We love Fall in New England

Happy Fall everyone! 

Argh!

Our poor athlete with the black eye has managed to hurt her right eye again! This time she got sweat in her eye during practice and may have gotten debri in there too. We tried to see if we could use saline to get rid of the foreign object but it unfortunately did not work. She could not get her eye to open! So we gave the athlete an eye patch to see if some rest and shade from the light will help!

Soccer Injury

Congrats to our BSU Women's Soccer team for beating Fitchburg State University this weekend! However, our win didn't come without little bumps and bruises. Here one of our athletes sustained a nice little black eye during the game. Nice job ladies! Go Bears!

Happy Thursday!

Happy Thursday everyone! Here's a throwback Thursday picture from preseason with my fellow BSU AT classmates! Although we are in different stages of our academic careers, Ashley and CJ are still undergrads, they are the most knowledgable and hardest working undergrads I know! They definitely enhance my clinical experience and make it a very enjoyable experience! Go Bears!

Hyphema

So his injury was not sports related but I had to put this up! Enjoy!

BSU Women's Soccer Injury to the Medial Malleolus

Ouch! This is a picture of our poor BSU Women's Soccer athlete with serious bruise after direct kick to her medial malleolus during a game. She was sent to the ER for x-rays and no fracture to the medial malleolus. 

Here we are working with our athlete with some strengthening exercises after functional assessment. You can see here athlete has more valgus force to her knee when coming down into a forward kneeling lunge. By using a Theraband, we are trying to teach the athlete how to properly lunge forward without the excessive valgus direction to her knees and hoping to activate her glut med as seen in her functional movement assessment. Check out her form! Do you see anything that may be a little off? Her tibia is slightly internally rotated which may be causing some of the valgus direction of her knees.

In The News 3

As young children, we always idolized athletes as our heros and were always in awe of the special talents of our athletes. At the Olympic Games, we could see our heros fighting hard to win for our country. However, today we realize that our athletes are not as perfect as we thought they were. In the news this week, Michael Phelps, a U.S.A. Olympic swimmer, has recently gotten himself into a bit of trouble. Phelps was charged with a DUI and speeding last week in Maryland with a blood alcohol volume of .14. This is not the first offense on Phelps. In 2004, Phelps was charged with a DUI in Salisbury, Maryland. He was also caught on camera smoking marijuana five years later.

Following Phelps arrest, he released statements through social media that he will be getting help with this problem. The four time Olympian said, "swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual." The U.S. Swimming executive states serious action must be taken due to his behavior. As a result, the U.S.A. Swim team has decided that he will not be paid his stipend and will not be on the U.S.A. Swim team next year for the summer games.

After reading this article, I was pleased to hear about how quickly the U.S.A. Swim team took action on this case. Compared to the past two articles in the news about Ray Rice and Hope Solo, the action of the U.S.A. Swim committee has put my faith back into professional sports. After Hope Solo, was charged with domestic violence, she was still part of the U.S.A. Women's Soccer team and Nike was still sponsoring the athlete. For the Ray Rice case, the football star was not punished until months after. Those that have committed a crime should be immediately punished.

As a spectator, Phelps's image should be one that inspires us to do better and to influence the younger generations. Many young swimmers aspire to be just like Phelps and to further themselves to the professional levels and, one day, an Olympian themselves. After the news broke of his DUI, Phelps was immediately punished for his wrong doings. Again, I applaud the U.S.A. Swim team for taking action.  

However, does social media portray his action as a bigger issue than if Phelps's was not a famed Olympian? I believe that social media takes cases of athletes to a whole different level. Social media has somewhat tainted the athlete. Today, we assume that Phelps is a bad athlete because of his criminal charges. Will we every look at Phelps and his talents the same as compared to before his criminal charges?

As future practicing athletic trainers, we should not discriminate any of our athletes after having knowledge of their criminal charges. They are still part of the team and should be able to receive full attention as the rest of the athletes. If any one of our athletes is having problems with drinking and drug use and have no one to turn to, they should be able to come to us, athletic trainers, for guidance. I know that it may be difficult for those to individuals to come forth and confess but we should all be open-minded to hear what the athlete has to say and assess the situation to move forward.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/06/sport/michael-phelps-suspended/index.html

Mallet Finger

Here you go ladies and gentleman, a live mallet finger.  This is the first time I have seen a mallet finger in real life! A BSU football player sustained this injury last week. When asked, "how did it happen" his response was, "I didn't even realize this happened until I took my glove off." Classic! 

In The News 2

In the news this week, I stumbled upon an article about gay rights in the Gordon College campus. Although this article may be a bit different from the usual athletics news, I felt that this article was important to the way we,  athletic trainers and future aspiring athletic trainers, run our athletic training facilities. This summer, Gordon College was under attack following their presidents decision to "exempt to federal workplace protections for gay and transgender people." After Gordon College's decision, the city of Salem ended their contract with Gordon College to look after the Old City due to Gordon's College's discrimination against LGBT.

Paul Miller, a graduate of Gordon college and current graduate student, leads a group called One Gordon. In his meeting with Gordon College alumni, the topic of the discrimination against gays and transgender and students are saying that they will transfer due to the decision made by the president. Alumni said they had a great experience at Gordon but change must be made. At the meeting the alumni and current students are fighting for the LGBT community.  Miller has a petition against the presidents decision and has about 800 signatures. The One Gordon group hopes to create a positive atmosphere and a safe environment for those that are a part of the LGBT community.

After reading this article, I was genuinely shocked about the conservative decision made by Gordon College. Today, we live in a world where the LGBT community is safe to acknowledge their sexual orientation to the public. In the collegiate setting, colleges are a melting pot of genders, races, ethnicities, and sexual orientation. It is a place where a student figures out who they are and not what their families tell them they are.In the past year, several student athletes and professional athletes are coming out as gay. Many sports are defined as a "masculine" and usually "straight" sports but does it define sexual orientation? Absolutely not. As a future practicing athletic trainer, I will not allow any discrimination against LGBT within my facility. As a minority myself, I have experienced discrimination against my race and understand the mental effects that succumbs an individual. Athletes should feel safe and comfortable being themselves and being comfortable to talk to their athletic trainers about any discrimination they are faced with.


http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/03/alumni-stand-for-gay-rights-gordon-college/jE3pA4qoBOfkbeWCpqpg3O/story.html

In The News

In light of the Ray Rice case, another domestic violence incident has surfaced about the same time the news of Ray Rice allegations. Hope Solo, an Olympic Women's Soccer player, has been charged with domestic violence. Earlier this year, she was accused of attacking her sister and her nephew in Solo's sister's home in Kirkland, Washington. When police arrived to the home, they noted Solo's nephew's shirt was torn up and the nephew was bleeding. Solo is pleading "not guilty" to two counts of domestic violence.

Although the Hope Solo story has been sent to the back burner while the Ray Rice case takes center stage, this article relays ideas that the reader may have not thought twice about.
As a popular USA Women's Olympic Soccer goalie, Hope Solo was and still is sponsored by popular companies such as McDonald's, Nike, and Anheuser-Busch. After the incident, McDonald's, Nike, and Anheuser-Busch are taking the incident seriously and Nike says they are "closely monitoring" the situation. They have not dropped Hope Solo from their ad campaigns quite yet and Solo is allowed to participate in the upcoming matches. Is Hope Solo still in the the league because she's a woman and domestic violence suspects are mostly men and a woman is rarely seen as one?

Do you think think that U.S. Women's Soccer is taking this situation too lightly when compared to the Ray Rice case? Ray Rice, although it took several months for the story surface, has been suspended and fired from the Baltimore Raven's. Compared to Hope Solo, she has not been "punished" for her actions as she is pleading "not guilty." I feel that her actions closely resembles Ray Rice's however, the only difference to this story is that the abuse was not recorded and seen nationwide in all forms of social media.

We are not setting a great example to the younger societies equality for all because of the charges that have not been placed on Hope Solo yet. In our society, women are always portrayed as the "victim" while men are the "suspects". Here in this story we can see that the obvious abuser is a woman and also an Olympic athlete. Solo is seen as a hero to many young female and male fans across the nation. How is Solo setting a great example of a 'hero' if she portrays a negative attitude in her own personal life?


http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/brennan/2014/09/22/hope-solo-us-soccer-domestic-violence-charge/16072499/

Stuart Scott Speech At The ESPYS

I found that this speech was very inspirational in all aspects of life. The most striking and realistic quote Stuart Scoot said was, "when you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer." He also goes on to say, "you beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live." Although his speech is about his deteriorating health, I feel that we, even those that are outside of the healthcare realm, can all relate this quote to whichever road life takes us. It is important that we give our all in what we want in life. You aren't defeated when others tell you you lost. You only are defeated when you give up. 

My Athletic Training Philosophy

“Treat others how you would want to be treated.” As simplistic as this quote is, I think that this is the perfect philosophy not only in the everyday life, but also within the athletic training field. What this quote means to me is that if someone gives their all in helping me achieve my goals, I will return the favor with all of what I have to offer. We have all been taught this saying since the day we were able to understand how the world works around us. As a result, I have been living by this quote for the past twenty-four years of my life and treating my athletes using the same philosophy.

As an athletic training student and future practicing athletic trainer, my goal with every patient/athlete is to provide the best healthcare that I have to offer.  My trust in my physicians who take care of my health would be the same trust my athletes and patients would have in me when returning them to the field. If I don’t know a question, I will do everything in my power to find the answer to not only treat my athletes, but to also educate them. I will check up on my athletes on a regular weekly basis to see how they are feeling and if there are any improvements. I will work with each athlete to specifically give him or her the most adequate exercises fitted for their individuals injuries and not a cookie-cutter routine. 

The reason why I want to be an athletic trainer is because I want to give back to my community. Many of my aunts and my mother work in the geriatric field and they develop great relationships with their patients. After a long days' work, they feel accomplished and rewarded for helping their patients and being able to put a smile on their faces. My goal in life is the same. I find athletic training to be extremely rewarding as well, especially when we can help an athlete return to the game they love. As an athlete at Nichols College, I spent numerous hours in the athletic training room for my injuries. I got to know my athletic trainers and put my health in their hands because I learned to trust them. They spent countless hours in the athletic training room with each of us to rehabilitate and return us to the field. They cared so much about how are injuries were and made us feel comfortable enough to go to them about anything. I would like to be able to develop a relationship with my athletes or patients where they can trust their healthcare in my hands. My goal in the athletic training field is to treat my athletes with the best care I can provide and simply make them happy.

Evidence-based practice is extremely important to myself and the well being of my athletes that I treat. It is important to know why I am performing a type of treatment or rehabilitation technique in order to be able to educate them to have a proper recovery. Attending the NATA conventions and all other healthcare related functions will be a great tool to expand my knowledge to excel. As a future athletic trainer, I must be open-minded because of the ever-changing world of technology that may affect the healing process of each athlete. Not only is technology changing but also equality and diversity of the people in our society. I must also be able to communicate with my athletes and be able to understand their needs physically and emotionally. Athletic training is a life long learning profession. Athletic trainers must understand that each individual is different and to become the best clinician, we must develop an individualized approach for each athlete. I am still learning how to be the best clinician and am doing so by the clinical experience I have had. When I don’t know an answer, I ask why. I listen to what my clinical instructors teach me and take that knowledge and create my own protocols. I have learned the hard way that there is no silly question. I have also learned to take it upon myself to step outside of the box when creating rehabilitation or prevention protocols. "Treat others how you would want to be treated," will forever be my philosophy to living my life. 

            

My Motivation

My motivation to finish my Masters degree and my thesis is because of my Ah Gung (grandpa). I grew up with only my mother as my sole provider and my grandparents. They have all worked extremely hard to help me get to where I am today. My family immigrated from China in the early 80's and I am the first generation to graduate from college and to go on to get my masters degree.

 My grandpa unfortunately passed away just two months before I started my grad program at BSU. He was not only my biggest cheerleader but he was also my father. He always taught me to "treat others the way that you would want to be treated." The way I am today and the way I treat others is because of him. I strive to be the best friend, daughter, granddaughter, cousin, worker, student and person because my Ah Gung. 

May he rest in peace with a can of Bud Heavy in his hand while watching Tom and Jerry. 6/13/13

Motivational Friday Video

Need a little motivation this week? Month? Semester? Year? Here's a video that may help! Keep positive and just keep on smiling.  

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=685054621537395&id=131419373567592

BSU Women's Soccer

Here's a snapshot of BSU Women's Soccer practice under the light last Friday! 

Ray Rice Domestic Violence

In the past several months, news of domestic violence from an NFL Baltimore Raven's athlete, Ray Rice, has surfaced on every news broadcasting station and social media around the country. Here is a slight look as to what was happening: Ray Rice Suspended from the NFL after new video surfaces (The National).

Recently, Ray Rice has been the most popular topic trending social media and I happened to stumble upon a short segment by Fox News' No Filter with Katie Nolan (who is actually from my hometown Framingham.) She talks about the  response of the female population who is threatening to boycott the NFL. Why boycott the NFL when, in this case, the female voice should be heard to make a difference. I personally agree with Katie Nolan that the female voice should be heard. If we, females, ignore the situation, the change that we have been fighting for will be ignored as well. Below is a link to Katie Nolan's video about the issue.
Katie Nolan's 'Why Boycotting the NFL because of Ray Rice is not the answer'

What do you think?

First NATA Convention in Indy 2014

Alright so I lied, this one will be my final Flashback Friday! Here is my dear roommate/classmate Allison and I at our first NATA Convention in Indy this summer!

Thesis Presentation 2013

Last Flashback Friday of the day. This was the first time I presented my thesis to the graduate classes in the Department of Movement Art, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies at Bridgewater State University in December 2013.

Cailey A. Bilodeau Memorial Fund

In memory of Cailey A. Bilodeau, we are selling bracelets to make a donation in Cailey's name to BSU (more details to follow).

“REST EASY” 

“CAILEY A. BILODEAU”

If you would just like to make a donation to the Cailey A. Bilodeau Memorial Fund, you can do so by clicking the link below. 

Cailey A. Bilodeau Memorial Fund

AT Club Symposium 2014

Flashback Friday at the AT Club Symposium back in March 2014. Missing our angel, Cailey Bilodeau. Rest in peace sweet girl.

First Clinical Rotation with BSU Football

Flashback Friday to last Fall of 2013 during a night practice at Bridgewater State University's Swenson Field with my preceptor Chris Noyes off to the side.

Blisters Gone Wrong

Caution to those that may have a sensitive stomach: the pictures below may not be so appealing to the eyes. However, for those in the athletic training field or love sports injuries, these are by far the most unbelievable pictures of your ordinary blister gone a just bit wrong. During preseason at Bridgewater State University, I had the opportunity to work with the BSU Football team in the athletic training room and out on the field. An incoming freshman came in several times with blisters as any other football player would from breaking into their brand new cleats. However, when this athlete came in for an everyday blister treatment, we were all in for a surprise. 

Here you can see that this is no ordinary blister. The athlete walk into the athletic training room to tell us he felt that something was not right. While the football athlete was breaking into his new cleats, he had managed to cause so much friction under the callus that had formed on the ball of his foot (also known as the metatarsalphalangeal joint). Pressure started to spread to the superior lateral aspect of the foot causing the blister. He had managed to develop a blister over a blood blister formed by his callus. There was so much pressure from the blister that the edges surrounding it became inflamed. The athlete told us he always had a blister under his callus and it was nothing new until this moment. The ATC's sent the athlete to the urgent care clinic immediately after evaluating his foot. When he returned, the following picture showed a great difference. 

The nurses at the urgent care clinic had lacerated the blister and had given the athlete antibiotics to prevent infection. The athlete returned to the athletic training room daily to drain out and clean out the wound. However, the ATC's noticed that the lateral side of his foot began to swell. The ATC's believed that clinic may have given him the incorrect antibiotic. The athlete was sent back to the clinic to get his blister cultured to match him with the correct antibiotic. After several days on the new antibiotic, the swelling had significantly decreased and the blister reduced twice the size of what the blister had initially looked like. The athlete was advised to take foot baths with epsom salts to help to clean out his blister. In the following week the athlete was finally able to return to play after a stressful week preventing him from playing on the field. To prevent any infection from forming, we used gauze/heel and lace padding and Powerflex to cover the wound. 

This was the end result of a long three weeks. You can see here that the skin from the blister had dried off and had been removed. Today, the athlete still covers the affected area before practice/games and is back on the field!

When It All Began

Hello friends! Thanks for visiting my Confessions of An Athletic Training Student blog! Here's a little look into my life and where my passion for athletic training began. The picture below shows a young Annie (that's me!) at Gillette Stadium setting up for the UMass Amherst Football game in the fall of 2012. Since then, I've had the opportunity to travel to different clinical locations and learn more and more everyday about the athletic training profession!

Hello Sports Medicine World

Hello Sports Medicine World.