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.