NFL concussion data

The NFL released their concussion data and reported a 58% increase in the number of concussions sustained this football season. There was also an increase in the number of head to head collisions that led to a concussion. While it is good that athletes are being screened and picked up at a higher level, it is concerning that rule changes to limit head to head contact do not seem to working as of yet.

The new standard in youth football is to teach heads up contact. This means that athletes look at their opponent, engage their neck muscles and use their chest and shoulders to initiate contact. This tackling style has led to a decreased incidence of concussion in youth athletes. I think this focus on tackling is fantastic and I am hoping that it changes how athletes tackle when moving up their playing career. I am concerned, however, that professionals are not modeling proper tackling behavior.

If professionals do not use proper technique, how can we expect younger athletes to do so? When they watch their idols playing every weekend and using their head to make contact how can we tell them on Monday that they did it wrong? For concussion education and tackling technique to make an impact it has to be both a top down and bottom up approach. The rules need to be upheld and proper technique needs to be stressed in order for substantial change to occur. I fear that if we don't stress the importance of technique at every level that we will continue to see head to head contacts and concussion rates that don't change over time.

http://www.athleticbusiness.com/athlete-safety/nfl-report-concussions-spiked-in-2015.html?eid=277204494&bid=1297447

Managing concussions at the youth level

Most States have concussion management programs in place, but they focus on high school athletes. This has left some confusion for non athletes or younger students who suffer a concussion. There is nothing special about the management of concussion for athletes or non athletes. It is rest until symptom free with a graded return to activity. The majority of students recover in 7-10 days and do not require any school accommodations.

The challenge is in handling the outliers. What to do with the ones that don't get better. We know that girls take longer to heal than boys and that younger students take longer than older students. We do not know definitively why this is the case, but there is some speculation.  If any individual sustains a head impact and a concussion is suspected it should be evaluated by a qualified medical professional. If they are taking longer to heal then accommodations for school may be suggested. This can be in the form of half days, limited homework and testing, the use of a tutor or physical changes like lower light and decreased computer screen use. All of these can be put in place by the school, but should be overseen by the physician.

I don't think that anything different needs to be done to handle concussions across the board, but more education and policy development may be needed so that everyone understands what to do.

http://www.athleticbusiness.com/civil-actions/legislation-would-toughen-concussion-law.html?eid=277204494&bid=1290676

Aggressive conditioning

Cal recently admitted that negligence of the school contributed, in part, to the death of a football player who died during a conditioning drill. As unfortunate as this event was, it forces us to keep in mind the potential dangers that exist when conditioning athletes.

Dr. Casa out of the Korey Stringer Institute at Connecticut has been very vocal that death due to heat stroke is 100% preventable. If the right policies are in place and adhered to, athletes can have their core temperatures brought under control in adequate time. And, while, the death of this young man seems to be heart related, the same principles apply. Aggressive conditioning with heavy individuals who have not been training adequately can be a deadly combination. The goal of training and conditioning is to apply a load, then recover from that load in order to progress. This means that gains are made over time in a planned manner. Varying the intensity of workouts is a very appropriate mechanism to change that load, but when workouts for any sport or competition significantly exceed a person's ability to handle it, a dangerous situation may exist.

There have been a few deaths in past years that have been the result of excessive conditioning of athletes, not to mention the other issue of rhabdomyolysis. Athletes want to be pushed and many of them excel with the pressure to achieve, but coaches, athletic trainers and fitness professionals need to remember that acute overload can lead to disastrous outcomes and plan accordingly.

http://www.athleticbusiness.com/civil-actions/cal-admits-negligence-in-football-player-s-death.html?eid=277204494&bid=1297447

Assessment of dysfunction

I saw an athlete today complaining of ongoing hamstring tightness and strains that I have seen in the past. Based on the exam I noticed he had very tight hamstrings and restricted movement. He also displayed a quad dominant squat pattern with patellofemoral overload and some instability with single leg squats. 

Based on his presentation we discussed a multi faceted program to improve his mobility and decrease his constant strains. We started doing 1 leg drops for movement and stability ball curls for hip and hamstring strength. We reviewed squatting and single leg squatting to engage his glute muscles to alleviate knee pain and we perform multi directional lunges for hip mobility. As an added bonus we worked on planks to strengthen his core and ensure that he can maintain adequate alignment. 

Since his hamstring is the main link between the pelvis and lower body it is easy to get tight and strained. In order to combat this we need to build a strong stable base for the pelvis and core muscles. When these are stronger the hamstring his not under the same amount of tension trying to provide stability. 

We will recheck his progress but this program should improve his strength and improve his motion leading to less recurrent strains. 

Observations in gymnastics

As a way to burn some energy, interact with peers and participate in physical activity we enrolled my 4 year old in gymnastics. The facility runs classes for many age groups and as I was watching I noticed a few things based on my experience as an athletic trainer and strength coach. 

Some of the older girls were working on their springing and jumping and they struggled with landing appropriately. Typically, gymnastics and dance overload the patellafemoral joint based on the inherent movements in their sport, but landing with a valgus knee or overly externally rotated foot is easily corrected. 

The valgus landing is the mechanism for suffering an ACL injury and there are proven exercises to decrease that risk. The externally rotated foot is how the girls gained stability when they landed off balance and this is another easily corrected movement by working on balance. 

Based on my observations, I would recommend that the athletes do some lateral hip strengthening, core stability, squatting and lunging patterns as a way to activate the appropriate muscles and reinforce movement patterns. Then, during practice the instructors can make verbal cues to remind the girls how to land. 

As an interesting note, some of the girls were landing in poor patterns because they lacked the strength to pop up high enough to complete the maneuver before landing. Time spent on developing strength, power and spring would help them gain enough height so they weren't landing off balance. 

While gymnastics is full of grace and strength, the opportunity exists to improve the motion of the girls to lessen the force generated in joints and lead to longer, healthier participation. 

Physical therapy vs. physical training

During a conversation with some colleagues yesterday, we were discussing the true benefits of physical therapy. Personally, I am lucky to work and collaborate with some very talented physical therapists. Still, the reason that people go to physical therapy are different than those who work with strength coaches, personal trainers, and so on. The main goal of PT is to decrease pain, improve range of motion and mobility and restore function. This is not the same as improving function or functional performance, which is a different goal.

Physical Therapy is great for soft tissue therapy and release of adhesions, improving flexibility and joint mobility and improving postural stability and neuromuscular control. They work with patients to regain some pain free motion, firing patterns and control after an injury or a surgery. All too often, however, the patients use physical therapy as a fitness program or a fitness consultant, which is an improper use of their expertise. In an ideal world (one where insurance does not determine treatment decisions) patients would work with a therapist on their specific injury and work with a  qualified fitness professional on maintaining their global health while they recover from their injury. I stress qualified because this changes with the specific injuries and diseases that patients have. A qualified strength coach may not be the best choice for a diabetic with heart disease. This population has specific guidelines and needs that need to be properly understood.

When the therapist and the fitness professional work together to help individuals return to, and improve, their physical capabilities, the patient wins. They are now able to have improved use of their injured limb and maintain and increase their global strength, endurance and capacity for exercise. I personally believe that it is time for treatment programs to focus on the holistic health of the patient and develop programs that help them address and improve all facets of their health. By focusing on one small area, we do patients a disservice. The key with therapy is to address and correct the causes leading to their pain and dysfunction while still exercising around their injury so they are maintaining their fitness and improving other aspects of their physical well-being.

Carnival cancellation and ramifications for IOC

Shocking news out of Brazil, they have cancelled the Carnival celebration this year. 

I can't but imagine that this will be a very unpopular decision with the locals. With the amount of money that has been allocated, spent and consumed on hosting large international competitions, they must be feeling pretty angry. This last summer is preparation for the World Cup there were protests against the massive spending on stadiums in remote areas that will probably not be used again. Add to this the fact that Brazil has struggled to upkeep their own economy and infrastructure and there is a recipe for disenchantment. 

I wonder what this means for the IOC, FIFA and others; they have chosen locations that have not been able to handle the large price tag and development that accompanies the events. Russia spent billions of dollars on hosting the games that will never be recouped. Brazil had the opportunity of hosting the two largest events in subsequent years, but even that task is too daunting. 

The bids for the events amount to billions, but where does the money come from and at what cost? The money is not about erecting facilities for the events, it has to include roadways, parking, electrical and sanitation infrastructure on top of the facility construction. If these additional investments are overlooked the results are obvious; the locals have to foot the additional spending on resources they won't be able to use and their sacrifices are generally not appreciated by their government or others. 

The end result is what is happening now, the government is stretched so thin they don't have the capacity to fund their own national events. And who does this effect? Certainly not the IOC, who will have their games, but the locals who will be left to pick up the pieces and hope that they will be able to pay back the debt some day. 

Thinking long term, what are these large bodies going to do? They want to expand the reach of their games and include new host counties, but the cost of economic disaster can't be worth it. Their will start to be increasing opposition to the games and who is chosen to host. In order to maintain and increase the goodwill they have lost, they are going to have to find a way to make hosting the games more sustainable. I, for one, hope they do. 

http://www.businessinsider.com/brazil-canceled-carnival-2016-1

Sport sponsorships

Sports are as popular as ever and a great business opportunity for those that want to be involved.

 

Due to the fan base and engagement, sponsoring sporting events/teams/leagues can be a valuable part of a business marketing strategy. By leveraging the built in support of the organization, you can align your business with that organization and capture their market. Building on this sponsorship via additional advertising and promotions can be a valuable way to create new customers, engage current customers and support your community.

 

If you are the sport organization, then getting sponsorships from businesses is a great way to develop partnerships, generate revenue and build community support. Aligning with local businesses allows you to use the business to reach potential fans and offer cross over services to fans through special promotions.

 

The benefits of sport sponsorship are valuable to both sides of the equation and when groups work together, everyone benefits.

 

http://www.thebusinessofsports.com/2016/01/20/tips-for-building-your-brand-through-sports-sponsorships/

Data use in the fitness industry

As industries are using data, analytics, models and aggregating information to better understand their customers, is the fitness industry next?

 

Can data help the fitness industry be more profitable and create better value for their consumers? Many argue yes. By reviewing journals and customer information, managers can make better decisions regarding their client base. We know that the majority of members choose a gym based on the location to their home and work. Knowing this, how can you market to appeal to a greater segment? Or, perhaps you have already done this and now you want to know how close to the club your members live or work. Looking through demographic information can help you understand that question.

 

What other possibilities exist for using data in the fitness centers? Things like equipment use, traffic, packages, and retail sales are all potential items. As are personal metrics like visits, goals, weight lost of performance metrics improved. Having a data base to enter this information and then showing the members how successful they have been is a great way to improve engagement.

 

Utilizing data to make decisions is here to stay. If you haven't thought about what you can look at in your gym, now is the time to start.

 

 

http://www.athleticbusiness.com/apps-software/data-mining-the-health-and-fitness-industry.html?eid=277204494&bid=1283932

Event security

When it comes to security at sports events, it can be hard to gauge how much is too much.

 

Like most things, it is dependent on the situation and the variables involved such as the teams playing, how close the game is, how the officiating is perceived, how many people are there, and alcohol are just a few of these variables. The challenge for administrations is how to keep things safe, fair and inclusive. We want people coming to events, cheering on their team and having a good time. We do not want people that are disrespectful, abusive or causing harm.

 

Knowing the teams and the fans is a good first step. If you know who is attending it is easier to keep things controlled. Having a trained security staff can also help. They don't  have to be police officers, although that helps at certain events. One of the good ones I have seen is to enlist teachers of the school to stand near the student section to keep things under control. This simple gesture sent a strong message that the fans were there to have fun, but it had to be controlled.

 

There are many ideas on maintaining security, and even national conferences dedicated to the subject. The point to remember is that if you are going to an event, you are there to have a good time and be supportive. As for the administrators, they are there to put on a good event and to keep it safe.

 

​http://www.athleticbusiness.com/event-security/controlling-unruly-fans-at-all-levels-of-sports.html?eid=277204494&bid=1282052

NCAA sport survey

As a part of this year's NCAA student survey, they included a section on youth sports participation.

 

It appears that many collegiate athletes were playing their sport competitively by age 9 and by age 12, specialization was starting to occur for some sports. What is interesting is that some athletes wished they had played other sports when they were younger, despite the success they enjoy in their primary sport. Other athletes thought that they played too many games when they participated in youth sports.

 

Many of the D1 athletes expressed expectations placed on them that they would play their sport at an elite level. These expectations may be contributing to their early specialization. 

 

As I discussed in a previous post, early specialization does not in any way guarantee participation at a higher level. For lifelong enjoyment of movement, athletics and fitness it is more beneficial to participate in a variety of sports to learn different motor patterns and appreciate different ways of engaging your mind and body through athletic endeavors. 

 

If you are one of the few elite athletes destined for Collegiate success and beyond, participating in different sports will not change your athletic ability, on the contrary, it may enhance it. Varying your participation can also decrease your risk of suffering certain injuries and lessen the impact of burnout.

 

Even though a lot of current College athletes specialized in their sport at an early age does not mean that the youth of today should follow suit. Let their interest, desire and skill blossom through changing the sport and when they get to high school look at doing more specialization. Even then, taking down time and following a strength program will offer greater yields then continuous sport activity.

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/2016/01/17/ncaa-survey-sheds-light-on-athletes-youth-sports-experience/?utm_source=followingweekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20160118#2d95b21d4683357f71374683

Relative age and injury risk

The ACSM released a study investigating the risk of injury based on their relative age. During sports, athletes are generally grouped together based on age with an arbitrary cutoff. This study looked at whether those 'younger' athletes were more at risk compared to their 'older' peers.

The study assessed how many injuries were sustained and where the athlete fell in the age range. Their results demonstrated that those athletes whose birthdays were closer to the cutoff and thus were younger, chronologically, speaking were more prone to injury.

I think this study is pretty interesting in that it is demonstrating that just because athletes are the same age, does not mean that they are equal. It is important to remember that an athlete's birthday falls in one of twelve months and their may be pretty large physical differences for those that are on opposite ends of that age spectrum.

When working with youth athletes it is important to match them based on maturity and skill in practice. This is not easy to do in games, depending on the sport, we have all seen those enormous size mismatches on opposite ends of the field. But, every effort should be made to allow kids to have fun, learn a new sport and play safe.

I will be looking forward to seeing if they expand on this initial study to ascertain the effects of chronological age in sport on a larger scale and what ramifications it has not only for injury, but skill development, drop out and long term success.

http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/pages/results.aspx?txtkeywords=relative+age

Rams stadium impact

The ongoing discussion of football stadium economic debate continues. On one hand the stadium owners claim that they generate additional revenue to the region and that ticket taxes, or payments per ticket sold, effectively contribute to the local coffers.

On the other hand, there are economists and local officials who say that the numbers do not accurately portray the true state of affairs. They say that the revenue that stadiums are claiming is actually coming from local money that would have stayed in the area anyway. They also argue that while the stadiums bring people in, it can cause traffic issues and local residents to leave.

No matter what side of the fence you are on, it is clear that the large stadiums and accompanying amenities are here to stay. As stadiums continue to expand there will surely be more studies that seek to better understand the financial relationship between stadiums and communities.

http://www.athleticbusiness.com/stadium-arena/some-economists-downplay-impact-of-new-rams-stadium.html?eid=277204494&bid=1278202