, PolarCool is simple to operate, easy to maintain and is built to last. Major football programs everywhere depend on PolarCool for their portable cooling requirements. With sizes to fit every need, PolarCool should be a part of your game plan. Call (888) 7655732 or visit www.rollseal.net for more information. Circle No. 122 on Reader Inquiry Card eSimtrak.NET™ is the Web-based injury tracking system, from Premier Software, Inc., that provides mobile, worldwide access to training room information. Built

on the features of the proven product Simtrak™, eSimtrak.NET offers the most advanced technology at an affordable

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Jump Stretch, Inc. 1230 N. Meridian Rd. Youngstown, OH 44509 www.jumpstretch.com 1-800-344-3539 Fax: 1-330-793-8719 Circle No. 47 62 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 ◆

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price. Scanned documents and digital XRays are supported, bringing together the athletic training room and physician. This is the product for the new century. For more information go to www.esimtrak.net. Circle No. 123 on Reader Inquiry Card Exertional heat illnesses inhibit an athlete’s ability to perform at peak levels, threatens their life safety and can expose an organization to unprecedented liabilities. Quest Technologies’ environmental monitors enable athletic trainers, coaches and sports medicine researchers to obtain comprehensive and accurate information in real-time, display and record correlated core temperature and heart rate and provide real-time alerts and time history profiles of measured data that directly affect an athlete’s safety and performance. Call (800) 245-0779 or visit www.Quest-Technologies.com for more information. Circle No. 124 on Reader Inquiry Card

WebConnections AIRCAST, INC. WWW.AIRCAST.COM Newly revised Web site highlights Aircast’s product line for the functional treatment of orthopedic injuries in addition to a Patient Education section, which provides information regarding common injuries and the Aircast products that help treat them.

BIO SKIN/CROPPER MEDICAL, INC. WWW.BIOSKIN.COM Bio Skin® compressive bracing is breathable, light, thin, strong, hypoallergenic, latex free, neoprene free, and machine washable. Bio Skin is lightweight, low profile, comfortable, and easy to apply.

CHO-PAT, INC. WWW.CHO-PAT.COM Cho-Pat’s effective, dependable, and durable sports-medical devices help alleviate leg, foot, arm, and back pain. Highly recommended by physicians, trainers, therapists, and active individuals.

COOL DRAFT SCIENTIFIC WWW.COOLDRAFT.COM Portable Misting Systems. Portable 10gallon misting fans for sideline cooling.

For the 2003 season the company is presenting its fully redesigned Cool Draft misting fan.

EXTRACTOR CORPORATION WWW.SUITMATE.COM Extractor Corporation offers its Suitmate water extractor, designed to extract 95 percent of the water out of wet swimsuits and return them dry in five to 10 seconds. The product is for customer convenience and preventative locker room maintenance.

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.

FOOT MANAGEMENT, INC. WWW.FOOTMANAGEMENT.COM Foot Management, Inc., has more than 27 years of experience providing quality custom orthotics, prefabricated insoles, foot pads, felt, foam, and heel cups to professional sports teams and medical professionals.

THE GEBAUER COMPANY WWW.GEBAUERCO.COM Gebauer’s Instant Ice, a nonprescription, topical skin refrigerant, relieves minor pain as fast as ice without the mess. Athletes can get back in the game faster.

PREMIER SOFTWARE, INC. WWW.ESIMTRAK.COM, WWW.ESIMTRAK.NET The future of injury tracking is here! Provides mobile, worldwide access to training room information via the Web. Scanned documents and digital X-Rays are supported, bringing together the physician and athletic trainer. Built on the most advanced technology at an affordable price.

PRO-TEC ATHLETICS WWW.INJURYBEGONE.COM Pro-Tec Athletics’ Web site offers extensive information on sports injuries. Medical professionals contribute information on symptoms, treatments, and recommend supports for such injuries as: plantar fasciitis, patello-femoral pain, iliotibial band syndrome, shin splints, achilles tendinitis, to name a few.

“Custom Cases for the Sports Professional” Trainers Cases . Field Trunks . Equipment Cases . Wardrobe Cases . Broadcast Cases

Quality Products Competitive Pricing Fast Service 1018 Mulcahy St. Rosenberg, Texas 77471 800-990-8860 www.hafercase.com tunes@hafercase.com Circle No. 48

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Association Corner

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

ECA MIAMI 20 03 S PO RT S TR AI N IN G & FITNESS CONVENTION! Nov 14-16

The Voice of the Doctors who care for the Pros The PTP provides resources and services for all sports medicine professionals.

Visit www.proteamphysicians.com to find a PTP doctor, ask a question of a PTP doctor, or explore the educational materials from PTP regarding prevention, treatment and performance.

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!

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

64 ◆ T & C J U L Y / A U G U S T 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.

Circle No. 49

Because the game isn’t played in the locker room ...

... there’s OAKWORKS . Portable Adjustable Taping Tables

Portable Adjustable Treatment Tables

Circle No. 50