Search

Context: It is the educator's responsibility to prepare the students to be clinicians who think and reason critically while integrating research evidence into practice. Those new to the role of faculty member, who lack clinical and teaching experience, face challenges in the classroom application of those concepts. Objective: To discuss the challenges facing new faculty members and present strategies for addressing them. Specific faculty challenges addressed include learning their roles as educators and teaching multifaceted concepts, such as clinical reasoning and evidence-based medicine. Background: Experience provides a framework for a professional to balance multiple demands, whether as a new instructor teaching or a clinician synthesizing information to determine a course of action. Many new educators do not have extensive experience either clinically or in the classroom. This can cause anxiety as educators are confounded by their roles and responsibilities. Students likewise lack experience and may not possess the ability to systematically analyze patient encounters or research evidence. Constructivist learning theory paired with adult learning principles can address the learning needs of faculty members and students alike. Recommendation(s): Programs must provide assistance for new faculty and implement strategies for students to learn reasoning skills. Use of constructivist learning theory and application of the adult learning model are ways to address these deficiencies. Integrating concepts of active learning and self-direction while aligning expectations and creating overlap between classroom and clinical domains can assist in addressing the challenges faced by new faculty and students. Conclusion(s): The systematic process of evidence-based decision making is grounded in utilizing evidence. Strategies must be identified and implemented throughout curricula to target and enhance students' abilities to organize and synthesize information. Educators must use new methods in their own learning and teaching to enhance their students' abilities. New faculty members in particular require assistance in negotiating their roles.

Context: The Dynamic Leap Balance Test (DLBT) is a new dynamic balance task that requires serial changes in base of support with alternating limb support and recovery of dynamic stability, as compared with the Y modification of the Star Excursion Balance Test (Y-SEBT), which assesses dynamic stability over an unchanging base of support. Objectives: To assess the dynamic balance performance in 2 different types of dynamic balance tasks, the DLBT and the SEBT, in subjects with unilateral chronic ankle instability (CAI) when compared with matched controls. The authors hypothesized that the DLBT score would significantly differ between the CAI involved and uninvolved limbs (contralateral and healthy matched) and demonstrate a modest (r = .50) association with the SEBT scores. Design: Case-control. Setting: Controlled laboratory. Participants: A total of 36 physically active adults, 18 with history of unilateral CAI and 18 without history of ankle injury, were enrolled in the study. CAI subjects were identified using the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability questionnaire. Interventions: The DLBT and the SEBT were performed in a randomized order on a randomly selected limb in CAI and healthy subjects. Main Outcome Measures: Time taken to complete the DLBT and the reach distances performed on the SEBT were compared between the CAI and the healthy subjects. Results: There were no statistically significant differences (P < .05) in SEBT reach distances between groups. The DLBT time was greater (P < .01) for unstable ankles compared with the stable ankle. The authors found no correlation (P > .05) between DLBT time and any of the SEBT reach distances suggesting that the DLBT provides unique information in the assessment of patients with CAI. Conclusion: The DLBT challenges the ability to maintain postural control in CAI subjects differently than the SEBT. There is a need of more dynamic balance assessment tools that are functional and clinically relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates whether chronic ankle instability can be prevented, discussing: the relationship between mechanical and functional instability; normal ankle mechanics, sequelae to lateral ankle sprains, and abnormal ankle mechanics; and tissue healing, joint dysfunction, and acute lateral ankle sprain management. The paper describes a treatment model based on assessment of joint function, treatment of hypermobile segments, and protection of healing tissues at hypermobile segments. (Contains references.) (SM)

Investigated recovery of maximal force and power following a 10-km race. Data collected on 10 healthy male distance runners pre-race, immediately post-race, and 48 hours later indicated that strength and power capabilities of these 10-km runners were for the most part restored 48 hours after the race. Only the hamstring muscle group was not fully recovered. (SM)

Assessed the educational history, employment characteristics, and desired competencies of athletic trainers with doctoral degrees. Surveys of 116 trainers indicated that there were significant differences in job responsibilities and desired competencies between program directors and non-directors, employees of doctoral-granting institutions and non-doctoral-granting institutions, and doctoral student advisors and non-advisors. (SM)

The primary purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of a whole body compression garment on recovery from a typical heavy resistance training workout in resistance-trained men and women. Eleven men (mean [+ or -] SD: age, 23.0 [+ or -] 2.9 years) and 9 women (mean [+ or -] SD: age 23.1 [+ or -] 2.2 years) who were highly resistance trained gave informed consent to participate in the study. A within-group (each subject acted as their own control), balanced, and randomized treatment design was used. Nutritional intakes, activity, and behavioral patterns (e.g., no pain medications, ice, or long showers over the 24 hours) were replicated 2 days before each test separated by 72 hours. An 8-exercise whole body heavy resistance exercise protocol using barbells (3 sets of 8-10 repetition maximum, 2.0-to 2.5-minute rest) was performed after which the subject showered and put on a specific whole body compression garment one designed for women and one for men (CG) or just wore his/her normal noncompression clothing (CON). Subjects were then tested after 24 hours. Dependent measures included sleep quality, vitality rating, resting fatigue rating, muscle soreness, muscle swelling via ultrasound, reaction movement times, bench throw power, countermovement vertical jump power, and serum concentrations of creatine kinase (CK) measured from a blood sample obtained via venipuncture of an arm vein. We observed significant (p [less than or equal to] 0.05) differences between CG and CON conditions in both men and women for vitality (CG > CON), resting fatigue ratings (CG < CON), muscle soreness (CG < CON), ultrasound measure swelling (CG < CON), bench press throw (CG > CON), and CK (CG < CON). A whole body compression garment worn during the 24-hour recovery period after an intense heavy resistance training workout enhances various psychological, physiological, and a few performance markers of recovery compared with non-compressive control garment conditions. The use of compression appears to help in the recovery process after an intense heavy resistance training workout in men and women. KEY WORDS power, restoration, muscle damage, repair, soreness, mood states

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between lower-body muscle structure and vertical jump performance. Twenty-five resistance-trained men (age, 23.3 [+ or -] 3.2 years; height, 176.1 [+ or -] 7.4 cm; and weight, 86.2 [+ or -] 11.6 kg) took part in both anatomical and jump performance testing. Muscle fascicle thickness, fascicle length, and pennation angle were analyzed for the vastus lateralis (VL) and the lateral gastrocnemius (LG). Jump height and both relative and absolute power were measured for the squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and depth drop jump (DDJ). Regressions were used to determine if jump performance could be predicted using the aforementioned structures. No VL measurements were significantly correlated with any of the jump measures. Lateral gastrocnemius pennation angle was a significant but weak predictor of jump height for all 3 jump types (SJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.212, p = 0.021; CMJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.186, p = 0.018; DDJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.263, p = 0.005). When comparing jump height at increasing preloads, none of the variables of interest could significantly predict the jump height differences between CMJ and SJ. However, LG fascicle length had a weak but significant inverse relationship with DDJ-CMJ ([r.sup.2] = 0.152; p = 0.031). Lateral gastrocnemius thickness was the strongest predictor of absolute power for all jump types and between jump types (SJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.181, p = 0.034; CMJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.201, p = 0.014; DDJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.122, p = 0.049; CM-SJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.201, p = 0.014; DDJ-CMJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.146, p = 0.034). Lateral gastrocnemius pennation angle was also the best predictor of relative power for all 3 jump types and between jump types (SJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.172, p = 0.038; CMJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.416, p = 0.000; DDJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.167, p = 0.024; CMJ-SJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.391, p = 0.000; DDJ-CMJ: [r.sup.2] = 0.136, p = 0.039). Results for jump performance differ from those previously found for sprinting in that greater pennation and shorter fascicles, positively predicting jumping ability at increased prestretch loads reinforcing the need for training specificity. Our findings in resistance-trained men indicate that where jumping is vital to athletic success one can benefit from developing LG muscle architecture along with addressing eccentric strength. KEY WORDS ultrasound, ultrasonogrpahy, pennation, fascicle, preaugmented loading

Context: Achilles tendons (ATs) adapt to increased loading generated by long-term adoption of a minimalist shoe running style. There may be difference in the chronology and extent of adaptation between the sexes. Objective: To learn the chronology of AT adaptations in female and male runners who transitioned to a minimalist running style through a planned, progressive 12-wk transition program. Design: Prospective cohort study of well-trained, traditionally shod runners who transitioned to minimalist shoe running. Setting: Repeated laboratory assessment at baseline and 3, 12, and 24 wk after initiating transition program. Participants: Fifteen women and 7 men (of 29 enrolled) completed the study. Main Outcome Measures: The authors used diagnostic ultrasound and isokinetic dynamometry to generate a force elongation curve and its derivatives at each time point. Results: Greater adaptations were observed in men than in women, with men generating more force and having greater increases in CSA, stiffness, and Young's modulus and less elongation after 12 wk of training. Conclusion: Men demonstrated changes in AT properties that were consistent with increased loading of the triceps surae during exercise. The women demonstrated far smaller changes. Further investigation is warranted to understand when adaptations may occur in women and the implications of altered AT mechanical properties for performance and injury risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Tendon adapts to load through alterations in its composition and mechanical properties. Mechanical adaptation to increased load often involves increases in cross-sectional area (CSA), stiffness, and modulus. Runners exhibit these adaptations. Objective: To determine if runners wearing minimalist shoes had larger and stiffer Achilles tendons (AT) than traditionally shod runners. Design: Cross-sectional study of well-trained, traditionally and minimally shod runners. Setting: Laboratory assessment of trained runners. Participants: 23 men (11 traditional, 12 minimalist) and 8 women (6 traditional, 2 minimalist). Runners wearing minimalist shoes had 4.2 ± 1.6 y of training experience in minimalist shoes. Main Outcome Measures: The authors used diagnostic ultrasound and isokinetic dynamometry to generate a force-elongation curve and its derivatives. Results: Minimalist runners had a greater CSA: mean difference (MD) = 9.2 mm², stiffness (MD = 268.1 N/mm), and modulus (MD = 202.9 MPa). ATs of minimalist runners experienced greater stress (MD 8.6 N/mm²) during maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the plantar-flexor muscles due to greater force of contraction (MD 798.9 N). Conclusion: The AT in minimalist runners adapts by increasing size, stiffness, and modulus, which is consistent with our understanding of mechanical adaptation of tendon to increased loading. Increased stress to the AT likely requires a slow transition to minimalist running to allow the AT to adapt without evidence of injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The best predictor of patellofemoral pain (PFP) is examined. The most predictive measure of PFP was the static-alignment discriminant function (81.3 percent cases) whereas kinematic function was predictive in 69 percent of the cases and EMG function was predictive in 67 percent of the cases.

This article discusses physiological effects of endurance running on muscle force, peak power output, and physical performance. An analysis of the runners' body composition, peak oxygen consumption, and body fat percentage is presented.

Research suggests iontophoresis with 1% lidocaine is not effective when treating trigger point pain. This finding was reached through work with 23 subjects at a university athletic training facility in an attempt to treat sensitive trigger points over the trapezius.

Measuring passive knee extension before and after administering general anesthesia contributes to undertanding the mechanism of how flexibility is limited. Results in this study may have been produced by diminished neural drive to antagnist muscle groups, suggesting a more complex neural means for flexibility than the traditional model of neural drive to an agonist muscle.