Runner's health choices questionnaire: female collegiate cross-country runners' perspectives on health and eating.

OBJECTIVE: To assess female collegiate cross-country runners' perspectives regarding sport-related health and the factors impacting eating behaviors. PARTICIPANTS/METHODS: The Runner's Health Choices Questionnaire, a previously validated survey, was electronically distributed to female collegiate cross-country runners. Quantitative descriptive analysis was performed on all questions. RESULTS: A total of 353 female collegiate cross-country runners completed the survey. The most common intrinsic factors that impacted overall diet type were makes you feel healthy, enjoyment of food, and athletic performance enhancement. Extrinsic factors such as practice/race that day, creating a balanced diet, and choices in the cafeteria were the top factors influencing daily meal decisions. Seventy-seven percent of athletes reported that they would be likely to apply information from a healthcare professional if they had access. CONCLUSION: Female cross-country runners appeared willing to apply nutritional information; therefore, it is important that generalized nutrition education with an emphasis on intrinsic and extrinsic factors for food choices be considered for female collegiate cross-country runners.

Students' perceptions of training and experiences with interpreters in a pro bono physical therapy setting.

Professional interpreters are an essential part of the healthcare team in providing high-quality care to all patients. However, interprofessional skills for working with professional interpreters are often not developed until after entering the workforce. Little is known about the educational impact of working with interpreters in a pro bono setting during graduate education. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate students' perceptions of their training and experiences working with a professional interpreter in a pro bono physical therapy setting. Eighteen physical therapy students participated in one of five focus groups. Students who took part in the study had volunteered in a pro bono physical therapy clinic and worked with a professional interpreter. Four primary themes emerged from the data: Value, Patient-Centered Care, Challenges, and Professional Development. Based on student feedback, key findings were: 1) an increase in student confidence in working with a professional interpreter, 2) the safe learning environment of a supervised hands-on experience promoted learning through challenges, and 3) the value of professional interpreters as part of the healthcare team and their assistance in developing interprofessional communication skills. When considering Doctor of Physical Therapy education, offering a low-stakes hands-on experience with professional interpreters may offer distinct growth opportunities for students as they develop their professional skills.

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.

THE FEMALE ATHLETE TRIAD-WHAT EVERY PHYSICAL THERAPIST SHOULD KNOW.

UNLABELLED: Females participating in sports have the potential of developing one or multiple parts of the Female Athlete Triad, defined as the inter-relationship among energy availability, menstrual function, and bone mineral density. Energy availability, defined as dietary energy intake minus exercise energy expended, is believed to be at the cornerstone of the triad, and complications from low energy availability span many of the bodily systems and can have psychological implications. Treatment of the triad requires a comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach. Physical therapists frequently treat injured athletes and may have prolonged interactions with athletes depending on the length of the rehabilitation process. In addition to examination, assessment, and treatment of injuries, the role of the physical therapist includes prevention, and the promotion of health, wellness, and fitness. Thus, the goal of this clinical commentary is to identify and describe essential knowledge for the physical therapist, clearly identify the role of the physical therapist as part of multi-disciplinary management team, and outline resources for the physical therapist and athletes relevant to the female athlete triad. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

Relationship between hip and core strength and frontal plane alignment during a single leg squat.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between frontal plane kinematics of the single leg squat and strength of the trunk and hip in females. PARTICIPANTS: Forty healthy females participated in this study. METHODS: An isometric "make" test using a dynamometer was used to assess peak force normalized to body weight for hip abduction, hip extension, hip external rotation, and a sidelying plank test. Two-dimensional software was used to analyze the frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) and pelvic angle during a single leg squat to 60°. RESULTS: All 4 strength factors were significantly correlated with the FPPA, ranging from r = 0.396 to r = 0.466. During multiple regression analysis, hip abduction strength was the greatest predictor of the variation in FPPA at r(2) = 0.22, p = 0.002. Thus, hip abduction strength accounted for 22% of the variation in the FPPA during the single leg squat. The only strength factor demonstrating a significant correlation with the pelvic angle was hip extension strength (r = 0.550, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Clinicians should consider the role of the hip abductors, hip external rotators, hip extensors and core musculature on the impact on the FPPA during a single squat, with focus on the hip abductors.

Student perceptions of outcomes from participation in physical therapy pro bono clinics: a qualitative study.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to assess the students' perception of the professional impact of volunteering in a pro bono physical therapy clinic. Three focus groups of second- and third-year physical therapy students were conducted using a flexible guide of questions. Focus groups' transcriptions were coded, and themes and subthemes were developed from these codes. Four main themes emerged from the data: Core Values, Clinical Physical Therapy Skills, Professional Growth, and Community and Professional Connections. Multiple sub-themes also emerged. The development of a broad range of tangible and less tangible professional characteristics helps to validate student volunteer participation in physical therapy pro bono clinics.

Shoulder pain and dysfunction secondary to neural injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Resident's Case Study BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION: The reports of spinal accessory nerve injury in the literature primarily focus on injury following surgical dissection or traumatic stretch injury. There is limited literature describing the presentation and diagnosis of this injury with an unknown cause. The purpose of this case report is to describe the clinical decision-making process that guided the diagnosis and treatment of a complex patient with spinal accessory nerve palsy (SANP) whose clinical presentation and response to therapy were inconsistent with the results of multiple diagnostic tests. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient was a 27-year-old female triathlete with a five month history of right-sided neck, anterior shoulder, and chest pain. OUTCOME: Based on the physical exam, magnetic resonance imaging, radiographs, electrodiagnostic and nerve conduction testing, the patient was diagnosed by her physician with right sterno-clavicular joint strain and scapular dyskinesis and was referred to physical therapy. Care was initiated based on this initial diagnosis. Upon further examination and perusal of the literature, the physical therapist proposed a diagnosis of spinal accessory nerve injury. Intervention included manual release of soft tissue tightness, neuromuscular facilitation and sport-specific strengthening, resulting in full return to functional and sport activities. These interventions focused on neurological re-education and muscular facilitation to address SANP as opposed to a joint sprain and dysfunction, as initially diagnosed. DISCUSSION: Proper diagnosis is imperative to effective treatment in all patients. This case illustrates the importance of a thorough examination and consideration of multiple diagnostic findings, particularly when EMG/NCV tests were negative, the cause was not apparent, and symptoms were less severe than other cases documented in the literature. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnosis, level 4.