Mitigating Secondary Loss is something that hits home for me. Bubba Wilson has taken his role with ATsCare to another level. We recap the summer and one of the best CEU talks I have ever heard.
Where has AT taken you?
JJ:
Thibodeaux, LA
Dallas, Texas
Arlington
Fort Davis
South Padre
Lansing Michigan
Hot Springs
Las Vegas
New Orleans
San Antonio
JJ Road trip
5 weeks
One van
7 people
Chad from Candid AT
Michigan AT Society Meeting
Meeting Cookie Tuesday in Detroit
Megan Smith at the University of Delaware.
Favorite tourist thing:
Niagara Falls
Least favorite tourist thing
Statue of Liberty
Bubba
All this travel means you need to have your stuff in order…
I teach and followed the DaveRamsey plan to get out of debt, budget, and have my financial house in order
LEADS Academy was created to build foundational leadership and empower the next generation of leaders in the Michigan Athletic Trainers Society. Jacob Ortega-Schultz and Courtney Lewis join me live at MATS 2024.
Taylor Hooton Foundation – Brian Parker
Aug 22, 2024
Brian Parker spoke for an hour at the Michigan Athletic Trainers Society annual meeting. Energy drinks, stimulants, drugs and the need to educate athletes.
Taylor took anabolic steroids to get bigger faster stronger.
He quit cold turkey and that lead him to depression and he chose to take his life.
Brian speaks at a lot of regional meetings and would love to come share Taylor story with your group.
3 questions to ask:
1. Contains banned substances?
2. Am I using it properly?
3. Is it necessary?
Just one energy drink can hurt your blood vessel function.
Quality improvement project on how I spent my time.
Why did these need to be established?
As a young professional, I hadn’t yet learned what I needed. It took a lot of self-awareness and reflection to understand my own needs so that I could practice putting boundaries in place.
Walk us through some of these Professional Boundaries conversations.
Self-awareness is a journey. It doesn’t end, it’s continual and ever-changing.
Tuning into self in each moment will help to outline needs that can be met.
It is your ownership of that, responsibility that matters. Take action for yourself, no one else will.
What are some of the boundaries you see other Athletic Trainers needing help with?
I hear ATs talk about being taken advantage of, lowest paid, constantly overworked, etc. The story feels redundant at this point. I wish more ATs felt empowered to change their own script. If you’re burnt out, who has the power to change that? Stop pointing fingers at the system and start being an agent of change.
Establishing boundaries helps create life balance. What does life balance look like for you currently?
For me right now, I love my work but it’s definitely not what I spend most of my time or energy on. Some might scoff at that, but truly it’s been a process of shifting the scales so that I came first. My body, my mental health, my spirit, and then my family friends pets.. it took a lot of practice and still does (every day) of ensuring that my cup is full so I can give.
I love Financial Peace University and we are debt-free including the house. How do you think finances play into life balance?
I also love the messages about financial peace. Finances play a big role in this balance.
It can be tough… I was an AT with a Masters salaried working 60+ hrs a week and paid under $40k. I had 3 job offers in the same week and that was the highest… needless to say I lived paycheck to paycheck for a long time, feeling totally stuck. Eventually, I moved to working 5-6 jobs at any time to get “unstuck” but then found myself burnt out. I’m sure this story is familiar.
I decided to put energy into one place. For me, that was starting my small business. This created freedom of my time which is actually the most valuable. Long story short, this journey brought me to where I am now. And I still have multiple sources of income but it’s much more harmonious.
I think for ATs the balance of life and work does revolve a lot around money. I think we need to talk about it more often. We need to justify and prove our worth not just “say” it.
IMG Academy offers opportunities for Athletic Trainers different from most secondary settings. Kaitlyn Deshaies and Jared White share what life is like at IMG.
Kaitlyn, how did you get into Athletic Training, and what led you to IMG?
I was an injured athlete in high school.
I met an AT while traveling with the team and knew Athletic Training was what I was meant to do.
Jared, How did you get into Athletic Training
Planned to go to med school and do orthopedics because I loved being in and around sports.
A random guy was sitting behind our bench with a little black bag and I started asking questions about him and what he did.
I had zero previous experience with Athletic Trainers.
Went to Anderson State University then transferred back to middle Tennessee State
Worked with Vanderbilt
GA at Auburn
Season intern with the KC Chiefs
Became the head AT for the KC Brigade Arena football
Became head AT in Nashville at a D2 school for about 7 years.
At the interview, I loved the IMG academy environment and leadership.
The academy has a boarding school with the traditional student life.
We do not have tryouts, but we have 12 support teams for the one baseball director.
We also have campers throughout the year.
Many pro teams use our campus as an off-season host site.
We are a for-profit business.
We have a very diverse population of TV Stars, a 10-year-old tennis player who is the son of an Abu Dhabi prince, professional athletes, and working-class athletes.
Wayne said there are a lot of unique growth opportunities for an AT at IMG. Can you explain?
You may have a camper here for a week or a student with a torn ACL.
Our ATs have a lot of physician interaction and see a lot of injuries.
Both Kaitlyn and Jared have been forced to grow.
As a for-profit business, we have to help the company make money.
Personal and professional growth.
We are focused on customer experience. Our staff has to understand the ins and outs of the business.
We are housed in a building that houses strength coaches, nutritionists, mental health specialists, leadership and character development, and sports science and data analytics.
We get to work with a lot of sponsors like Gatorade or Under Armor.
IMG Academy’s summer hires are looking for a staffer who can be part of our team in the future.
A good candidate needs to be a part of the team and do the same tasks as the full-time staff.
You do need to be an LAT to work in Florida.
We started the growth summit where we host an entire week of education for our AT staff.
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature is the standard for protecting from heat illness which is 100% preventable in athletics. Tom Woods discusses where we are as a state in adopting it.
What is the ATLAS ambassador?
What changes would you make to protocols in Texas?
WBGT takes in several more important factors than Heat Index
Don’t forget about band, dance, cheer in your WBGT needs
What is the next major tech advancement you would like to see?
Switching to WBGT and becoming a mandate rather than a recommendation.
NFHS covers 48 states..but not TEXAS
Will heat illness training become a required training?
Turf Injuries in Competitive Athletes
May 01, 2024
Turf Toe is ever-changing. Dr. Paul Shupe and Joseph Eberhardt discuss some of the facts and history of turf toe at the Memorial Hermann sports medicine update.
What can I do to benefit my athlete since turf is here to stay?
Making sure the field is well maintained, and proper personal protective equipment is significantly important. A lot of football players like to wear narrow cleats which can contribute to lower extremity injuries based on the cleat pattern, length, and width of the shoe. The time of day we practice is important as well.
Is there any data or research done about laces and appropriately tying the shoe with appropriate arch support?
Great question, I’d have to look into that. I’m sure there are studies – I didn’t delve into that. These are very important questions, I think that core strengthening is a very pertinent point as well.
You spoke about an increase in PCL injuries. From my education, the mechanism of injury for PCL is that dashboard injury, coming from direct force on the anterior tibia. Is there any research, or from your background and knowledge, why is it that we’re seeing more prominence from that mechanism on that turf?
When it’s not a dashboard injury, the common mechanism is that you onto your knee bent at 90 degrees, your toe has interacted and your cleat is stuck in the turf so it’s not giving away.
Your foot is in this dorsiflexed position and you land on that knee with all of the force going back through, as opposed to if the shoe gives out allowing you to land on less of a 90-degree angle.
Is there any correlation to gastrocnemius weakness regarding those Turf Toe injuries?
I think that’s a valid argument, I don’t have enough science or background to say but I do think that would be an interesting thing to study.
We talked about the history of turf in your presentation, would you say we’ve moved in a safer direction? Are we moving to a safer surface?
I think we are, I think we’re moving to a safer surface for our lower-level athletes. I think our higher-level athletes have different muscle builds and different muscle types that may lead to some of those injury at a higher level.
I do think the technology that’s going into it is moving towards a safer playing surface, I don’t think there’s much we can do about the heat and some of the other things, and they are looking into that. I think we are moving there, the important thing here is that turf isn’t going away, I don’t think that we’ll ever go back to grass.
With technology moving forward, I do think it’s becoming safer. I don’t think it’ll ever be 100% safe but with education, and proper maintenance, I think we can make it as safe as we can.
You mentioned the coconut or the cork, those things are natural materials that would rot, and putting turf in is a lengthy and expensive process. How does it make sense for a high school field to put something that might rot underneath there?
So part of it is just the turnover of it, so it’s got to be properly maintained. So when we use the proper equipment and the proper rakes just to shift it around that’s a valid question, especially in a wet and humid environment like it is here. It’s not being used a ton yet, and I think that’s yet to come. We may determine years from now that it’s a bad idea.
Rice uses wood instead of rubber on their field, I found that interesting when we played there last year.
Did you notice any difference?
Thinking back, I think your point about feet being sore on these fields; is a major problem. Your feet hurt at the end of the day on the rubber. There’s less of that impact.
We did have in our Rice game, but I don’t think it makes a difference in injury, we had an ankle fracture that game, we had a significant hamstring rupture, and a couple of other things so I don’t think it makes a difference as far as the interaction of the cleat but it may make it as far as the softness.
You mentioned your time in the military where you would sweep and make sure there was no foreign debris as part of the turfing. Can you speak briefly about your time serving our country?
I served in the Navy for 12 years and loved it. I trained as an intern, and then I was 3 years as a flight surgeon with the Marines, serving in an F-18 squadron. I had the opportunity to go all over the world with that, then finished my ortho training in San Diego.
Then I spent 4 years as an orthopedic surgeon in Japan and Florida, and loved it.
They were not allowing me to do sports medicine, which is what I came to Houston to do a fellowship for. So, there are nothing but good things to say about the Navy and those who serve.
People who go to the military to become physical therapists or surgeons, can you talk about what they should and shouldn’t think about before?
So for me, it was an avenue for me to pay for medical school. They paid for me to go to George Washington University, and so one thing is well paid and very well educated no matter where I go in the world or in the country.
The training that we got is respected. Same thing for physical therapy. Other than the Naval Academy, and probably West Point Force Academy, there are not a lot of athletic trainers in the military.
But you certainly get that experience working with different types of teams, and I think the opportunities that you get serving far outweigh the downsides of deployment or other unfriendly things like being told where you have to be, when you have to be there, where to have to move to, overall very positive.
I think the Navy and all of the armed forces provide great education both in-person and online learning. A lot of the coremen would enlist, and have their education paid for while working on campus, and several of the individuals I worked with would graduate with a year’s degree while they were on active duty service with no cost to them.
Got Questions about Turf Toe?
Dr. Paul Shupe – Reach out to his office and tell them the Sports Medicine Broadcast sent you
EMRs are like most things, it is not one size fits all. When looking for a solution for records management Will Ryan wanted to share his search results with all ATs.
Discussion topics:
Searching for EMR
How to obtain EMR
How to Familiarize yourself with EMR
Communications with EMR Companies
What has been your process for searching for an EMR?
Identifying limiting factors like cost. Sportsware and AT Genius are cheaper options.
Barriers to documentation – time, limited resources, uncertainty of what to document. NATA has created guidelines regarding methods of documentation. Consider the legal aspect of documentation.
How do you approach your school about obtaining an EMR?
Build value in the documentation. Explain how EMR protects patients, coaches, and healthcare providers; and keeps everything secure. Convenient place to store all UIL-required documentation.
What is the best way to familiarize yourself with EMR’s?
Pearland ISD uses Rank One – signs in upon entry and documents almost everything. We introduce our MAT program students to Rank One and have them document all patient interactions.
Did companies offer demos of their EMR systems during your search?
Combat Sports Medicine seems like an extreme environment to practice Athletic Training. Dr. Ethan Kreiswirth created Blackbelt Sports Medicine to provide Athletic Trainer care for combat sports athletes.
You are always posting gnarly pictures and videos on IG. What gives you pause or catches you off guard?
As an Athletic Trainer, I started covering tournaments around 1997.
Personal experience in the sport helps me understand the types of injuries that occur.
Tournaments now are 40 mats over 6 days
Dislocations, unconscious used to give me pause.
Now it is just running a company.
Or working youth tournaments, those are always difficult for me.
Does Blackbelt Sports Medicine have tournaments across the United States?
Yes, we work with the BJJ organizations to help provide medical care for combat sports.
A new AT is going to work in combat sports medicine. How do you prep them?
Gloves, gauze, skin lube, and nose plugs.
An Athletic Trainer working with Black Belt Sports Medicine could almost get away with just bringing their fanny pack, like the Nexus Deadbug
There is almost no taping done, maybe some finger taping.
You do a good bit of suturing…discuss that as an AT.
Many of these BJJ athletes are from out of state or another country.
Suturing on the sidelines helps them out tremendously.
I have done about 10 sutures so far.
There is a lot of practice involved with the practice kits.
Not being licensed gives me more freedom to practice the emerging skills.
We take a table behind the scenes and do the standard prep work. We also instruct them to follow up with their HCP.
The larger tournaments have an overseeing physician onsite as well.
Sign up for a tournament and see if Combat Sports Medicine is for you.
Bubba Wilson discusses Crisis Behavior or Crisis Etiquette live from the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Update. He has been leading D6 in ATsCare since its inception and has learned a lot over the years.
Did crisis management help you be prepared for being inducted into the SWATA Hall of Fame?
AT Cares drove me there.
CCISM credential:
Certified Critical Incident Stress Management – Level 1 deals with individuals in crisis, the majority of AT Cares population. Level 2 deals with groups in crisis.
Began Crisis Management training in 2019.
AT’s managing grief:
Grief comes in at a later time, ATs have to finish the game/event after a critical injury/event.
AT Cares reaches out once notified to ensure assistance is provided where needed
NATA Gather Program Integration:
Young professionals can use NATA’s gather program to find mentors.
Crisis on campus – what is the best method to find that definite grief to counsel them?
Don’t counsel them. Listen. Refer out.
Soapbox Warning – What is step 1 in managing the secondary loss of loved ones?
Have affairs in order. Have a will, have life insurance. Have your burial wishes written down. Have the conversation. Have a list of your account usernames and passwords. Know how many death certificates you may need. Legal Zoom is a good resource. Make sure you constantly update your affairs. The primary loss will be exacerbated if we don’t handle our affairs.
Currently working on a presentation with AT Cares members regarding their experiences with loss and what they’ve learned along the way.
Thanks, Sydney Hayes for creating the Crisis Behavior show notes
Can you share some of the things you have done to help master’s students be involved and advance in the profession?
We treat the masters’ students as an extension of our staff, we want them to be respected in our ATR just like us.
We have our high school students refer to them as Mr/Ms/Mrs. We interview them to make them feel that they are in a professional setting.
My assistant, Thomas, likes to ask them “What did you learn today?”. We outfit them, invite them to our pregame meals, we make sure that they feel respected. We make sure that every day they learn something new.
You interview them for the position, but they’re already assigned there?
Correct. We ask them to submit a resume, and for a lot of them this is their first job “interview” and ask them interview-like questions and ask them to submit a cover letter.
We then give them critiques so they can start working and build that resume so that when they are done with their program they can apply and be successful for their interviews for their actual job.
Do you do that just once, or every week, every 3 weeks, etc?
So our level 2’s are with us all year long, we make sure we give them monthly updates. Our level 2 this past year wanted an update every day, every week, so we always were helping her and growing her, anytime there was a hiccup or something she was unsure of, we gave her that reassurance and feedback.
For the level 1’s, it takes a while to get into that comfort zone, but we always try to give them feedback when we notice something, good or bad.
You talked about outfitting them to make them feel welcome, do we give them the ones that say athletic trainer, or the ones that the students wear, do they keep them; what does that look like for you?
So it varies, level 2 vs level 1. Level 2’s we’ll give them the game day polo for the year, and require them to look professional when they come into the ATR.
Our students will wear Nike shorts and a T-shirt. We ask that our UH students either wear something UH to differentiate them or they wear a polo with either nicer shorts or nicer slacks, with their UH ID badge. And that way it identifies them as an adult and not a student.
More Practical Preceptor Tips: Include them in almost everything! So for GHATS, we made a fun t-shirt for the t-shirt contest, and we had a team-building activity of tie-dying the shirts.
We invited our UH students to join in since they went with us to GHATS, and they were allowed to wear that shirt as a fun GHATS representation. For our level 1’s, if there’s an event going on during the time that they are with us we’ll give them one of the students’ shirts, but for the most part, we’ll give them our practice shirt for the year that they can wear to Saturday treatments, etc.
One of the things I’m trying to still work out is scheduling, how do you balance that out and hold them accountable while keeping in mind that they’re college students?
You and I have the luxury of working in a high school setting, so we automatically have Sundays off, that is the one day a week they have off because they are required to have at least one day off within a 7-day span. So we keep that in mind.
We use something called “Homebase” which is a scheduling app, where our students, ourselves, and our UH kids can submit their days off requests, so we honor that.
We always remember that they are students first, so they can communicate with us if they have a big test coming up and they’d like the evening off before to study, they just have to have that communication with us, and then we treat it like how if one of us had a doctor’s appointment that morning and we’d say hey, I need this off for that; so encourage them to communicate with their staff, which is the other UH students, to ensure that things get covered.
When it comes to accountability, they’ve got a set amount of time with us to get the hours they need, so they know that if they’re not going to be there they have to make up the hours they need.
For games that they weren’t scheduled for but show up for, how do you handle that?
A great Practical Preceptor Tip is to have them ask them to ask us in advance. Especially for indoor games or baseball/softball because the space is limited, so we tell them if they do want to come and work extra to give us that heads up that way we can say yes or no.
Ensuring that you’re providing an educational opportunity, how do you hand off responsibility to those students?
So when the first years come in, they haven’t gone over any anatomy for their assessment class so once they reach the test or the ankle, knee, hip, etc; if they’re going over the ankle at the time, we say that every ankle sprain that comes in here, we want you on it, evaluating it to where you’re at in your studies.
Once you complete ankle, every ankle eval we say that’s yours. That way they are getting that clinical experience.
Our level 2’s, get a little more autonomy when it comes to that. If they’re struggling to remember shoulder special tests, every shoulder that comes in, go get on that eval and come back and ask us questions. We’re right there with them making sure they’re completing it correctly but we want to make sure they get as much hands-on experience with different patients.
Do you have the course syllabus of when they go over certain things?
We ask to see that, we just ask them hey what did you go over today in assessment, hey what are you learning in this class and they tell us and we say okay we’ll make sure to touch on that.
We’re using a more practical time in a hands-on setting. We also meet each week to go over GHATS quiz bowl material with our kiddos and we always invite our grad students to sit in on those lectures as well.
Do you have any release of responsibility schedule or do you just have an internal feel for it?
We’re not going to give them something they’re not comfortable with, we kind of feel them out in the beginning and try to build up what they’re not as confident in within their realm of comfortability, because at the end of the day, they’re students too and we want them to learn and grow, within their limits.
Our UH girl this past year wanted to learn more about admin, so we said okay, you’re going to look at our student manual and we want you to go through and make these changes. So it varies based on each individual, and we always ask “What are you not comfortable with?”, and then we try to make them comfortable.
Are any other cool things that stand out?
Something I learned when I was in undergrad, we called it twisted Tuesday. Every Tuesday the upperclassmen, whoever was in charge of that sport, became in charge for the day. The preceptors dressed down into what the students would wear, and those students in charge dressed up as the preceptors.
For every new injury that walked in, they corralled how to treat it, or tasked a student with rehabbing them, they set up practice, talked to coaches, delivered injury reports, etc. So that’s something I’ve taken over at Dawson, and every Thursday night during football season, our UH students are “in charge”, so they’re the first ones to go onto the field, they set up games for the day, and that is their time to get their autonomy and to feel confident in those high-pressure situations.
How do you prepare your students and staff for those Thursday nights?
So we go over the way games are set up in the beginning, they usually get a game or two under their belt as a UH student and then we say alright it’s your turn, so they get to see what a setup looks like, they get to understand how we run things and our expectations. We tell the coaches, hey by the way you are going to be hearing from so and so tonight they are in charge.
Of course, we are always right there behind them making sure that if there is something a little bit more extreme or if they’re out of their comfort zone and need us to step in we’re right there. We let them communicate with coaches and parents, that way they get that experience in a high-pressure situation. And they know that it’s coming, we give them a heads up.
When you say you’re right there with them, are you still on the sideline when they go onto the field, are you kind of halfway in between, or are you standing right beside them and just not saying anything?
I am behind them, always looking over them. I’m always watching. We might stand off a little to the side especially if they don’t like someone hovering over them, but we’re always watching to make sure there’s no malfeasance going on and ensuring that they’re doing everything correctly. And we do make sure that before they go do it in a game-time situation, they’ve performed the skill correctly in clinic.
What else as far as practical preceptor tips?
I just always remember my time as a student, and things that helped me, things that didn’t help me. We try to give them the recipe for success.
I always want to make sure that our students feel comfortable and can come to us with any issue, we always have open communication with any question they have and we always want them to learn, so by providing that safety realm of education and comradery, we want to make sure that they know that were an asset for them, we talk to them about how we came to be who we are and we want them to feel proud in their journey too.
Anything that you’ve seen or heard from your students over the last few years as something you should try to avoid?
A lot of the times whenever we do kind of expose them in the first few weeks they feel kind of overwhelmed, but we explain to them that every situation you are in won’t be a comfortable one, you are not always going to feel like it’s easy.
A lot of times we get “At first I was nervous because you just kind of like put me in there.”, but we explained it, and we went through it, and it is scary but that’s what our job is. Sometimes we have them drive our gator, and a lot of times they say they don’t feel comfortable doing that so we say okay. We listen to what their comforts are and respect them.
Neuro 20 looks like a wet suit with electrodes for E-Stim built in. That is partially true, the materials a spandex or Dri-fit type material, and Wayne and Michael share a lot more on the Sports Medicine Broadcast.
Give me the big picture. Background and origin of the idea.
–Founder DJ Schmitt was injured during service and wanted to find a way to get healthy without taking so much medication.
He used his electrical engineering degree to develop the first Neuro20 suit.
The suit is made up of a compression material(spandex).
Establish firing rates for healthy individuals and be able to choose for the AT/PT to know which one to use.
Where does the name Neuro20 come from?
20 large electrodes placed strategically to engage the maximum amount of motor neurons.
Who is using it right now in sports?
NHL
Olympic Athletes
NFL
D1 Athletes
What are the most common applications of neuro20?
Prehab
Rehab
Active recovery
Motor education
Accessibility for the Athletic Trainer?
At the moment it is not accessible to the high school population because of privacy issues.
College-level or professional level
Can you set them up and “walk away?”
Patients can be set up and allowed to complete a workout session on their own.
One of our pro sports athletes uses it after games while on the plane for recovery.
Can I use Neuro20 with my high school athletes?
It is FDA-cleared for adult patients. Some youth patients have used it with waivers and clearance from their doctors but that is not the target population.
Sudden Cardiac arrest in sports with Travis Turner at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Update. Randy and Sandy Harris from the ATCorner Podcast ask all the hard questions.
Contact Us
Jeremy Jackson – MrJeremyJackson on Twitter, SportsMedicineBroadcast on IG, FB
SUJI Blood Flow Restriction or BFR is changing the game with its AI-powered app. Dr. Michael MacPherson joins me and Lisette Guerrero to learn more about our new gear.
What is your 10-second sales pitch for Suji BFR?
A portable, affordable, and easy-to-use gold standard, AI-powered BFR technology
The affordability of the device is one reason we chose to add Suji BFR. Discuss current pricing.
Suji has found the middle ground. We are data-driven for incredible accuracy at an affordable price, never before seen in the BFR space.
Let’s get into the app, it is one of the big differences from the Delphi unit we have.
Our AI-powered app automatically calculates LOP for the clinician and then saves that data to a patient/athlete profile, saving at least 3-5 minutes every BFR session. The AI-powered calibration process is also incredibly robust.
All patient/athlete data is stored in a HIPAA-compliant cloud that lives in your institution. A Suji institution is your team or clinic where all your Data lives. Only you have access to it as the administrator. With Suji, you only have to calibrate as often as you deem necessary.
Discuss the continuous monitoring vs the detachable hose.
With Suji Pro and its real-time pressure adjustments, you won’t need to attach the hose to adjust the pressure within the cuff.
With Suji Pro, you’ll be able to adjust the pressure on the pump in real-time. Suji BFR Pro – what should we expect? Suji Pro is Lighter, Smaller, and Hoseless.
Our users are passionate about our portability and our customizable in-app recovery sessions so we’ve made advancements in both areas. Our users also expressed the desire for real-timepressure control without attaching hoses and a pump, so you can expect greater control with Suji Pro without breaking the bank.
Backboarding the injured athlete is an ever-evolving skill. Dr. Matt Camarillo discusses it live at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Update
How common are spinal cord injuries?
-9-10% of injuries are spinal. About 12,000 nationally.
Looking at physicals I have a couple of athletes with previous spinal cord injuries. What are some of the things that I should be more aware of when taking care of these athletes?
-Usually due to trauma or born with cervical stenosis.
-Should have a spine surgeon associated with the athletic population
We talk about spinal cord injuries, and the first thing we think about is football. We think that it is equipment-heavyand collision-based and talk about equipment removal for that. But what is the instancein other sports?
-Happens in lacrosse, gymnastics, hockey, soccer, baseball, and basketball.
-Helmet and shoulder pads keep them in alignment then leave it on.
-If only a helmet probably needs to come off.
These spinal cord injuries, I believe you mentioned there are about 12,000 injuries per year. Are these spinal injuries with awareness in education are we increasing these or decreasing these?
-Since 1975 they have gone down.
-A lot of spinal injuries come from automobile accidents.
Is there a reason for that?
-Awareness, and if it goes away the numbers will go up again.
Moving back into narrowing down into more of an athletic training setting when working with sport athletes for example what would be our initial assessment and what would be some red flags to actually move the person onto a spine board?
-Big trauma like a head-on hit you want to be careful.
-Clinical judgment.
-numbness bilaterally
The athlete just has a lot of pain.
-Trust your gut
So once you decide to stabilize someone, I know you talked about two methods to stabilize, but what is your preferred method?
-6 man lift
-If you don’t have enough hands, nobody will fault you for doing a log roll.
When is it appropriate to move the neck into neutral?
-It is always ok as long as you do the head or trap squeeze.
-You want to make sure you have access to the airway.
Can you talk a little bit about the difference between a head or trap squeeze?
– head squeeze is more about putting you hands around the athletes head or helmet
-trap squeeze where you are putting your thumbs and finger around someone’s traps and gives you more stability because you also have to add in the fatigue factor.
-Trap squeeze is more stable
Be aware that clothing could cause you to slip while holding a helmet.
I think it comes down to practice and figuring out how everything works. Because once you get it down, then when all that emotion going, if you practice over and over again it just becomes a routine.
What are some tips you have for someone who is working with an equipment-intensive sport, like hockey, that they are not familiar with the equipment?
-Practice
-Use equipment managers to become familiar with equipment.
What does it look like once they are at the hospital?
-equipment removal and go into a cervical collar.
-Then straight to a CT scan is #1.
-Transport to a level 1 hospital because you don’t want to have to move to multiple locations.
Can you talk about differences between places that have stopped using spine boarding techniques like in motorcycle accidents?
-Two different mechanisms and two different thoughts.
-Make sure everyone is on the same page
-You can always ask to talk to a supervisor because these are generally big EMS areas and you can’t control what everyone does.
Can you talk about the order you take the piece off of the helmet?
-Side pieces off first. Allows to flip and gives access to the airway
CPR with shoulder pads. With a spinal cord injury and you are having to do CPR and you are removing the equipment, you would leave the shoulder pads in place as long as you open them up?
-Open them
-If getting into CPR take them off because it has become life-threatening.
Do you have any recommendations for an AT who does not have a lot of volunteers or staff and might be working alone?
You have coaches. Train the coaches. Coaches are always there. Make sure your coaches are in line with helping you.
The highest incidents seem to be in high school/middle school. Can you talk about why?
-Proper tackling technique
-Old equipment
Is there anything else we didn’t touch upon that you wanted to add?
-Education and preparation are the biggest things.
Protect3D joins medicine and technology to help Athletes return to the sport safer and maybe faster. Kevin Gehsmann joins me to share their story and how Athletic Trainers can get their athletes braced.
Where did the idea come from?
Engineering student
Liked 3D printing
Daniel Jones, the quarterback at Duke, went down with a clavicle fracture. They decided their engineering project would help Daniel and other elite athletes needing protection.
Customized for his unique needs and ROM
What has been the most difficult hurdle for Protect3d?
In the early days, we were recognized by the NFL and won $50,000 and Superbowl tickets.
The pandemic caused a lot of challenges.
Every device we make has a positive impact on the athlete and their performance
Share a success story you enjoy.
Clavicle pads reduce the risk of re-injury and increase the confidence of the player and health care team.
It is also the original pad or brace that birthed the idea.
Outside of your own clinics where have you had doctors adapting this style of bracing?
We started with elite athletes and have worked with orthopedic surgeons and athletic trainers.
An ankle/foot orthotic is a new brace to help with foot drop.
We had a D1 athlete participate in games with a Protect3D brace for foot drop.
What do you see as a hurdle for secondary setting adoption of Protect3d braces?
The cost of the product is one hurdle.
Setting up a system for billing on demand can be an obstacle as well.
Are these braces something that could be printed on your everyday, at-home printer?
Due to the material, printer, and the need to control different variables as a medical device, they are not currently printed at home devices.
There may be options in the future as we grow and develop.
Want to test out Protect3D?
Have an athlete needing a brace?
Willing to give me your honest feedback on the podcast?
Send me an email and maybe follow it up with a social media post.
Give me the story (protect patient privacy)
If it works out then we will collaborate to get you a custom 3D-printed brace for your athlete.
Work Right Northwest was the best fit for Jody during his current stage of life. He loves the industrial setting and the support the company offers for personal growth.
Jody, Start with your AT story.
From Waco
Was not enjoying playing football and quit to become the student AT for softball.
Chris Hargrove was the AT that me under his wing
Graduated from Baylor as an AT working with some legendary ATs like Mike Simms
Jody moved to Lincoln Nebraska to get a master’s degree and work with their Track & Field teams.
2007-2009 did a fellowship with US Olympic and Paralympic Track and Field.
That led to internships with USA teams.
He has worked with a lot of providers throughout the US and learned different perspectives as well as made a lot of connections.
13-year Outreach Coordinator at BSW
2012 I began the GA partnership with Baylor and grew the program to about 16 schools.
How does WorkRight fit into that?
Auto industry, shipping and delivery, food, manufacturing, and warehouses across the United States.
We focus on being proactive with industrial athletes.
These workers are at the same station doing the same repetitive motions for 8-10 hours per day.
We are limited to OSHA first aid guidelines.
There are plenty of at-home exercise options or opportunities.
Better posture.
Improved hydration.
Early symptom intervention – 15-minute eval on site.
Tell me a few stories
Often times the job is the first time the workers have benefits that include healthcare.
We provide a list of healthcare coverage professionals in the area and establish relationships with them to help facilitate care.
One line worker was having continued upper trap and cervical issues. After a few visits, he was able to work pain-free.
One of our ladies had posture issues and we were basically the only medical option for her.
I have thought about how I could change into the industrial setting. Walk me through the process.
We work 4/10s with someone on duty 24/7
Mon-Friday. *dependent on site*
We do a lot of 3-day weekends.
Vacation time: can accrue up to 2 weeks of vacation time
Holidays: get a lot of major holidays off…but this is site-dependent too.
RankOne data makes it easy to tell your story as an Athletic Trainer. If you collect it then you can pull everything you need with a few clicks. If you need help just call and they can guide you through.
What are some of the common things you RankOne sees from ATs?
End-of-year audits
Newspapers seeking info
Easily filter through the data that has been entered
We take data security seriously
Data transfer is really important in security.
We work with a lot of partners to make the transfer of data as seamless as possible
We partner through our API to integrate those partners.
Do you have a complete online solution for forms?
We put the medical history form online
We have included a physical upload form so parents can include a scan of the form.
There are definitely pros and cons for both.
Going Back to Data Collection
Other than concussion reporting integration what are you seeing?
Justifying the need for Athletic Trainers
Reports show how many treatments and using the CPT codes can demonstrate value
The proof of your value is in the data.
Until something bad happens the ATs value is usually glanced over.
It gives you a great way to look back and reflect.
Seen anything weird?
We get calls requesting additions often.
So we add fields when it helps them collect that data.
We like to get a consensus before we make any big changes by checking with the Athletic Trainers.
Ease of use features with RankOne Data:
Print Paperwork
Run Reports
Messaging within RankOne
We are creating a more robust messaging system that allows two-way communication.
It will message the email that the account was created with.
Any features you have cut?
There have been quite a few changes that are in response to user feedback.
What are we doing to prevent the dreaded August 1st breakdown?
We have set up some API boundaries for our partners.
Load-tested the servers.
Thanks, Bethpage Consulting for helping make the trip to SWATA 2023 possible
Nutrition Myths are so close, so easy, so trendy…Kim Lowry discusses some of the Sports Nutrition myths with Ryan Collins at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Update.
Protein
2-2.2 grams of protein if they are trying to bulk up
Total calories are a common misconception
You can not bulk up Muscle but not add any fat…almost universally
Spread it out throughout the day
Nutrient Timing
Research is mixed – some say within an hour increases your muscle growth
You can ap into muscle synthesis about every 3-4 hours
High Protein snacks and meals
Nuts
Low-fat cheese sticks
Greek yogurt
Deli turkey
P3 packets
Protein bars and shakes
Adding chicken to your pasta dish
RAMEN –
You can add peanut butter
Or peanuts
I like to use the “Tasty App” and search for dorm room ramen for healthier options
Eggs are another good option
Creatine is BAD…
Pretty much all of the nutrition myths have been disproven in all healthy usage of creatine.
Storytime with buzz is just that, fun stories from an old school Athletic Trainer still practicing. Thanks, Bethpage Consulting for helping to get the SMB out to SWATA 2023 in Arlington.
I have been attending SWATA for about 38 years
I broke my collarbone playing football and then became the team manager. Sam Aguilara came to teach the coaches about Athletic Training products. I knew I could do the stuff he was showing the coaches.
The next thing I knew they were sending me to AT clinics at colleges.
I have met a lot of great people during my career as an Athletic Trainer
Joel Kregerberg was the assistant AT for the Oilers while I was an intern. I got to tape Earl Cambell. He greatly deflated my ego when he told me it was the worst tape job he ever had.
Give me some more storytime
Houston Rodeo got me started with Justin Sports Medicine and Truman Spoon Sports Medicine
Did you get autographs?
Not really, I was always around the people and did not consider it.
Where was your first job as an AT?
Seminole High School is about an hour from Lubbock.
I moved to Macaney with the head coach
Then the Houston Oilers called and I moved to Houston
Take us back to Seminole HS
I taught driver’s ed in the morning.
It is a small school with a small AT Facility
We were really good at basketball and gymnastics
I taught a job at the Air Force base with firemen and nurses
Who are some of the mentees that have impacted you?
Valerie Tinklepaugh-Hairston – with her impact on college sports and SWATA
David Traylor – SWATA Hall of Honor
Southlake Carroll High School is being run by two of my former ATs
TSATA Hall of Honor
This award brings a smile to my face every time I think about it.
What did you dream about being as a kid?
My dad was a pharmacist
My brother was a pharmacist and MD
I thought about following them
Storytime – What sticks out the most?
A Houston Oiler went down and was basically numb from the neck down
We backboarded him
That was his last game to ever play.
He was a good friend of mine.
My wallet and everything I needed were in my bag that the equipment managers packed up since I went to the hospital with him. We almost got stranded in Kansas City.
Career Advancement brought Bre’Layshia Alexander from working intermediate athletics to her current role with Baylor Scott and White. She discussed this all with Joseph Eberhardt live at SWATA 2023.
Sponsored by San Antonio Sports Medicine
What are the goals of the Career Advancement Committee?
Chaired by Bre’Layshia
Split from the young professional committee
7-12 years in the profession
Everyone on our committee presented at SWATA 23
The Career Advancement Committee also hosts a scavenger hunt for prizes to increase engagement.
Concussion technology has come a long way in helping us understand and manage concussions. Dr. Summer Ott discusses some of the options available and who they best fit.
Hot Springs Arkansas is the place to be in July 2024. Keith Shireman and the Arkansas Athletic Trainers Association will host SWATA outside of Texas for the first time in years.
SWATA is the largest attended district meeting.
Next year Keith and the team in Arkansas hope to make SWATA 2024 the newest record holder for SWATA attendance.
QCollar seems like just another gimmick…but this could really be a life-changing tool. Dr. David Smith, inventor of the Q-Collar joins me to discuss the story, how it works, and his book When Heads Come Together.
Where did the idea for the Q-Collar start?
Dr. Dave was presenting at the Army Research Lab in 2008 where they threw down the gauntlet complaining that clever people should “figure out Traumatic Brain Injury.”
I was working on wound care.
When presented with the woodpecker I immersed myself in the anatomy and physiology of cavity animals.
During a yawn, you are occluding your jugular.
When getting FDA clearance, what were some of the harder questions you had to answer?
42 patents
We are the only FDA-approved TBI prevention device.
Is there any concern with extended use, like several hours at a time?
FDA recommends 4 hours.
We lay down to sleep for 8 hours at a time and occlude our jugulars.
When Heads Come Together – this is a more detailed story about your journey to “solve” TBI…discuss the book.
Julian Bailes listened to me and encouraged me
Discuss the rebreather and how you can reverse TBI.
We looked at how a giraffe breathes
In the first 10 minutes after a concussive event, there is a critical issue
We partnered with Dr. Jedd Hardings at Cinncinatti
Spreading depolarization
I told him CO2 was the trigger for the depolarization
They raised the CO2 levels of a legally brain-dead patient in a coma. The family agreed to try this and 4 hours later he awoke from his coma.
Youth Sports Safety is Jim Mackies passion project. With over 50 years working as an AT, he can sit back and turn the profession over to the younger crowd, but instead, he continues to give time and effort to help improve healthcare for all athletes
Mr. Mackie have you ever had to perform CPR?
Had a coach drop dead on the goal line after a game.
As I am headed that way I see the firetruck pulling out, and this was before we AEDs readily available.
Jim, What is happening in Youth Sports Safety?
Florida is # 1 in sport safety but much to be done. Laws re Concussion, CWI, AED, EAP, etc. but much education and compliance are needed.
There are a lot of causes or task forces, why did you choose Youth Sports Safety?
Obviously, there was a big void legislatively & in the knowledge base. Allows me to put many years of experience back into the community to advocate and educate.
Where is it headed?
Progress is being made but we have to see more implementation of best practices done consistently. With many schools without an AT there requires more district education, especially in our rural communities.
What roadblocks are we seeing?
Resistance and slow to change the culture, especially in youth leagues. Many are volunteer-driven and they rely on what their personal experience was and not best practices as well as the effort it takes to implement.
We have discussed social media a lot recently, what role does it play in Youth Sports Safety?
Podcasts can help to educate and influence the public. They see a lot of situations that happen and yet are dismissed or diminished in a 24-hour news cycle.
We have been opportunistic and gotten some really high-profile doctors and Athletic Trainers.
Call to action:
Take the time to educate kids, parents, and coaches on the best practices. Raise the expectations of those you entrust your child to at their sports venue. Take the steps to create a venue-specific EAP, learn CPR, have AEDs accessible everywhere, and connect with an AT.
Soccer Specific RTP with Tyler Knight
Aug 16, 2023
Tyler Knight shares some Soccer Specific Return To Play or RTP tips and tricks. With nearly a decade of soccer experience, he has seen a lot of growth in sport-specific rehab plans.
What is the least soccer specific rehab exercise you have seen?
Almost everything we do…discuss the importance of understanding the ‘why’ of what we do, as well as never forgetting components of movement.
Isometrics because the patient can’t perform much more
Eccentrics once able
Stretch-shortening cycle
Unloaded → supported → unsupported
“Train movement not muscles”
What do we need to consider in on-field RTP?
In order to get to the field, you have to get out of the Athletic Training room first.
Treat the person, not the athlete or the injury (reference all that people have going on in their lives). Ron Corson-ism
Good communication, setting expectations, and appropriate planning are MUSTs.
Individualization (based on person, position, and injury)
Consider our two biggest protective capacities and build upon those early: strength and endurance
Programming based upon working zones (importance of ESD)
Quantifying internal vs. external load
To do that, we have a few basic rules at Charlotte FC:
1. Create a safe environment.
2. Don’t hurt the person.
3. Be aggressive without breaking rules 1 and 2.
KPIs to provide direction and accountability to the process
Additional principles of rehab to accelerate and enhance what we do on the field:
Move early, move often.
Highlight BFR and isometrics.
Don’t mess it up.
Consider tissue healing times.
Periodize manual therapies, incorporate things the person believes in
Break down the phases of healing (acute, subacute, remodeling), as well as the places of healing: table, Athletic Training room, gym, field, and everything in between.
Create time for mental or psychological recovery
KPIs
Mobility
Stability
Function
Power
On-Field
Consider position, individual needs, team tactics, and demands of the sport…and MAKE IT FUN
Players have the ball only 3% of the time, a good reason to emphasize the incorporation of the ball and fitness/drill exercises that place focus on getting into the right spaces
In 2019/2020 EPL season, the highest average number of passes per game was 688 (Man City; approx 62. per player) and the least was Burnley at 333 (approx. 30 per player).
Paul Bradley research
Consider control – chaos continuum
Reverse engineer and use the prospective loading document
When we have elevated AC ratios, did the majority of that come from a more controlled environment or chaotic environment
By using fatigue, you can increase chaos (for those athletes limited in what they can perform)
How are you going to account for one of the most unique facts of the game: limited substitutions and, potentially like many other sports, the pace of the game is only increasing
Actual loading
Link load with the context of how it happens in a session/match
TD, HSR, sprint, ACC/DEC, HMLD or explosive efforts
Intensive vs. extensive days (can you match what the player is doing with you to what the team is doing; team schedule, RPExduration)
Density of high intensity actions (repeated sprint ability and repeated high intensity efforts in 1, 3, and 5 min blocks)
In the secondary setting, we may not be out on the field for practice. How can we help coordinate RTPs?
“It takes a village.” Educate, incorporate, and empower those around you. If we all understand the why, we will know how to do it, and what we need to use to get there. Trust is a major factor here.
Create a PowerPoint document, have illustrations, don’t be afraid to do the math ahead of time, use a stopwatch.
Let’s talk through a RTP plan you use and why:
The war is won and lost in the mind
Briefly recap where we are and where we’re going
What can we do to prepare, potentiate, desensitize, or address other movement qualities before we hit the pitch; build time and trust with people
Individualization:
Needs assessment to construct rehab or movement plan:
Current injury
Previous hx of injury
Quality of movement (identify areas to fine-tune)
Training history (gym)
Movement and ability restoration
Major proponent of push-pull movements or complex training (plyo-like), also appreciate avenues to incorporate lumbopelvic hip stability (core transferring F)
External load
Average weekly load in training
Average match load
These are BUDGETS, it’s science AND art
If they aren’t close to being on the field, what are we going to do to reduce that gap (RPE x duration; off legs conditioning, gym, etc.)
On-Field
4 levels
1: high control
Band 1 ACC/DEC, no HSR/sprint
2: medium control
Band 2 ACC/DEC, add HSR, no sprint
3: low control to low chaos
Band 3 ACC/DEC; add sprint
4: medium to high chaos
Add density to exposures
Drill selection
Technical
Tactical/passing
Position specific
**all interspersed with position specific running**
MAS, ASR, or loading focused
How can we get players out of rehab the same care and joy others get from playing the game
Revisit the plan often to show progress
Change the setting
Make it fun, do what you can with them
Week
Monday: introductory day
Tuesday: small to medium space
Wednesday: large space
Thursday: treatment only
Friday: small to medium space day, slightly more than re-intro
Saturday: super-Saturday
Sunday: OFF
Contact Us:
Tyler – tknightatc@gmail.com
Jeremy – @MrJeremyJackson
These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:
MOBO is a single myofascial release tool designed and created by Dr. Christie Powell. Her inventor story is different than the ones we have heard previously.
MOBO is only offered in blue…why blue?
I have scaled back the company and product offering
We got a huge verbal order before COVID that wanted blue.
Happy accident since we had to order 10,000 units
How did you get started?
As a smaller person performing myofascial release on large D1 athletes.
I kept having to McGyver things together to teach the patients how to do the work at home.
At a huge CrossFit event, the contestants all had 10+ devices and that was a huge inspiration.
I wanted one device that could replace most of those.
I reached out to an engineering friend and we worked together.
You mentioned getting funding for MOBO…can you share?
It is so complicated, I am a PT and I just want something for my patients.
We had to create CAD drawings
Film videos
Pay someone to listen to your idea
The very first prototype was $1000 to produce.
We connected with a producer that worked out in our gym and he was our first funder.
$10,000 seemed like so much but that went through really quickly
He hooked us up with the filming studio.
We launched a Kickstarter to produce about 1000 units.
All my friends were product models and my gym was always the setting for photo shoots.
We did a “Meet and Greet” and the people donated about $20,000 which allowed us to make our first order.
We had trouble sourcing the materials in the US so we had a big process of finding the materials that were responsible.
We got another couple hundred thousand dollars from customers. This was a personal loan-type investment.
I had to bring on some business partners and there was much more stress.
So much time lapsed between a problem and a solution because they were being made overseas.
The last round of funding happened right at COVID. We had put in all the work and fine-tuned the process.
We took away all of the moving parts to limit the possible breakages.
We simplified the tool, but of course, that costs money and time.
We got 1.5 million dollars from one investor and that was in January 2020…right before COVID.
We now have to spend all this time filming and creating a website and an online shop.
Discuss the MOBO licensing deal
I felt like I was letting my baby leave the house.
Our deal was with DICK’S Sporting Goods.
We actually shared their manufacturing facility and they felt our tool would help them reach the adventure sports crowd.
We had to negotiate so many things to produce the product cheaper.
We knew there were certain areas we could not compromise on certain components.
What would you do differently if you were starting over?
Everything got me to where I am now with the product and company.
I could not have done this by myself. Surrounding myself with the best possible fit and people that have the same values.
I allowed anyone who showed interest to help instead of vetting them and picking the “right” person
What do you see going forward?
I am going to lots of places to do a demo for a running group and a yoga studio.
Alex Bray is a young professional that grew up with social media and smartphones. She uses it to make an impact in her sports medicine practice.
Why do you use social media for sports medicine?
Started in grad school as a way to network, turned into a way to advocate for our profession & athletes, share things I struggle with as an AT to help others, and learn from other ATs in areas that I’m weaker in.
What have you taken from Social Media?
It can be helpful or hurtful. I’ve created some friendships because of it, but I also see toxic, negative things in the AT Social Media world every day. I tend to scroll past those & ignore them as best I can.
How has it helped?
I’ve learned things to help my athletes (@ Zach’s incredible shin splint program, patellar tendon treatments, etc), learned about jobs, and gotten involved more in my state association because of it.
Has it been harmful or negative for you at all?
The most “harmful” thing for me is more of my personal anxiety struggles. I feel like I’m a part of the first generation that ever grew up with social media and playing competitive sports we always hear “Everyone is watching what you post,” so I tend to overthink if my content is portraying what I want to, or if someone will take it out of context. When I start to overthink things and feel like my mental health is struggling, I usually delete the apps for a while.
How do you manage Twitter?
I try to go by the rule I grew up with using social media: Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your grandma to see! There are certain hot takes that I avoid sharing opinions on. I also tend to ignore any of the toxic, negative comments/accounts.
Which platforms do you use and why?
Twitter – a huge opportunity to network with other ATs, learn from other ATs, and also share things with parents/athletes that they may not learn otherwise.
Facebook – From an AT perspective, mainly to connect with my athletes’ parents/encourage other parents to understand what ATs do for their kids. For example, I had the opportunity to go to the state capitol this year, so of course I’m going to share that and make sure parents see ATs do so much more than stand on the sidelines!
TikTok- I use TikTok in waves. I’ll download it, post some content, and then get anxious with it (afraid something is taken out of context for example) and delete it for a while. I try to take “social media breaks” anytime I start to feel like they’re affecting my mental health.
What has your HR or legal department given you for guidelines?
Probably more than I can remember. Honestly, living by the “don’t post anything you don’t want your grandma to see” is my general guideline for social media use. I definitely have certain opinions that are different than Select Physical Therapy, but I try to disclose that my opinions are my own, not the company I work for.
What connections have you made through social media?
Friendships/relationships more than anything!
Call to action:
Use social media to share positive things about the profession / where it’s going / what we do. Feeding into the toxic negativity spiral doesn’t help anyone! Use that same energy to reach out to people who can make a difference at the state and national levels!
Andrea Kovalsky uses Twitter a lot as an Athletic Trainer.
Why do you use social media for sports medicine?
I was professionally socialized by Boomer ATs, so I’m a bit old school. But working on a relatively nontraditional DAT, I’ve learned that we have to embrace change and make it work for us before we get left behind. If social media is how future generations consume information and interact with the world, then it has to be a part of how we advocate and move the profession forward. Otherwise, we’re losing out on engaging with a huge audience.
There is just so much information out there, it’s impossible to read & digest everything coming out of sports medicine today. I like the short snippets that social media provides so that I can decide whether I want to read the whole article/study later
Journal subscriptions are expensive! I’m completing a DAT at FIU right now, but I joke that I’m only there for access to the university’s library databases (PS: If we want preceptors to encourage clinical students to practice EBP, we must give preceptors access to the university library databases as a form of payment for the work they do!)
What have you taken from Social Media?
Like the disclosure slide that no one pays attention to in CEU presentations: my opinions may not be those of my employer, and use this information with caution!
Take everything with a grain of salt: Who is the speaker? What’s their background? What’s their motivation for posting this? Are they blowing off steam, subtweeting someone, or looking for genuine engagement? If they are looking to engage, are they open to learning, or will any discourse make them dig in further? Know when to disengage.
We have such a diverse community on #ATtwitter. There are a lot of positives as well as some challenges. It’s also helpful to bring those connections to the real world, though. The life we present online is often much rosier than real life, but real life is where things get done. Advocating on social media and living it are two different things. I try to be the same person online as off.
How has it helped?
Probably wouldn’t have survived lockdown without finding AT friends online
Learning new clinical techniques, hearing about research before it’s published
Another avenue to get questions answered & reach people in power
Got our new practice act language passed!
Helps me survive as a solo AT: venting, troubleshooting, connecting with others who get my jokes
Has it been harmful or negative for you at all?
There will always be trolls and misinterpretation of context, which is how messages get blown out of proportion
Probably mildly addicted, but who isn’t? (It’s also kinda my job to be on socials, so I use that excuse)
How do you manage Twitter?
Tweetdeck is a lifesaver, but there are dozens of paid and free social media managing apps out there
Add relevant images as much as possible, it boosts your visibility
Use a link-shortener like bit.ly when you reach a character limit
Don’t just post a link to other content, post a quote or short explanation
Ask a question, and state something poignant if you want people to engage
Best engagements happen when you post in the morning
My NATM is often not the theme: 2022 was #ATgratitude, and 2023 was #auscultATe. IATA’s 2022 was #FlatAT (had so much fun with that!)
I do use ATCAnonymous, but only when I need to reach a wider audience than what I have, with a legitimate question. Not a fan of anonymous accounts. Why? Listen to Kutz & Konin’s Leadercast episode 15: Anonymity & leadership
Socrates said: “Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” There’s enough shit in the world. Be kind.
Eleanor Roosevelt said: “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”
Which platforms do you use and why?
Fewer and fewer nowadays! The real world is too busy (FT job, FT doctoral student, serving on 2 boards & a committee, and like to cook and run)
Facebook, b/c I’m a millennial
Twitter for AT stuff
I assist in managing the IATA Instagram, but I don’t have a personal account
I had a Snapchat for a week, and didn’t get it, so I deleted it
Personal social media account vs. AT department account:
Make sure you’re posting on the right account!
Know & stick to that account’s goals & mission
But don’t rely on that account solely to convey information (ATR hours, for example)
What connections have you made through social media?
The Mark D’Anza story: LT hoodie
Road trip to Rock Island, IL: Augustana, Shakespeare in the park, and Denise
Crashed at Hopper’s on the way home from an epic road trip a few summers ago; got some amazing Texas BBQ
Downstate IL ATs….who got me the job I have now
SSATs: I have helmet stickers from at least a dozen states. I’ve gotten beer & tea from Ohio, a poker chip from Vegas, and lapel pins from New York
How I decided to do a DAT!
Call to action:
My mantra: Lead with Compassion.
Lead: Don’t follow. Don’t do it just because everyone else is doing it. Do it because it means something to you. And don’t be afraid to do something that no one else is doing!
Lead: when there’s so much coming at you at once and you don’t know where to start, start with compassion. Don’t start with aggression or frustration or anger.
…with compassion: Have compassion for not only others, but yourself. Everyone is going through or has gone through stuff, even the ones that look like they have it all together. If someone is mean to you, it’s a reflection of who they are, not you, so give them the compassion they need. There are enough “-isms” out there (racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, etc.). Try compassion instead!!!
Favorite twitter accounts to follow (besides sports medicine broadcast): MadamAthlete, California AT Association, NATA_SSATC, Washington State DNR (@waDNR) @EDACNATA, @SimonSinek
TikTok always ended up showing me stuff I did not want to see, so I deleted the app. Meanwhile, KP, AKA Kyle Parkison, is amassing quite a following and positively impacting the world using TikTok.
Why do you use social media for sports medicine?
Started it for fun and advocacy
A lot of students and people did not know All of the things we do as Athletic Trainers.
TikTok has a lot more random followers
TikTok would be the only one if I had to choose.
Those videos are about ten seconds to a minute long.
A lot of people know and follow me…
It is kinda weird
I am outgoing but people outside of my circle following and recognizing me was just weird.
What have you taken from Social Media
I have been using it for about 6 years.
I have taken a lot of ideas from others
How has it helped?
Free stuff for the kids
Advocacy
Has it been harmful or negative for you at all?
My wife and I have had a few conversations about it, but she actually is pretty helpful in making videos.
How do you manage a video per day?
Some are 1.5 hours
Some are 30 seconds
Some are 6 seconds
I keep the app open while recording the long videos and just lock the phone until it is time to record again.
Which platforms do you use and why?
I use:
Twitter
IG
TikTok
Facebook
YouTube shorts
TikTok is easily my favorite
What has your HR or legal department given you for guidelines?
Our admin team was 100% supportive
None of them really knew what is going to happen
Make sure you ask and keep open communication.
I ask parents before posting ones with student-athletes
What connections have you made through social media?
Several brands have sent me things or given me discounts for making videos.
Lots of student-athletes in the surrounding area have connected with me.
Growth Plate Injuries are hard to identify unless you know what to look for. Dr. Lindsay Crawford specializes in Pediatric Orthopedics and shares some of her wisdom with the Sports Medicine Broadcast.
The location of the pain is an indicator
Is it at the joint itself or on the bone adjacent?
Dr. Crawford likes to have xrays before doing a lot of special tests on athletes with swelling
How can they verbalize?
Take your time
Look all around
Break it down and say words they understand
Use your normal system for evaluating
Give them a distraction – maybe close their eyes
I try to not clue them into what I am looking at.
Little league elbow – what tips do you have?
Year-round baseball is huge in the southern states where you can play all year long.
You need to have a feel for the parents and kid and know if you can say rest or not throw anything at all other than in a life-threatening situation.
Return to throwing instructions are complex and have a lot of steps.
After they begin their program require them to come back into the clinic to re-evaluate
Speak to the Mental Health of the kids that get shut down.
Know what the patient’s goal is, and form a plan that works and they can follow.
Do we have an end point or goal
The curveball and growth plate injuries?
If there was no pain, and then they started throwing the curve ball and pain started, we need to cut out the curve.
If you have mysterious knee pain then check the hip.
Growing pains are real
Some kids have growing pains
3-6-year-olds, typically have pain in their calf or knee
Mental Health Coordination is preparation for when a mental health crisis occurs. Amanda Groller and Bubba Wilson discuss things available to Athletic Trainers when they need help.
ATsCare – Professionals responding to professionals
2016 is when it became official
How did it start –
A perfect storm of events.
Jim Thornton had been trained in CISM as an EMT and reached out to him after a wrestler died.
This sparked some conversations and got the train moving.
Many people separate mental health and physical health, but really it is just health.
This statement could help destigmatize mental health
It only makes sense for ATs to have their own CISM tools
Military people want to hear from people in the military, someone who knows their situation.
Having conversations about CISM teams is really important. It gets the ball rolling and allows us to call in support to continue to do the job that we do.
Self-care is emptying your bucket and escaping for a minute.
Compassion fatigue is a problem.
You need to debrief the debriefer
Dr. Jessica Yellen went through a Trauma Informed Yoga Course. This course was meant for the caregivers to release their burdens.
What techniques can you share?
We use this approach:
“What has happened to you?” rather than “What is wrong with you?”
Psychological first aid
Suicide prevention training – get them to the next step alive
Stay within your scope, but know the resources available.
Help simplify the process for the ones struggling. REMOVE THE RED TAPE
QPR training is a good option
Know when to refer
“When you do not know what you do not know you become dangerous” – Dr. Josh Yellen
We are mandatory reporters, but we also have a duty to report people who are struggling.
You are not going to get in trouble for calling 911, you are going to get in trouble for NOT calling.
Build relationships before so that the resources are available.
How do we help people start to process?
My crisis is not your crisis
I can not force you to take the help
Education is one of the best things we can do.
If you did not need help then there would not be available.
Driving Healthy helps us lead by example, and take advantage of time off. Shawn gave me lots of tips before we took our 3800-mile 4-week road trip across the country.
Longest road trip: well over 1000 miles
Average Road trip: some days working outreach I might drive 350 in a day
Eating Healthy –
nutrition is huge
Know your body’s needs and what causes problems.
I stay with simple things that I can extend throughout the day.
Meat cheese and nuts work great for me.
Drink things that help you hydrate and feel better
Stop and do your lunch break and bring a game, frisbee, or soccer ball.
Pee breaks also help to get you up and moving
Bring a cooler of healthy snacks and food with you.
Staying fit –
Donnie Thompson bowtie for postural correction
Keep exercises – band pull-a-parts
Doing the old rocky routine with the lat pulldown machine in the truck
Use a lacrosse ball in a tube sock for mobility
Lifting heavy before starting a long drive gave me soreness that encouraged me to move.
Mile markers: I would see a mile marker and think for this mile I am going to focus on getting a really good core contraction.
Collagen is everywhere right now. It is in coffee and everything, but we need to be more strategic in our implementation. Meredith Sorenson Joins Dr. Yellen to discuss how we can should and should not be using it.
Where is the evidence?
It can help increase the collagen in structures and joints in the body.
A lot of athletes are using it as a preventative measure which is where the most evidence is.
We want to make sure that we are loading the tissue when we are consuming the collagen.
Is it safe?
NSF certification means you get what it says and there are no banned substances.
VitalProteins, SIS, Klean Athlete, Live Momentus
Or you could go to the grocery store and grab some Jello…well gelatin
Glucosamine and joint and bone health.
Collagen is probably the better option.
Bad information is really easy to come by.
Pain Patterns
The studies were measuring subjective pain
Are there biomarkers?
P1NP is a direct biomarker
Dosage of Collagen
15 mg Dosage is probably the minimum
It is a pretty low-risk supplement.
Most of the indicators are in research…we are not going to remove someone’s tendon to measure the collagen.
Why would I recommend it?
They have the resources to purchase it
The athlete is actively working in rehab
They are struggling to get enough protein in as is.
More of a need for explosive movements
Possibly more for females to encourage tendon and ligament strength
FooBag is Craig’s other child. He created the product to keep his AT gear dry after a coach accidentally soaked his whole med kit. Many hours have gone into creating the product that you see today.
5 words to describe FOObag:
Innovative
Necessity
Driven
Family
Committed
FOO – I have ten siblings and we were the jocks in the neighborhood
We were nicknamed the egg rolls
Where did the idea start?
Hofstra University where I met my wife
We were founders of the student AT organization
Summer intern with the New York Jets
I have worked at each level of sports
Got my masters from Hofstra in 2003
Stepped down as the coach/AT to follow my daughter’s college sports careers
I passed the stadium on a rainy day where I always kept my gear on the back of the cart
The coach borrowed the cart to move gear but did not keep my kit out of the weather, it soaked everything in my medkit.
At that moment I knew I needed a solution
I spent about a year or two looking at all the kits to design and create the bag to fit my needs and the other ones on the market.
I wanted to find a local manufacturer so I could make trips there as needed.
The manufacturer showed him a bag they use when onboarding inmates at the penitentiaries
After a few weeks, we had a prototype. Then we tweaked it several times.
And then adjusted the sizes.
We have grown with feedback.
What “version” of the FOObag are you on now?
We now have the 2.0.
Who was your first sale to?
Marissa, a local AT here on Long Island and a long-time friend.
Your biggest haters?
I do not remember anyone giving me a hard time or telling me that it wouldn’t work
Other ATs were a little “jealous” of me thinking of it first.
If you were to start over what would you have done differently?
I would have learned more about social media and online marketing and online sales.
I would like to have switched and delved into other markets earlier.
Contact Us
Craig – craigatc14@aol.com
Foobag – @FooBagFoo
Jeremy – @MrJeremyJackson
These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:
Up to 90% of eye injuries in sports can be prevented with proper eyewear. Dr. Alireza Somji, OD joins me, Jeremy Jackson to discuss some of what he sees and how we can help prevent eye injuries.
International sports vision association – eye safety awareness program
Females Athlete Care is not the same as male athlete care. Dr. Jill Moschelli is making a career specializing in it. Megan Smith, the chairperson for Women In Athletic Training, leads the interview.
Looking into your bio, you specialize in Female Sports Medicine. Can you share with us what that entails?
Female athletes are just different than men
Female athlete triad.
Concussion recovery is different
Predisposed to different types of injuries
How popular is being a female sports medicine-specific doctor?
It is not really common, but some of it is due to comfort level.
There has been an increased discussion about women training on their menstrual cycles and understanding how each phase affects your training. When someone is looking into this- do you have any recommendations on how to get started or a basis of understanding while training during different phases?
Educating in general is the biggest first step
Educate them about their own body and their cycle
Know what is normal for you and be aware of what changes look like.
Some of those changes can be due to oral contraceptives for whatever reasons.
Basic menstrual tracking app.
Perceived performance scales but nothing has been clear or consistent…so more research is needed.
How do we ask: are you on your period?
Make it not taboo…make it part of their general health
I am going to ask a lot of questions and if you feel like you can’t or do not want to answer that is fine.
“How has your menstrual cycle been?”
“Are you on any medicines that would impact it?”
We bring up topics like that at the beginning of the season so it is less taboo and breaks through the barrier.
Over the years I have taken many female-specific continuing eds, but one stood out to me which was pelvic floor dysfunction in female athletes. Is this something that you’re seeing in the clinic or refer out to a pelvic floor PT? Can you share how this can affect the training of our female athletes?
It happens more than we are aware of. It is not discussed as much.
Up to about 30% of elite female athletes experience incontinence.
Impact sports have a greater incidence.
Bringing up the conversation more often helps teach people about it.
Finding a pelvic floor therapist can be difficult
Stress Incontinence:
Inability to control the flow of urine during stress.
How can Athletic Trainers bridge that gap?
The more we talk about it the more it normalizes it.
You can be the first line of defense for those athletes.
Maybe set up a regular schedule to discuss it so they know to expect it.
Have the resources available or posted for them.
Are there areas of female patient care that you believe would be beneficial for athletic trainers to be better versed on? What are those areas? Is there training that you recommend?
Reproductive/menstrual cycle/ pelvic floor in your education as you get your degree.
Spend time discussing the differences between male and female athletes.
Have grand round discussions on female athlete care.
Females recover differently from concussions
Timetables are different for females
The treatments are similar but they might take longer.
Post Exercise Recovery Nutrition is one of the topics Brett Singer addresses with high school, college, and professional sports in Houston as part of the Ironman Sports Medicine team.
Doubling carb intake prior to an event
Cliff Bar and Gatorade
Gatorade and a banana
Applesauce and Gatorade
Gummy bears or Fruit snack
Choose any two of them and that should get you to the right amount.
Dr. Josh Yellen presented Leadership in Crisis at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Update. Shawn ready had some questions to follow up on his talk.
Leadership in COVID –
Planning in athletic – speaking to your AD, your coaches, school leaders…this is one setting.
How do we as qualified healthcare providers help function in the world?
I am Head FOOTBALL Athletic Trainer or I am an AT with a lot of experience with football.
Compare primary care vs AT
There is a shortage of primary care physicians.
The definition of Athletic Trainer and primary care doctor is almost identical
Practicing Scared –
We as directors need to understand the CAATE standards, the state practice acts, and the BOC requirements.
We need to keep pushing into the village of medicine.
PA is a master’s degree program but is much more respected.
We were comfortable staying in the sports setting for many years.
To have direct access to patients you have to have a physician oversite.
Bachelor’s degrees will not be reimbursed by CMS.
WHY DO WE USE OTHER PROFESSIONS TO EXPLAIN OUR PROFESSION?
Medical Model’s effect on Leadership In Crisis –
The Physician is the top and we are all extensions of the physician.
If we do not move into a better role and stake our ground then someone is going to take our role.
Sports Medicine Student Aides – appropriate vernacular is important
This gives the impression that a high school student without training can do your job
Eccentric contractions have long been known to improve muscle hypertrophy. Ryan Collins joins Clayton Berrang to discuss Eccentrics vs Tempo training and how to implement both.
Where in the timeline are the athletes?
Once they can move without bracing
Strength Deficit Eccentric training benefits
Supermaximal load and trying to move that through the eccentric motion
A load that can not move through the concentric movement
How would you recommend emphasizing eccentric training?
Tempo training is a safe place to start but it affects the muscle adaptations
Most ATs and PTs are probably already doing this.
EX: single leg squat – box progression –
Reverse engineer sprinting
Brakes are going to be important to anything we move
But eccentric training offers so much more than just the brakes
Triphasic training
When do you transition from eccentric training?
Time of year and sports demands
Talk about the cycles for football
Summer is great for super maximal loads for the experienced lifters
Beginners lifted should be doing triphasic
The full stretch-shortening cycle would be in season
Tempo training is one of the easiest forms of progression for an athlete’s body
Most adaptations from the eccentric load
Increased reps give some adaptations
Tempo is the lowest ROI
Box squats example
Tempo training and progress through the tempo training
4×5 with a 3 sec – 4-5 and up to 8-second tempo
Now we use slightly heavier weight with about a 2-second tempo
5 – 7 – 10 – 12 reps progression
Progress through load
4×5 and increase the load over the next 4 weeks
How do we set up a supermaximal eccentric?
Rack setup with safety catches and partners or team lift it back up
We are looking at 5/10% above our maximal level
We can do 5 sets of 1
Is there a tempo in this eccentric?
Move it as slowly as possible
The nordic hamstring curl is an example
“What works works”
If you move slowly you will move slow, move fast to move fast”
Late RTP 6 months out ACL?
Overload plays in
Their body is avoiding positions needed for power due to injury.
DME – I wanted to be in the high school setting so I knew DME was short term
A&M Consolidated – 2 years, then I left to be the head AT, open a new school, and work alongside my husband.
Rudder in Bryan ISD 11 years – AT and public health mirror each other in the area of prevention. I felt called to go into public health and work with low socioeconomic status. We housed a few homeless students during our time there. During the master’s, I got connected with HR and the school safety department. Felt like I hit a ceiling and thought it may be because we were married and did not want to put a spouse in charge of the other.
The move to Brenham would really challenge me to grow.
Assistant AD of Sports Med in Bryan ISD
Brenham – 4 years
Waller ISD
Coach Allen, where are you now?
Giddings Texas – DC / Head AT
Houston Stratford HC/CC – 16 years
Head AD in Benham because we wanted to retire
Bastrop allowed me to be just the AD not a coach anymore.
What is the legacy y’all left?
Coach Allen – Do what is best for kids, even if it is tough for adults.
Jamie – I would hope people would see how deeply I care about making the whole system.
I hope that through my work, people would see that we win when there is a team approach.
You discussed the talks at SWATA and NATA, what do you want to clarify?
The AT department needed a lot of tender loving care.
When I got into I realized how much prep work I needed to do.
Use the PASS or SSSA to guide you and make sure you evaluate your program
I was in the middle of getting my hands dirty and realized I did not have sinks. Coach Allen came in and made it happen within a few days.
Coach Allen, speak to the AT, how do they start the process of building what y’all built?
A lot of times there is a natural divide between the 2
Athletic Trainers are fearful the coach won’t listen and follow instructions
Coaches are fearful every player will be set out.
Be willing to pitch in and do the extra things.
Build trust
Call to action:
ATs – try not to take on responsibilities that are not yours and then let it become your job or expected of you.
If I did someone else’s job, I would remind them to take care of it.
Jamie is one of the most efficient people I know. She handles people and situations really well.
She went out and earned the changes and I was able to go in and ask for it.
The Good Life, relationships are built, trust is established and culture is changing. Jamie and Eliot discuss what the AT / AD relationship looked like once they got past the rough spots.
Coach Allen, what has been your favorite part about working with Jamie?
She is such a problem solver. She anticipates problems that are going to occur.
Jamie, Your favorite part about working with Coach Allen?
Very patient and graceful when things do not go his way.
He did not shut down when I came on too strong.
“Is it best for the kids?” is a driving force for him
What was your biggest sports medicine victory together?
When I first got into it I wanted to do a lot but I had to clean and organize everything first.
I knew I was going to forget something big like AEDs.
Bart Peterson had a checklist he shared with Jamie that was part of the PASS system.
This really helped us prevent compliance slip-ups.
We changed the culture of healthcare in Brenham. The ripple effect.
The overall respect our community and school had for ATs
We built up to having 4 ATs.
Parents and students were asking for it.
What are some of your smaller wins?
I needed a window door if I had to have a closed-door conversation.
Hydration systems – moved away from trash cans
Radios
Lockers for student ATs
We shut down the gym AT and moved everything to the field house AT Facility.
Having the plan written out on the whiteboard allowed us to collaborate more.
Any regrets?
Coach Allen – Not really, have not worked with anyone I trusted as much as Jamie.
I came in too strong.
When I left Brenham it was an unexpected change. It was not something I was looking for and therefore was a little unprepared.
There were some organizational things I had not prioritized because of the bigger issues.
Talk about the Master’s Degree
I got my degree in public health because I was ready to leave the profession.
Through the master’s I learned how happy I was in the profession
In Brenham, I did not have time for all the school health stuff while we were making adjustments.
The pandemic was really a blessing for an AT with a degree in public health. Being married to Josh Woodall helped us really sit down and work side by side and help set up procedures to get stuff back to the school and back to athletes.
The leadership team was meeting and Coach Allen knew Jamie would be a great asset. He pressured the admin to let her in.
Delivery is key
Respect is built and given, not taken
We did Character Talks with our athletes to help grow the respect for the AT staff. Jamie spoke at some of them.
Contact:
Jamie Woodall – jwoodall@wallerisd.net
Eliot Allen – dallen2@bisdtx.org
Jeremy – @MrJeremJackson on Twitter
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Meghan Allcorn has had about 9 job changes in roughly 11 years.
Meghan, where did you start as an AT? How long were you there?
11 years as an AT
PRN coverage for collegiate D2 in the Michigan area, working every sport available.
My first full-time job was as an Industrial Athletic Trainer out in the Washington area.
Secondary School setting back in Michigan
PRN coverage
Detroit Metro Airport
Secondary School and community outreach working out of a health and fitness facility.
Finished PTA degree and started working in the inpatient setting
Another industrial setting and been there for 4 years.
What pushed you to change settings?
Survival as a single female, creating a full-time job where there was not one before.
Currently the program manager for Workfit in the automotive industry. I now have 2 little girls and wanted a day shift job that would still have a need every day.
I was done missing my kid’s events.
Which was the hardest change for you?
Leaving the first industrial setting job – it was a first shift job and gave me so much freedom of schedule.
Discuss the Airport setting
You get on the airplane and put one bag overhead.
The workers tag them, move them, and help the underbelly workers get them there.
They are stuck under your dining room table moving 50-pound bags for an 8-hour shift.
How did you transfer experiences from one setting to the next?
Personality is the top transfer tool.
Build trust and then you can accomplish a lot of things.
The skills transfer similarly. You need to be in that position or setting to observe and improve body mechanics.
Assembly line – you have about 60 seconds to get your part, attach it, and be free. The parts are usually behind you and need to be gathered for each assembly.
Is this your final stop?
I do not know.
I love AT and what it has brought to my life, but I can not say it is definitely my final destination.
Encourage someone in the process now
Do not be afraid to try and fail.
Every time you try something new you gain experience.
Any Regrets?
No regrets but a few missed opportunities. All of these lead to shaping who I am.
Favorite resource for someone looking to change settings?
Bill Coburn changed settings a few times to meet certain needs in his life. Employment, advancement, family-friendly schedule. Check out his story and let him know if you have questions for him.
Bill, where did you start as an AT?How long were you there?
Ohio University in the spring of 2000
Took a job in the high school as just the AT for afternoon and afterschool job
I taught sports med for 3 years
Worked through the county for exercise science and AT
Continued to get a reduction in force or RIF
Went to grad school to get a masters in AT
Took a job at Davidson North Carolina
The change in conferences made travel unbearable.
Had my son in 2014
Returned to the high school setting
Had a 50-minute commute for about 2 years
Took a job closer to the house in Greensboro
When my second son was born I had to be available at home more.
Worked for an independent orthopedic office until they merged with EmergeOrtho. That opened up an opportunity for me to
Where did you start as an AT? How long were you there?
Started out as a College AT at Division 1 Mid Major Universities, Interned at my Alma Mater New Mexico State University for a semester, then Grad School at the University of Wyoming, My First Job was at the University of Alabama Birmingham for 2 years, then at the University of Southern Mississippi for 3 years.
Then life got Lifey, my parents were getting older and having health problems so I needed to move back home. I was able to find a job in a Physician’s Practice and worked there for 5 years.
When I felt that I had hit the “ceiling” and was not growing professionally I was looking to leave, and my Alma Mater was in need of an emergency hire to teach in the Athletic Training Program. I taught Full time for 2 years, then adjunct for 2 years.
A local High School position opened up so I applied and accepted that position for a year. That high school was not a good fit, but have now been at my current High school for 4 years.
Where are you now?
Texas 6A High School
Is this where you plan to stay?
No intention of moving on anytime soon.
Tanya, what pushed you to change settings?
Life 🙂
A favorite resource for someone looking to change settings?
NATA has a lot of great resources on job descriptions, committees, etc.
For those interested in the Physician practice the Athletic Trainers in Physician Practice Society has a lot of great info and job postings https://atpps.org/
Regrets or missed opportunities
The physician practice setting – I wish I could have grown it.
When it was time to make the change it wasn’t hard to make that decision.
It took a while to recognize I needed a change.
Mental and physical exhaustion
The clinical setting did not provide me with the mental challenge I craved.
Find what takes priority in your life and make a career decision based on that.
Started at an orthopedic clinic working at a high school right out of college. New school so the first AT they had. I was also the first and only full-time outreach ATC Rockhill had.
Loved my school. Very High turnover in management at the clinic
How long were you there?
Nearly four years
What was next (tell more of your story)?
So this is kind of two parts. Before COVID I started a cash-based rehab services business. Partnered with local gyms. This was my plan to leave and do full-time. Was about to make the jump then COVID hit and the gyms shut down.
This kind of killed my momentum and made me pivot. I tried to go into the online space and still do that some but needed it to be a side gig for now at least.
Things came about with the clinic I was at. Did not feel appreciated or supported anymore and had the opportunity to try Sales.
Gave me more “regular” hours. Higher pay potential and higher pay to start.
Dynasplint for 6 months. I ended up working more hours. Being bored with the work and just did not like my situation.
Where are you now?
This led me back to “traditional” – I am with a children’s hospital here in Kansas City as the ATC of a Class 5 high school. It is the district I live in, and my wife teaches at the school. Just started at this school after being at another one before internally transferring when this came open.
Is this where you plan to stay?
The answer is maybe. I don’t want to leave for another school or hospital system. CMH treats me well and the school situation is about as ideal as they come.
But we just had a baby 6 weeks ago. And I can see my priorities already shifting and wanting to be home more. I know I won’t be willing to miss his sporting events and other activities.
Other options I am keeping an eye on: Industrial, Military, Healthcare Admin/Leadership, Self-Employed
What pushed you to change settings?
Feeling underappreciated
Lack of work-life balance
Pay
Advancement opportunities
Tyler, what held you back from moving on?
Fear of failure
Lack of opportunity at first
Not want to leave my athletes
Really enjoyed the school I worked with
A favorite resource for someone looking to change settings?
Fellow ATCs!!
Speak to others in the setting you are thinking about or who are with the company you want to apply for.
Former employees at those places can also be very helpful
Call to action:
Do your homework before jumping into just any opportunity
Now is a great time to advocate for your worth in many ways
If you want to stay in traditional settings, don’t feel bad about it. Maybe your current position is just not that great of a fit but another could be. And if you want to try something else don’t let fear hold you back.
“We have to elevate Athletic Trainers.” This has been a driving force for me since I became a director of athletic accounts at Henry Schein. – Eric Kearns
The Ice Machine is not working..we all know the story, cross country meet followed by a football game and the Ice Machine stops making ice the day before.
Try to have two machines running and schedule maintenance one at a time.
Cube Ice drops in batches and needs time to cycle
Nugget ice (Sonic Ice) machines continue to run and don’t need to shut down and cool off.
Water cooled is typically better than air cooled
Water filters?
6 months is a must for filters.
Proper size filter is really important, typically follow manufacturers’ instructions.
Try to use the multi-phase filter approach to help prevent the machine from shutting down.
Clean the ice machine every six months or when you change your filter.
Change the filter anytime you have the water shut off.
Scale reduction is important in maintaining the life of the machine.
Bad taste, lower performance.
Air Filter?
Cleaning them when you change your filter is a good recommendation
Emptying and cleaning the Ice Machine?
Use a scale cleaner or remover according to the manufacturer’s recommendations
Best if you let someone trained to run the cleaning cycle.
Ice machine sanitizer from amazon is usually ok but check for food-safe branding.
Sanitize and rinse the machine because scale remover is caustic.
Be sure it is food grade!!!
Troubleshooting
Make sure the machine is level or it can decrease the production rate.
The filter is the number one cause for not making ice – no water pressure means your filter is clogged
Most machines will have an error code you can google or look up on the chart.
Making a loud noise – turn it off and leave it until it can be serviced.
This is a great time to clean it out anyway.
Won’t dump – usually a sensor that stops working.
Check that the sensor door doesn’t have an ice cube blocking it from closing
From the fans:
Tip#1
Stop using ice.
Michelle Crosby
Annual maintenance is a MUST, depending on your water, here in El Paso the water is so hard with minerals that 7 years is the life expectancy of ice machines. Change your filters, at least every 6 months more if waterlines are broken or whenever you have mandatory boil drinking water. We bought Scotsman nugget ice machines and ironically exactly 7 years they both died, with gearboxes getting water and burning out covid hits, and parts are slim to not available, we switched to Manitowoc insides are stainless steel made in the middle of covid in ITALY bought with fundraiser money right at $9,000 worth. Wow, that was a lot of Gatorades.
Joe Messinger, MA, LATC
Athletic Trainer/Sports Med. Instructor
Bel Air High School/Medical Magnet
Hey Jeremy, my school gets my ice machines serviced annually and has a service contract. My one horror story is that this company came recently without my advanced knowledge to service both on the same day and so drained them both and left me without ice for the day. Luckily I didn’t need it so badly that day
David Silverstein
Michelle Crosby –
My coaches take care of water for games, etc. and we utilize water systems we’ve made that hook up to spigots for practices.
During times I need a cold tub set up for heat illness, we do have an ice machine but I also Freeze 1g pails of water to lessen the amount we take from the ice machine (and wear and tear).
For injuries, I’ll use an ice cup every now and then or a reusable ice pack if necessary (rarely).
Honestly, I function without an ice machine for 90% of the year.
Keep up the good work!
Contact:
Jake Steifel – stiefelrep.com
Paul Calloway – MioGaurd.com
Jeremy – @MrJeremyJackson on Twitter
These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:
Robotic Surgery is the movement of medicine. Dr. Jeff Davis of Andrews Sports Medicine believes the repeatability makes robotic surgery a better long-term option for the health of the patient.
– iStock Photos
Paint me a picture, what does robotic orthopedic surgery look like?
Robot-assisted procedures
Primarily used for the spine but as we progress more surgeries become an option.
Total hip and knees are currently being done.
There is imaging to “zero” the joint.
Why Robotic Surgery?
It is an imageless surgery so it reduces the radiation.
The program runs based on preoperative planning.
There is a learning curve and it does take a slight bit longer
There is more opportunity for error if you do it manually
The reproducibility of the surgery is improved
How can Athletic Trainers be a part of the change?
My MA is an AT with a lot of field experience
There is not anything specific about the robot that an AT would benefit.
Knowing about it and its advantages as a resource to the community.
Do some people choose not to have Robotic surgery?
There is some fear of who is controlling the robot, but the surgeon is in control of the robot.
One patient would not get into the CT scanner so we could not do the surgery.
Share some fun / cool stories
Patients that have been in pain for a while have really benefited from the robotic surgery.
The more difficult the surgery the better the outcome from the robot.
With the robot, you can have a much better idea if previous surgeries will impact the current one. Since we use imaging and a computer plan we can prepare a little better than non-robotic procedures.
Robotic Surgery questions from Twitter:
Have you noticed a reduction in recovery times or improvements in outcomes? – ATScoop
Quad Inhibition and Muscle Atrophy can really slow down the recovery process. However, Jackie Kleihege and Jena-Claire Auten know it is essential for healing. Finding the balance between helpful and hurtful is kind of an art form.
Looking at the timeline is essential so we can see the progress of where we have come.
What is the research showing us?
We do not have all the data yet from the quad tendon ACL
We have 10 years of data on it
What are some reasons we have inhibition?
In the acute phase, it looks about the same.
If we can interrupt the inhibition early then we have better outcomes
It is really hard to study the brain when we are studying the knee
How can we find this loophole or workaround to muscle atrophy?
Decrease swelling
Decrease local inflammatory response
ICE???
Is there a time frame where are going too fast in turning off the inflammation?
We still want the natural healing process to continue through that phase.
Dr. Candice Teunis discusses TFCC injuries with Dr. Layci Harrison live from the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Update.
You compared wrist injuries to low back pain
Low back pain has so many different causes and ulnar wrist pain is so similar
You do not always have to have all of the answers on your first interaction.
Using a differential diagnosis is super helpful.
I think it is either this or this…here are some options for both of these.
What are the red flags for ATs to be referring?
Ulnar wrist pain is fairly forgiving
If you think the DREJ is unstable then you really need to get fixed quickly
On the ulnar side are the differences in age?
Yes, all of our joints wear down over time and those needs to be considered.
We see traumatic injuries as well as chronic issues.
Recovery in age differences
In older patients we are astarting to see some wear in the joint and lengthens the recovery time. The wrist has to be unloaded in some of the older patients the you would not with younger patients.
Reinjury risk?
Pediatric patients are more likely due to the constant motion
This can be trick since the imaging show the repair. You really have to look critically at this point.
How can we help prevent reinjury of the TFCC?
Strengthening helps
Pronator strengthening
ECU work
Most of the stuff we do not have control over except for the gymnastic population due to the constant weight bearing on their wrists.
Should we be limited movement in gymnastics?
It would help but its nearly impossible.
These kids tend to live with some amount of pain and ignore but it eventually catches up with them.
What should we be teaching students about interprofessional communication?
Develop a personal relationship with the people around you.
ATs can benefit by connecting with hand therapists to help improve the outcome for the patients.
Running Analysis is not just for the elite runner. Kimberly Gandler works with runners in all stages of the sport to help improve efficiency and reduce injury.
As the director of AT services for the Houston Rockets, Keith Jones has seen the entire evolution of sports performance. He knew early on that he needed this team in his corner for the health and safety of the athletes he was caring for.
Build a Team
Building the relationship with the strength coach
There was none
Then I was the strength coach
Then we hired a professional strength coach
Many of them were from colleges or football programs
It was an adjustment for us to learn what we needed from them and the athletes.
Building the relationship from the ground up is crucial for success.
Find out what is important to you
We can Assist each other better by building relationships.
On-field cervical spine evaluations are an area of expertise for Dr. Mark Prasarn. He is the spine consultant for the Houston Texans and all University of Houston sports teams.
What is the initial on-field assessment look like
ABCs
When do we transport?
Anyone that is unconscious
Significant neck pain
Weakness or numbness
Bilateral is a much greater indicator.
What does it look like once we transport it?
This really depends on the group, but equipment removal
Then get them stabilized
What are our early-stage rehab focus and goals?
If there is an AT it is a huge benefit
ROM
Transient hemioplegic patient
This can be mistaken for strokes
Neck pain is the significant indicator
Education is important
Most cases resolve in a few seconds or few minutes when it is a stinger
If it does not resolve then have them evaluated
Refer for imaging per doctor’s orders.
What conversations should ATs be having with local staff?
Where are they going?
You should be involved in the decision-making.
What can we do to prevent these cervical spine injuries?
There is not really much we can do to train away injuries. Strengthening is most likely going to help
Do we need acclimatization for tackling?
Data shows that tackling technique improves injury rates
Randy and Sandy Harris are young professionals looking to positively impact Athletic Training.
I personally listen to their podcast and love the interaction between the two of them.
At some point this summer I will have a gap in content. I will be recording a lot over the summer but I won’t release any until I get them ready. So to help you fill the void in AT content I encourage you to listen to my friends Randy and Sandy over at ATCorner Podcast.
Randy, How did y’all meet?
R: Scrolling on Instagram and WOW…I went to work and found a mutual connection. The rest was history.
S: I was actually not going to post the picture of getting my acceptance letter…luckily I did.
Sandy, what is Randy’s Favorite Podcast
S: This one is easy…the Sports Medicine Broadcast…Seriously
Other than that the British Journal of sports medicine.
Randy, what is your favorite part about hosting a podcast with Sandy?
The balance. She keeps from being too nerdy. We have different experiences and play well off each other.
Jeremy: I love the relationship and quirkiness. Watching on social media how you two are genuine and enjoy your time together is such an encouragement.
What is your favorite piece of feedback you have received regarding the podcast?
R: Hearing people comment after the show with a story that we reminded them of.
S: The growth of our audience to include college students through late careers.
Win the crowd over, what will they gain by listening to AT Corner?
We want to be the bridge between education and experience, the college student and the seasoned pro.
When we say that people are leaving or there is an AT shortage, are we actually talking about specifically in the traditional setting? (Not sure on % breakdown, but how many ATs are working in industrial and clinic setting now compared to 5 or 10 years ago)
John: I think both are accurate. People are leaving the profession of Athletic Training and are leaving the traditional setting. Both situations are good for the profession.
Leaving The Profession Question 2:
For those who have moved on from a setting or profession, what were some of the red flags you noticed if any, or were there smaller subtler signs that were overseen that added up?
John: Being close enough to the table to recognize budgets and spending, HR trends, and then not be given a proper salary increase or plan for the future were my major red flags. I, unfortunately, ignored all of the mini red flags of the community leading up to my decision allowing my value to drop or not be seen to be given a fair chance/raise.
Question 3
Are our governing organizations finding this trend of ATs leaving concerning, or is this what the BOC and CAATE want as we push to be more recognized and respected as healthcare professionals?
John: From a MATS perspective, we are noticing it. We are also noticing the
Question 4
If our profession is in fact trying to distance ourselves from the traditional setting, how do we maintain the same, or improve the level of care we once provided to that population if we are trying to do that with less people?
John: For me, and I think a lot of people, we want to see a well-laid-out plan complete with proactive answers to questions. Without that, it promotes anxiety and uncertainty even if a positive decision is being made. That being said, who knows? I know our skill set is unmatched but we keep changing directions and losing good athletic trainers in the shuffle.
John, how have you been treated since leaving the profession 6 months ago?
I have had nothing but respect from peers and coworkers.
Contact Us:
Ed
John
Jeremy
These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:
Being at home with the kids all day gave Toki time to think. He knew he needed to practice his skills and wanted to help others. Late one night he decided to create the joint dislocation simulator.
Toki, tell us about the first time you reduced a dislocation?
Back in 2000, we were playing an hour away from San Antonio
There was no ortho available for the game.
Dr. Bud Curtis said, “Toki, you have to do the reduction.”
Tell us your AT story
1992 I came to the US from Japan. My father had business in Houston so we decided on Texas and since there were almost no Japanese people in San Antonio I knew I would have to learn English with total emersion.
Spent one year at the University of the Incarnate Word learning English
Brackenridge High School in 2000
After 14 years I needed a change
Stayed home with kids
Discuss the origin of your company
One night I started dreaming and then began collecting materials.
CAATE added 3 major standards including Reduction Techniques
I built it for ATs, but I am now getting requests from Emergency Medicine, Wilderness Medicine and a DOD contract.
When you were discussing Dr. Approved, tell us more about that.
Dr. Curtis was my team doctor and we worked with him through the whole process.
We also connected with Dr. Green, a local hand doctor , and had him test it out and give feedback.
How can Jay help you today?
Jay and I are actually going to be at NATA together sharing a vendor space.
If you are no longer in school (an ATEP) how can we get this practice?
I am hosting workshops across the country.
If you can pay for the travel expenses and the best sandwiches in town, I will be there.
What are you using for materials?
It started with an old anatomy teacher donating a broken down skeleton and me using orthoplast to replicate the bones and joints.
Do you feel guilty searching for new providers?
I do not have a problem with switching if the company can do the same thing for cheaper and better.
In the life balance you are creating, where is your line?
I do not have a lot of expectations of someone giving back.
I do a lot of things for others and do not expect anything back.
Toki, talk about Shark Tank.
I applied and presented to the first round.
If I was selected I would fly out to California, but I was not.
For me, I am glad I did not give up money and take on a loan.
What is the feedback you are getting?
My first workshop was in San Antonio ISD with former colleagues that had never reduced a dislocation before.
A lot of clinical programs do not have someone to teach the skills even though they bought the devices.
Symptoms after a covid infection that last past 3 months
Resurfacing of a past issue like asthma
Share some of your story.
Exposed on March 8th
Symptomatic on March 16
Body aches, shortness of breath
Sprint run chest burning
Mental fog – it was hard to learn new things
Exacerbated an autonomic condition
I tried to keep going but some friends did an intervention
You recently presented at two conferences about Long COVID. Give me the cliff notes.
San Diego Pain Summit – more theoretical and it is available to watch for free
NJATS – practical and scientific application for the Athletic Trainers
Some settings no longer require an RTP. What are your thoughts?
Most RTP does not address Long COVID
Encourage Cardiac testing
Breathing symptoms and cognitive symptoms
How do you tell the difference between out of conditioning, a cold, and long COVID?
Look at a normal deconditioning response indicator like heart rate
The aerobic system is broken.
People with cardiopulmonary testing or rehab do worse on day two, typically much worse.
It may be hard for athletes to verbalize their needs and concerns. It was hard for me as a grown adult medical provider to recognize and verbalize my needs.
The heart rate does not match what they are doing.
When I shower it may be 150 where I am 120 bpm walking upstairs.
Do they seem like they are getting sick from exercise?
What is the one take-home message for ATs dealing with Long COVID personally or professionally?
Make it simple
Crippling fatigue
PEM or PESE post-exertional symptom exacerbation
Breathing pattern disorders – hard breathing when they should not be
Mast cell activation syndrome
An estimated 50% of long covid will have autonomic dysfunction
Heat illness is a major concern
LongCOVID Physio – a group for medical providers struggling – peer support
Stop rest and think
Be intentional
Have conversations early and often
Altered taste and smell is a thing with COVID
This can lead to difficulty with student-athletes getting proper nutrition
BFR Tips and Tricks – Kyle & Jennifer
Apr 27, 2022
Tips and tricks for using BFR are usually best with some experience. At this point, we have used Delphi BFR for about 6 months.
Jennifer Asberry has used it as a clinician and as an injury-loving weekend warrior. She shares some of her injuries later.
Kyle Kimbrell has been working with BFR for years and has plenty of tips, tricks, and thoughts. He has previously been on the podcast to discuss BFR in adolescents.
Before we get to BFR Tips I have a few shoutouts.
Judy Bittar – a student AT Aide for listening and reaching out when you visited our campus.
Tony Young – for purchasing the Compex and looking into BFR after we discussed it here on the podcast
We received funding for the BFR unit from our Pasadena Education Foundation – a few quick tips on getting grants funded:
Will it make my classroom more innovative?
Will it boost student engagement?
Will it be used primarily in the classroom/ campus?
Is it underfunded or not funded by the regular school budget?
Does it relate to student learning, development, and academic success?
Favorite success story
Femur fracture returned to sport-specific activity after 3 months with equal quad size.
PCL – patient returned after 4 months
Derek – ACL repair after 5 months
Best BFR tip for ease of use.
JJ – you can press anywhere on the clock circle to start the 30-second timer.
Jennifer – Have the exercises planned out before starting.
Jeremy – Teach helpers and patients to set it up.
Why does my LOP swing about 30 mmHg day to day?
The LOP is a measurement of what it takes to measure occlude blood flow at that moment.
Stress can effect it
Prior activity
Cuff placement
Any blunders?
I had a user have the cuff slide down and “pop-out” the BFR cuff. How can we prevent it?
User error…that is all …lol
You can press deflate without having to do LOP again
Or remove the tube from the cuff and press your thumb over it while you readjust the cuff
Large leg, can’t get the cuff to measure LOP. What else can I do?
Isometric Exercise
External cuff pressure
Skip the sleeve if they are wearing compression pants already
“More likely to get funded” tips from the Education Foundation:
Makes learning more engaging and innovative.
Impacts a larger number of students & teachers.
Reusable, sustainable, and long-lasting projects.
Supports classroom instruction and boosts college or workplace readiness skills.
Includes matching funds from other sources.
Completed applications with accurate information.
Matching Funds:
Contact:
Jennifer – Jennifer.Asberry@cps.k12.ar.us
Kyle – kyle@owensrecoveryscience.com
Jeremy – info@sportsmedicinebroadcast.com
These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:
Valerie Tinklepaugh-Hairston presented on Recovery at the Trinity Sports Medicine Conference in 2022. I had some questions about her presentation because I like technology and toys.
Mike Hopper has some questions about Kelvi and was being an AT Nerd and watching the Facebook live of her presentation.
Food, Sleep Hydration…Valerie, give us something fancy…
Tell them why they need these things
61% injury reduction rate when these issues are mitigated
Explain the co-contraction with the Theragun a little more…
We need external stimuli to help the internal stimuli get moving.
This could be done without a percussion gone but would be tiresome. You are basically poking the bear until it wakes up and chases you.
You talk about needing an inflammatory response but knowing when to step in and help control it.
This is the way we were biologically made
It is basically the EMS crew coming in with the wrecker crew and the fireman to sweep up, clean up, haul off the bad stuff and get traffic flowing again.
Pain is great, but sometimes those sensors just get stuck on.
Treat the individual and not the symptom.
Valerie tell us about Kelvi
You really need to see it to believe it. The ability to go from hot to cold in 15 seconds is amazing.
The technology is incredible, we have sensors inside the sleeve that measures and maintain the skin temperature.
Pain management is one area Ice and Heat have really shown beneficial.
Preparation to work is a great way to use the heat feature.
Contact us
Valerie – vhairston@kelvi.com
Mike – Mike.Hopper@bishoplynch.org
Jeremy – info@sportsmedicinebroadcast.com
These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:
I run for recreation, to keep myself healthy, and to set an example for my kids, students, co-workers, and family. Meredith Sorenson runs because she is good at it…like really good. KP runs because he does not want to break his streak.
Regardless of why we are all recreation runners now and need to refuel.
Meredith, give us a quick tip in case someone turns it off after this.
If you are running do not cut carbs
Kyle – SIX YEAR recreational run streak…let’s talk about that
Started with one month in college and then just kept going.
I was a cross country runner and baseball player in high school.
Now running is for recreation.
Meredith as a collegiate runner what were your eating habits?
In high school, I ran about 30 miles per week
In college, it went to about 55+miles.
I continued with under-fueling which lead to stress fractures since I was cooking for myself.
I was not good a preparing or planning ahead. I did not bring snacks.
75 miles in a week is my personal record
GO TO Breakfast
I have a sensitive stomach…so I tried a lot of sports drinks with carbs.
Bananas and clif bars do not work for me
GoGo fruit squeezes work for me.
How are the demands for a steeplechaser different from a straight runner.
You need more muscles than you usually do running
It is a 3k race with barriers and the barriers do not move. One time I ran into one and got a really big bruise on my knee to show for it.
There is a lot more pounding involved
As an adult / recreational runner how have you changed?
Currently a 40+ mile per week runner
Recovery after runs is a priority at this stage in my life.
I learned to cue into my hunger signals.
Athletic Trainers are like every other profession, some are fitness nuts and some are very unhealthy. Give us some more depth of fueling the recreation runs.
Early morning you could skip the food if it is low intensity short (under an hour) duration.
In higher intensity runs you need to get something small then follow up with a good breakfast.
You have 60 or less to pick one of these for fuel…lets see how you do!!
APATS or Asia Pacific Athletic Trainer’s Society started in a hotel conference room when some ATs were trying to figure out the best way to help new Athletic Trainers get settled in Asia Pacific.
Our Guests
Erick Chen spent time in China, working with Cirque De Soleil, and opened up a hospital rehabilitation clinic before moving back to the United States (just before COVID)
Ngan “Nina” Chung is an Athletic Trainer at the Candian International School of Hong Kong.
Daniel Bellamy left us with a great line in his first podcast: Question Without Questioning. I knew we needed more time to discuss this so we scheduled another session.
We missed some parts of the story
Grew up in Washington DC
Son of a pediatricain and a recreational therapist
Grew up in the church
When he got to college he decided to test out the college life
Where did that lead you?
I began to question my faith, and I struggled with anxiety. I used drinking and smoking and partying as a way to cope or deal with the anxiety. I eventually came to an “I am going to fix this” situation. That’s when I met my wife and started doing great.
“When my wife got pregnant I panicked and started back up. My son was born and I heard a sermon that really struck my heart and changed everything.”
I need to have some initiatvie, I need to get my wife and I out of my parents house and lead my family. I need to take advantage of the time and blessing i have been given.
– Daniel Bellamy
Why did you move on?
I was just coasting, I was chilling at the high school and not really growing.
I needed to repair some relationships, get out of my parent’s house and make some more money.
That lead me to develop my core values as an AT while at Howard University.
What are those Core Values?
Effort
Empathy
How do we question without questioning?
Assume the BEST – almost no one was out to get me. If I approach from that perspective it usually goes well.
Be curious to understand – truly ask how, why, when because you want to learn
Enter their space – hit the weight room with the coaches or catch up at baseball practice
Overcommunicate – this leaves you with plenty of deposits in that relationship bank account.
Invite them into your world – joint CEU options or planning and policy teams.
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