Runner's Health Choices Questionnaire: Male College Cross-Country Runners' Perspectives on Health and Eating.

CONTEXT: Competitive cross-country runners train at much higher loads and with greater demands than recreational runners, posing a unique set of physiological and psychological challenges. Thus, identification of factors influencing health and nutritional choices in male cross-country runners is needed to help combat energy-related health issues. PURPOSE: To assess male college cross-country runners' perspectives regarding sport-related health and the factors impacting their eating behaviors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS/METHODS: The Runner's Health Choices Questionnaire was distributed to male college cross-country runners. Responses were analyzed using quantitative descriptive statistics. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen runners completed the survey. Runners reported a diverse range of factors impacting eating and health behaviors from athletic performance enhancement to enjoyment of food. Less than 6% of athletes ranked athletic trainer, registered dietitian, or physician as often consulted for nutrition/health information. However, 75% of runners said they would be somewhat likely or very likely to make dietary or health changes if given new or additional information by a health care provider. CONCLUSION: Male cross-country runners appear to try to balance a global desire to be healthy with individual preferences. Athletes may be receptive to nutritional education that utilizes a biopsychosocial model with mental and psychological health support, and intentional effort is needed to support runners' overall health.

IMPROVING THE REPORTING OF THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE INTERVENTIONS IN REHABILITATION RESEARCH.

The foundation of evidence-based practice lies in clinical research, which is based on the utilization of the scientific method. The scientific method requires that all details of the experiment be provided in publications to support replication of the study in order to evaluate and validate the results. More importantly, clinical research can only be translated into practice when researchers provide explicit details of the study. Too often, rehabilitation exercise intervention studies lack the appropriate detail to allow clinicians to replicate the exercise protocol in their patient populations. Therefore, the purpose of this clinical commentary is to provide guidelines for optimal reporting of therapeutic exercise interventions in rehabilitation research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

The use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the automated external defibrillator in the practice of sports physical therapy.

During the initial assessment of the injured athlete, the Sports Physical Therapist (PT) must first be concerned with life-threatening emergencies such as absence of breathing and pulse. The sports PT must also be aware of the possibility of "sudden cardiac death" that could occur in others, including coaches, officials, and fans. If the PT assumes the role of "most medical" person at the contest or event, the responsibility for life saving action falls squarely on their shoulders. Therefore, skills and ongoing certification in cardio- pulmonary resuscitation techniques and the use of an automated external defibrillator are a basic necessity. These skills are required as part of the specialty practice of sports PT (BLS Healthcare Provider course or CPR for the Professional Rescuer in addition to completion of the First Responder Course OR credentials as an EMT or ATC), and are mandatory for being qualified to sit for the exam to become a sports certified specialist (SCS) by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).(3).

The riddell ripkord system for shoulder pad removal in a cervical spine injured athlete: a paradigm shift.

Since the inception of the term Sports Medicine Athletic Trainers, Sports Physical Therapists, Paramedics, and Emergency Room Physicians have faced a number of challenges when it comes to providing care to an equipment laden athlete suspected of having a cervical spine or serious head injury. The same equipment that is designed to protect the player may significantly impede the medical team when it comes to diagnosing and treating cervical spine and head injuries. Incorrectly removing the helmet and shoulder pads from a football player with a cervical spine injury, may lead to unwanted motion of the cervical spine during removal. It is the purpose of this article to review the current concepts relating to equipment removal and to introduce a novel system for quick and easy removal of football shoulder pads called the Riddell™RipKord system.

Pre-participation screening: the use of fundamental movements as an assessment of function - part 1.

To prepare an athlete for the wide variety of activities needed to participate in their sport, the analysis of fundamental movements should be incorporated into pre-participation screening in order to determine who possesses, or lacks, the ability to perform certain essential movements. In a series of two articles, the background and rationale for the analysis of fundamental movement will be provided. In addition, one such evaluation tool that attempts to assess the fundamental movement patterns performed by an individual, the Functional Movement Screen (FMS(™)), will be described. Three of the seven fundamental movement patterns that comprise the FMS(™) are described in detail in Part I: deep squat, hurdle step, and in-line lunge. Part II of this series, which will be published in the August issue of NAJSPT, will provide a brief review of the analysis of fundamental movements, as well a detailed description of the four additional patterns that complement those presented in Part I (to complete the total of seven fundamental movement patterns which comprise the FMS(™)): shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push-up, and rotary stability.The intent of this two part series is to introduce the concept of the evaluation of fundamental movements, whether it is the FMS(™) system or a different system devised by another clinician. Such a functional assessment should be incorporated into pre-participation screening in order to determine whether the athlete has the essential movements needed to participate in sports activities with a decreased risk of injury.

Pre-participation screening: the use of fundamental movements as an assessment of function - part 2.

Part I of this two-part series (presented in the May issue of NAJSPT) provided the background, rationale, and a complete reference list for the use of fundamental movements as an assessment of function during pre-participation screening. In addition, Part I introduced one such evaluation tool that attempts to assess the fundamental movement patterns of an individual, the Functional Movement Screen (FMS)(™), and described three of the seven fundamental movement patterns that comprise the FMS(™).Part II of this series provides a brief review of the analysis of fundamental movement as an assessment of function. In addition, four additional fundamental tests of the FMS(™), which complement those described in Part I, will be presented (to complete the total of seven fundamental tests): shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push-up, and rotary stability. These four patterns are described in detail, a grading system from 0-III is defined for each pattern, and the clinical implications for receiving a grade less than a perfect III are proposed.By reading Part I and Part II, it is hoped that the clinician will recognize the need for the assessment of fundamental movements, critique current and develop new methods of functional assessment, and begin to provide evidence related to the assessment of fundamental movements and the ability to predict and reduce injury. By using such a screening system, the void between pre-participation screening and performance tests will begin to close.